Now that the NFL Draft is drawing near and dynasty owners all across the country are making their draft boards, it’s time to start helping by reviewing all running backs in order of current average draft position. Not all players pan out at the NFL level, so I am going to be critical at times that require it.
Why should you listen to what I have to say? Prior to writing for DLF, I was a running back coach who traveled the East Coast attending coaching clinics and seminars. I’ve talked with scouts and studied with offensive and positional coaches, and learned which characteristics make elite running backs and which make busts.
As such, I’ve been making RB reviews for the past several seasons. Some of my best calls in years prior include; Ke'Shawn Vaughn being a flop, Darrell Henderson a bust, and Devin Singletary and Myles Gaskin being sleepers.
I had some good calls last year, but my specialty is finding players to avoid in the first round and players to acquire in later rounds. Below is an excerpt that – if you heeded my advice – you came out ahead. I advised that Trey Sermon was a second-rounder at best, then said the following:
“... Sermon will shoot up in value the day he becomes the starter, and that’ll happen sometime this year because Raheem Mostert will indeed get injured. When that happens, Sermon will have a great game or two, and that’s when you can flip him for more value. This is not the kind of player you want to hang onto long-term” (Source)
Now that my credentials are on full display, I would like to introduce a grading system for this year’s rankings. It’ll help show you where I tier rookie running backs and how far apart I view them to be. Below is the ranking system I will be using as well as each grade’s definition.
Grading System:
- A = Elite / Early to middle first-round pick
- B = NFL starter potential / Late first or early to middle second-round pick
- C = RBBC or COP Back at best / Middle or late second to third-round pick
- D = Lifetime backup or goal-line back / Late third or fourth-round pick
- F = Bust / Draft with extreme caution
Rookie ADP: RB1
