[OutsiderFan]

I've read that Sproles is a lot thicker than DAT, though I don't really know how true it is.

It's very true.  Ha anyone ever seen Thomas break tackles like Sproles?

The closest analog I find to DeAnthony Thomas is Dexter Carter, former Florida State product and 1st Round hubris pick by the 49ers after they won  the 1989 Super Bowl, IIRC. 

Both guys had/have great speed and quickness but were/are slight of build. 

I'd say Dexter McCluster of the K.C. Chiefs is close, but McCluster was a starting RB at Ole Miss and proved to have a lot of toughness, a similar path as Sproles.  Thomas isn't a between the tackles runner, and he probably gets tackled too easily in space to be all that great in the NFL.  That was Carter's main problem.  Fast guy, but not physically stout enough to stand up to NFL physicality week in and week out.

Thomas is faster than Lamichael James, but given how largely nondescript James' NFL career has gone to date, there is surely a lot of skepticism about Thomas as an NFL RB as a result of that fact as well.  That said, Thomas is a natural receiver, so he may have more value as a slot/3rd down back in an offense that gives him no pass protection responsibility.

On another note, the CBSSportline site has Gaffney rated as a better NFL RB prospect than Thomas.

[OutsiderFan]

I've read that Sproles is a lot thicker than DAT, though I don't really know how true it is.

It's very true.  Ha anyone ever seen Thomas break tackles like Sproles?

The closest analog I find to DeAnthony Thomas is Dexter Carter, former Florida State product and 1st Round hubris pick by the 49ers after they won  the 1989 Super Bowl, IIRC. 

Both guys had/have great speed and quickness but were/are slight of build. 

I'd say Dexter McCluster of the K.C. Chiefs is close, but McCluster was a starting RB at Ole Miss and proved to have a lot of toughness, a similar path as Sproles.  Thomas isn't a between the tackles runner, and he probably gets tackled too easily in space to be all that great in the NFL.  That was Carter's main problem.  Fast guy, but not physically stout enough to stand up to NFL physicality week in and week out.

Thomas is faster than Lamichael James, but given how largely nondescript James' NFL career has gone to date, there is surely a lot of skepticism about Thomas as an NFL RB as a result of that fact as well.  That said, Thomas is a natural receiver, so he may have more value as a slot/3rd down back in an offense that gives him no pass protection responsibility.

On another note, the CBSSportline site has Gaffney rated as a better NFL RB prospect than Thomas.