Nick Singleton: The Home Run Hitter to Target in Rookie Drafts

Here’s my overview of Nick Singleton (Penn State) as a prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. Fun fact: He went to the same high school as me, so I’ll try not to be biased. Singleton is widely considered one of the most physically gifted, yet polarizing running backs in his class. While he possesses athletic traits that NFL teams covet, his collegiate production and consistency have fluctuated, which has led to a wide range of evaluations. He is a “Home Run Hitter” with a prototypical NFL build. He is a height-weight-speed anomaly who can score from anywhere but struggles with positional nuances, such as vision and creativity, in tight spaces.

The upside: Why teams want him

1. He is a rare physical specimen. At approximately 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he reportedly has verified 4.3 speed and great explosiveness. He would have dominated the NFL Combine and made it onto draft boards had he not been injured during Senior Bowl practices.

• • Breakaway Speed: If he gets a clean runway, he has second gear to avoid the corners of defensive backs.
  • Power-speed combo: It’s not just fast; he is heavy. He walks with a “thick” lower body, which allows him to absorb contact and lunge forward.

2. Modern Passing Game Value: Unlike many power backs, Singleton has developed into a real threat in the passing game.

• • Hands: He catches the ball naturally away from his body.
  • Versatility: Penn State regularly lined him up in the slot and out wide. He doesn’t limit himself to screens and check-downs; he can run legitimate routes (wheels, seams, corners).
  • Pass Protection: He has shown willingness and solid technique in the blitz picking, a requirement for getting on the field as a rookie.

3. Explosive One-Cut Ability: He excels in gap and power schemes that define the gap. When he sees the lane, he bursts through the line of scrimmage almost immediately. He wastes very little time dancing behind the line if the blocking is done properly.
4. Ball Security and Character: Lauded for his work ethic, he has significantly improved his ball security during his college career, rarely making fumbles in his final seasons despite having a high ball touch.

The cons: the risks associated with it

1. Inconsistent vision: This is the most common knock on his game. Singleton often relies on his athleticism rather than “feeling” block development.

• • Missed Lanes: He has a tendency to run into the backs of his linemen or miss cutback lanes that slower, more instinctive backs (like his teammate Kaytron Allen) might find.
  • Impatience: He sometimes puts himself in a hole too early instead of letting the blocks develop.

2. Lack of “wobble” (lateral agility): He is a “linear” athlete. It moves incredibly fast in a straight line, but has difficulty moving sideways efficiently.

• • Stiff hips: He’s not the type of back who will make a defender miss in a phone booth. When a defender penetrates the backfield, Singleton often lacks the elusiveness to avoid the tackle for a loss.
  • Zone scheme fit: He may struggle against wide zone offenses that require flowing side cuts to find the open gap.

3. When it comes to contact balance, despite his size and strength, he goes down on first contact more often than expected. While he can run through arm tackles at high speed, he doesn’t consistently break tackles when moving slowly or navigating through traffic. He sometimes walks ‘upright’, giving defenders a bigger target to hit.
4. Production Variance: His metrics were often boom or bust. He could have a game with 12 carries for 30 yards, followed by a game with two touchdowns of 60 yards. This inconsistency makes it difficult for offensive coordinators to rely on him for steady four-yard gains to keep the offense on track.

NFL player comparisons

• Ceiling (best case): Saquon Barkley (lite) or Jonathan Taylor.
  • Why: Like these backs, Singleton has the size-to-speed ratio to dominate when his offensive line folds him.
• Floor (worst case): Tevin Coleman.
  • Why: Coleman was a speedy, one-cut runner who could catch passes but struggled with vision and lateral agility, ultimately becoming a rotational commit rather than a superstar.

Summary judgment

As a Day 2 pick (Rounds 2-3), Nick Singleton projects who will likely start his career as part of a committee. He is best suited for a “spread power” offense where the defense is spread out to create defined running lanes, allowing him to utilize his elite burst. If he can improve his patience and vision, he has All-Pro physical potential. He’s currently my RB2 for Dynasty Rookie Rankings, slightly ahead of Jonah Coleman, but for now you can get him at a discount in the early to mid second round, possibly later now that he broke his foot.

Thanks for viewing my article. You can reach me on Twitter/X via @joshreedy5. And for those interested in an annual membership, visit us here for the next steps! #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #NFLDraft #DynastyFantasyFootball