Making a Devy List: 2018 Running Backs

Ryan McDowell

If you’re familiar with my work, you have probably seen my periodic installments of Making a List, in which I choose a topic and share my top five rankings. In this new version of the series, I’ll be ranking the top 10 devy players on a weekly basis, sorted by position and class. Also, each edition will also include a quick rookie mock draft for one of the upcoming seasons. This should be an easy way to track how college players are rising and falling as the season goes along.

This week, I check in with the 2018 draft eligible running backs. As we were reminded last year, not all of these players that are able to declare for the draft always do, but here’s how I currently view the top ten backs from the class of 2018.

1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State

The debate has moved on from deciding who is the best college running back in the country to debating if Penn State’s Saquon Barkley is the best back we’ve ever seen in college. While I’m not ready to hand out that title, he does appear to be next in the line of runners draft highly and expected to make a fast impact on the NFL. Barkley has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons and has already racked up over 500 yards this season through four games. Barkley is almost unanimously viewed as a top five NFL Draft pick in 2018 and is the runaway favorite to be the top drafted dynasty rookie pick. In DLF’s new Cornerstone Rankings, which compares players from the 2016-2018 rookie classes, Barkley ranks fourth behind only Ezekiel Elliott, Corey Davis and Michael Thomas.

2. Derrius Guice, LSU

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I mentioned the long-standing debate and the running back opposite of Barkley is of course LSU’s Derrius Guice, a powerful runner who broke out in 2016 as he took over for an injured Leonard Fournette. Guice is now facing a similar path to that of his former teammate as he has been dealing with injury woes early this season. After beating up on undermanned defenses in the first two games, Guice was banged up and the Tigers were demolished by Mississippi State. He played the next game but probably shouldn’t and essentially served as the backup. Guice will sit out this weekend against Troy. Also like Fournette, Guice is rarely used in the passing game, but at this point NFL teams should understand that’s just part of the Tigers’ offense. While his season is off to a relatively poor start, he’s still being viewed as a likely first-round NFL Draft pick and there is a wide gap between him and whoever you consider the third best back in the class.

3. Kalen Ballage, Arizona State

After the clear top two options in the class, Barkley and Guice, the running back group is wide open and a case could be made for several different players as high as third overall. My personal favorite at this time is Kalen Ballage of Arizona State. Working in a backfield committee with fellow senior Damario Richard thus far this season, Ballage has 226 yards on the ground, with another 51 coming as a receiver. Ballage has a huge frame at 6’3” and 222 pounds, but he also possesses impressive speed. His coach, Todd Graham, has projected Ballage will post a 4.4 40 at the NFL Combine following the season. If that prediction proves to be correct, Ballage will be a hot commodity in dynasty rookie drafts.

4. Nick Chubb, Georgia

The favorite for most as the RB3 in the 2018 class will most likely be Nick Chubb of Georgia. It was widely presumed that Chubb would be part of the stacked 2017 running back class, but he surprisingly chose to return to school for his senior season. Chubb has not looked like the same player since suffering a devastating knee injury midway through his sophomore year. Prior to that, he was being viewed and valued in the same range as Leonard Fournette and the other top running backs in the current rookie class. Chubb did manage to return to the field, which is impressive by itself, but he also totaled over 1,000 rushing yards as a junior. This season, the Bulldogs have added even more backfield depth and Chubb is the leading man in a full-blown committee. This could be good news for Chubb, who will be entering the NFL with as many as 750 collegiate carries. Chubb must continue to work and prove he can regain what he once had before the injury. If that doesn’t happen, he’ll be just another back in this deep class.

5. Ronald Jones II, USC

Maybe the most explosive back, outside of do it all Barkley, is USC’s Ronald Jones II, the speedy back who can find holes in the defense like few others. Jones’ size, 6’0”, 200 pounds, could be a knock, but he’s more suited to be one-half of a strong NFL tandem anyway. Jones has added some weight over the off-season and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has compared Jones to Jamaal Charles, thanks to his combination of speed, power and elusiveness. Jones should be in the mix to be a first-round dynasty rookie pick.

6. Akrum Wadley, Iowa

The no-nonsense runner from Iowa Akrum Wadley has been quite impressive in the early going this season. Not only does he obviously lead the Hawkeyes in rushing (338 yards, two touchdowns) but he is also the team’s leading receiver with 227 yards and another two scores on ten receptions. The dual threat back should be highly attractive to NFL teams as he can essentially do it all, though he could stand to improve his pass-protection, which is the case for most college backs. If Wadley falls to the second round of dynasty drafts, he’ll be an excellent value.

7. Royce Freeman, Oregon

Like Chubb from Georgia, Oregon’s Royce Freeman was penciled in as a member of the draft class of 2017 before ultimately deciding to return to school for his final collegiate season. Freeman has been a pivotal part of the Ducks offense since he stepped on campus. After rushing for 1,365 and 1,836 yards in his first two seasons, Freeman’s numbers dipped in his junior season as the team struggled for the first time in years and Freeman missed a couple of games with an injury. With a new coaching staff leading the way, Freeman looks revitalized this season, currently leading the nation in rushing touchdowns with ten. Considering his size (5’11”, 230 pounds) Freeman is an elusive back who can often make defenders miss just as easily as he can run over them.

8. Damien Harris, Alabama

The Alabama backfield is so crowded it can be difficult to project which players could actually break through and eventually become an NFL contributor. The Crimson Tide are loaded with former five star running back recruits, yet it is their quarterback, Jalen Hurts, who leads the team in rushing. Next up is the junior Damien Harris, who was routinely overlooked as fans were focused on the power of Bo Scarbrough or the all-around game of true freshman Najee Harris. Harris did lead the team in rushing a year ago, though he may not feel ready to make the leap to the NFL following the season. This crowded backfield could look very similar next season. If Harris does declare following his junior season, he’ll be a value in the middle or late second round.

9. L.J. Scott, Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans rushing leader from the past two seasons, junior LJ Scott, has already made his feelings known about leaving early for the NFL Draft, and it was clearly a top priority this off-season. Also this off-season, Scott reportedly underwent multiple surgeries, though we are not clear about any further details. Scott may be forced to change his tune about making the leap if his play doesn’t improve and the backs listed just below are all closing in on Scott. He’s not even leading the team in rushing right now, being limited to 186 yards on 44 carries through three games. After looking stiff in his freshman season, Scott showed some wiggle a year ago, but looks different again this season, and this time that is not an improvement.

10. Sony Michel, Georgia

Much like his teammate Chubb, senior running back Sony Michel snubbed the NFL a year ago and stayed in school. That may feel like a poor decision at this time as he’s dealt with a bum ankle for the past few weeks and freshman D’Andre Swift is playing well in his absence. Michel has a lot to overcome and must get healthy and earn more snaps if he hopes to improve his draft stock. Right now, he feels like a player who could fall to the early portion of the third round in dynasty rookie drafts.

Other Contenders: Bo Scarbrough, Myles Gaskin, Kamryn Pettway, John Kelly, Ty Johnson, Bryce Love, Shannon Brooks, Rashaad Penny

2019 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft

    1. N’Keal Harry, WR Arizona State
    2. Dekaylin Metcalf, Mississippi
    3. Kelvin Harmon, NC State
    4. Ahmonn Richards, Miami
    5. AJ Brown, Mississippi
    6. Bryan Edwards, South Carolina
    7. Damarea Crockett, Missouri
    8. Demetris Robertson, California
    9. Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M
    10. Tyrie Cleveland, WR Florida
    11. Michael Pittman, WR USC
    12. Devwah Whaley, RB Arkansas

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ryan mcdowell