2015 Running back class: Special? Or are we trying to force the issue? (1 Viewer)

[georg013]

Is this truly a special class of running backs? Or are we just desperate for new blood? Last year's wide receiver class comes to mind but were we really hyping them up as *special* or were they only *special* after the season started progressing and they started performing? How do you feel this running back class will stack up to the receiving class of last year and the running back classes of years passed?

 

[massraider]

I've actually not been reading that it's gonna be a 'special' class. I think that there are two potential studs in Gordon and Gurley (there's probably a late round stud-in-waiting that we are missing), and we haven't really seen many decent backs recently, so it's abetter class than recently, that's for sure.

Comparing it to last year's WR class seems crazy, a set up for failure.

I'm really hoping there's an Isiah Crowell/Christine Michael-type this year, those are entertaining.

 

[Thunderlips]

I think that for the near future in the NFL, unless a RB is a "can't miss/future HOFer talent" in college...the position will continue to be devalued in Fantasy to the point where:

A) Young RB's with real talent (who in years past might have stepped into a productive starting role in their first year) will be backups/RBBC participants until they can pick up their teams passing/protection schemes.

B) More so than ever, scheme and team philodophy will be more important over talent when deciding which young RB's to pick.

To point B, since I don't think there's any "can't miss/future HOFers" in this draft....I can't comment on a RB's specialness until I see what team drafts him.

To point A, that works very well to fantasy players who do their homework, players in dynasty leagues and leagues with deep benches. With RB talent being pushed down the draft chart....there are a lot of opportunities for fantasy players to get potential at bargain prices.

 

[FUBAR]

Better two than last year.

Other than that, we play ff so we're biased.

 

[Captain Hook]

Or are we just desperate for new blood?

This - but of course we could be lucky and get both although I doubt there are many true first round running backs in this class given the way recent NFL drafts have gone.

 

[EBF]

Special? No, I don't think so. 2008 was special.

Inevitably a couple of this year's backs will have good careers though.

 

[Zyphros]

There was a clear top2 WR's last year in Watkins/Evans that were heads and shoulders above the rest in terms of prospect at their position. Other than that it was a nice deep class with lots of potential. I think it's safe to say it's a relatively similar situation this year with the RB's. Clear top2 with Gurley/Gordon and nice depth with some good potential, I wouldn't be surprised if there were 8 or so with solid NFL careers. To me there's a tier break in between the 2nd tier of WR's from last year, and the 2nd tier of RB's this year, I would put the tiers as follow for combined ranking (no particular order other than tiers)

Watkins/Evans/Gurley/Gordon

OBJ/Cooks/Matthews

Then all the 2nd tier RB's from this class however you rank them.

So it isn't quite as top heavy as last year but there is still a few elite prospects at the position. Coleman, Yeldon, Ajayi, Abdullah seem to be in that 2nd tier and I prefer all of OBJ, Cooks, Matthews over those guys.

 

[Xue]

Is this truly a special class of running backs? Or are we just desperate for new blood? Last year's wide receiver class comes to mind but were we really hyping them up as *special* or were they only *special* after the season started progressing and they started performing? How do you feel this running back class will stack up to the receiving class of last year and the running back classes of years passed?

Gordon and Gurley, that's it.

Tevin Coleman and Jay Ajayi in the right situation.

 

[cheese]

Gurley is special. Gordon could be a #1RB most years. They rest are about normal IMO.

 

[Concept Coop]

Compared to the best WR class ever? No. Compared to the average RB crop? Clearly.

I think it's pretty close to 2008, at this point in the process. Gurley/Gordon are close to DMC/Stewart. Coleman/Ajayi/Duke compare nicely to Felix/Mendenhall/CJ. Plenty of depth after that--Abdullah, Yeldon, Davis, Cobb, CA-P, Buck, Johnson, Robinson, Langford, etc.

They won't be drafted as highly, for obvious reasons, but that doesn't mean they are lesser prospects.

I'm not claiming the class will end up as good, obviously--just that it's close to where 2008 was at this time.

 

[Concept Coop]

There was a clear top2 WR's last year in Watkins/Evans that were heads and shoulders above the rest in terms of prospect at their position. Other than that it was a nice deep class with lots of potential. I think it's safe to say it's a relatively similar situation this year with the RB's. Clear top2 with Gurley/Gordon and nice depth with some good potential, I wouldn't be surprised if there were 8 or so with solid NFL careers. To me there's a tier break in between the 2nd tier of WR's from last year, and the 2nd tier of RB's this year, I would put the tiers as follow for combined ranking (no particular order other than tiers)

Watkins/Evans/Gurley/Gordon

OBJ/Cooks/Matthews

Then all the 2nd tier RB's from this class however you rank them.

So it isn't quite as top heavy as last year but there is still a few elite prospects at the position. Coleman, Yeldon, Ajayi, Abdullah seem to be in that 2nd tier and I prefer all of OBJ, Cooks, Matthews over those guys.

Based on FF (2014 at the time of the draft):

Gurley/Gordon

Sammy/Evans

Cooper (assuming he's a top 5-8 pick; otherwise he slips)

Cooks/White/Parker

Ebron/Beckham

Coleman/Duke/Ajayi/Abdullah > Hyde/Hill/Sankey/Mason

Benjamin=Funchess

ASJ/Amaro = Williams/Walford

Lee/Adams/Matthews/Robinson/Latimer = DGB/Strong/Coates/Smith/Perriman

Mariota/Winston > Teddy/Johnny

The rest is about square as well.

I think we're using hindsight if we suggest Beckham was a tier higher than White/Parker. In fantasy leagues, he was drafted well below NFL draft slot based on size concerns and the fact that he came on late. He wasn't even being mocked in the 1st round prior to the combine. He was behind Lee at this point. Parker/White might prove to be more valuable than Beckham/Cooks, even, depending on landing spots (at the time of the draft, of course).

I'll say this; no way in hell Sankey/Hyde go top 3-4 in this class. Thus, I give the nod to 2015.

 

[Zyphros]

There was a clear top2 WR's last year in Watkins/Evans that were heads and shoulders above the rest in terms of prospect at their position. Other than that it was a nice deep class with lots of potential. I think it's safe to say it's a relatively similar situation this year with the RB's. Clear top2 with Gurley/Gordon and nice depth with some good potential, I wouldn't be surprised if there were 8 or so with solid NFL careers. To me there's a tier break in between the 2nd tier of WR's from last year, and the 2nd tier of RB's this year, I would put the tiers as follow for combined ranking (no particular order other than tiers)

Watkins/Evans/Gurley/Gordon

OBJ/Cooks/Matthews

Then all the 2nd tier RB's from this class however you rank them.

So it isn't quite as top heavy as last year but there is still a few elite prospects at the position. Coleman, Yeldon, Ajayi, Abdullah seem to be in that 2nd tier and I prefer all of OBJ, Cooks, Matthews over those guys.

Based on FF (2014 at the time of the draft):

Gurley/Gordon

Sammy/Evans

Cooper (assuming he's a top 5-8 pick; otherwise he slips)

Cooks/White/Parker

Ebron/Beckham

Coleman/Duke/Ajayi/Abdullah > Hyde/Hill/Sankey/Mason

Benjamin=Funchess

ASJ/Amaro = Williams/Walford

Lee/Adams/Matthews/Robinson/Latimer = DGB/Strong/Coates/Smith/Perriman

Mariota/Winston > Teddy/Johnny

The rest is about square as well.

I think we're using hindsight if we suggest Beckham was a tier higher than White/Parker. In fantasy leagues, he was drafted well below NFL draft slot based on size concerns and the fact that he came on late. He wasn't even being mocked in the 1st round prior to the combine. He was behind Lee at this point. Parker/White might prove to be more valuable than Beckham/Cooks, even, depending on landing spots (at the time of the draft, of course).

I'll say this; no way in hell Sankey/Hyde go top 3-4 in this class. Thus, I give the nod to 2015.

Overall I agree that it's a slight nod to 2015, but that to me is due to the very thin outlook that the RB landscape is seeing. Again I still would prefer those 2nd tier WR's from 2014 to the 2nd tier of RB's this year. Maybe it was just me but I had OBJ very high last year on my board (4th), and according to where I actually drafted him (9th) I got a steal so his draft value (rookie drafts) likely isn't going to be as high as Parker/White. When it's all said and done, I think 1 of Parker/White ends up slipping down into that range. We haven't seen the combine and there's always people that show up that end up being in that mid 1st conversation. My guess is it's Parker.

Sankey/Hyde would probably be fringe top8 RB's in this class. I guess I didn't complete my tiers in the quote above but after those 2nd tier RB's from this class would be that first tier of RB's from 2014.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

NFL Network chief draft analyst Mike Mayock said "this running back class is one of the best in the last 10 years both because it has quality up top and depth throughout."

"[Wisconsin's Melvin] Gordon and [Georgia's Todd] Gurley are first-round picks from a physical trait perspective," Mayock said. Due to his knee injury, Gurley is not expected to participate in combine drills next week. "I don't know whether Gurley slides out of the first round or not," Mayock said. "That's going to come down to how teams look at his medical (history). But I think Gordon is going in the first round." ESPN analyst Bill Polian claims that the RB position isn't devalued. "If you're a Seahawks fan, you've still got a headache. Because by far the game's best back, Marshawn Lynch, didn't get the ball on second and-goal at the end of the Super Bowl. The bottom line is running backs are still very important. Just ask Indianapolis."

 

[menobrown]

If not special it's deep and is going to wreck havoc with a lot of current RB situations. It's a big reason I'm heavily against paying market price for most RB's right now because a whole lot of situations are not going to look as good by the time FA and the draft are over.

 

[Kitrick Taylor]

If not special it's deep and is going to wreck havoc with a lot of current RB situations. It's a big reason I'm heavily against paying market price for most RB's right now because a whole lot of situations are not going to look as good by the time FA and the draft are over.

I agree 100% with this. There's roughly 10 UFA Rbs out there that can impact a seemingly stable situation. Free Agent RB deals are typically cheap. What happens to LeVeon Bell's value if they sign or draft a very good receiving back? Suddenly he goes from 80 catches to 20-30? That could happen to any of the top RBs. Vereen, Spiller, Bradshaw, Forsett are all nice backs and could help out just about any team.

Then teams will have good backs to choose from through at least round 3 of this draft.

There were a lot of people ranking Zac Stacy and Gio Bernard pretty high at this point a year ago. Heck, they were rated highly going into September. Some of the guys rated in the top 15 right now aren't going to be there a year from now due to this class of RBs.

IMO the Packers could use a scat back to compliment Lacy. Spiller/Duke/Vereen would be good choices. I think the Eagles could use a bigger back to compliment McCoy. Ingram, Mathews, Yeldon, Ridley would seem to be good fits there.

Like it or not, some of these bigger named backs are going to get competition for their workload. Better competition than they currently are facing as well.

 

[Skoo]

FWIW, the 2014 WR draft class was predicted to be maybe the best ever.

Then they went ahead and proved it was.

 

[Skoo]

I think that for the near future in the NFL, unless a RB is a "can't miss/future HOFer talent" in college...the position will continue to be devalued in Fantasy to the point where:

Still confused why this seems to be the prevailing opinion these days...

There's more talent at WR, and less at RB.

Which means that RBs are even MORE valuable today than they were when every team had a "bellcow". As scarcity goes up, so does value.

Sorry to get off topic.

 

[-CE-]

I think that for the near future in the NFL, unless a RB is a "can't miss/future HOFer talent" in college...the position will continue to be devalued in Fantasy to the point where:

Still confused why this seems to be the prevailing opinion these days...

There's more talent at WR, and less at RB.

Which means that RBs are even MORE valuable today than they were when every team had a "bellcow". As scarcity goes up, so does value.

Sorry to get off topic.

I think his point is there are no more bellcows. Taking 20-25 hits per game breaks every running back down, so teams are trying to limit those hits to 15-20... and have someone there to take over if one of those hits ends them for the game/season. I think Cincy is a good example of what we're going to see most teams doing going forward... they might get their RB1 one year in a guy like Gio, but the next year they go ahead and get another RB1 just in case (Hill)... the Packers tried it two years ago when they drafted Lacy and Franklin in back-to-back rounds, but Franklin obviously didn't pan out with a serious neck injury.

 

[Concept Coop]

I think his point is there are no more bellcows. Taking 20-25 hits per game breaks every running back down, so teams are trying to limit those hits to 15-20... and have someone there to take over if one of those hits ends them for the game/season. I think Cincy is a good example of what we're going to see most teams doing going forward... they might get their RB1 one year in a guy like Gio, but the next year they go ahead and get another RB1 just in case (Hill)... the Packers tried it two years ago when they drafted Lacy and Franklin in back-to-back rounds, but Franklin obviously didn't pan out with a serious neck injury.

I think he means: Why doesn't the FF community value bell cow RBs more, the less available they become. Not the NFL.

Just a nitpick, but GB showed no signs of using Franklin as a COP back before the injury. He was one of the last players selected in the 4th round, which doesn't promise much in terms of role moving foward. I think they drafted Lacy to be the guy and are using him as they planned when they grabbed him.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I think his point is there are no more bellcows. Taking 20-25 hits per game breaks every running back down, so teams are trying to limit those hits to 15-20... and have someone there to take over if one of those hits ends them for the game/season. I think Cincy is a good example of what we're going to see most teams doing going forward... they might get their RB1 one year in a guy like Gio, but the next year they go ahead and get another RB1 just in case (Hill)... the Packers tried it two years ago when they drafted Lacy and Franklin in back-to-back rounds, but Franklin obviously didn't pan out with a serious neck injury.

I think he means: Why doesn't the FF community value bell cow RBs more, the less available they become. Not the NFL.

Just a nitpick, but GB showed no signs of using Franklin as a COP back before the injury. He was one of the last players selected in the 4th round, which doesn't promise much in terms of role moving foward. I think they drafted Lacy to be the guy and are using him as they planned when they grabbed him.

Lacy went in the second and Franklin went in the fourth so it wasn't even back to back rounds, to further your point.

 

[-CE-]

I think his point is there are no more bellcows. Taking 20-25 hits per game breaks every running back down, so teams are trying to limit those hits to 15-20... and have someone there to take over if one of those hits ends them for the game/season. I think Cincy is a good example of what we're going to see most teams doing going forward... they might get their RB1 one year in a guy like Gio, but the next year they go ahead and get another RB1 just in case (Hill)... the Packers tried it two years ago when they drafted Lacy and Franklin in back-to-back rounds, but Franklin obviously didn't pan out with a serious neck injury.

I think he means: Why doesn't the FF community value bell cow RBs more, the less available they become. Not the NFL.

Just a nitpick, but GB showed no signs of using Franklin as a COP back before the injury. He was one of the last players selected in the 4th round, which doesn't promise much in terms of role moving foward. I think they drafted Lacy to be the guy and are using him as they planned when they grabbed him.

Nitpick to your hearts content because my point wasn't that GB was trying to use Franklin as a COP back when the season started. My point was they drafted him thinking as much.

 

[-CE-]

I think his point is there are no more bellcows. Taking 20-25 hits per game breaks every running back down, so teams are trying to limit those hits to 15-20... and have someone there to take over if one of those hits ends them for the game/season. I think Cincy is a good example of what we're going to see most teams doing going forward... they might get their RB1 one year in a guy like Gio, but the next year they go ahead and get another RB1 just in case (Hill)... the Packers tried it two years ago when they drafted Lacy and Franklin in back-to-back rounds, but Franklin obviously didn't pan out with a serious neck injury.

I think he means: Why doesn't the FF community value bell cow RBs more, the less available they become. Not the NFL.

Just a nitpick, but GB showed no signs of using Franklin as a COP back before the injury. He was one of the last players selected in the 4th round, which doesn't promise much in terms of role moving foward. I think they drafted Lacy to be the guy and are using him as they planned when they grabbed him.

Lacy went in the second and Franklin went in the fourth so it wasn't even back to back rounds, to further your point.

The Green Bay Packers didn't have a third round pick that year although they did have three 4th rounders.

I think Lacy is great. I'm also a Packers fan and would love for Lacy to have a 10 year career which won't happen if they don't find someone to lighten the load. Bellcows are going the way of the dodo. Ask Arian Foster what he thinks about being Houston's bellcow.

 

[Concept Coop]

Nitpick to your hearts content because my point wasn't that GB was trying to use Franklin as a COP back when the season started. My point was they drafted him thinking as much.

Do you have a link? If you mean COP as a Gio/Hill split, I disagree. If you mean COP as in McCoy/Sproles split--maybe.

 

[Sinrman]

Quite a few excellent backs. We'll see some step up in the next 1-2 years that will be taken in rounds 2-5. Gurley and Gordon are the obvious ones. But Abdullah, Johnson, Coleman, and one I think people will overlook is Langford. Kid was a stud at MSU.

 

[-CE-]

Nitpick to your hearts content because my point wasn't that GB was trying to use Franklin as a COP back when the season started. My point was they drafted him thinking as much.

Do you have a link? If you mean COP as a Gio/Hill split, I disagree. If you mean COP as in McCoy/Sproles split--maybe.

I don't even think the Bungles knew they'd end up with a Gio/Hill split like they have now, but if you go back to the 2013 RB class, Franklin and Lacy were both top 5 RB's. When Lacy was drafted there were all sorts of questions about his toe and several GM's saying Lacy was a DND.

My how quickly everyone forgets.

 

[tdmills]

This RB class will have a huge impact in the FF community because of the RB landscape more than their talent. I think this is a very good RB class and could be great. But the biggest issue is the RB landscape.

(Age going into next season)

Old RBs with limited time left(age going into next season): AP(30), Lynch(29), Reggie Bush (30), Charles(28), Foster(29), Gore(32), Jstew(28), Forte(29), Fjax(34), Sjax(32), Forsett(29), Rice(28), Spiller(28), Bradshaw(29). If we're honest, this group has between 1-3 years of good FF service left and the end is closer than we think. Some have already fallen off and could be done this offseason.

Back end of prime: Shady(27), Murray(27), Ivory(27). Still have potentially 2-4 good FF seasons left. Shady took a step back this season and Murray with that workload leave this group with more question marks than answers.

Pretenders, players that are valued highly due to poor landscape: Ellington(26), Gio(23), Latavius Murray(24), Crowell(22), Sankey (23), Denard Robinson(25), Ingram(25), Freeman(23), Hyde(24), Cmike(24), Dougie(26), Jerick McKinnon(23), Vereen(26), Stacy(24). I'm assuming this group will cause the most uproar, but I don't see current transcendent talents from this group. They either will always have that "potential" word, not big enough, not athletic enough, or just aren't that good. Hyde/Cmike/McKinnon/Crow could move to the group below, but I want to see a full year of solid production before they do.

Maybes, players that might be a solid RB1: CJ Anderson(24), Jeremy Hill(22), Tre Mason(22), Lamar Miller(24), Alf(26). These players have produced well thus far in the NFL, but I still don't feel great about any of their situations if i'm projecting out 2-3 years from now. They could just as easily not put up a RB1 season the next 2 years.

Stud RB in prime: Bell(23), Lacy(24). The only two RBs that owners feel great about because they appear primed for 3-6 more years of good production and locked in at RB1 status.

At no other time has the cupboard been this bare of RB talent. But that's what happens when the 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009 drafts have produced little, consistent, high end production. This RB class represents hope and has good opportunity based on the landscape. Will they be a pretender, a maybe, or a stud? Who knows, but they have a better chance of producing RB1 numbers than at any other time, the stars might be aligning.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

This RB class will have a huge impact in the FF community because of the RB landscape more than their talent. I think this is a very good RB class and could be great. But the biggest issue is the RB landscape.

(Age going into next season)

Old RBs with limited time left(age going into next season): AP(30), Lynch(29), Reggie Bush (30), Charles(28), Foster(29), Gore(32), Jstew(28), Forte(29), Fjax(34), Sjax(32), Forsett(29), Rice(28), Spiller(28), Bradshaw(29). If we're honest, this group has between 1-3 years of good FF service left and the end is closer than we think. Some have already fallen off and could be done this offseason.

Back end of prime: Shady(27), Murray(27), Ivory(27). Still have potentially 2-4 good FF seasons left. Shady took a step back this season and Murray with that workload leave this group with more question marks than answers.

Pretenders, players that are valued highly due to poor landscape: Ellington(26), Gio(23), Latavius Murray(24), Crowell(22), Sankey (23), Denard Robinson(25), Ingram(25), Freeman(23), Hyde(24), Cmike(24), Dougie(26), Jerick McKinnon(23), Vereen(26), Stacy(24). I'm assuming this group will cause the most uproar, but I don't see current transcendent talents from this group. They either will always have that "potential" word, not big enough, not athletic enough, or just aren't that good. Hyde/Cmike/McKinnon/Crow could move to the group below, but I want to see a full year of solid production before they do.

Maybes, players that might be a solid RB1: CJ Anderson(24), Jeremy Hill(22), Tre Mason(22), Lamar Miller(24), Alf(26). These players have produced well thus far in the NFL, but I still don't feel great about any of their situations if i'm projecting out 2-3 years from now. They could just as easily not put up a RB1 season the next 2 years.

Stud RB in prime: Bell(23), Lacy(24). The only two RBs that owners feel great about because they appear primed for 3-6 more years of good production and locked in at RB1 status.

At no other time has the cupboard been this bare of RB talent. But that's what happens when the 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009 drafts have produced little, consistent, high end production. This RB class represents hope and has good opportunity based on the landscape. Will they be a pretender, a maybe, or a stud? Who knows, but they have a better chance of producing RB1 numbers than at any other time, the stars might be aligning.

When you try and put some rankings together, its a pretty scary proposition where you have to place some of these guys.

 

[Shutout]

I think his point is there are no more bellcows. Taking 20-25 hits per game breaks every running back down, so teams are trying to limit those hits to 15-20... and have someone there to take over if one of those hits ends them for the game/season. I think Cincy is a good example of what we're going to see most teams doing going forward... they might get their RB1 one year in a guy like Gio, but the next year they go ahead and get another RB1 just in case (Hill)... the Packers tried it two years ago when they drafted Lacy and Franklin in back-to-back rounds, but Franklin obviously didn't pan out with a serious neck injury.

I think he means: Why doesn't the FF community value bell cow RBs more, the less available they become. Not the NFL.

Just a nitpick, but GB showed no signs of using Franklin as a COP back before the injury. He was one of the last players selected in the 4th round, which doesn't promise much in terms of role moving foward. I think they drafted Lacy to be the guy and are using him as they planned when they grabbed him.

Lacy went in the second and Franklin went in the fourth so it wasn't even back to back rounds, to further your point.

The Green Bay Packers didn't have a third round pick that year although they did have three 4th rounders.

I think Lacy is great. I'm also a Packers fan and would love for Lacy to have a 10 year career which won't happen if they don't find someone to lighten the load. Bellcows are going the way of the dodo. Ask Arian Foster what he thinks about being Houston's bellcow.

I'd say he likes it just fine. Got a huge contract and has been one of the top 2-3 overall backs for the last five years. At the RB position, what more can you ask for. They all get hurt at some point and time.

The reality has shifted and we need to stop thinking in terms of the Emmit Smith, LT type careers. We need to think in terms of Larry Johnson, Shaun Alexander, etc whereas a stud Rb for our purposes is when you get a guy that hovers in the top 5 for 5-6 years. That's about all you get anymore. Even if they remain healthy, too many people look at the numbers of carries now and will scale them back, even if they are healthy so you might as well ride them hard and feed them that ball as naseum while you can and while they can answer the bell. Then move on.

At this pace, we will have the same conversation about Leveon Bell and Eddie Lacy in about two years. Even if they are healthy, there will be tons of people (fantasy and Real life) who will be talking about 1000+ carries and time to scale back. We'll see Pitt draft a back in the 4th round and the "sharks" will pump up his rookie draft value because they will say Pitt did it for a reason to scale back Bell.

All that's is OK in today's NFL and ff. That is the new reality.

 

[Shutout]

I don't think there is a back in this class that is special enough to the degree to make him more fantasy valuable that any other back because while Gordon and Gurley might go off the board first, their talent might not necessarily make it worth the price compared to others.

You can put Gordon on the Jags, for example, and pay his ff dynasty price, but as we have seen just about every year for a while now, that doesn't guarantee anything. Some guy (not saying it will be THIS guy, just making an example) like Yeldon will end up going in the 3rd or 4th or wherever to a team like New England or San Diego and will have a much better fantasy career than Gurley being drafted in New Orleans or added to a roster on some team to be paired with some specialist RB to split carries.

One thing I do not do at all anymore is build long term teams around the RB position. It's pointless and it's kind of counter-intuitive to say that because they are the position that when a homerun RB lands in your lap, they can absolutely be the easy difference maker in your season, but if you plan to build around them, there is much more downside.

 

[Concept Coop]

I don't think there is a back in this class that is special enough to the degree to make him more fantasy valuable that any other back because while Gordon and Gurley might go off the board first, their talent might not necessarily make it worth the price compared to others.

You can put Gordon on the Jags, for example, and pay his ff dynasty price, but as we have seen just about every year for a while now, that doesn't guarantee anything. Some guy (not saying it will be THIS guy, just making an example) like Yeldon will end up going in the 3rd or 4th or wherever to a team like New England or San Diego and will have a much better fantasy career than Gurley being drafted in New Orleans or added to a roster on some team to be paired with some specialist RB to split carries.

RB is the more stable and bust-proof position, compared to WR. I don't think Yeldon is anymore likely to produce more than Gurley, than Perriman is to produce more than Cooper.

 

[JaxBill]

Special? No

Relatively deep? Yes

 

[georg013]

I guess Gurleys and Gordons just grow on trees.

What does special mean? Better than AP?

I don't believe they are simply marginal or average. Guys like Morris, Mason, Hill, and West are marginal.

 

[JohnnyU]

I guess Gurleys and Gordons just grow on trees.

What does special mean? Better than AP?

I don't believe they are simply marginal or average. Guys like Morris, Mason, Hill, and West are marginal.

I wouldn't include Hill in your list, but I agree with the rest.

 

[mr roboto]

I guess Gurleys and Gordons just grow on trees.

What does special mean? Better than AP?

I don't believe they are simply marginal or average. Guys like Morris, Mason, Hill, and West are marginal.

I wouldn't include Hill in your list, but I agree with the rest.

Remember when Arian Foster 'wasn't special?' System and opportunity can make a career as much as talent.

 

[georg013]

Maybe its just me but I am blown away by how many people are trying to write off Gurley and Gordon as "ok" backs. Franklin was an ok back. Devante Freeman is an average back. Maybe its a ploy to lower their respective values but these guys are far from "nothing special". Its like they have to be a LT \ Jim Brown love child in order to get any respect around here. Enough already. Not everyone is Adrian Peterson. Doesnt mean they are average.

 

[georg013]

Special? No

Relatively deep? Yes

Relative to what?

 

[Faust]

2015 Combine: Running back class deep and talented

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/02/2015_combine_running_back_class_deep_and_talented.html

 

[Hankmoody]

I think this class will be considered loaded by the time it's all said and done. Gurley and Gordon are easy, but I think the tier 1.5 of Yeldon, Coleman, Davis, Abdullah, Ajayi, and Allen makes for an impressive collection of talent. NFL coaches may not be featuring a bellcow very often, but they are doing a better job than ever of finding a guy's strengths and getting the most out of them. Throw in potential overachievers like Artis-Payne, Cobb, Langford, Karlos Williams, David Johnson - this is a long list.

 

[georg013]

More and more tidbits like this are starting to come out. Per Roto:

Scout: It's the best group of RBs I've seen

Mark Eckel spoke to one NFL scout who said "this is the best group of running backs I've seen from top to bottom" since he began evaluating.

"It's a really, really good group," the scout concluded. Eckel goes on to say that both Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon III should be first-round picks. We aren't so sure about the latter, but Gurley is clearly the most talented ball carrier in this class. After him, it is a bit cluttered in terms of preferable traits and roles.

 

[Biabreakable]

Despite Injury, Todd Gurley Is Among 2015 NFL Draft's Elite

 

[Biabreakable]

Should You Draft Todd Gurley and Other Rookie RBs in MFL10s?

 

[jurb26]

I think this is a special class. It's not often you are going to get talents like Gurley and Gordon in the same draft. Gurley to me is and has been the easy top RB and IMO is the best RB prospect since Peterson. That alone is worth getting excited about. Gordon is perhaps the best guy in the last 5 years, removing Gurley. Maybe Richardson was better or on par as a prospect. It's easy to forget now that Richardson was a top 3 pick.

Despite that, the sheer volume of runners capable of starting or finding a long term niche in this class are stagering. We could be talking about 2 guys with 1st round grades, 5 with 2nd and a slew of others with 3rd to 4th.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim said this year's RB class has "a couple... at the top [who] have a chance to be special."
He didn't name names, but you can bet Keim was talking about Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon. "I know over the years we've talked about devaluing running backs," Keim said. "At the end of the day, you have to have a few guys who can carry the load. This year, I think a couple of those running backs at the top have a chance to be special." NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock grades eight running backs third-round or better, while colleague Daniel Jeremiah ranks Gordon 11th overall and Gurley 13th.

Source: NFL.com
Feb 19 - 6:08 PM

 

[cstu]

Teams seem to think it's special.

The last time two RB's went in the top 15 was 2010: Spiller and Mathews.

 

[jurb26]

8 RBs taken by round 3.

2 1st rounders, a top 10 and top 15 selection overall.

2 2nd rounders.

4 3rd rounders.

The NFL seems to like this RB class.

 

[Adam Harstad]

8 RBs taken by round 3.

2 1st rounders, a top 10 and top 15 selection overall.

2 2nd rounders.

4 3rd rounders.

The NFL seems to like this RB class.

The "4 RBs by the end of the 2nd" and "8 RBs by the end of the 3rd" figures are pretty standard among recent drafts. Each of the last five drafts has had 4 +/- 1 RB drafted by the end of the 2nd and 8 +/- 1 RB drafted by the end of the third, with the exception of 2013 (only 6 by the end of the 3rd) and 2010 (a whopping 7 by the end of the 2nd).

In terms of where the backs are going, it seems to me that the biggest difference between this year's class and years past- judging solely by draft position- is the presence of a pair of top-half first rounders. Which seems like a nice boost for any RB-needy dynasty teams with a picking in the top 2-4 picks. Less so for those picking in the back half of the first round.