It’s been a busy time of the year with the 2023 NFL Draft just two weeks away. I released my first Round 1 mock on NBC Sports Edge, with a surprise that can shake up the draft in the top three. Plus, Chris Simms and I did a deep dive on this year’s offensive line class on the Unbuttoned Podcast.
Of course, I’m not slowing down now and what better way to keep the draft content rolling than running back rankings? This class has blue-chip talent at the top and depth across the board. Whether you are a fan of the draft, an avid fantasy player or just hoping your team scores big, these are some of the most exciting rankings of the year.
I’ll also dive into an updated draft market given a big boost by an NFL trade this week and close things out with three on the rise in dynasty.
Updated RB Rankings
1. Bijan Robinson, Texas
A special talent that gives me peak Todd Gurley Vibes, Robinson is the rare blue-chip skill prospect of this draft.
Per PFF, he forced 104 missed tackles in 2022. That number would be a great college career for most guys. Robinson hits full throttle with ease shortly after touching the ball and cuts through the opposition like a hot knife through butter.
On top of that, he’s a gifted receiver with lethal run-after-catch ability.
Robinson isn’t just a running back, he’s a dynamic every-down threat who can single handedly change an offense.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Gibbs simply has the juice. He utilizes his lightning-quick feet, 4.36 wheels and big-play ability every time the ball is in his hands. He hauled in 42 catches for 378 yards and three touchdowns in 2022, an aspect of his game that will be even more dynamic at the next level.
His play style looks like he’s in the family tree of Dalvin Cook and James Cook. He might not be a workhorse runner immediately in the NFL, but he’ll maximize every touch and become an early PPR darling.
3. Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
He’s a big-bodied, muscled-up runner with a downhill mentality. Charbonnet is a pinball who powers through tackles with pure strength and stiff arms, but possesses the change of direction after contact to rip off chunk plays.
He lacks a top-end gear but an offense can lean on him thanks to his leg drive and natural ability to allow blocks to develop in front of him. Per PFF, he forced 121 missed tackles over the last two seasons. Plus, he had 44 runs of over 15 yards in just 2022, showing consistency to move the chains.
4. Devon Achane, Texas A&M
A legitimate track sprinter, Achane ripped off a 4.32 forty at the NFL Combine that matches his play speed. He constantly ran away from defenders in the SEC, which usually translates well to the NFL. He’ll need to limit some concentration drops on film to reach his pass-catching ceiling, but his home run potential in a committee can completely change a game.
5. Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Abanikanda is the rare player of this class who has the breakaway speed (timed 4.26-4.32 at his Pro Day) and size at 216 pounds for a big workload.
He had a mammoth season, running for over 1,400 yards and a whopping 20 touchdowns. Teams with a wide zone rushing attack will love his ability to get to the edge and plant his foot in the ground to get up the field.
He was only targeted 17 times last season and lacked consistency as a natural pass catcher throughout his time at Pitt. If that aspect of his game was more proven, he’d be even higher in these rankings.
6. Tyjae Spears, Tulane
Don’t let his sub 5-10 stature and 201-pound frame fool you, Spears has the ability to handle a big workload for an elusive running back. He had 4.2 yards after contact in 2022 (per PFF) while handling 212 carries for 1,376 yards.
He’s extremely smooth in space with excellent feet and hips to set up linebackers and defensive backs. Spears allows his blocks to get out in front of him and can run skinny through congested areas. He’s an average pass catcher, but his play style will fit well to slip screens at the next level.
Overall, Spears will mesh well in a backfield that has an established downhill power rusher. His slippery running should also lead to productive red zone work.
7. Roschon Johnson, Texas
If Johnson wasn’t the backup to the best running back in the country, he might’ve had star production in college. At 6'0 ¼” and 219 pounds, he wears tacklers out. He’s never going to be an overly creative outside runner, but he’s impactful in other ways.
On tape, he’s the most pro-ready pass protector in this running back class. He’s an effective checkdown target for quarterbacks and a mismatch for defensive backs attempting to bring him down. Johnson checks the boxes as a runner who can close out games, handle goal-line work and stay on the field for third downs. Hello, new Jamaal Williams.
8. Eric Gray, Oklahoma
Gray was a year four breakout in college, exploding for Oklahoma’s offense with 1,366 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, 33 catches and 229 receiving yards.
He’s a compact runner with desired mass. His ability to cut in the field and leave defenders puzzled is his calling card. In the pass game, his transition phase of catching to running has little wasted time.
Gray has impressive make-you-miss ability for an early down role but the receiving ability to stay on the field. He’s never going to have game breaking, destroy you on one touch ability, but not many do. He might be the value play of this draft class.
9. Tank Bigsby, Auburn
While not overly explosive or fast, Bigsby plays with a lot of fire and heart. He has a strong lower half that defenders at the second level bounce off of and his wiggle in congested areas was significantly improved in 2022.
Unfortunately for Tank, Auburn didn’t give him a ton of room to operate. He does a good job of creating extra yards, but didn’t consistently have the running lanes to display that. He does need to cut down on how often he attempts to bounce runs outside, but yet again that could be lack of trust in his blocks.
As a pass-catcher, Bigsby doesn’t possess explosive after-the-catch ability. He can grind out yards to the sticks and has good awareness of that marker.
Overall, Bigsby has a higher rushing ceiling at the next level as his contact balance will translate, but his lack of upside in the passing game does limit his overall value in this draft.
10. DeWayne McBride, UAB
Another bruiser, McBride has carried the ball 437 times over the last two seasons. On the flip side, he had five total catches in that span.
As a runner, he boasts good vision and can move the pile forward. He plays with light feet for his size and displays a good balance of running efficiently inside and outside. With nine fumbles since 2021, he has to do a better job of protecting the football.
McBride doesn’t bring anything to the pass game, but he’s a versatile runner who has proven he can handle a significant workload. With his creativity on the ground and efficiency of punching it in for six, he’ll complement a pass-catching back in a committee.
Falcons looking for an EDGE?
The Falcons made an interesting move this week trading a fifth-round selection to the Lions for cornerback Jeffrey Okudah. With a corner group now including him, A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward (with Jessie Bates roaming behind them at safety), this secondary looks solid.
What does this mean for who the Falcons are likely targeting at No. 8 overall?
According to DraftKings, here are the odds of players to be taken in that spot: Texas A&M EDGE Tyree Wilson +250, Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon +400, Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez +400, Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith +500 and then Iowa EDGE Lukas Van Ness way down the board at +4000.
Wilson and Witherspoon most likely don’t make it to this pick and looking at the roster, even after last year’s draft, Atlanta still needs help off the edge.
At the NFL Combine, general manager Terry Fontenot emphasized character, intangibles and even went as far to reveal they put a peach next to players on their board from Georgia. Hello, Nolan Smith? The Savannah product would be a great fit in that front seven.
Now if you’re dreaming big, I still love Lukas Van Ness at the absurd long shot of +4000. His size and length would give the Falcons a different type of power rusher they are lacking. I consistently hear both Smith and Van Ness are going higher than the consensus realizes. There’s a ton of value in this market.
Dynasty Outlook, Three Up
Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
A versatile piece for an offense, LaPorta saw snaps in the backfield, on the line of scrimmage, in the slot and out wide in 2022. He’s a jack of all trades player who had 30 of his 53 receptions last season go for first downs.
At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.59 forty-yard dash and posted a 123-inch broad jump, both 90th percentile metrics at the position. Scouting should always focus on the specific prospect rather than the school, but Iowa’s successful track record with tight ends making the jump will continue with LaPorta.
Josh Downs, WR, UNC
An undersized slot receiver, Downs can quietly be the top rookie PPR performer from this draft class. He rarely dropped a pass in 2022 and is a master of carving up zone coverage underneath.
Downs does his best work off of screens and manufactured touches to create yards. With his frame and limitations, he won’t come off the board until Day 2, which should benefit him in fantasy as it increases his chances to land with an established offense, where he’ll eat up the snaps inside.
Will McDonald, EDGE, Iowa State
A warm welcome back to my IDP friends. We return with another burst and bend pass rusher in McDonald. Despite weighing just 239 pounds, he has 34 ⅞” arms (90th percentile!).
His pass rush package is creative including outside speed, a spin move and more. Per PFF, he had a pass rush win rate of 16% in 2021 and 20.6% in 2022. The man simply understands how to wreak havoc off the edge and will continue to do so in the NFL.