There’s no such thing as a fantasy football ‘offseason’ in dynasty leagues, so meet the top rookie running backs available in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2020 NFL Draft has been widely classified as one of the deepest in recent memory by many NFL scouts and fantasy football experts. However, the running back position has taken a hit, as two of the top players at the position recently decided to stay in school instead of declaring for the NFL Draft.
Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard led all college football running backs with 328 rushing attempts and 2,094 rushing yards. He decided to leave a paycheck on the table and return to Stillwater for his junior season.
Shortly afterward, Clemson’s Travis Etienne opted to return for his senior season. This came as a bigger shock, as Etienne already won a National Championship, and was projected by some analysts as a first-round selection in the upcoming draft. So where does that leave dynasty owners who stockpiled draft picks in hopes of landing a stud running back or two?
We delve into the remaining options and highlight the top prospects at the position while offering our preferred draft day destinations for each. Our way-too-early landing spot projections take into consideration injuries and ineffectiveness of incumbents, as well as the potential loss of impending free agents such as Carlos Hyde, Kenyan Drake, Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler, Matt Breida and Derrick Henry (though it’s hard to imagine the latter leaving after a postseason like this one.
Grab a fireside beverage and kick back with our rundown of the top-shelf rookie running backs. There’s no better way to fill the long, cold, grey fantasy football void that won’t start fading away until this spring’s NFL Draft.
6. Zack Moss, Utah
The only true senior on this list, Zack Moss is a tough runner who can bang between the tackles, and he also carries a reputation as an excellent receiver. He’s not the flashiest prospect in this class, yet he offers true three-down workhorse potential for fantasy football fanatics in search of an under-the-radar RB1 candidate.
Height 5-10
Weight 222 pounds
Projected 40 time (per WalterFootball.com): 4.55 seconds
Moss ran for 1,416 yards on 235 carries, averaging a very respectable 6.0 yards per attempt. He scored 17 touchdowns, 15 of which came on the ground. He caught 28 of the 30 passes thrown his way, for an exceptional 93.33 percent catch rate.
Moss proved to be more elusive in space than meets the eye with an average of 13.9 yards per catch, quite stellar for a running back. He was one of only eleven players in all of FBS to log over 1,800 yards from scrimmage. He could be a stud in fantasy football leagues if drafted into the right situation.
Preferred Draft Day Destinations: San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5. Cam Akers, Florida State
Akers thrived at Florida State in a subpar offense, averaging 5.0 yards per carry behind a terrible offensive line. He is a powerful runner who does a lot of things well, and his elite upside as an every-down back in the NFL makes him a top-three target for several fantasy football experts.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
Height: 5-11
Weight: 212 pounds
Projected 40 time (per WalterFootball.com): 4.51 seconds
The Clinton, MS native racked up 1,144 yards rushing on 231 carries in 2019, and crossed the stripe 18 times, playing the role of receiver for four of those touchdowns. He caught 30 of 36 passes thrown his way, proof that his hands won’t be a concern at the next level.
However, a rather pedestrian 7.5 yards per catch points to his unimpressive vision, arguably his greatest skill development opportunity. While it’s fair to place some of the blame at the feet of the most disappointing group of blockers in FBS, the incremental quickness of pursuit tacklers in the NFL will present a major challenge to Akers.
Akers is a willing blocker who’s used to playing behind a poor offensive line, but he’ll need to refine his pass protection reads and technique at the next level. However, he also demonstrated occasional ball security concerns by losing three fumbles, two of them in close games.
While the ceiling is undoubtedly high, there are a few too many question marks here to warrant a top-three rating. Akers has shown he can do a lot of things well, but few at an exceptional level; he could give his fantasy football prospects a serious lift with a strong combine showing.
Preferred Draft Day Destinations: Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals
4. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Taylor turned in one of the most impressive running back performances in all of college football, finishing in the Top Three in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns. He garnered as many first-place votes for the Downtown Athletic Club’s premier award as Heisman Trophy Finalist Justin Fields.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 219 pounds
Projected 40 time (per WalterFootball.com): 4.54 seconds
The Salem, NJ native logged 2,003 rushing yards on 320 attempts and led all of FBS with 26 touchdowns, five through the air. He tacked on 252 receiving yards and caught 25 of 34 targets thrown his way for a fairly mediocre 73.53 percent catch rate.
However, the largest concern surrounding Taylor is ball security. For all of his terrific on-field exploits, Taylor appeared to make little progress in this area during his junior campaign, fumbling five times in 2019. All told, he coughed up the football a staggering 15 times in just three seasons.
Taylor’s proponents point to Miles Sanders as an example of what proper coaching can do. Under the tutelage of Philadelphia Eagles running backs coach Duce Staley, Sanders made monumental progress in tackling similar issues throughout his rookie season.
The upside is clear, but his fumbling issues and less-than-stellar receiving chops keep Taylor out of our Top Three. Assuming he dedicates his offseason to developing these weaknesses into strengths, Taylor could become a bona fide top-10 running back in fantasy football leagues, provided a sizable role in the right offense.
Preferred Draft Day Destinations: Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans
3. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
Joe Burrow rightfully received the lion’s share of attention and accolades as the LSU Tigers marched towards their first National Championship in well over a decade. A great receiving corps led by two Biletnikoff Award semifinalists (Ja’Maar Chase and Justin Jefferson) also found the spotlight throughout the season, but unheralded running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire flew under the radar, as talented but undersized running backs often do.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 209 pounds
Projected 40 time (per ESPN.com): 4.47 seconds
Overlooking the slight-statured bowling ball with cat-like reflexes would be a massive mistake, as the nation’s top-ranked Clemson defense discovered during the College Football Playoffs. Edwards-Helaire racked up 164 total yards on 21 touches, demonstrating elite agility and slipperiness in the process.
The National Championship served as the tenth game in which the Baton Rouge, LA native recorded over 100 yards from scrimmage. Six were against teams ranked in the Top Ten at the time of each contest, proving that Edwards-Helaire’s performance against a formidable Clemson defense was far from a fluke.
Edwards-Helaire amassed 1,414 rushing yards on 225 attempts for an impressive 6.6 yards per attempt average. He totaled 17 touchdowns, all but one on the ground, hardly a surprise given the sheer volume of red zone weapons in the Tigers’ passing game.
“CEH” still served as an important passing game between the 20s. through the air. He racked up 453 receiving yards by hauling in 55 of 63 targets thrown his way, proof positive of his prowess as a weapon out of the backfield.
Edwards-Helaire took great care of the football, so the biggest knock against him appears to be his size. Yet, his low center of gravity and shiftiness offer him the ability to either elude tacklers or run through them in the second level, evoking memories of former Jacksonville Jaguars standout Maurice Jones-Drew.
The right landing spot is key for Edwards-Helaire. Fantasy footballers should expect him to be a terrific complementary back in a great offense that utilizes a load management approach at worst; at best, he’ll thrive as a two or three-down back in a pass-happy offense that suits his talents.
Preferred Draft Day Destinations: Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins
2. J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State
This season, the one-two punch of Dobbins and Heisman Trophy semi-finalist Justin Fields punched yet another playoff ticket for the Ohio State Buckeyes. While Fields threw a couple of costly interceptions in the semi-final loss to Clemson, Dobbins piled up 221 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown against the nation’s top defense, as the jaws of dynasty fantasy football owners everywhere dropped.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 217 pounds
Projected 40 time (per WalterFootball.com): 4.50 seconds
After that Herculean effort, the La Grange, TX native ended the season with 2,003 rushing yards, tying himself with Taylor and trailing only Hubbard among FBS running backs in that category. He logged a staggering 301 carries and scored 23 times, fumbling only twice in 2019.
Dobbins placed in the Top Three on 74 Heisman ballots, and caught 23 of the 29 passes thrown his way. His 247 receiving yards allowed him to rack up 2,250 yards from scrimmage, third in FBS behind Hubbard and Taylor.
Though his pass protection could use some polish, Dobbins is not afraid to throw his body into a bull-rushing linebacker bee-lining for the quarterback. He displays exceptional strength and contact balance as a runner on film and has proven to be adequate at worst as a receiver. In short, Dobbins possesses elite athleticism and a skill set that should allow him to flourish in just about any NFL scheme.
Preferred Draft Day Destinations: Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons
1. D’Andre Swift, Georgia
D’Andre Swift is the consensus top rookie running back among industry experts and reigns over our rankings as well. The Philadelphia native evokes memories of LeSean McCoy with his elite quickness and ability to cut on a dime, though the rookie’s contact balance may be even better and he appears to finish his runs with more strength and power.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 215 pounds
Projected 40 time (per WalterFootball.com): 4.49 seconds
Swift, appropriately named, piled up 1,218 rushing yards on fewer than 200 carries. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry against top-shelf competition in the SEC. He added 216 receiving yards by reeling in 24 receptions on 30 targets, leaving no doubt about his ability as a receiver out of the backfield.
He’ll never be confused with Derrick Henry in short-yardage situations. However, his great hands and ability to make people miss out of the backfield have fantasy football freaks drooling.
The hype machine for Swift in certainly in overdrive, as some are comparing him to Christian McCaffrey. While his presence in a timeshare with other talented Bulldog running backs has kept him fresh for the NFL, some may harbor minor questions about his durability.
Realists understand that Swift’s unique skill set can’t be truly be maximized at the NFL level unless his legs are reasonably healthy and fresh. Nevertheless, Swift remains the unquestioned top prospect in a fairly deep running back class and should contribute right away on any team that drafts him.
Preferred Draft Day Destinations: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins