2019 RB Rankings

1. Josh Jacobs Alabama 5’10 220 Jr. He didn’t work out at the Combine. He was never a dominant player in college due to a very light workload as he only had 85 carries for 567 6.7 avg 4 TDs in 2016, 46 carries for 284 6.2 avg 1 TD in 2017, and 120 carries for 640 5.3 avg 11 TD in 2018. He never had a 700 yard rushing season, let alone 1,000 yards rushing, and it’s a little surprising how Alabama didn’t use him more. They did the ultimate timeshare as three running backs had between 117-150 carries last year, resulting in none getting to 1,000 yards despite 15 games on their schedule. On film Jacobs looks the part of the traditional Alabama running back as he’s big, physical and runs over guys. He breaks a lot of tackles and has good quickness to make a defender miss when they try to size him up but strength and power are his calling cards. He’s a good player who projects as a clear cut starter in the pros, something this class has few of, but in most years he wouldn’t be a #1 RB in a draft class. I love his power, love his frame, and think he has good vision and cuts but he only projects as an above average starting RB in the pros. I don’t see a future star with him like I did the top guy in the past four or so draft classes (Barkley, Fournette-oops, Elliott, Gurley) and he’s not an ideal fit for every offense as he has enough quickness to be a threat as a receiver but he’s more of a traditional between the tackles runner. Jacobs never showed that he could be a bell cow runner but I expect him to be capable of that role. In glimpses there was star talent so maybe the only reason I’m not high on him is Saban kept him in bubble wrap for 3 years at Alabama but he just seems like a step below talent wise other stud backs so it surprises me that some view him as a 1st round talent. Mid 2nd as my #1 RB who projects as a good starter in the pros despite his very minimal production at Alabama but doesn’t have the elusiveness or talent as a pass catcher to warrant any higher of a grade. 4/24/19
2. Miles Sanders Penn State 5’11 211 Jr. He ran a 4.49 40 (elite), 20 reps (elite), ‘36 vertical (very good), 10’4 broad (very good), 4.19 shuttle (above average), and 6.89 3 cone (elite). He aced his Combine with a great all around athleticism profile as he was above average at least in every category and elite in quite a few. He was a bit player in 2016 (184 7.4 avg 1 TD) and 2017 (191 6.2 avg 2 TD) while backing up all-world Saquon Barkley and then had his moment in the sun in 2018 (1274 5.8 avg 9 TD). He’s actually somewhat similar to Barkley as he has great pad level, has outstanding lateral agility, and is very good in space making just vicious cuts. He isn’t nearly the talent of Barkley but he has some NFL starter potential himself. He is a bit of an odd player though as he is very tight and doesn’t juke well on most runs but has a great jump cut that he uses well. It’s really his only move as he’s a very straight runner outside of it and makes him one dimensional. He’s a physical runner and does not go down on arm tackles. He has a decent stiff arm and battles through a lot of tacklers. He has great athleticism but isn’t the most natural runner and has a lot of false steps. He doesn’t always run with determination and seems to struggle with how quickly he processes the landscape in front of him and where to go. He has some outstanding film but I hesitate to give him a high grade due to his lack of feel for running the ball and how raw he is. Getting so few reps in college is likely the reason and could be alleviated quickly in the NFL but it also leaves him as a more likely candidate to be a bust. Sanders has a very high ceiling due to his elite athleticism but he’s still a raw player who needs more reps and could be a bust if he never gains a better feel for running the ball which less talented players like Benny Snell already have. As such he’s a bit of a roll of the dice boom/bust type prospect but one who I think will pan out. Late 2nd round as my #2 RB 4/24/19
3. Damien Harris Alabama 5’10 ⅛ 216 Sr. He ran a 4.57 40 (below average), 16 reps, ‘37 vertical (very good), and 10’1 broad (average). He was a bit player in 2015 (157 3.4 avg 1 TD), had a very good year in 2016 (1,037 7.1 avg 2 TD), basically the same year in 2017 (1,000 7.4 avg 11 TD), and a comparable but slightly down year in 2018 (876 5.8 avg 9 TD). Damien was Mr. Consistency during his Alabama career as he had three good years, two of which with an elite yards per carry average above 7.0, yet never was the bell cow at Alabama resulting in him being a bit overlooked. Nick Saban said he thought Damien Harris had the best vision of any back he’s ever coached. High praise from an all-time great coach and I see it on film as Harris does all the little things well and is why I call him Mr. Consistency as he was just that steady, very good player who Alabama relied on. Josh Jacobs is clearly the superior prospect as he’s bigger, stronger, and faster but Harris has NFL starter potential as well. It’s interesting that the Cowboys really like him as to me Harris is a poor man’s Zeke with great vision, good pad level, and a lower ceiling running style which churns out the hard yards in exchange for fewer big runs. It’s what they want in their running back so I get their interest, though I consider it a poor strategic choice to focus on a back up running back when you have a franchise RB in his prime-but I digress. Harris is arguably the most natural runner in this draft class and has a smooth running style which I prefer. He has great pad level, good balance, good strength, elite vision, and has good but not great athleticism. I think people are sleeping on Harris with his two years of 1,000 yard seasons on +7.0 ypc, his natural running style, and his better than advertised athleticism. There’s a reason he got more carries last year than Josh Jacobs. He’s a highly polished, lower upside RB that ends as an early 3rd rounder as my #3 RB who does all the little things well and would be a 1st rounder if he had a better size/speed ratio. He projects as an average starter in the NFL but one who could be a bell cow so he could surprise with how productive he is if put in the right setting. 4/25/19
4. Dexter Williams Notre Dame 5’11 212 Sr. He ran a 4.57 40 (average), 17 reps, ‘36 vertical (good), 10’10 broad (elite), 4.16 shuttle (elite), and 7.00 3 cone (elite). He had a really good Combine overall with no weaknesses and a number of elite measurables. He barely played in 2015 as a freshman (21 carries), was a backup in 2016 (200 5.1 avg 3 TD), and again in 2017 (360 9.2 avg 4 TD), and then had a good year in 2018 (995 6.3 avg 12 TDs). It taking till his senior year to start is a red flag but I really liked Josh Adams last year and the fact that he couldn’t get on the field more despite having a 9.2 yards per carry average makes me a little more comfortable with it. Dexter’s nickname is “Juice” and it makes sense when you see his first carry of the season go for a long TD. He clearly has a character red flag as he missed the first 4 games of 2018 (due to undisclosed reason) and couldn’t get more carries despite good production. Add in his noticeable attitude and showboating just on film study and you can see the kid isn’t well liked by his coaches. Researching further I found he was arrested for marijuana and a handgun in 2016 but charges dropped when his teammate took the fall. He has red flags to sort through but on the field he is dynamic as he has much better speed than his 4.57 40 would indicate, he has very good lateral quickness, and he has the size and frame to be a 3 down back. He breaks a lot of tackles and keeps his legs churning which I love. He has a lot of film of looking like he’s stuck and then popping out the other side. He only had 22 career receptions but he shows okay hands and more importantly looks very explosive in the open field so screens and dump offs will be effective with him. He doesn’t have the agility to run routes or the hands to be great at it but he’ll be dangerous with the ball in his hands, screens specifically intrigue me with him. I love Williams film and think he has starting talent. He has some wow cuts where he really knows how to set up blocks and is just a natural runner. He’s hard to grade though as he had the whiff of a troublemaker before I even saw he was suspended in 2018 or arrested in 2016 so he’ll probably be off some draft boards entirely. On talent alone he’s an early to mid 2nd rounder who has the speed to go the distance but the strength and tenacity to break tackles. It’s a rare combination so some team will roll the dice with him earlier than expected I bet, especially in this down RB class. Early 3rd round as my #4 RB due to the character concerns but this kid has starter talent and could become a complete back with his strength, speed, and great cutting ability. 4/23/19
5. David Montgomery Iowa St. 5’10 222 Jr. He ran a 4.63 40 (bad), 15 reps, ‘28 ½ vertical (bad), and 10’1 broad. He was a rotation player in 2016 (563 5.2 avg 2 TD), had an inefficient but bell cow year in 2017 (1,146 4.4 avg 11 TD), and a similar year in 2018 (1,216 4.7 avg 13 TD). He’s a very accomplished receiver with 58 receptions the past two years combined and was Iowa State’s main player along with Hakeem Butler as both did a lot of heavy lifting for that once bad program. He was 1st Team All-American in 2018 for PFF as he has led the nation in forced missed tackles two straight years! He isn’t fast but he’s quick and has a smooth running style which allows him to look more athletic than he is. He has good strength and great balance which make him extremely difficult to bring down. He has poor speed and will not be a big play guy in the NFL. He has a lower ceiling due to his poor athleticism but he is such a quick cutter, has good vision, and has the balance and strength to shed tacklers that I think he’ll make it as a lower end starter. I see a little Kareem Hunt in him as that thick runner between the tackles who churns out yards and has enough quickness to occasionally bounce a run outside. A team valuing toughness and getting the most out of every carry will like him. A team seeking a big play threat or a guy that can dominate in space will avoid him. Overall he has great film but he has a low ceiling due to his athleticism and projects as just a low end starter as a result so he’s a mid 3rd rounder as my #5 RB. 4/24/19
6. Darrell Henderson Memphis 5’8 208 Jr. He ran a 4.49 40 (elite), 22 reps (elite), and 10’1 broad (average). He was a prolific player at Memphis with a decent year in 2016 (482 5.5 avg 5 TD), a great year in 2017 (1,154 8.9 avg 9 TD), and was probably the best RB in the nation in 2018 (1,909 8.9 avg 22 TDs). He was 2nd in the nation in rushing behind Jonathan Taylor of Wisconsin but his 8.9 yards per carry was first in the nation among running backs with 1,000 or more yards rushing so he was the most efficient bell cow running back in the nation last year. PFF loved him as he was 3rd Team All-American for them in 2018 and his 41 runs of 15 or more yards were the most ever in a season that they’ve graded. Add in his 6.2 yards after contact per attempt, a truly insane number if you think about it for a second, and he was a special player at Memphis. He’s a very tightly built player who has poor lateral movement. That being said he has elite speed as he actually plays faster than his 4.49 40, a great time for a RB, and has true breakaway speed. He takes rounded cuts, aren’t sharp, which I really dislike and he gets away with it due to his elite speed but that probably won’t cut it at the next level. It disappoints me that he doesn’t have a jump cut or any lateral moves as it really holds his ranking back. His running style, and elite production, both remind me of Rashaad Penny last year. I didn’t have a high grade on him and he struggled in Seattle but he also was a 1st rounder so a team might fall in love with Henderson too and draft him earlier than I would. Despite being only 5’8 he projects as a lead back, if the talent level allows it, as he had two straight years with +150 touches and didn’t miss a game in his career due to injury. He’s thick and explosive so the tightness which comes with it is the negative but the durability is the positive. I honestly don’t like his game that much but I know that some teams due. He plays a similar style as Rashaad Penny, Donta Foreman, and Robert Smith years ago for the Vikings as one speed backs with poor lateral agility who have good to great speed and can pop the big one. Penny and Foreman are bigger backs so they project better as inside runners but Henderson is a little more elusive (not hard as Penny/Foreman rarely juked people) and I might like him a little more. Overall he is a mid 3rd rounder as my #6 RB who has a style I don’t like but he projects as a low to possibly mid level starter for a team due to his elite speed and good enough strength which will allow him to make some big plays as a homerun threat. 4/25/19
7. Devin Singletary FAU 5’7 203 Jr. He ran a 4.66 40 (bad), 15 reps, ‘35 vertical (good), 9’9 broad, 4.40 shuttle (bad), and 7.32 3 cone (bad). For a 203 lb back he was pretty terrible, outside of the explosion numbers, as he came in slow and not quick. He had three good to great years in college with a great freshman year in 2016 (1,016 6.7 avg 12 TD), his best year in 2017 (1,920 6.4 avg 32 TD), and a down year in 2018 (1,348 5.2 avg 22 TD). His 54 TDs the past two years is the most I’ve ever graded in a 2 year stretch, with his 32 TDs in 2017 the most I’ve ever seen in one season so he’s a prolific red zone back. Initially when I scouted him I saw Ronnie Hillman as he is short and small but not that athletic who has a knack for the inside runs and looked like a bust. Then I watched more film and realized he’s much more elusive than Hillman ever was and breaks far more tackles so he’s really more of a poor man’s Kareem Hunt. He has some amazing film of him juking guys in very small areas and he is extremely difficult to bring down. He’s a very unconventional RB so I’m unsure if he’ll ever be given his fair shot in the NFL but I think he has NFL talent and could be a low end starter if given the opportunity. He has good vision, his cuts and body control to slip through small cracks and create a hole where there was none is elite, and he has a natural instinct for the end zone. His highlight reel is ridiculous as there are so many times he has 2-3 defenders in his face yet somehow makes a cut to split them all. Also for 207 lbs he just shrugs off tacklers and does not go down on arm tackles. Singletary is a guy that grows on you the more you watch him and I like him as a late 3rd rounder as my #7 RB who is a sleeper in this draft class due to his very poor size/speed ratio. Hopefully the NFL gives him a chance as he’s a legit playmaker who can make guys miss and he has shown that he’s durable despite his poor size so low end starter is not out of the question for him. 4/24/19
8. Rodney Anderson Oklahoma 6’0 ⅜ 224 Jr. He didn’t work out at the Combine except for 25 reps on the bench. He barely played in 2015 (broke his leg in the 2nd game), missed all of the 2016 season due to injury (fractured vertebra in the spring), had a very good year in 2017 (1,161 6.2 avg 13 TD with 17 281 5 TD as a receiver), and was probably going to have a great year in 2018 that was sadly cut short by an injury to his right knee (119 10.8 avg 3 TD in only 2 games). I watched his 2017 and 2018 seasons and was always very impressed with his film as he’s a tall, big back with rare speed and receiving skills. He isn’t Joe Mixon but the talent level isn’t far off. Unfortunately Anderson is built with glass as he can’t stay healthy and is similar to Chris Thompson coming out of Florida State who had a similarly injury filled resume. I put Thompson as a free agent due to that inability to stay healthy and was wrong, though he’s been more injured than healthy lately, as he was every bit worth the 6th rounder the Redskins used on him. RBs go down regularly and as such you have a stable of them and most teams now spread out carries among them. As such I still am interested in Anderson as he’s a playmaker when healthy (see his 2017 BCS semi-finals vs. Clemson when he had 201 yards and 2 TDs as an example). He’s a tall back with 4.4 speed, a noticeable burst, is a natural receiver, and has a complete game about him which projects very well to the next level. Simply put he’s a guy with starter level talent who is either never going to stay healthy and will be a bust or is going to get his body in order and be a steal for someone. I don’t see any in between as he’s healthy and a very good player (early to mid 2nd round talent based off his 2017 film) or always hurt and a bust. I could make the argument that his film is better than my RB1 Josh Jacobs as he’s faster, a MUCH better receiver, and still has the size and strength to be a good inside runner and tackle breaker. He’s really an impossible guy to grade as he’s a 2nd round talent on film but it’d be dumb to completely discount a guy who has been hurt 3 of his 4 years in college so I’ll have to rank him lower than guys he’s far better than since he has such high bust potential. In the end he gets a late 3rd round grade on my board as my #8 RB who is comparable talent wise to Josh Jacobs and Miles Sanders but is lower due to an atrocious injury history which he may never shake. 4/25/19
9. Myles Gaskin Washington 5’9 205 Sr. He ran a 4.58 40 (below average), 24 reps (elite), ‘35 ½ vertical (average), 4.27 shuttle (good), and a 7.19 3 cone (very good). He’s a quicker than fast guy with underrated strength is what his Combine says. He had a great freshman year in 2015 (1,302 5.7 avg 14 TD), had a similar year in 2016 (1,373 5.8 avg 10 TD), a slightly more efficient year in 2017 (1,380 6.2 avg 21 TD), and a down and very inefficient year in 2018 (1,268 4.9 avg 12 TD). After three straight years of 5.7 or higher YPC it was surprising for him to end his career on such a down note with a sub 5.0 avg. His Combine nailed what he is as he’s a shorter scat back type with great quickness and cutting ability who lacks the long speed to really be a home run threat or the size to be much of an interior runner. For 205 lbs he’s tough to bring down and breaks a lot of tackles but I still question how much he’ll be able to do at the next level at that size. Honestly he’s an extra gear away from me really loving him as if he had 4.4 speed we’d have something. He has good film and really impresses me with his cutting ability, vision, and quickness but he just doesn’t have the quick twitch you want to exploit the holes he creates with his cuts. He projects as a high end change of pace guy with just enough size/strength to be capable of a platoon role. He’ll be in the same grade range as Holyfield/Higdon/Weber but gets a slightly better grade than them as he’s more athletic than Holyfield and seems to be a better all around runner than Higdon/Weber who are more limited players. Gaskin has some really good film and is just more of a playmaker than those guys. I also think he has the quickness and elusiveness to be a punt returner though it didn’t show him ever doing it at Washington (and he was a poor kick returner on the few attempts he had). Overall Gaskin is another change of pace back but is one of my favorites in that category due to his good quickness, cutting ability, and all around skills as a playmaker in space. Late 3rd round as my #9 RB who projects as a very high end change of pace or platoon back but has such great film he might sneak into a low end starter role as he’s a very underrated playmaker and isn’t deserving of just a change of pace/scat back role. 4/25/19
10. Benny Snell Kentucky 5’10 ⅜ 224 Jr. He ran a 4.66 40 (bad), 16 reps, ‘29 ½ vertical (bad), 9’11 broad, 4.33 shuttle, and 7.07 3 cone (very good, elite for his size). He had a great year as a true freshman in the SEC (1,091 5.9 avg 13 TD), more volume but less efficiency in 2017 (1,333 5.1 avg 19 TD), and a similar year in 2018 (1,449 5.0 avg 16 TD). He had 20 or fewer receptions each year so he wasn’t very involved as a pass catcher. Benny has been on my radar for awhile as he’s been a very good player in the SEC the past three years and has a fun running style to watch. He’s got a little Marshawn Lynch to him as he’s a little ghetto, very physical, and gives all out effort. The problem is Lynch is much more athletic than Snell is and there’s a definite chance he’s a bust as his 40 and vertical are both not NFL caliber measurements and I had issues with his mediocre athleticism before the Combine. The positive though is that he’s a great short yardage and red zone back so he might be able to carve out a niche as a thumper platooning with a smaller, more athletic RB. He runs with good pad level, has good vision, and shows quick feet (reason he had a very good 3 cone drill but a bad 40 time-quick change of direction but not fast). He’s a tough evaluation as he has a very high bust potential but he might have just enough athleticism to have a Marion Barber type career as a short term starter with mediocre numbers but who is a fan favorite. Once he loses any athleticism at all he’ll be done as he’s already borderline not athletic enough for the NFL but his physicality is rare and he has really good college film. He’s a medium ceiling very low floor prospect who is a type I usually wouldn’t like but his film is too good for me to completely count out. I really love his vision and think there’s a place for him in the NFL, likely as a platoon guy with a faster back, and am giving him an early 4th round grade as my #10 RB despite him having major bust potential due to his poor athleticism. 4/24/19
11. Justice Hill Oklahoma State 5’9 5/8 198 Jr. He ran a 4.40 40 (elite), 21 reps (elite), ‘40 vertical (elite), and 10’10 broad (elite) so he aced his Combine. He burst onto the scene as a really good true freshman in 2016 (1,142 5.5 avg 6 TD), had his best year in 2017 (1,467 5.5 avg 15 TD), and a down but still good year in 2018 (930 5.9 avg 9 TD). Hill vs. Trayveon Williams is a good discussion of fit vs. talent as Williams was the better college player but Hill is the better prospect as Hill fits much better in his future role as a change of pace and scat back RB than Williams. Neither project as good inside runners as they don’t have the size or lower body strength to break a lot of tackles but Hill has breakaway speed so he can pop one at times and is what NFL GMs often want in their #2 or #3 back. He doesn’t break a lot of tackles and is not strong but he has quick feet and can make a guy miss in the hole so he’s adequate for his size as an interior runner. Outside is where he shines though as he has enough strength to break DBs tackles and has the breakaway speed you want. Also he looks comfortable catching the ball (had +30 receptions in 2017) and should be good in that aspect of the change of pace back role as well. Overall Hill projects as a backup but a perfectly suited running back for his future role as he has the moves to make people miss, the speed to take it all the way, and the versatility to occasionally run an inside run while also being a threat in space. I love him in that role but again he’ll be a backup so you can’t grade him too high. Early 4th as my #11 RB who projects well as a change of back, #2 RB. 4/25/19
12. Elijah Holyfield 5’10 217 Jr. He ran a 4.78 (terrible-worst 40 by any of the 28 RBs at the Combine, and not really close as only one other RB even broke 4.70), 26 reps (elite), ‘29 ½ vertical (bad), and 9’10 broad (average). He and Jachai Polite are the two “Combine disasters” this year as Holyfield did not test like an NFL athlete and actually had a worse 40 time at his pro day. He’ll be off a lot of boards due to these measurables but the tape is good so he might end up as a steal for non-spreadsheet teams who have a more open mind. He barely played in 2016 (6 carries), was a bit player in 2017 (293 5.9 avg 2 TD), and then had a great year in 2018 (1,018 6.4 avg 7 TD). On film he’s a much better athlete than he tests as he doesn’t have breakaway speed but has very quick feet which make him change direction well and he’s a thickly built RB who breaks tackles and can punish defenders. I really love his feet as he can dance around blocks and get into the heart of a defense with it making him capable as an interior runner. That’s key as he plays faster than his 40 time, hard not to, but he isn’t that athletic so he’ll need to be good as an inside runner who has just enough athleticism to sometimes bounce it outside to keep a defense honest. I think he can fill that role as watching the LSU game (he only had 7 carries but still ended with 56 yards) he punished defenders and broke tackles left and right. That or the Kentucky game (115 6.4 avg 1 TD) probably are my favorite games of his as in the LSU game he was a change of pace back (Georgia gave another 23 carries to other running backs) yet he made those carries count and ran like hell. That’ll be his role in the NFL as he at best will be a platoon back but most likely is a good backup who gives it his all for one series each half and then is back on the bench. I love Holyfield in that role due to his physicality and aggressive mentality which was evident vs. LSU and those NFL caliber athletes. He also shows some potential as a pass blocker as he’s tough and physical so he gives it to rushers. Overall I see the lack of upside by Holyfield as he isn’t that big and isn’t very athletic but his quick feet, aggressive mentality, good vision, and ability to break tackles makes me rank him higher than most as he’ll find a role in the NFL, it just likely won’t be as a full time starter. Early 4th as my #12 RB. 4/25/19
13. Karan Higdon Michigan 5’9 ⅛ 205 Sr. He ran a 4.49 40 (elite), 21 reps (elite), ‘34 vertical (average), and 10’3 broad (above average). He barely played in 2015 (11 carries for 19 yards), had a bit year in 2016 (425 5.9 avg 6 TD), a good year in 2017 (994 6.1 avg 11 TD), and a similar year in 2018 (1,178 5.3 avg 10 TD). It’s interesting that Ohio State and Michigan basically have the same player as when I watch Higdon I see Mike Weber. Both are 5’9 205-210 who are short enough that their pretty thick and strong for being at that lower weight. They have good speed, good strength, and project as quality #2 backs at the next level but have low ceilings as they just don’t have enough size/speed to dominate as interior runners or agility/moves to dominate in space. I like Higdon a little more than Weber as he’s a smoother runner and projects as a slightly more sure bet (less bust potential) but both are in that good backup, very low end starter talent range. Matt Jones is a decent comp for Higdon and he’ll be lucky to have a similar career as Jones lucked into a starting role more by opportunity than talent. Mid 4th round as my #13 RB who is a good inside runner with underrated speed and projects as a low end starter or good backup but one who lacks the traits to stay long as a starter. 4/25/19
14. Mike Weber Ohio State 5’9 5/8 211 Jr. He ran a 4.47 40 (elite), 22 reps (elite), and ‘33 ½ vertical (average). He had a great true freshman year in 2016 (1,096 6.0 avg 9 TD), a similar year but with fewer carries due to competition (626 6.2 10 TD), and another similar good but not great year in 2018 (954 5.6 avg 5 TD). I’m sure he expected bigger things after his great freshman year but it ended up being his best year as JK Dobbins took over for him as the starter. Purely by stats though that might not have been the right call as Dobbins had a 4.6 avg last year vs. Weber’s 5.6 yet Dobbins got 60 more carries. Weber has a Ray Rice build to him at 5’9 210 as he is short like a scat back but thickly built and is more bowling ball than scat back. He has quick feet and good vision so he tends to run laterally a lot which could infuriate his NFL coaches. I really like his burst and think he plays to his 4.47 40. He’s tightly built and doesn’t move well in the receiving game so I question his fit as a pass catcher. He’s right on that starter/backup bubble but at least he has the burst and athleticism you want if he ends up just as a change of pace as he could run extra hard for a few carries and be a nice pick me up for his team. He breaks some tackles but more often than not goes down on first contact or bounces around for a few yards before going down. He runs hard and is thick but he isn’t the strongest guy and, combined with his inability to keep his job in college, makes me think he’ll be a very good backup. Platoon starter might be an option for him too as he’ll deserve carries in the NFL, I just don’t see anything greater than mediocre starter if he does surprise and snag a job. Overall he’s a Ray Rice type runner with very good speed, decent strength, and good tenacity who projects as a very good backup/change of pace type with the possibility of being in a platoon situation. Late 4th round as my #14 RB. 4/23/19
15. Trayveon Williams Texas A&M 5’8 206 Jr. He ran a 4.51 40 (above average), 19 reps, ‘33 vertical (average), 10’1 broad (above average), 4.44 shuttle (below average), and 7.44 3 cone (bad). Overall he tested out as an average athlete. He had a great freshman year in 2016 (1,057 6.8 avg 8 TD), a down year in 2017 (798 4.6 avg 8 TD), and then a huge 2018 (1,760 6.5 avg 18 TD). He was never much of a receiver, despite his smaller stature which makes you think scat back, with 19-27 receptions a year. Trayveon was a highly productive player at A&M but is a man without a position as he doesn’t have the elite speed, quickness, or great receiving skills to be a dominant scat back and isn’t strong enough to be a bell cow like he was in college. He has good speed, enough quickness to make people miss at times, and he’s very durable but he lacks the talent to be anything more than a good change of pace. My biggest issue with him is his body type as he has very skinny legs and just can’t churn for extra yards. It severely limits his inside running potential and makes him a space runner yet he just doesn’t have that elite athleticism you want in a back like him. As much as I want to see him do well at the next level, I think it was a mistake for him to come out early as he looks like a career #2 RB at best and he very well could be a bust due to his imperfect fit for each RB role. Mid 5th as my #15 RB who has good vision, decent athleticism, and had elite production last year in college but lacks the size and strength to be an interior runner and is just mediocre in the scat back role. 4/23/19
16. Bryce Love Stanford 5’9 200 Sr. He didn’t work out at the Combine except for 18 reps on the bench. He was a bit player as a true freshman in 2015 (226 7.8 avg 2 TD), had a decent year in 2016 (783 7.1 avg 2 TD), his best year in 2017 (2,118 8.1 avg 19 TD), and a terrible year in 2018 (739 4.5 avg 6 TD). Going from 2,100 yards on 8.1 yards per carry to roughly a third of that for 739 yards on 4.5 yards per carry is hugely disappointing for Love. What’s even worse is that he tore his ACL in his last game of 2018 so he’ll likely miss his entire rookie season. To study him you have to go back to the 2017 tape and it was special. He had a record 13 runs of +50 yards in his electric 2017 season and showed big play ability. He claims he can run a 4.3 40 but we won’t know that for awhile. He seems like a good kid as he wrote a heartfelt “letter to GMs” on the Players Tribune which showed his passion for football and his work ethic. Also it included clips showing how improved he became in 2018 as a pass blocker so that will help his cause a bit. Honestly I wasn’t a huge fan of Love’s in 2017 when he was putting up video game numbers so I’m even less now. He’s a big play guy who struggles as an inside runner and doesn’t break a lot of tackles. Also he seems like a 4.4 guy not a 4.3 guy to me on film and he’s tightly built without a lot of wiggle so he’s really more of a straightline speed back who has the extra gear to take it the distance but won’t juke guys in small areas like a David Montgomery. If he came out in 2017 I would have given him a mid to late 3rd round grade but he was always gimpy in 2017, didn’t look healthy in 2018, and then tore his ACL at the end of the year so he’s missing his first year of his contract. Combined it makes me want no part of him until the mid to late rounds as I’m not 100% sure he’ll ever be durable enough to be a starting RB in the pros and, even if he is, he grades out as a low end starter with breakaway speed. He’s a very incomplete back and probably ends up as more of a change of pace guy you throw a few carries at each game to see if he can break one for you. He doesn’t churn out yards, doesn’t make guys miss in the hole, and isn’t that natural of a runner. In the end he’s a guy I wasn’t a huge fan of and is coming off a bad season and a recent injury so I’m out on him. Mid 5th round as my #16 RB. 4/24/19
17. LJ Scott Michigan State 6’0 227 Sr. He didn’t run but had 21 reps (elite), ‘33 vertical (average), 10’0 (above average), 4.34 shuttle (bad), and 7.27 3 cone (below average). He has very poor stats, arguably the worst of any RB in this draft class who is on my list, as he had zero 1,00 yard seasons and 3 of his 4 seasons were sub 5.0 ypc. His 2018 season was an injury shortened disaster (264 3.3 avg 0 TD) with his 2016 season being his best (994 5.4 avg 6 TD). He’s a tall RB who is somewhat skinny looking for 227 lbs. He is tightly built and doesn’t have great speed but he has a decent burst and at times flashes some strength to break a tackle. I’m not a fan of his vision as he very often runs right into his own OL and I hate his pad level, a common issue with taller backs but he seems worse than others due to his tightness. He wasn’t used much in the passing game but he shows a natural ability in that area which is extra impressive for his nearly 230 lb frame. He has some starter traits but the fact Michigan State only gave him 79 carries as a senior while giving 3 other backs 78 or more carries shows they didn’t like him or trust him. He has some flashes of great play and I like how much potential he shows as a pass catcher for a big back but his production was just atrocious, his Combine was average, and he struggled to even get on the field in college so I’m not interested except as a late round flier type. Scott ends as a FA grade as my #17 RB as he has a ton of red flags but does show some starter traits buried deep underneath the wreck of a prospect he’s become. He’s very likely a bust but he looked like a prospect in 2016 so he might be worth bringing in for a change of scenery to see if that jumpstarts his stalled career. 4/24/19