Gallery: 3/6
No. 4 TCU RB Sewo Olonilua, $6,500
Sewo Olonilua is priced below fellow TCU running back Darius Anderson, but I think there is a good chance Olonilua ends up being the top producing back. Both backs are going to put up big numbers against Southern, but Olonilua is the cheaper option. Olonilua was one of the players TCU featured during Big 12 Media Days, which could be an indicator that he is in line for an increased role in the offense this season. On media day, Olonilua spoke about TCU's level of talent.
“It’s a new era,” Olonilua told 247 Sports. “Coach P is getting the big recruits, a lot of people know more about TCU. We’re just getting out into the national spotlight. They could’ve gone to the championship in 2014. That shows how good a coach (Patterson) is. They were still getting two and three-stars and he brought them to a 12-1 season. The next step is we’ve got to get our Big 12 championship and go from there.”
Olonilua is a big back at 6'3", but still possesses great speed that allows him to be a factor in a variety of ways. The Dallas News broke down how they expect Olonilua to be used this season in an expanded role.
"Though TCU fans should be sad to see Kyle Hicks graduate, his diploma clears the way for this guy -- maybe the most underappreciated talent on the roster," Dallas News explains. "Last season, Sewo Olonilua felt like a third-wheel and was somewhat limited to red zone and wildcat duties. Anderson will almost certainly out-rush Olonilua again, and that's fine. Olonilua is more of a Swiss-army knife anyways. He's a power back with linebacker size and the elite ability to run downhill, even after catching passes in the backfield."
Olonilua performed well last season despite only receiving limited opportunities. In the one game where he had double-digit carries, Olonilua impressed with 10 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown against Baylor. He also had three receptions for 40 yards. This would have amounted to over 20 fantasy points on DraftKings.
Olonilua is a freak athlete given his size and speed. NFL Network's Ben Fennell reported Olonilua runs a 4.49 40 yard dash, squats 770 pounds, benches 425 pounds and has a 40" vertical. Look for Olonilua to have a breakout game this weekend as he finally gets more opportunities to showcase his athleticism and talent.