Chris

Rainey

A versatile homerun hitter in college, Rainey took handoffs out of the backfield, had 381 receiving yards as a senior, and blocked six kicks in his career to set a Florida all-time record. One of the true speedsters in this draft, Rainey ran a 4.38 forty and could add punt returning skills to the Steelers. As an overall offensive weapon, Rainey focused on receiver during the Senior Bowl. He may be Todd Haley’s new Dexter McCluster.

Rainey played slot receiver and tailback at Florida, also returning kicks and punts. Coach Mike Tomlin has noted that Rainey’s speed jumped off the page in the SEC, which usually means it will translate to the pros. Rainey may never be a big fantasy contributor, but he could be an asset in Pittsburgh in a Dexter McClusterian role. He’ll have to make the 53-man roster first, of course.

When the NFL released its “official” forty times later in the day for running backs, Rainey was credited with a 4.45. His vertical was 36 1/2 inches, and he had a 10-foot broad jump. Rainey has incredible speed and quickness, but he’ll have to be used situationally in the pros at 5-foot-8 3/8 and 180 pounds. He’s more of a track guy than NFL football player at this point.

It’s also worth noting that Rainey did some work as a wide receiver during the Pro Day and, according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt, “showed good pass-catching skills”. Offering a skill-set similar to that of former Gator Percy Harvin, Rainey could appeal to NFL teams looking for a spark on offense. The Cardinals, Browns, Rams, and Bucs make sense. Early indications suggest it will take a third-round pick to land Rainey’s services.

Reiss lists Florida RB Chris Rainey, Arkansas WR Joe Adams, Fresno State WR Devon Wylie, and Syracuse WR Dorian Graham as potential fits. New England managed 21.4 yards per return in 2011, which ranked 29th in the league. Danny Woodhead (20 returns) and Julian Edelman (12) are the incumbents.

Steelers OC Todd Haley was not kidding when he said Rainey would be used in a “hybrid” role. Displaying impressive speed and elusiveness throughout the evening, Rainey was essentially the team’s No. 2 back, offering relief to starter Isaac Redman in passing situations. His night was highlighted by a 57-yard touchdown on a screen pass in the third quarter. Rainey also worked as the team’s primary kick returner.

Coach Mike Tomlin praised Rainey for making unblocked defenders miss, the sign of special returner. Rainey had scored on a 57-yard reception and a 41-yard run earlier in the preseason, showing that he can hit a homerun from anywhere on the field. In addition to giving the passing game a shot in the arm, Rainey will add a dynamic big-play element to an aging Steelers D/ST.

Emmanuel Sanders had previously been listed as the top return man. The explosive Rainey takes over as Todd Haley’s new Dexter McCluster, operating as a scatback and special package receiver while also serving as the primary return. He’s a reason to give the Steelers’ D/ST a slight boost in fantasy rankings.

New OC Todd Haley suggested during OTAs that Rainey would be used in special packages and on third down as a hybrid running back/slot receiver. Although Rainey is a much-needed field-stretcher, his role as a niche player won’t lead to consistent fantasy value.

Although Redman doubled the third-down snaps of Mewelde Moore last season, it was news to him that he’s keeping the role while also taking over as the primary early-down back. Redman is in line for a heavy workload through October. The question is whether fantasy owners can count on him as a viable starter once Rashard Mendenhall is back to full health.