The 2016 NFL Draft is done and rookies are already making their impressions and signing contracts. But it’s never too early to look ahead to the 2017 NFL Draft. Last week we came out with our top 32 for 2017 and this week and next we will break down our top 5 at each position. Here is our list of the top running backs.
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Recruiting: At the Under Armour All-America Game, Fournette picked LSU over Texas and Alabama as the Tigers were considered the favorite for a long time. It got interesting late, though, as the Longhorns and Crimson Tide kept pursuing the five-star running back but he decided to stay in-state.
Stats: The early Heisman Trophy frontrunner, Fournette finished last season with 1,953 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 300 carries. He averaged 6.5 yards per touch and nearly 163 yards per game.
Farrell’s take: Fournette was clearly an amazing talent out of high school as you can see by his five-star status and high ranking. Some compared him to Adrian Peterson. I didn’t go that far and did question his breakaway speed at the SEC level, which has since clearly been proven. A lot will depend on how balanced the LSU offense is this year, because when everyone knows Fournette is getting the ball, he can look human and that could affect his draft status. Also a lot depends on how Ezekiel Elliott does this year with Dallas and if Todd Gurley continues to flourish with the Rams. Running backs can easily slide in the draft.
Recruiting: Cook originally committed to Clemson and one main reason was because he likes how the Tigers utilized C.J. Spiller. After attending the Florida spring game, Cook switched his commitment to the Gators. His final decision came at the Under Armour game when he picked –- and stuck with -– Florida State.
Stats: Cook rushed 229 times for 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns this past season averaging 7.4 yards per carry and nearly 141 yards per outing. He was also fourth on the Seminoles with 24 catches for 244 yards and one score.
Farrell’s take: You could argue the former five-star was more valuable to his team than Fournette and I love his ability to impact in the passing game. The big question about Cook is durability as he has missed some time, but he has everything an NFL team wants and could be one of three first-rounders at running back in 2017. Like Fournette, we expected him to be a star.
Recruiting: In May before his senior season, McCaffrey committed to Stanford, the same school where his father, Ed, played his college football. McCaffrey’s mother, Lisa, played soccer for the Cardinal. Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State, Oregon and many others were also involved.
Stats: McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders’ single-season record for all-purpose yards last season and finished second in the Heisman balloting. The former four-star finished with 2,019 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 337 carries and also led the team with 45 catches for 645 and five scores. On kick returns, McCaffrey averaged nearly 29 yards per attempt for 1,070 yards on the season.
Farrell’s take: Some, like myself, rank McCaffrey ahead of Cook, but it’s really a coin flip and because NFL teams will try to pigeon hole the former four-star into a Reggie Bush-type, he lands behind the top two. McCaffrey is an every down back in the NFL and with another amazing year, he could push ahead of even Fournette.
Recruiting: In June before his senior season, Chubb committed to Georgia over Auburn, South Carolina and others. He committed to the Bulldogs less than two months after Sony Michel pledged to Georgia as well.
Stats: In six games last season, Chubb finished second on the team with 747 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging more than eight yards per touch. But Chubb suffered a stomach-turning knee injury against Tennessee last October and missed the remainder of the season.
Farrell’s take: Chubb has some big questions to answer following that ugly injury last season. Is he Marcus Lattimore who will never fully recover or is he Willis McGahee who can recover fully and have a very good NFL career? The former four-star, who was on the cusp of five-star status, is low to the ground, strong and hard to tackle, so if he rebounds in a huge way and loses no speed, he will be considered in round one.
Recruiting: A former pledge to Pitt, Clement chose Wisconsin in November of his senior season. The four-star prospect was also considering Nebraska, Notre Dame and others.
Stats: Clement had a forgettable junior season. He had just 16 yards on eight carries in the season opener against Alabama and then missed seven games after surgery for a sports hernia. He had a 115-yard showing against Rutgers but then missed the Maryland game. As a sophomore behind Melvin Gordon, Clement had 949 yards and nine scores.
Farrell’s take: There’s a dropoff when it comes to the fifth running back spot here, but Clement has the ability and talent if he can rebound from injury issues. He has as many questions to answer as Chubb and you could put Oregon's Royce Freeman or Oklahoma's Samaje Perine or even Michel from Georgia (if he becomes the go-to-guy), but we have a feeling about Clement.
