In the last few years, a handful of rookie running backs has come in and immediately made fantasy impacts during their rookie year. Recently, Ezekiel Elliott, Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb, and Leonard Fournette have all been selected in the first or second rounds just a few short years after they were drafted. Now, both Miles Sanders and Josh Jacobs are in first-round consideration heading into their sophomore campaigns. This year, a few teams jostled their running back rooms by taking a running back early in the draft. Baltimore, Detroit, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, and the Rams each took intriguing options at the running back positions that will be talked about.
Baltimore Ravens
Mark Ingram – RB26, 64th Overall
J.K. Dobbins – RB35, 91st Overall
Justice Hill – RB83, 290th Overall
Gus Edwards – RB92, 345th Overall
Ingram finished as the RB11 last year despite sitting out a game. His current draft price is a bargain given Baltimore runs the most in the league. He is a perfect fit in Baltimore’s scheme and he and Lamar Jackson mesh well with one another. The selection of Dobbins in the second round was a bit of a luxury pick for the Ravens, giving their offense, even more, star power. While Ingram had 26 catches last year, Dobbins will likely take over in that role as the pass-catching running back and offers a different skill set than Ingram. Hill was selected in last year’s draft and will likely be the fourth back in the rotation while Gus Edwards looks to potentially be a burden to both Ingram and Dobbins. Edwards posted over 700 yards each of the last two years, including an average of over five yards a carry. There are also some murmurs about him being on the roster bubble.
Final Verdict: Ingram is a perfect fit as an RB1 on a receiver-heavy team, as well as an RB2 or FLEX play on balanced teams. Dobbins is likely a FLEX option at best this year or an RB2 on bye-heavy weeks with the potential to be an RB1 if any injury were to happen to Ingram. Edwards is worthy of a last-round flier and could provide a high-upside flex play in those bye-heavy weeks. Hill isn’t worth a selection unless injuries occur to two of the three ahead of him.
Detroit Lions
D’Andre Swift – RB25, 63rd Overall
Kerryon Johnson – RB37, 97th Overall
Bo Scarbrough – N/A
In what could’ve been a breakout campaign for Johnson last year, the coaching staff didn’t give him the opportunity. To make matters worse, the front office decided to take another highly-touted back. Swift’s current draft value is way too rich, which was talked about here. He is currently going in the same range as Ingram, David Montgomery, Devin Singletary, Raheem Mostert, and Kareem Hunt. Both Swift and Johnson could have a role with Scarbrough potentially stealing touchdowns. It seems as though this could be a full-fledged committee. Being a committee, it seems as though Detroit’s rushing attack could be worse this year than last as the Lions lost two starters on the offensive line and will likely continue to lose, making them throw the ball more.
Final Verdict: Stay clear of this backfield if possible. Swift and Johnson could both give FLEX appeal some weeks but could also sink your team in others if Detroit gets behind their opponents early.
Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor – RB22, 48th Overall
Marlon Mack – RB39, 105th Overall
Nyheim Hines – RB51, 149th Overall
Jordan Wilkins – N/A
Once again, Taylor’s current draft positioning isn’t where it should be which was highlighted here. He is currently being selected in the fourth and fifth rounds while Mack is around the eighth and ninth rounds. Both figures to receive around ten touches a game and there shouldn’t be that large of a gap between the two in their draft positioning. The Colts could become one of the top rushing teams in the league this year behind the duo of Mack and Taylor. Hines could be one of the steals of the draft. With Philip Rivers coming to the Colts, Hines becomes one of the top targets in the passing attack. With his current selection being late in the draft, he could certainly be a league-winner. Wilkins could factor in here and there but won’t have weekly value.
Final Verdict: All three of Hines, Mack, and Taylor have weekly FLEX appeal. Depending on the week, only one might have a good week, while others all three will have standout performances. If Taylor’s hype continues to increase, his draft stock could soar and potentially be at a point where he’s drafted as an RB2 instead of a FLEX. Mack and Hines are steals at their current price.
Los Angeles Rams
Cam Akers – RB29, 69th Overall
Darrell Henderson – RB42, 113th Overall
Malcolm Brown – RB72, 246th Overall
John Kelly – N/A
Even with Dobbins being on the board with their first selection in April’s draft, the Rams opted to select Akers. The draft community was very split on Akers and while he maybe went too high, the Rams seem to be a decent fit. With Todd Gurley being cut and going to the Falcons, the door is wide open for a new running back to emerge for the Rams and their explosive offense. It seems like this could be Akers’ job to lose. Sean McVay has said multiple times that the backfield could be a full-blown committee between all four of these players, but if Akers impresses in the short camp time, he could run away with the starting spot. Henderson seemingly lost his chance as Brown was getting reps over him as the starting spot when Gurley wasn’t on the field last year. Kelly could also factor into the mix.
Final Verdict: Akers is currently one of the best rookies regarding talent, situation, and his current draft slot. He’s being selected around the FLEX range and could potentially end up as a high-end RB2 if the Rams offense explodes like it did in 2018. Both Henderson and Brown could factor in and could be late dart throws, but Akers is the back to own here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ronald Jones II – RB30, 75th Overall
Ke’Shawn Vaughn – RB44, 121st Overall
LeSean McCoy – RB60, 217th Overall
Dare Ogunbowale – RB108, 411th Overall
In what seemed like an already crowded backfield, the addition of McCoy made it even more crowded. Jones looked to have finally lost his touch and the selection of Vaughn put him in the dog house. Fortunately, word out of Tampa Bay is that Vaughn likely won’t be the starting back at the beginning of the season and might be relegated to return duties early. Jones could finally have his breakout season, just a year later than most expected. McCoy could find some touches in some instances but there isn’t any shot he’s a bell-cow back for the Buccaneers at his age. Ogunbowale is only slightly relevant in PPR leagues as he ranked tied for 28th at the running back position with 36 catches last year.
Final Verdict: Jones finally appears ready for a breakout campaign and will be a bargain as the current RB30 if he does. The Buccaneers improved their offensive line and Jones has some production as a pass-catcher as well which works well in his favor. Vaughn will likely carve a role as the season goes on but Bruce Arians isn’t one to play rookie running backs until he feels they’re ready.
For this year it seems the trio of Akers, Dobbins, and Taylor are the rookie running backs to draft outside of Clyde Edwards-Helaire within the first seven rounds. Swift and Vaughn will likely be in committees on offenses that aren’t known for running the ball.
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