Top Running Back Prospects

Leonard Fournette
LSU RB #7

Player Profile

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 240 Lbs
3,830 rushing yards, 40 TD
526 receiving yards, 1 TD
2016 2nd-Team All-SEC
2015 1st-Team All-American
2015 1st-Team All-SEC

Strengths

Thick physical body.  Man among boys in the SEC.  A one-cut north and south runner that presses the LOS (line of scrimmage) in a hurry.  Runs angry and is thirsty for contact.  Shoots trough gaps with good burst to the second level.  Defensive backs have almost no chance of stopping him one-on-one in the open field.  Devastating stiff arm ability and brutal upper body strength.  Great balance and leg drive through contact.  Can move a pile on his own.  A physical freak that can run through, around and away from defenders.

Weaknesses

Lacks patience in the hole and will stick his head into a pile instead of scanning for an open lane.  Above average lateral agility for his size, but doesn't have enough wiggle to make defenders miss in a phone booth.  Wasn't asked to pass protect much in college.  Throw lazy chip blocks instead of staying square.  Pass catching ability is unproven in game situations.

Final Verdict

Leonard Fournette is a beast.  A physical freak of nature that will make tacklers pay the price.  Quiet competitor and leader.  Old school running back that can carry the load and brings physicality to the position.  Has a lot of "wow" moments in his highlight reel.  A special player that forces the defense to take him into account.  Although he lacks the versatility of the other top backs, Fournette is a playmaker that should go early in round 1.

Draft Projection: Top 10

Dalvin Cook
Florida State RB #4

Player Profile

Height: 5'10"
Weight: 210 Lbs
4,464 rushing yards, 46 TD
935 receiving yards, 2 TD
2x All-American (2015,16)
2x 1st-Team All-ACC (2015,16)
2015 Jim Brown Award

Strengths

Prototypical running back for the NFL of today.  Top production in a conference filled with next level talent.  Initial burst through the hole is top notch.  Instant acceleration in and out of cuts coupled with break away speed.  Gets to the edge and is able to turn the corner.  Great lateral jump cut ability in the hole.  Deceiving power for a back his size.  Shifty and elusive at the second level.  Possesses great vision and patience.  Sets up blocks well at the LOS and can string multiple moves together once he sees daylight.  A mismatch out of the backfield.  Snatches the ball out of the air instead of letting it get into his body.

Weaknesses

Mental errors are his downfall.  A few off-field issues while at FSU.  Ball security issues.  Fumble prone throughout his career and will also have the occasional concentration drop.  Inconsistent in pass protection.  Sometimes late to recognize the blitz and will let in a free rusher.  Often tries to do too much.  Dances looking for a big play instead of taking the 3-yard gain.

Final Verdict

Cook is an electrifying runner that has the explosiveness to take it the distance.  A lot of similarities to Jamaal Charles' skill-set and play-style.  His pass catching ability and quickness make him a threat out of the backfield.  If he can fix the mental lapses, he has pro bowl potential.  Because of his versatility, he could be the first running back off the board.

Draft Projection: Top 20

Christian McCaffrey
Stanford RB #5

Player Profile

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 202 Lbs
3,922 rushing yards, 21 TD
1,206 receiving yards, 10 TD
1,859 total return yards, 2 TD
2015 1st-Team All-American
2015 AP Player of the Year
2015 Pac 12 Offensive Player of the Year

Strengths

Is a playmaker with the ball in his hands.  Elite production as a runner, receiver and returner.  Short choppy steps that allow him to cut without loosing speed.  Quick decisive jump cuts.  Good vision and patience in the hole.  Is more powerful than he looks and can make tacklers look silly in tight areas.  The best hands and route running ability of any back in this class.  Gets in and out of breaks with precision.  Natural hands that never let the ball bet into his body.  Identifies blitzes and is a willing blocker in pass protection.

Weaknesses

There is not a lot of power behind his pads.  Will struggle to push the pile at the next level.  Ran a bit faster at the combine than his game tape would suggest.  Put on some muscle in 2016, and looked a step slower than his 2015 tape as a result.  What is his natural/ideal playing weight that will maximize his ability?  A willing blocker that can be overpowered by bigger defenders.

Final Verdict

The son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey.  McCaffrey is a chess piece that offensive coordinators will move around.  Has the potential to play multiple positions on offense including wide receiver.  A bigger version of Julian Edelman.  Short area agility and quickness is second to none.  He will be a mismatch nightmare for defensive coordinators to scheme against.  Look for McCaffrey to be a top fantasy rookie in 2017.

Draft Projection: 1st-Round

Alvin Kamara
Tennessee RB #6

Player Profile

Height: 5'10
Weight: 214 Lbs
1,294 rushing yards, 16 TD
683 receiving yards, 7 TD

Strengths

A big play waiting to happen.  An explosive athlete with break away speed.  Decisive in the hole.  Sees an opening and hits it.  Another versatile chess piece that offensive coordinators will love.  Has played in the backfield and outside as a receiver.  A threat on jet sweeps, reverses and direct snaps.  Gets to the edge and turns the corner in a hurry.  Good hands out of the backfield.  Is capable of making catches outside of his frame.

Weaknesses

A lack of production at one position is a concern.  Is he a gadget player, or full-time offensive threat?  Doesn't posses elite shake and bake in the open field.  Ball security could be an issue.  Not many fumbles to his credit, but carries the ball like a loaf of bread.  Needs to keep it high and tight in the open field.  Lacks the desired power of a workhorse running back.  Never had more than 20 carries in a single game.

Final Verdict

Kamara is an explosive player that should get 10-15 touches as a pro.  Was a do-it-all offensive weapon at Tennessee.  Even if he might not have a set position, he is a player that needs touches.  He's a bit raw, but has a lot of potential to make an impact at the next level.

Draft Projection: Early 2nd-Round

Joe Mixon
Oklahoma RB #25

Player Profile

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 226 Lbs
2,027 rushing yards, 17 TD
894 receiving yards, 9 TD
2016 1st-Team All-Big 12
Suspended for entire 2014 season

Strengths

Arguably the best all around running back in this draft.  Ideal height and weight for the position.  A rare combination of speed and power.  Runs angry and has above average contact balance.  Great feet and lateral quickness for a back his size.  Will make over aggressive defenders look silly.  Good burst through the line and a threat to take it the distance once he sees daylight.  A weapon in the passing game.  Soft natural hands and a decent route runner. 

Weaknesses

Egregious error on his part in 2014 altercation.  Lucky to be suspended for one year.  Doesn't seem to have learned his lesson and apology was two years too late.  Some teams will have already taken him off their draft board.  Someone you might not want to have in your locker room and a PR distraction for the organization.  Takes plays off when he isn't the primary option.  For someone with his size and skill, he gets ankle tackled an awful lot.  Lacks the ideal pile pushing prowess.  His feet slow down in traffic and doesn't consistently drive them through contact.  At times is a bit too cute in the backfield.  Will make unnecessary cuts and take big losses.

Final Verdict

Without the character concerns, Mixon is arguably a top 10 pick.  Equipped with a LeVeon Bell skill-set that sets him apart from most backs in this class.  However, because of his mistake he will have to pay the price.  Hopefully he can straighten out his head and stick to being physical on the football field.  If I was a GM, I wouldn't take him.  However, someone will because his talent level is so high.  A strong chain of command, locker room leadership and contingency plan going forward is needed to help him succeed.

Draft Projection: 3rd-Round to 5th-Round

D'Onta Foreman
Texas RB #33

Player Profile

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 233 Lbs
2,774 rushing yards, 20 TD
2016 Doak Walker Award
2016 1st-Team All-American
2016 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
2016 FBS leader in rushing yards (2,028)

Strengths

Thick and compact frame.  Physical runner between the tackles.  Runs with a lower center of gravity and keeps his feet churning in traffic.  Great pad level and rolls with contact to elude tacklers.  Good short area burst allows him to shoot through gaps into the secondary.  Gets skinny in tight areas and can make tacklers miss in the hole.  Good, not great speed in the open field.  Imposes his will on to a defense.  Runs with purpose and passion.  Very strong in end game situations.

Weaknesses

Biggest issue is ball security.  Put the ball on the turf when fighting for extra yardage far too often.  Fumbled six times in 2016 and lost all of them.  Has almost no production as a receiver out of the backfield.  Could be a two down back at the next level.  A liability in pass protection.  Late to recognize blitzes and will throw an occasional lazy block.  Average long speed for the position.

Final Verdict

Foreman is an interesting prospect.  1-year of top production in 2016.  He runs very hard and makes defenders work to bring him down.  A lack of production in all areas of the passing game will be a question going forward.  At this point in his career he is a two-down running back that will need a complementary back to spell him on third down.

Draft Projection: Late 3rd-Round

Samaje Perine
Oklahoma RB #32

Player Profile

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 233 Lbs
4,122 rushing yards, 40 TD
321 receiving yards, 2 TD
2014 2nd-Team All American
2014 1st-Team All-Big 12
FBS record for rushing yards in a single game (427)

Strengths

Thick bodied runner with a lot of lower body strength.  Runs with good pad level and fights through contact.  Good instincts and balance in tight spaces.  Capable of making defenders miss or running over them.  Has the power and leg drive to drag tacklers in the second level of the defense.  Good hands on screens and short passes out of the backfield.  Rushed for 427 yards in the rain vs Kansas in 2014.

Weaknesses

Shows decent burst but is more of a one speed runner.  Lacks game changing speed that other backs in this class have.  He is a chunk runner instead of a home run hitter.  Played second fiddle to Joe Mixon in 2016 and struggled to consistently make big impacts in games.  A lazy blocker in pass protection.  Doesn't always look for extra work when he is free.

Final Verdict

Perine had an excellent freshman season followed by two good seasons with the return of fellow running back Joe Mixon.  When he was a freshman, his body-type, running-style and skill-set reminded me of a young Maurice Jones-Drew.  But in 2015 and 2016 his burst and top end speed didn't develop into what MJD had.  However, Perine still has a lot of talent to offer at the next level.  Look for him to be a solid mid round pick.

Draft Projection: 3rd-Round to 4th-Round

Marlon Mack
USF RB #5

Player Profile

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 213 Lbs
3,609 rushing yards, 32 TD
498 receiving yards, 1 TD
3x 1st-Team AAC (2014-16)
2015 AAC rushing leader
Career AAC rushing leader

Strengths

Exciting and explosive runner.  Exceptional burst to the second and third levels of the defense.  A big play waiting to happen.  Lose hips that allow him to change direction at will.  Capable of stringing multiple move together in the open field.  Pro ready jump cut ability in the hole and the speed to get outside.  Prefers to bounce it outside and get into space.  Break away speed and an exciting player to watch.  Possesses the rare ability to reverse field and outrun the defense to daylight.  A weaving running-style once he bursts into the secondary.

Weaknesses

An inconsistent runner between the tackles.  Looks to make a highlight reel play on every snap.  Needs to learn that a short gain is better than a potential big loss.  Will bounce it outside when nothing is there.  Lacks lower body strength to break tackles with power at the next level.  Won't move the pile once he is wrapped up.  Ball security needs work.  Resembles LeSean McCoy in terms of how he holds the ball.

Final Verdict

Marlon Mack dominated his conference for three years.  He is one of the most explosive backs in the class and has a highlight reel full of exciting runs.  Teams will have to temper his thirst for the big play and teach him to take what is available.  Early in his career, he is a change of pace back that could develop into a starter down the line.

Draft Projection: 4th-Round

James Connor
Pittsburg RB #24

Player Profile

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 233 Lbs
3,733 rushing yards, 52 TD
412 receiving yards, 4 TD
2014 ACC Player of the Year
2014 ACC Offensive Player of the Year
2014 1st-Team All-ACC
2016 Disney Sport Award Winner

Strengths

Resilient and tough individual.  First and foremost beat cancer which is more rewarding than anything he could achieve on the field.  That being said he is a great football player.  Grit and toughness are his calling cards.  A big bruising back that finishes through contact.  Is very tough to bring down once the gets a head of steam.  Stiff arm that sends shock waves through defenders bodies.  Good burst to the second level for a back his size.  Understandably lost a step in 2016 with almost no time to train after his recovery.  Expect him to be close to 2014 form in the years to come.

Weaknesses

Average speed and explosion in the open field.  A one speed runner that won't wow you with his wheels.  Doesn't make you miss as often as you would like.  Questionable vision at the LOS.  Will duck his head into traffic instead of cutting back against the grain to an open running lane.  For a back his size, he was stuffed a lot in short yardage situations this year.

Final Verdict

An inspiration to teammates and fans.  Quiet, humble and confident leader.  Hard worker and is tough as nails.  Leaves his heart out on the field and fights for every yard.  He is a touchdown machine (56 total) that has a nose for the goal line.  A better football player than athlete, but he's a hell of a player.  Teams will be wary of his health and recent tape, but this kid can play.  Look for Connor to be one of the feel good stories of day 3.

Draft Projection: 4th-Round to 6th-Round

Donnel Pumphrey
San Diego State RB #19

Player Profile

Height: 5'8"
Weight: 176 Lbs
6,405 rushing yards, 62 TD
1,035 receiving yards, 5 TD
2016 1st-Team All-American
2x MWC Player of the Year (2015,16)
2016 Jim Brown Award
All-Time Leader in FBS rushing yards

Strengths

Most rushing yards in FBS history.  Dominated his competition throughout his college career.  Elite short area quickness and foot speed.  Hides behind bigger offensive line before bursting into the second level with conviction.  Decisive cuts in the backfield and elite jump cut ability in the hole.  Works in between the tackles better than you would expect.  A competitive and edgy runner with the football.  Produces outside of the backfield and can line up in the slot as a receiver.  Has shown that he can shoulder the load.  Over 1,100 touches in his college career.

Weaknesses

Small thin frame.  Is a change of pace and third down option at the next level.  Because of his size and strength, he lacks the ideal power of a work horse running back.  Get dragged down by arm tackles and struggles to get away once his initial momentum is stopped.  Liability in pass protection.  Is overpowered by most defenders in one-on-one blitz pickup situations.

Final Verdict

Pumphrey is an exciting player to watch.  His consistent production ended in a historic career at SDSU.  He's a versatile back that can do it all.  Understands the position well and makes all the right reads.  Small enough to hide behind his offensive line and then burst past defenders once he sees a clearing.  Feisty player that runs with a chip on his shoulder.  Should have a Sproles/Woodhead role in the NFL for years to come.

Draft Projection: 5th-Round
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