IDP Hunter’s Top Rookie Running Backs Pre-Draft

As we near the NFL draft, it's time to start researching the upcoming class! In this article, we dive into the rookie Running Backs!

If you are a Fantasy owner looking for this season's Breece Hall you might be disappointed by this year's selection in this positional group draft class. It's not likely that any running back will warrant a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft or your fantasy football drafts, but for those skillful managers, you might be able to find some depth and talent buried among these rookie Running Backs.

Let's get to the rookie Running Backs!

1. Jonathan Brooks, Texas

Injuries plagued this elite talent but he could be a value to your team in the beginning of 2nd round of drafts.

Strengths: As we spoke about on the podcast, his speed and agilty (4.49 run time) allow him to avoid would-be tacklers. Acceleration is great to go with that speed and vision making him an elite prospect

Weakness: Recent injuries include ACL tear in November

Player comp: Dalvin Cook (early career)

Team Fits:

• Dallas Cowboys
• Arizona Cardinals
• Las Vegas Raiders
  

2. Trey Benson, Florida State

A true home run threat possessing 4.46 speed. Weighted in at 216 pounds at the Combine. Will be harder to bring down and has already proven this with 6.4 ypc on 990 yards of production.

Strengths: Capable of being a bell-cow cowback with elite speed. Receives well and is good with wheel routes.

Weakness:  Has longer legs so not the most agile, agility concerns. More of a straight-line runner with speed versus lateral north and south movements.

Player comp: Breece Hall

Team Fits:

• Dallas Cowboys
• Arizona Cardinals
• Las Vegas Raiders
  

3. Jaylen Wright, Tennesee

Snuck up our draft boards with his 4.38 speed at the Combine, Wright has been well known for his 7.4 yards per carry.

Strengths: Tape will show an amazing knack for stiff arms and breaking tackles. The game at Virginia comes to mind.

Weakness: Didn't get a full workload in college. Only 137 attempts despite this still rushed for 1,000 yards.

Player comp: Kenyan Drake

Team Fits:

• Dallas Cowboys
• Arizona Cardinals
• Las Vegas Raiders
  

4. Blake Corum

Marshawn Lloyd may have had a better speed time, but it was Corum who had the better drills. These two will be debated as the RB4 or RB5 in this draft class.

Strength: With 4.53 speed easily makes one cut and heads to the end-zone. Has the package, speed, agility, and elusiveness to make it in the NFL.

Weakness; Doesn't make his own big plays that have to be created in front of him. Staying in College longer makes him 24 years of age.

Player comp: LaDainian Tomlinson

Team Fits:

• Dallas Cowboys
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Arizona Cardinals
• Las Vegas Raiders
  

5. Marshawn Lloyd, USC

He is trending upward since the Combine and climbing up fast, but be cautious see his weakness below, still a popular name here in April.

Strength: High-effort runner 4.6 ypc who pounds the ball. Used in zone reads and off tackles running excels well. Had a surprising 4.46 Combine run time.

Weakness: Not a high usage guy and watch out for fumbles. Doesn't catch much.

Player comps: LeGarrette Blount

Team Fits:

• Dallas Cowboys
• Arizona Cardinals
• Las Vegas Raiders
  

6. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

No player has taken a fall harder here in the ranking than Allen. Once considered a top talent, the Combine exposed a few issues. Simply put, a player who wasn't agile anyway, is now revealed to have a slower speed and is a big dude. Yikes.

Strengths: Size and use it for power runs. Efficient footwork and catches out of the backfield

Weakness: Had and up and not testing at the combine. Not elusive or agile and now the question came up. Will he be able to escape passed defenders, and will be able to scare defensive backs as nothing more than a short-yardage running back? Only time will tell.

Player comp: LenDale White

Team Fits:

• Dallas Cowboys
• Arizona Cardinals

Tier: 2

7. Ray Davis, Kentucky

A target of mine. His game seems to be one that we have seen be successful before. Between the tackles runner who is good enough blocking, running, and catching out of the backfield. Just not elite in any of those areas.

Strength: Rushed for 14 TD and had 20 TD including rushing and receiving with 106 yards after contact. Decent 4.53 speed rushed for 1,000 yards on two different teams. Decent pass catcher

Weakness: Doesn't have long speed

Player Comp: Dameon Pierce

8.  Bucking Irving, Oregon

Another player whose Combine did not measure up. His game was supposed to be speed, so questions on how that will measure up after a bad forty time that said otherwise.

Strengths: Irving averaged 6.5 yards per carry. Excels as an off-tackle runner, One of only three combine players to have 60+ big plays on the season.

Weakness: Had a puzzling 4.56 Combine which we all thought he was faster on film. Smaller back size and gets beat when passing blocks

Player comp: Amp Lee

9. Will Shipley, Clemson

A  former five-star recruit with 5.0 yards or greater, with 4.43 speed. He will make a team and command value just on his sheer locker room presence and ability to play special teams.

Strengths: Excels running on the outside. His best asset is his pass-catching ability, with 85 catches on his College career.

Weakness: Too easily taking down the first tackle and doesn't block well.

Player comps: Danny Woodhead

10. Dylan Laube, New Hampshire

Here's a player who was burning top defensive backs on wheel routes down at the Senior Bowl. His tape versus Central Michigan is all you need to know. Simply put, an all-purpose player who is a later-round target of mine.

Strength: Showed he could play at the Senior Bowl, excellent pathfinder when having blockers, great catch between the tackle as a runner.

Weakness: Lateral and lack of explosiveness have always been a concern

Player comp: Benny Snell (College version)

11. Audric Estime, Notre Dame

Ground and pound type of player whose draft capital was destroyed at the Combine.  Should get work as a goal-line back.

Strength: Averaged 5.9 and 6.4 ypc this 20-year-old player has a bigger build power runner. Set the all-time school record with rushing TDs (18)

Weakness: We all watched and gasped at the Combine as Estime's ran an abysmal 4.71 on the 40-yard dash. Confirming to many what we had worried about all along. Scouts' fears about his inability to really burst and get away from pro defenses. He did run of 4.58 at his Notre Dame pro day still be mindful of this.

Player comp: Bam Morris

Tier-3

12. Kimani Vidal, Troy

Another target of mine that most will look over. At 5'8 and 218 lbs tape looks like a bowling ball-esque plodding force and took 295 carries last year, resulting in 14 TDs.

Strengths: YAC is elite and catches the ball well, had 18 receptions for a sensational 200 yards. Complementary as both a receiver and a power rusher.

Weakness: Size and lack of route running have scouts (and likely fantasy managers too) on what to do with him.

Player comp: Maurice Jones-Drew

13. Isaac Guerendo, Louisville

Every year there's a Combine superstar and people will rush up their draft boards and hope he is a hit with little to know about him. This is this year's dart throw. Raise your hand if you knew who this player was before this event. (Go ahead. I'll wait.)

Strength: Becoming the fastest man in this year's RB class with 4.33 speed, he continued to keep putting up Madden stats with an incredible 41.5 vertical leap, which also led this group. His broad jump of 129 landed him in the 97% so attributes are his main weapon. A total unknown at the next level we will continue to hear his name heading to draft night.

Weakness: Major concerns in blocking assignments show up on the tape. Should be a day-3 NFL prospect but not sure how his game will translate next level.

Player comps: Unknown

Strengths: Piles up stats. Averaged 1 TD per game and career reception 173 receptions.

Weakness: Not a good pass blocker is going to keep him off the field.

Player Comp: Zonovan Knight

Bonus Secret Player:

15. Tracy Tracey Jr. Purdue

Impress your friends when you know this name, as this player is not even on Sleeper yet. Time to sound the alarm.

Alert! Alert! Kudos to you if you made it this far. Today's secret player was a transfer from Iowa to Purdue. He started his career as a wide receiver, literally playing five seasons at the position before turning it on as a dodging elusive running back.

Strength: Plenty of straight-line speed as seen at the Combine

Weakness: Concerns if he could translate to the NFL

Player comp: Yep. You guessed it Antonio Gibson did the same exact thing.

Honorable mentions:

Kendal Milton, Frank Gore Jr., Daijun Edwards, Jawhar Jordan, Jase McClellan, and Cody Shrader are all players that have flashed this off-season but come with mixed results and questions here now in April. It is possible they can be on teams' radars if your league draft is big enough in later rounds.

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