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2022 Rookie Running Back Class: Dynasty Fantasy Football Post-Draft Grades

Mike Havens offers his view of this year’s running back class by dishing out post-draft grades.

 Dameon Pierce
Posted on

That was not an exciting NFL Draft for running backs. We didn’t see a single back go off the board until day two, and hardly any running backs were taken before day three, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t value to be had. Some of the landing spots are fantastic, and I’m here to break down the post-draft ranks to help you plan for your rookie drafts.

This is the final part of a multi-part series. The rest of the series can be found here. In this article, I will give you a pre and post-draft rank, followed by a short blurb about each player. Good luck!

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

Breece Hall, RB NYJ

Pre-Draft Grade: A+
Post-Draft Grade: A

The landing spot is not pleasant based on history, so I bumped him down a tad. Name the last offensive players from the Jets who you were excited to own. That’s hard to do, but perhaps Hall can change that since I view him as team-proof. I also like the current coaching staff and the direction the Jets are headed, so maybe there’s something to be positive about in New York. Maybe.

Kenneth Walker III, RB SEA

Pre-Draft Grade: A-
Post-Draft Grade: A

I liked Walker pre-draft, but he’s going to need a full year to develop as a well-rounded back in this league. The landing spot, however, has historically been kind to running backs. If it can turn Chris Carson into a must-own running back for several seasons in a row, imagine what it can do for this prime prospect. If anyone wanted to draft Walker over Hall, I wouldn’t scold them, but personally I like Hall better.

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2022 Rookie Running Back Class: Dynasty Fantasy Football Post-Draft Grades
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Carter Wykoff
8 months ago

You forgot Zander Horvath AKA Mike Alstott Jr.

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Mike Havens
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Reply to  Carter Wykoff
8 months ago

Well he’s a fullback so I didn’t include him. If he has an Alstott like career, that’ll be amazing.
I sure do miss guys like that.

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Charles Day
8 months ago

This was already a weak dynasty class, and then the draft happened and it became a pile of hot garbage. I was ready to target Robinson and Ford in the mid-to-late second round, but they couldn’t have gotten worse landing spots. Really didn’t like Allgeier and he goes to the prime RB landing spot in the draft.

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Mike Havens
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Reply to  Charles Day
8 months ago

You said it.

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Ed Sulek
8 months ago

Mike as usual great stuff, these RB articles are some of my most anticipated articles on DLF each year. Thanks for all this insight!

I was wondering though, is there a reason you no longer include a numerical rating value for each RB or even text that clearly identifies where exactly he falls on your RB ranking list? For example see at the bottom of this post in which I copied one such from this same article covering the 2021 RB class right after the draft where you gave Javonte Williams (who I drafted thanks to your advice) a 90 value and also specified him as your RB3.

One of the big reasons I ask is because I have both the 1.11 and 1.12 picks this year and it is hard for me to identify who might be my best bet around that area other then perhaps any of the guys you have with some form of a “B” grade. Separating those players with the same letter grade from one another is much more difficult for someone like myself without that additional information.

With that said, for a team that is pretty well set at all other positions outside of RB, what RB’s would you deem it not a reach possibly taking with those 1.11 and 1.12 picks in a 12 team 1QB .5 PPR league?

JAVONTE WILLIAMS, RB DENPre-Draft Grade: B / My RB5
Post-Draft Grade: A- / My RB3 / 90

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Mike Havens
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Reply to  Ed Sulek
8 months ago

I didn’t give any numerical grades this time because I was racking my brain trying to guess. I gave Hall a 95 and Walker a 92 and then I stopped because the rest were so complicated.

For what it’s worth, I’d recommend you take BPA, regardless if you have a need at RB or not.

However, If you’re OTC with 1.11 and Rachaad White is sitting there, I’d be tempted to pull the trigger. He was my third favorite RB pre draft, a dual threat, instinctive, and landed on a team that made someone like Fournette a star. Fournette can also be cut from the Bucs to clear the third most cap space in 2023, so that’s a plus for White.

The downside is that White is slower and older than most backs who enter the NFL, his weight-to-height ratio is smaller than ideal (3.0 vs 2.8), he’ll be second fiddle to Fournette to start the year, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll ever be the #1.

It’s hard to give numerical grades this time around for those reasons. I like Robinson in the second and I’m seeing Ingram fall all the way to the late 3rd and fourth rounds. Those are better value IMO. I have a team with 10 WRs and only 2 RBs, and with my 11th and 14th overall picks I chose two more WRs.

I just don’t trust the crop this year.

Last edited 8 months ago by Mike Havens
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Jeff Melbostad
8 months ago

Excellent article. Just the right amount of opinion mixed in with the facts. The grades make it easy to consume. We’ll done.

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