2007 NFL Draft -- Top Running Back Prospects

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POSITION

Quarterback

Running Back

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends/Kickers

If the 2006 NFL season is any indication of how rookie RB are going to be used in coming years, this draft class holds promise of providing fantasy football help in 2007. There were 9 rookie RB’s in 2006 who got placed in weekly fantasy football rankings throughout the season as many teams in the league went with shared load backfields. There’s really only one true feature RB in the 2007 NFL Draft class, but several others who could excel in the NFL in time share situations.

1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 6’ 1 ½”, 217 lbs: Peterson is clearly the top RB prospect in this draft class. He’s the only one that has true feature RB potential. Excellent combination of size and speed (an unofficial 4.38 in the 40 at the combine), Peterson is a punishing RB who likes to deliver blows to tacklers. That’s probably why his biggest issue is durability. He had ankle and shoulder injuries prior to last year’s collarbone injury that cut his season short after only 7 games. But Peterson showed toughness coming back and playing in the Fiesta Bowl (putting up 77 yards and 2 TD’s). Peterson wasn’t asked to be much of a pass catcher in college, but it’s an area he showcased at his pro day workout and performed well. A full time workhorse RB since he was a freshman, Peterson was probably very smart to renounce his final year and declare for the NFL draft as he has put a lot of mileage on his legs in only 3 college seasons and that is a concern. Most often linked to the Cleveland Browns with the 3rd pick of the 1st round, Peterson could last beyond that if one of the top 2 QB’s slides to the Browns at #3. Arizona would be tempted to draft him at #5, but there’s no way he slides any further than the Houston Texans at #10 (and the Atlanta Falcons would be foolish to pass him up at #8 if he somehow were still there).

2. Marshawn Lynch, California, 5’11”, 218 lbs: Lynch is a big play runner who has enough game to become a feature RB at the NFL level. Lynch is fast (4.49), runs with power, and has decent pass catching skills. The knock on Lynch is that while he was the primary RB at Cal the last two seasons, he was never a workhorse and you question if he can hold up as a true feature RB. He also isn’t overly elusive. He reminds me of another Cal RB who was highly touted 2 years ago: J.J. Arrington. The difference between them is that while Arrington is faster, Lynch is tougher running between the tackles. The Green Bay Packers would be thrilled to see Lynch fall to their 1st pick in round 1 (16th), but don’t be surprised if the Buffalo Bills at 12 decide to roll the dice with him.

3. Kenny Irons, Auburn, 5’11”, 203 lbs: Irons is a smart RB who has excellent field vision reading his blocks and finding the hole. Unfortunately he’s a bit too small to be a feature RB. Had a great season in 2005 taking over for the departed Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams at Auburn, but his 2006 numbers didn’t match up. Nagging injuries played a role in that, but if injuries are going to affect a small RB in college, they’ll definitely affect him in the pros. You would think as a smaller RB Irons would make a solid complimentary RB to a team that already has a bigger RB, but he isn’t an accomplished pass catcher and will need to work on that. If he could bulk up some, he’d stand a chance of being a feature RB.

4. Antonio Pittman, Ohio State, 5’11”, 195 lbs: Pittman’s got the attitude of a bigger RB than his size measures out to. He has speed, can run inside or outside, and catches the ball well. He hasn’t had any injury concerns and has shown he can be a primary RB at the college level. But whether that translates into him being able to do it in the NFL is questionable. Like so many of the RB’s in this draft class, the lack of size probably will prevent him from ever being a feature RB, but with the current trend of teams using multiple RB’s Pittman’s best hope is to fit in as the primary RB in a rotational system.

5. Brandon Jackson, Nebraska, 5’10”, 210 lbs: Despite having decent size, Jackson hasn’t ever been the feature RB at Nebraska, nor does he play as fast as his timed speed (ran a 4.42 40 at his pro day). Has a good combination of power and shiftiness to his running style and has good hands for catching the ball. Jackson doesn’t have a lot of game experience (only 11 starts in 3 seasons) but that could be a good thing as it means he doesn’t have the wear and tear some other guys have who have been more prominently featured at their schools. Jackson could very well surprise many by becoming a good RB in the pros, but probably as part of a platoon more than him being a feature RB.

6. Michael Bush, Louisville, 6’1 ¾, 242 lbs: Bush missed all but one game in 2006 because of a broken leg. But he was piling it on in that one game having ran for 128 yards and 3 TD’s before sustaining the injury. That was pretty much picking right up where he left off in 2005 when he had 1,143 rushing yards and 23 TD’s. The injury is a huge concern and although the leg was the most severe he’s suffered, he has had other injury problems that have caused to miss games. The leg injury will require additional surgery that will keep Bush from practicing at least another couple of months. This will likely drop his draft stock as it just adds another red flag to him. All that said, Bush has great size and strength and probably projects into being a bowling ball type of RB who compliments a smaller RB.

Others to note:

Lorenzo Booker, Florida State, 5’10”, 188 lbs: big play threat with great hands. Will excel as a third down RB in the NFL.

Dwayne Wright, Fresno State 5’11 ½”, 226 lbs: Has size and strength, but no speed (4.62).

Tony Hunt, Penn State, 6’1 ½”, 235 lbs: Surprisingly decent pass catcher for a power RB, but won’t outrun opponents as he lacks the speed.

Darius Walker, Notre Dame, 5’10”, 206 lbs: Runs hard, but isn’t really tough. Has great hands though and will make mark as a 3rd down guy.

Chris Henry, Arizona, 6’0’, 227 lbs: Has the size and speed to be a feature guy, but never was in college. Could be a great fantasy football sleeper.

One FB to note:

Brian Leonard, Rutgers, 6’1”, 226 lbs: Played at 239 lbs as a FB senior season, but has lost weight to try showing himself more as a RB than FB. Great attitude, work ethic, and very versatile. Has good, but not great speed, and is an excellent pass catcher. I won’t be surprised if he excels ala Mike Alstott in a RBBC in the NFL.

See Russ's other 2007 NFL Draft Preview articles:

• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Quarterbacks
• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers
• 2007 NFL Draft Preview: Tight Ends/Kickers

Russ Bliss is Fantasy Football Starters' exclusive fantasy football expert, a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, and for 11 years has been the radio host of "The Red Zone, Talking Fantasy Football and the NFL," in Phoenix, Arizona.

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