NFL Draft Combine Preview: Running Backs

What always seems to be the highlight for fantasy owners as preparations begin before the NFL Draft is the running back position. Owners clamor to get their hands on the new blood in the league as it has recently shown that it can pay off big time. We've seen the likes of Ezekiel Elliott, Christian McCaffrey, and Todd Gurley come into the league and make their mark as elite backs in terms of fantasy potential. Although you can make the statement that "RBs don't matter" in terms of how they are treated by NFL front offices, the same can not be said for the importance of the position in fantasy football. We see a decreasing amount of true workhorse backs year-in and year-out which is the reason why RBs fly off the draft board at an alarming rate early in fantasy drafts. This is a trend that we should once again see in full effect as the 2020 season approaches.

Each passing draft class has its shares of bright spots with high-ceiling prospects and several role players. This incoming class has the makings to be quite special with some top-heavy talent. D'Andre Swift and Jonathan Taylor are two of the names that are proven talent and household names. But it could be players such as Zack Moss and Eno Benjamin that may cause some rumbling late. But the fact remains the same that fantasy owners are enthralled by the shiny new toys that the RB position offers after the NFL Draft. Do these rookies always hit the mark? Ask David Montgomery owners from 2019 as they had to reach for a player with a lot of hype pushing him up draft boards, but ultimately failed to meet the expectations. This happens each year but if you do your due diligence in preparation for your drafts, it can limit the misses on draft day.

So, let's take a look at the top names at the position as we head into the upcoming scouting combine. Landing spots will be key as certain players will be given more opportunities than others. Who will be the best fit for your season-long and dynasty fantasy teams?

D'Andre Swift, Georgia

Swift is the balanced runner with an all-around skill set that NFL teams covet as they try to fill the position. He runs with tenacity and power that allows him to gain yardage after initial contact. His lateral quickness and elusiveness give him the ability to get to the outside if the blocking is failing him up the middle. He has plus ability as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and consistency in pass protection. Both of which should entrench him as a three-down back at the next level. Watching the film on Swift, he is more productive in single back sets with the QB under center, which allows him to read the defense pre-snap. Lining up in zone-read formations tends to see Swift get taken down for negative yardage far more often. The team that drafts Swift will need to employ him as a traditional back that also can be a problem in the passing game.

Fantasy Impact:

Swift will likely be the first rookie running back off the board in season-long drafts as well as dynasty formats. Although he will not be a high first-round pick in the NFL Draft, he should land with a team that will plug him as their feature back (Chiefs are a definite possibility). If he lands in the right situation, expect him to make an impact as a capable RB2 in 2020. His pass-catching prowess certainly gives him added value as a PPR back as he should ascend to RB1 status within his first two seasons in the league.

Zack Moss, Utah

Moss checks all the boxes when it comes to the potential for an NFL caliber RB. His vision is off the charts good. Moss tends to have a plan with the ball even before taking the handoff. He runs with power, but it's his balance that helps propel him through contact as he reaches the second level. The footwork may be the most impressive for a guy his size. The agility that he shows in his cuts is something you usually see in smaller backs. If he sees a whole develop early, watch out. He will attack that opening and accelerate into the open field. Although not used exclusively as a pass-catcher, his 66 receptions in college show that he has the hands to be used on third downs at the pro level. Moss should land on a team that will allow him to work his way into a featured role.

Fantasy Impact:

Moss will be among the first names plucked off the draft boards in rookie drafts in 2020, but don't discount what he can do in seasonal formats either. I liken him to what we saw from Kareem Hunt entering the league. He may not start training camp atop a depth chart, but his skill-set will be hard for a team to ignore as he demands touches. Easily a first-round pick in dynasty formats as you can lock him in as an RB3 with RB2 upside depending on the landing spot.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU

We saw in 2019 what Edwards-Helaire can bring to the table if he is the focal point of a backfield (1,867 yards from scrimmage and 17 TDs). He runs with great vision and contact balance as he uses plus elusiveness to avoid the first tackler. He gets tougher to bring down as a game wears on and should be used as a back to control the clock at the next level. He's quicker than he is fast as he lacks that second gear in the open field. He may not break to the edge as good as some other backs but still finds ways to get down the field. Although he can have bouts of inconsistencies with his hands, the 55 receptions he hauled in this past season shows he can be used on passing downs in the NFL.

Fantasy Impact:

Edwards-Helaire will be an intriguing prospect from a fantasy perspective. He could land in any situation and I believe he has the skills to rise up the depth chart and into a featured role. A first-round pick in dynasty formats, he seems to be locked into a value as an RB3 for 2020 as I see him sharing time in a backfield. But if things shake out right, he will easily become a player you can count on in your starting lineups each week.

Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

Taylor is your traditional north-south bell-cow back. Coming into the league, he has a lot of tread already built up on the tires (926 rushes). He can provide that to a team at the next level as well if given the chance. Taylor has a rare mix of size, speed, and power that makes for a tough matchup for opposing defenses. He rarely looks to bounce to the outside on runs and prefers in between the tackles running. He would be a great fit for a power run team with zone blocking concepts. Taylor has all the makings to be a starter from Day One in the league but his pass-catching skills must be improved (a trait that was rarely utilized in college). His pass protection skills are outstanding which should also help to keep him on the field in passing situations.

Fantasy Impact:

Taylor will also be in the mix among the top backs coming off the board in rookie drafts. He will largely be looked at as a one-skill back in fantasy which will hurt him in PPR formats. Making him a better play in standard formats. Because he's a high profile RB, he will be selected in the first-round of dynasty drafts. But his value may be more short term. The mileage he has coming into the league may wear him down sooner than others on this list, so take advantage of the stats he provides in the early stages of his career.

J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State

Dobbins is a player that has dramatically improved each year in college. Expect for that to continue being the case as he progresses to the next level. He has the skill-set to become an every-down back in the NFL but has some facets to his game that will need fine-tuning (route running out of the backfield and desire to lower his shoulder too much). He likes to attack the line of scrimmage with his pacing and excellent footwork. Dobbins is a great perimeter runner due to the angles he chooses to take and the acceleration he uses to get there. He runs with great balance and a low center of gravity but can throw a juke with the best of them to evade tacklers. The 71 receptions in his collegiate career speak to his ability to be on the field in passing situations, clearing a path to become a bell-cow back in the future.

Fantasy Impact:

Dobbins is an intriguing prospect in fantasy circles as he is an ascending talent that has a very high ceiling. He could very well prove to be the top talent at the position in this class. He has the skills needed to eventually develop into an elite back in the league, but he will undoubtedly have to work himself into that role. He should be a back-end first-round pick in dynasty formats and will have bouts on inconsistency in 2020. But as he develops at the next level, you will find yourself with a back that will routinely be among the RB1 ranks.

Cam Akers, Florida State

Akers is an extremely talented prospect that has all the tools to be considered among the tops of this class. But when you go to the film it seems to be lost in translation as he struggled with consistency behind one of the worst offensive lines in the country. He has flashed on tape a skillset that could be mouth-watering to some NFL scouts as his elusiveness and balance mixed with speed makes him a big play waiting to happen. His size and power allow him to pack a punch once he opens things up to the next level. He also showed in college an aptitude in receiving skills as this trait increased with each passing year. Something that could allow him to become a more versatile back in the pros. The combine will be a great showcase for Akers and could greatly affect his draft stock in the evaluator's eyes.

Fantasy Impact:

I believe Akers has all the makings of a LeSean McCoy type talent in the NFL. His juice and wiggle will make him hard to handle in the open field and I expect to see a team utilize him more in passing situations. He is likely to be selected to a team and split the workload early on in his career which will tap his potential. But, I look for Aker's talent to eventually breakthrough, making him a valuable commodity in dynasty formats. His 2020 impact may not be felt in seasonal leagues, but we may be looking at a future RB1 in Akers.

Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt

Vaughn was vastly underutilized during his time at Illinois, so he transferred to Vanderbilt and built his stock into one of the better prospects in this year's class. His vision and running style are built for a power running scheme in the NFL. He is a one-cut runner that once he sees what is blocked, can get upfield in a hurry and give you just a little more. He's tough to take down on the initial contact and can drag players behind him once he gets going. Much like Akers, he produced even as he was behind one of the worst offensive lines in college. That should be looked at as a positive more than a detriment. Although he has some elusiveness to his game, he will not make many guys miss and lessen the big play appeal. Vaughn was rarely used as a pass-catcher in college, which could keep him off the field at times.

Fantasy Impact:

Vaughn is the first of the backs a tier below the tops of this class. He is a one-dimensional back that will likely be used in an early-down role in the pros, limiting his value in PPR formats. I don't see Vaughn becoming more than a reserve type of back in fantasy formats across the board. Look at him as a player to draft in the mid-second round in your rookie drafts as he will be a plug and play type of fantasy option. Don't expect to see Vaughn as a player that will be startable for multiple weeks at a time.

Antonio Gibson, Memphis

Gibson comes into the combine with a very small sample size in usage in college. But in his time at Memphis, he was utilized more as a pass-catching option. With only 33 rushing attempts in college, there is not much to see on tape. Once you do see him on film, he flashes some potential that creative NFL offensive minds could use. His elusiveness and explosion may not be rivaled in this draft class as his 17 broken tackles on 38 catches are a crazy rate. He will be a back that someone will take a stab at in the middle rounds of this draft and create packages for on offense.

Fantasy Impact:

Gibson will not become a bell-cow back with his skillset. But what he does present is a unique blend of receiving ability and explosiveness that is hard to ignore. He's a player that you can target in PPR formats in the late second round or early third of rookie drafts. He should develop into a nice Flex option that you will be able to play based on matchups.

Eno Benjamin, Arizona State

Benjamin is a tad on the small side for the position for the pros, but he uses that size well. He has had heavy usage over the last two seasons (553 attempts) and has produced great numbers both as a runner and receiver (96 catches over the last two years). Benjamin doesn't like to take what's there as a runner, instead preferring to bounce it outside in hopes of the big play. That will be tough to do at the next level as he may be caught from behind by the speed of pro defenders. He could develop into a solid pro that will be used in many ways, but he has the feeling that he will be a back that will always split time in a backfield.

Fantasy Impact:

Benjamin's game film and stats show that he flashes potential, but translating that to the next level will be tricky for this undersized back. He is a player I would target in rookie drafts if I had adequate space on my roster to see what he can develop into. He will likely never be more than a Flex option that you can plug in as a bye week option in fantasy.

A.J. Dillon, Boston College

Dillon enters the pros as another heavily-used power rushing back. He is your typical north-south runner and prefers to punish defenses between the tackles. He translates to the pros as a deep set back that can build momentum as his blockers pave the way. He is a load to bring down in the open field after he breaks through the first level. He will more than likely be used as an early-down back in the NFL as he showed no value as a pass-catcher in college (21 total receptions in two years). If he catches on with the right team that will give him volume, his value can only rise. But I'm not currently seeing Dillon as a player that has a long career ahead of him.

Fantasy Impact:

Dillon projects out as a player with value only in standard formats. If he can be given the proper volume, that is where he does his damage. Outside of that, he is likely to be no more than a bench player at best across all formats in fantasy.

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