These rankings are based fully on how I view each player’s likelihood of NFL success. They are not at all impacted by fantasy football or in what order I believe these players will be drafted. They are at least partly driven by the order in which I believe they should be drafted, albeit without any team context.
For my Top 10 QBs, click here.
- D’Andre Swift, Georgia
4.48 speed at 5’8/212. Intuitive runner with exceptional short-area burst and lateral quickness to win in phone booth. Holds all-time record for career yards per carry by a Georgia running back (6.6). More darting, elusive than tackle-shedding power back. Ran inside and outside zone at UGA, primarily in traditional I formations. 73 catches over three seasons. Shared time with Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Elijah Holyfield in first two years. Never averaged more than 15.1 carries per game. Likely lead back in RBBC, not quite every-down workhorse. But ceiling is cross between Dalvin Cook and Alvin Kamara.
- Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
5’10/226. 4.39. 90th-percentile athlete. Thoroughbred averaged 22.6 carries per game, 2,058 rushing yards per year in Madison. Robust 26/252/5 receiving line in ’19. No injury history. But dropped 8-of-50 catchable targets in his college career and fumbled 19 times. Although Ezekiel Elliott is most common comparison, Taylor is not nearly as polished in passing game as Zeke was in terms of blocking, catching.
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Short, but not small (5’7/207). Only 4.6 forty but strong vertical (39 ½”) and broad (10’3”) jumps. Plus change of direction, short-area quicks, lateral agility. Devonta Freeman, Maurice Jones-Drew comps. Chargers color analyst Daniel Jeremiah: Austin Ekeler. Angle route extraordinaire, just like Ekeler. Highly instinctive in space. One fumble on 438 college touches. Elite pass-game utility; 55 catches in final season. Not an I-back; everything out of shotgun.
- J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
5’10/209. DNP at Combine. Compact, powerfully built back whose greatest strength is interior running. Wins with elite vision. Averaged 21.5 carries in 2019 with touch totals of 37, 33, 33, 24 over his final four college games. 71 career catches. Can pass block. Zero missed games at Ohio State. Slightly undersized bellcow prospect with three-down traits.
- Cam Akers, Florida State
5’10/217. 4.47 forty, good for 87th-percentile Speed Score. Technically-sound, quick-footed runner on tape. Grinded career 586/2,875/27 (4.9 YPC) rushing stats behind sieve-like Seminoles offensive line. Compensated with 3.9 yards after contact per carry in 2019. Very-nice 69 career catches, 7 receiving TDs. Jack of many trades, master of none. Ceiling likely best projects as lead back in a committee.
- Zack Moss, Utah
5’9/223. 4.65 forty. Downhill meat grinder runs with violent demeanor. 38 career rushing TDs, 5.7 YPC. 66 catches. Playing style on Matt Jones-Marshawn Lynch spectrum. Passing-game utility really helps.
- Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Vanderbilt
5’10/214. 4.51, 35th percentile. Two dominant seasons to close out career behind porous offensive line vs. SEC competition. 66 career catches. 5.8 career YPC. Tackle breaker with pass-game functionality.
- Eno Benjamin, Arizona State
5’9/207. 4.57, 6.97 three cone. 72nd-percentile athlete. Followed monster 2018 with disappointing 2019 as rusher but was more involved in passing game. 77 receptions over final two years. Smallish for workhorse but three-down tools. Elusive, competitive, tough. Some penchant for dancing behind line.
- Joshua Kelley, UCLA
5’11/212. 4.49 with 6.95 three cone. Non-dominant college runner (4.6 YPC in ’19, 5.07 for career) nevertheless is just good enough in all areas to be considered high-end backup/fringe starter prospect.
- Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
5’10/203. 4.41. 84th-percentile athlete. Dominant all-purpose 2019 season: 255/1,480/18 rushing, 21/198/5 receiving, and third consecutive year with KR return TD. All that’s lacking is size.
Others: Anthony McFarland, Maryland; A.J. Dillon, Boston College; Lamical Perine, Florida; Javon Leake, Maryland; James Robinson, Illinois State; Darius Anderson, TCU; J.J. Taylor, Arizona; Raymond Calais, Louisiana; Patrick Taylor, Memphis; Michael Warren, Cincinnati; Salvin Ahmed, Washington; Scottie Phillips, Ole Miss
