The intended premise is sound. Highly drafted Rbs each and every year wash out and never become the players thier teams hoped they would be. Likewise they never become what fantasy owners hoped they would be getting for thier respective teams.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/positions/RB
2000 Rbs
1 5 Jamal Lewis RB Tennessee - instant impact. Lost time to injuries but came back
1 7 Thomas Jones RB Virginia - Bust. Later emerged as a starter.
1 11 Ron Dayne RB Wisconsin - Bust.
1 19 Shaun Alexander RB Alabama - Took time to play then emerged.
1 31 Trung Canidate RB Arizona - Bust
3 63 Travis Prentice RB Miami, O. - Bust
3 81 Reuben Droughns RB Oregon - Later emerged as a starter.
3 88 Doug Chapman RB Marshall
4 97 Curtis Keaton RB James Madison
4 115 Frank Moreau RB Louisville
5 144 Michael Wiley RB Ohio State
5 166 Chad Morton RB Southern California
6 171 Thomas Hamner RB Minnesota
6 189 Mike Anderson RB Utah - instant impact. Faded then reemerged as starter.
7 243 Shyrone Stith RB Virginia Tech
7 252 Rondell Mealey RB Louisiana State
2001 Rbs
1 5 LaDainian Tomlinson RB Texas Christian - instant impact
1 23 Deuce McAllister RB Mississippi - emerged after Ricky traded.
1 27 Michael Bennett RB Wisconsin - decent starter then faded.
2 38 Anthony Thomas RB Michigan - ROY then faded.
2 49 LaMont Jordan RB Maryland - took 4 years for him to emerge.
2 58 Travis Henry RB Tennessee - had some good seasons before being replaced.
3 65 James Jackson RB Miami - bust.
3 80 Kevan Barlow RB Pittsburgh - RBBC
3 85 Travis Minor RB Florida State - never given opportunity.
4 100 Rudi Johnson RB Auburn - later emerged.
4 108 George Layne RB Texas Christian
4 121 Correll Buckhalter RB Nebraska - some instant impact then injured.
5 150 Derrick Blaylock RB Stephen F. Austin
5 161 Chris Barnes RB New Mexico State
6 175 Dee Brown RB Syracuse
6 192 Dan Alexander RB Nebraska
2002 Rbs
1 16 William Green RB Boston College - Bust.
1 18 T.J. Duckett RB Michigan State - RBBC
2 34 DeShaun Foster RB UCLA - RBBC
2 51 Clinton Portis RB Miami - instant impact
2 54 Maurice Morris RB Oregon - Backup so far.
2 56 Ladell Betts RB Iowa - Backup that has shown ability. Never got a chance.
3 91 Brian Westbrook RB Villanova - eventual starter.
4 99 Jonathan Wells RB Ohio State - Backup.
4 119 Travis Stephens RB Tennessee
4 135 Najeh Davenport RB Miami - Backup
5 166 Verron Haynes RB Georgia
6 185 Josh Scobey RB Kansas State
6 197 Larry Ned RB San Diego State
6 199 Adrian Peterson RB Georgia Southern
6 204 Brian Allen RB Stanford
6 207 Chester Taylor RB Toledo RBBC now starter. We'll see.
7 214 Luke Staley RB Brigham Young
7 237 Antwoine Womack RB Virginia
7 241 Leonard Henry RB East Carolina
7 251 Jarrett Ferguson RB Virginia Tech
7 257 Rock Cartwright RB Kansas State
2003
1 23 Willis McGahee RB Miami - starter once recovered from injury.
1 27 Larry Johnson RB Penn State - emerged as starter.
3 77 Musa Smith RB Georgia - plauged by injuries.
3 93 Chris Brown RB Colorado - became starter but oft injured.
3 96 Justin Fargas RB Southern California - Al Davis obsession with measurables.
4 99 Artose Pinner RB Kentucky - Backup.
4 101 Domanick Davis RB Louisiana State - Instant impact.
4 105 Onterrio Smith RB Oregon - Whiz
4 108 Quentin Griffin RB Oklahoma
4 115 Lee Suggs RB Virginia Tech
4 132 LaBrandon Toefield RB Louisiana State
6 206 Brock Forsey RB Boise State
7 235 Ahmaad Galloway RB Alabama
7 236 Brandon Drumm RB Colorado
7 242 J.T. Wall RB Georgia
7 247 Casey Moore RB Stanford
2004
1 24 Steven Jackson RB Oregon State - now a starter.
1 26 Chris Perry RB Michigan - backup.
1 30 Kevin Jones RB Virginia Tech - Starter.
2 41 Tatum Bell RB Oklahoma State - RBBC
2 43 Julius Jones RB Notre Dame - Starter
4 119 Mewelde Moore RB Tulane - RBBC
4 128 Cedric Cobbs RB Arkansas - Bench.
5 154 Michael Turner RB Northern Illinois - Backup
7 208 Adimchinobe Echemandu RB California
7 219 Quincy Wilson RB West Virginia
7 235 Derrick Ward RB Ottawa, Kan.
7 242 Bruce Perry RB Maryland
7 247 Brandon Miree RB Pittsburgh
2005
1 2 Ronnie Brown RB Auburn - RBBC now starter.
1 4 Cedric Benson RB Texas - Backup could still emerge.
1 5 Carnell Williams RB Auburn - Instant impact.
2 44 J.J. Arrington RB California - Bust.
2 54 Eric Shelton RB Louisville - Bust.
3 65 Frank Gore RB Miami - RBBC
3 73 Vernand Morency RB Oklahoma State - Backup.
3 77 Ryan Moats RB Louisiana Tech - Backup.
3 101 Maurice Clarett RB Ohio State
4 109 Marion Barber RB Minnesota - Backup.
4 110 Brandon Jacobs RB Southern Illinois - Backup.
4 112 Ciatrick Fason RB Florida - Backup.
4 120 Manuel White RB UCLA
4 127 Alvin Pearman RB Virginia
4 130 Darren Sproles RB Kansas State
5 142 Damien Nash RB Missouri
6 182 Cedric Houston RB Tennessee - Backup.
6 196 Tony Jackson RB Iowa
6 201 DeAndra Cobb RB Michigan State
7 236 Lionel Gates RB Louisville
7 243 Anthony Davis RB Wisconsin
7 244 Noah Herron RB Northwestern
I look at each situation and player seperatly. But if anyone wants to tally these players into a ratio by all means do so.
If I were to make a comparision for this year to one of these classes as a whole I see it possibly being most similar to year 2001
Bush = LT
Maroney = Duece McCallister
Addai = Bennett
White = Henry
There is no comp player for Williams. I think he will be a new Tiki Barber.
I wonder if there is a late round drafted Rb from this class that will emerge like Rudi and DD have in recent history? And if so which Rb will that be?.