NFL Draft Position Breakdown – RB Edition

Position Outlook

Position Rank among other positions:

• Top-End Talent – 10th (of 11)
• Depth – 6th
• 1st Round Caliber Players – 3 (9th)
• Overall – 10th

This position isn’t like other years. There is no elite talent, like a Saquon Barkley, Todd Gurley, or Ezekiel Elliott, and it isn’t nearly up to the caliber of the legendary 2017 RB Draft Class. Still, there are plenty of players to get excited about, and I expect multiple players from this class to be quality NFL starters, at the very least.

Top 10 Ranking

1. Breece Hall ISU – Full Scouting Report
2. Dameon Pierce FLA – Full Scouting Report
3. Rachaad White ASU – Full Scouting Report
4. Isaiah Spiller TA&M – Full Scouting Report
5. Hassan Haskins MICH – Full Scouting Report
6. James Cook UGA – Full Scouting Report
7. Kyren Williams ND – Full Scouting Report
8. Pierre Strong Jr. SDSU – Full Scouting Report
9. Brian Robinson Jr. ALA – Full Scouting Report
10. Kenneth Walker III MSU – Full Scouting Report

Aside from having Hall as the RB1, there isn’t much that is guaranteed with this position. Even that, honestly, isn’t a large gap between RB1 and RB2. Many talented players are flying far under the radar.
The tiers can be split mostly in half here, as I am confident the Top 5 should be NFL starters at the next level, while the next 5 are very intriguing options with potential, however limited.

Ranking Notes

Overrated

• Kenneth Walker III MSU – This is the doozy. Most scouts have KW3 as their RB1. As a Back who can’t pass-block or receive, who was also very small, I don’t see a path to success. Despite his solid physical measurable at the Combine, he played much smaller than that. Additionally, his elusiveness is greatly overrated.
• Keaontay Ingram USC – Aside from good size and play-speed, there is nothing to get excited about with Ingram.

Underrated

• Rachaad White ASU – Displayed a natural feel for the game, and an outstanding vision and elusiveness. He looks like a seasoned vet on springs.
• Dameon Pierce FLA – If it weren’t for his poor Combine, he would be my RB1. He has it all and is shockingly going unnoticed.
• Hassan Haskins MICH – A rare quickness to pair with his large size. He was very nimble for his weight and could provide a great power/quickness combo.
• Pierre Strong Jr. SDSU – Very complete Back. Large, quick, great vision, etc. He didn’t blow me away, but he is too polished and talented to let slide too far.

Sleepers

• Isaih Pacheco RUTG – Great size/speed combo. Unfortunately, he did little to nothing at Rutgers, so his prospects aren’t too shiny. Still, he’s worth a late-round shot.
• Kevin Harris SC – A rare athleticism to pair with his stocky and powerful frame. He has intriguing traits that will boost his stock.
• Tyler Allgeier BYU – Arguably one of the best bruisers in the NFL already. His height-weight ratio is unreal, and he isn’t slow either.

Biggest Risers

• Dameon Pierce FLA – The Senior Bowl helped his stock, and although his Combine was damning, he has risen on boards overall since the season’s end. His great Senior Bowl put him on the map.
• Breece Hall ISU – After one of the best RB Combines in recent history, Hall secured his spot as the clear-cut and undisputed RB1.

Biggest Fallers

• Kyren Williams ND – Few had as dreadful a Combine as Williams. He was among the top Running Backs on everyone’s board in January, but now you will be hard-pressed to find him in any Top 5.
• Isaiah Spiller TA&M – My initial RB1, Spiller popped off the screen when watching his tape. Unfortunately, his terrible Combine and horrendous advanced stats (box-adjusted efficiency, yards over expected, etc) paint a very different picture.
• Zamir White UGA – Despite having a good Combine, White has fallen far since his 5-star-recruit days. Injuries have derailed an exceptionally promising young career.

Superlative Ranks

Best Athlete

1. Breece Hall ISU
2. Rachaad White ASU
3. Pierre Strong Jr. SDSU
4. Kevin Harris SC
5. Isaih Pacheco RUTG

Best Power Back

1. Dameon Pierce FLA
2. Brian Robinson Jr. ALA
3. Tyler Allgeier BYU
4. Pierre Strong Jr. SDSU
5. Breece Hall ISU

Best Receiving Back

1. James Cook UGA
2. Rachaad White ASU
3. Kyren Williams ND
4. Zonovan Knight NCST
5. Dameon Pierce FLA

Best Blocker

1. Dameon Pierce FLA
2. Breece Hall ISU
3. Brian Robinson Jr. ALA
4. Hassan Haskins MICH
5. Pierre Strong Jr. SDSU

Most Complete

1. Breece Hall ISU
2. Dameon Pierce FLA
3. Hassan Haskins MICH
4. Jerome Ford CIN
5. Pierre Strong Jr. SDSU

Best Quickness

1. James Cook UGA
2. Rachaad White ASU
3. Kenneth Walker III MSU
4. Dameon Pierce FLA
5. Hassan Haskins MICH

Best Vision

1. Kenneth Walker III MSU
2. Isaiah Spiller TA&M
3. Breece Hall ISU
4. Rachaad White ASU
5. Dameon Pierce FLA

Most Elusive

1. Isaiah Spiller TA&M
2. Rachaad White ASU
3. Kyren Williams ND
4. Dameon Pierce FLA
5. James Cook UGA

Final Projection

If any of these Backs go in the 1st round, it will likely be Hall. As the consensus RB1, teams picking in the back half of the 1st know they can’t get him in the 2nd, and that could lead them to pull the trigger earlier than his value would dictate.
After that, it’s anyone’s guess with this position. I believe even KW3 will drop in the Draft due to his severe 3rd-down limitations. Some of these players will even go undrafted, but the class is rich with talent.

See the Running Backs’ overall ranking among other players on my Big Board.

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