Top 10 Rookie Running Backs For 2017: An Intriguing Name Rising Up The Rankings & More

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)

You don’t need to be an early round draft pick in order to be a productive running back.  That’s a lesson we’ve all learned by now, with opportunity often being the biggest key.  Which rookies have the highest upside for the 2017 season?  Let’s take a look:

1) Leonard Fournette – Jacksonville Jaguars
You don’t select a running back among the Top 5 picks without the intention to insert him as the centerpiece of the offense.  You can question how productive he’ll be able to be, thanks to being surrounded by a lackluster offense that will allow opposing defenses to focus on him.  Still the carries and opportunities are going to be there and it’s easy to argue that he’s the most talented pure runner from this draft class.

2) Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers
The question at this point is how much do the Panthers think Jonathan Stewart has left in the tank.  He’s coming off a season where he averaged 3.8 yards per carry, with 824 yards on 218 carries, and they subsequently used the 8th overall selection on a running back.  That should indicate that a change is coming and McCaffrey should immediately step into the lead role (with Stewart working behind him).  A proven two-way threat, with 82 catches over the past two seasons, McCaffrey could easily be the top rookie running back in ’17.

3) Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings
Cook lands in a somewhat ideal spot, with Adrian Peterson leaving in the offseason.  Minnesota went out and signed Latavius Murray, though he’s working his way back from ankle surgery and you at least have to wonder what type of impact it will have on his ability.  At the least he could function as the short yardage/goal line back, and that alone would have a negative impact on Cook’s production.  Of course Cook did score 20 TD in each of the past two seasons at Florida State and Murray’s contract shouldn’t prohibit Cook from emerging in the lead role.

4) Joe Mixon – Cincinnati Bengals
A controversial figure, there’s little question about his on-the-field talent.  The reason he comes in at #4, as opposed to one of the top three spots, is questions regarding his immediate opportunities.  Mixon will join a backfield that already has Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill battling for touches.  Is Mixon better than the incumbents?  You can make that argument, with Bernard working his way back from a torn ACL and Hill coming off an underwhelming season (839 yards on 222 carries).  Still, it’s hard to imagine Cincinnati no longer utilizing them, and that’s going to at least limit Mixon’s production.

5) Kareem Hunt – Kansas City Chiefs
Spencer Ware had a great start to the 2016 season, but as the year progressed he saw his production slow:

• September – 4.9 YPC
• October – 5.1 YPC
• November – 4.1 YPC
• December – 3.3 YPC

It’s possible he wore down, and with Charcandrick West hardly being an impediment Hunt should step in and play a significant role immediately.  A third round draft pick, Hunt emerged as a dual threat in ’16 (1,475 rushing yards, 41 receptions for 403 receiving yards) and is the most intriguing gamble after the top rookie runners come off the board.

6) Joe Williams – San Francisco 49ers
Carlos Hyde is the starter, but he’s never proven capable of staying healthy.  In fact he’s never played more than 14 games in a season, missing 14 games across his three years in the NFL.  There are some who wonder whether Hyde will fit in the new offense, and while Williams does have some off the field questions (after he left his team at Utah, only to return later in the season) there is also a lot of talent and upside.  It’ll be interesting to watch, but there is potential value.

7) Alvin Kamara – New Orleans Saints
The question facing Kamara is exactly how many opportunities he’ll get as a rookie in a backfield that already features Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson.  That said the Saints have shown an ability to find touches before, as they have with Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles, and that’s the type of role Kamara could step immediately into.  Over two seasons at Tennessee Kamara totaled 74 receptions for 683 yards and 7 TD, so in PPR formats he could be kicked up to #6 on the rankings.

8) Marlon Mack – Indianapolis Colts
Mack may not have the talent of some of the others on this list, but sooner or later Frank Gore is going slow down and lose the starting job.  Maybe it’s in ’17, and Mack will be waiting there to take the job and run with it.  Over his final two seasons at South Florida he averaged 6.6 and 6.8 yards per carry, and the 6’0”, 210 lbs. back scored 15 TD in his final season.  He has the speed to be a home run threat, even in limited carries, but if/when Gore stumbles could step into a much bigger role.

9) Samaje Perine – Washington Redskins
He could immediately push Rob Kelley for lead back duties in Washington, though there are questions regarding his ability in that type of role (despite topping 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons at Oklahoma).  At the very least Perine should be utilized in a short yardage/goal line role (49 rushing TD over three seasons for the 5’10”, 235 lbs. back), and he could see his role grow beyond that.

10) D’Onta Freeman – Houston Texans
While he could ultimately push Lamar Miller for the starting role, chances are he’s utilized more as a change-of-pace runner who helps to keep the starter fresh and productive all season long.  If Miller were to get injured Freeman could emerge, but outside of that he’s a tough sell.

Source – ESPN