Zyphros
Footballguy
As promised, here are the RB's I have ranked for my top12 for rookies. A couple reminders, I've only watched these 12 but I need to get to more. Tiers are always independent lists. Tier1 of this list is not comparable to tier1 of the QB/WR/TE lists. This is also based purely on talent from my eyes and their production, less about where I would rank them in a rookie list (that will come later)
RB's
Tier 1 - (1) Josh Jacobs
Tier 2 - (2) David Montgomery, (3) Elijah Holyfield, (4) Damien Harris
Tier 3 - (5) Devin Singletary, (6) Darrell Henderson, (7) Bryce Love
Tier 4 - (8) Benny Snell Jr., (9) Rodney Anderson, (10) Justice Hill, (11) LJ Scott, (12) Miles Gaskin
Notes
Josh Jacobs is the only guy I see worthy of being considered early. I really don't like any of these other RB's very much. But from a traits standpoint, Jacobs has everything. That's also where the concerns come in. He didn't get a lot of playing time or production from being a standout with his traits. Makes me wonder if he's boosted just because of that since none of these other RB's have all the traits. David Montgomery has some good traits and very good production. Analytics people love him for breaking tons of tackles on a bad offense. Biggest concern I've heard is his long speed, which makes me question his ceiling, but he's pretty safe for a role in the NFL I think. I like Elijah Holyfield's suddeness and acceleration. That gives me confidence right away and what makes me a little higher on him. Again he lacks some top end speed and I do doubt his listed height/weight at 5'11" 215. If he can put those to bed at the combine, he might be the only RB I target other than Jacobs. Damien Harris just doesn't pop off the screen to me. He has good speed and some quickness but he's more downhill, 1 cut type of runner for zone scheme's. I think his landing spot will either make/break his outlook, not necessarily his talent. He's very much Alfred Morris or Chris Carson to me. Devin Singletary is the most patient runner in this class, but he had a bad o-line so I am a little encouraged that he could be better than what I've seen. His receptions dropped every year, so he isn't that great at pass catching but he is elusive and shifty. Some people love Darrell Henderson I just don't see anything more than a COP back. He looks small but he doesn't have amazing speed, he's fast, but not THAT fast. Trait wise he has almost everything I'm looking for other than the size. I'm guessing he weighs in less than 200 at 5'9". Not my style of RB usually. Bryce Love's balance, speed, and agility are all impressive. He doesn't seem to have edge speed or very explosive so that's a big hit in my view. More of a straight line runner which is why I think he'll do well in the 40, but he doesn't play that fast when he's running through tacklers or around the edge. These next 2 have loads of questions to me but they have the best chance of being workhorse type backs as well. Benny Snell Jr. is a grinding type of RB with good vision and toughness. That's pretty much it though. Not very fast, not very shifty, but his production might be the best out of everyone in this class. He is a decent pass catcher. He's a guy I can see myself moving up during this process. Rodney Anderson runs too high, he's stiff and he's not agile. Good speed and good size as well as being a pass catcher. His shortcomings are probably due to his injuries so draft capital is of very little importance with him. Could be a steal if he he's healthy and in the right situation. Justice Hill is another guy that just looks small. Seems be a good pass catcher, but only had 1 year of good production from it. Shifty and quick but dances too much. LJ Scott is a "see it and go" type of RB. Doesn't have great vision but when he see's it, he can explode through. Seems to lack some power though so can be taken down a little too early in runs. Myles Gaskin seems to run with good patient and follows blocks really well, but I saw slow feet with little explosiveness although good vision. Seems to have all his good runs to the outside and doesn't have the resume of a pass catcher.
Names I still need to watch: Trayveon Williams, Miles Sanders, Damarae Crockett, Mike Weber, Wes Hills, Devon Ozigbo and whoever else people suggest for me.
RB's
Tier 1 - (1) Josh Jacobs
Tier 2 - (2) David Montgomery, (3) Elijah Holyfield, (4) Damien Harris
Tier 3 - (5) Devin Singletary, (6) Darrell Henderson, (7) Bryce Love
Tier 4 - (8) Benny Snell Jr., (9) Rodney Anderson, (10) Justice Hill, (11) LJ Scott, (12) Miles Gaskin
Notes
Josh Jacobs is the only guy I see worthy of being considered early. I really don't like any of these other RB's very much. But from a traits standpoint, Jacobs has everything. That's also where the concerns come in. He didn't get a lot of playing time or production from being a standout with his traits. Makes me wonder if he's boosted just because of that since none of these other RB's have all the traits. David Montgomery has some good traits and very good production. Analytics people love him for breaking tons of tackles on a bad offense. Biggest concern I've heard is his long speed, which makes me question his ceiling, but he's pretty safe for a role in the NFL I think. I like Elijah Holyfield's suddeness and acceleration. That gives me confidence right away and what makes me a little higher on him. Again he lacks some top end speed and I do doubt his listed height/weight at 5'11" 215. If he can put those to bed at the combine, he might be the only RB I target other than Jacobs. Damien Harris just doesn't pop off the screen to me. He has good speed and some quickness but he's more downhill, 1 cut type of runner for zone scheme's. I think his landing spot will either make/break his outlook, not necessarily his talent. He's very much Alfred Morris or Chris Carson to me. Devin Singletary is the most patient runner in this class, but he had a bad o-line so I am a little encouraged that he could be better than what I've seen. His receptions dropped every year, so he isn't that great at pass catching but he is elusive and shifty. Some people love Darrell Henderson I just don't see anything more than a COP back. He looks small but he doesn't have amazing speed, he's fast, but not THAT fast. Trait wise he has almost everything I'm looking for other than the size. I'm guessing he weighs in less than 200 at 5'9". Not my style of RB usually. Bryce Love's balance, speed, and agility are all impressive. He doesn't seem to have edge speed or very explosive so that's a big hit in my view. More of a straight line runner which is why I think he'll do well in the 40, but he doesn't play that fast when he's running through tacklers or around the edge. These next 2 have loads of questions to me but they have the best chance of being workhorse type backs as well. Benny Snell Jr. is a grinding type of RB with good vision and toughness. That's pretty much it though. Not very fast, not very shifty, but his production might be the best out of everyone in this class. He is a decent pass catcher. He's a guy I can see myself moving up during this process. Rodney Anderson runs too high, he's stiff and he's not agile. Good speed and good size as well as being a pass catcher. His shortcomings are probably due to his injuries so draft capital is of very little importance with him. Could be a steal if he he's healthy and in the right situation. Justice Hill is another guy that just looks small. Seems be a good pass catcher, but only had 1 year of good production from it. Shifty and quick but dances too much. LJ Scott is a "see it and go" type of RB. Doesn't have great vision but when he see's it, he can explode through. Seems to lack some power though so can be taken down a little too early in runs. Myles Gaskin seems to run with good patient and follows blocks really well, but I saw slow feet with little explosiveness although good vision. Seems to have all his good runs to the outside and doesn't have the resume of a pass catcher.
Names I still need to watch: Trayveon Williams, Miles Sanders, Damarae Crockett, Mike Weber, Wes Hills, Devon Ozigbo and whoever else people suggest for me.