Rookie Profile: Marshawn Lloyd, Running Back, Green Bay Packers
This is the Rookie Profile for Marshawn Lloyd, USC RB. Lloyd, a 4-star rated prospect and the 5th-ranked running back in the 2020 class graduated from Dematha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland.
Lloyd joined South Carolina as a freshman and spent his first year on the bench as a redshirt player backing up Kevin Harris, who would later become an NFL running back. In 2021, Lloyd played in 12 games for South Carolina, but he still had a minor role behind Harris, gaining only 272 scrimmage yards on 61 touches and scoring one touchdown.
Lloyd became the lead running back for the Gamecocks in 2022 as a sophomore. He lived up to the expectations and led the team in rushing yards, touches, and touchdowns. He finished the season with 111 attempts for 573 yards and 9 touchdowns. In addition, he made 18 receptions for 176 yards and scored 2 receiving touchdowns.
Lloyd weighed his options before his junior year and decided to enter the transfer portal for better opportunities. He considered various schools such as Tennessee, Michigan, and Michigan State. However, a text from Caleb Williams, the Heisman-winning quarterback at USC, convinced Lloyd to join the Southern Cal team and pursue the championship. He demonstrated to the Pac-12 that he was a top-rated prospect by receiving an Honorable Mention in the Pac-12. He ended the season with impressive statistics, rushing for 820 yards on 116 attempts, averaging an outstanding 7.1 yards per attempt. Additionally, he contributed 232 receiving yards on 13 receptions, with a remarkable 17.8 yards per reception.
Marshawn Lloyd announced his intention to enter the 2024 NFL Draft on December 3rd, 2023. He attended the combine and put together a 8.92 RAS score, Setting himself apart from the other potential running backs on day 2, the Green Bay Packers selected him with the 88th overall pick in round 3 of the NFL draft. Lloyd is
Measurables
Draft Capital & Landing Spot
Draft Capital- Round 3 Pick 88
- Day 2 draft capital is enough to catch any dynasty manager’s attention. It insulates Lloyd enough that the Packers will see if the juice is worth the squeeze. We just saw the Packers take three years to find out A.J. Dillon was not the guy they hoped him to be, who the Packers can cut and save 1.2 million against the cap.
Landing Spot – Green Bay Packers
- Landing in Geen Bay on one of the best offenses in the NFL is a tantalizing proposition for Lloyd. It’s unlikely Lloyd will take the job in year 1, but if Jacobs is inefficient once again, there is a path for Lloyd to carve out a bigger role as a rookie and build upon that in 2025 and beyond. In the worst case, Lloyd is the backup to Jacobs, with a theoretical upside if Jacobs suffers an injury. In the best case, he carves out a role as the 1b in the Packer’s offense in 2024.
Team Depth Chart
Expected Role: Handcuff Running Back
Depth Chart via Fantasy Pros
Fantasy Impact
Lloyd is considered one of the top rushers in the 2024 running back class. His explosiveness is evident when you watch the tape, and he ranks in the top five in missed tackles forced per touch (.344). Green Bay’s decision to invest day 2 capital indicates their desire to upgrade the running back room. Considering LaFleur’s coaching history, it’s possible that Lloyd could have fantasy value as early as his rookie season. In 2024, he could fill the role similar to Tyjae Spears, serving as an efficient, explosive back in Green Bay. Green Bay spending day 2 capital shows us they are looking for an upgrade to the running back room, and given how Lafluer has coached throughout his career, Lloyd could be fantasy-viable as soon as his rookie season. He could play the Tyjae Spears role in 2024, being the efficient, explosive back that spells Josh Jacobs.
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe Sneak Peek Video of Marshawn Lloyd
Check out our 2024 Rookie Rankings Page for a full breakdown of this rookie class.
