Welcome back to the rookie fantasy rankings. This week, we will be looking at the Running Back position.
1) Travis Etienne Jr. – Clemson
Projection: Starter for the Steelers
Outlook: There’s a reason why Pittsburgh let James Conner walk this offseason: THEY WANT A NEW STARTING RUNNING BACK. The Running Back room of Conner, Benny Snell, and Anthony McFarland Jr. combined for 1,202 rushing yards on 313 carries (3.84 yards per carry). Two players alone (Dalvin Cook and Derrick Henry) rushed for more yards than the entire Steelers’ offense did last season as a whole. Pittsburgh also finished last in the league in rushing (1,351) and yards per carry as a team (3.6). Bringing in a guy like Etienne will immediately improve their rushing attack. The incoming rookie finished his college career as the all-time rushing leader in Clemson University’s history (4,952 rushing yards). He also finished his solid four-year-career with 102 receptions, 1,155 yards, and eight touchdowns as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Sure, some may think Najee Harris is the better fit, but Etienne is surely the safer pick.
Projection: 15 Games Played
Rushing: 212 carries, 869 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns
Receiving: 38 receptions, 312 yards, 1 touchdown
2) Najee Harris – Alabama
Projection: Starter for the Jets
Outlook: Here’s what we know: the Jets need a Quarterback, but they also need a Running Back as well. Why not combine your rookie Quarterback (probably Zach Wilson) with a rookie Running Back in your new offense? Harris is an ideal fit for Robert Saleh’s new regime. Over time, he would surely become the starter over Tevin Coleman, La’Mical Perine, and Ty Johnson. He brings speed, physicality, and a ton of college experience. In his four years playing for the Crimson Tide, he produced 3,843 rushing yards (6.0 YPC) and 46 rushing touchdowns. He’s an excellent pass-catcher as well: In his senior season, he caught 43 passes for 425 yards and four touchdowns. Expect Coleman to be the team’s primary short-yard/goal-line back, which will limit Harris’ rushing touchdowns. Nonetheless, Harris would absolutely be relevant in fantasy football leagues this season.
Projection: 16 Games Played
Rushing: 188 carries, 808 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns
Receiving: 431 receptions, 239 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
3) Javonte Williams – North Carolina
Projection: Backup for the Dolphins
Outlook: Miami has four draft picks inside the top 50 (6, 16, 36, 50) this year. Why wouldn’t they address the Running Back position? Last season, they finished 22nd in the league in rushing yards (1,688) and 29th in yards per carry (3.9). They brought in Malcolm Brown, and they are returning Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. None of these players showcase elite skills to be starting Running Backs for years to come. Enter Javonte Williams. He isn’t the fastest back in this year’s draft (unofficial 4.55 40-yard dash), but he’s explosive and runs with a lot of power. He would serve as a great one-two punch along with Gaskin in Miami’s backfield. If the Dolphins were to draft the North Carolina product, he could surely take over as the workhorse for this team in the future.
Projection: 17 Games Played
Rushing: 121 carries, 532 rushing yards, 6 touchdowns
Receiving: 22 receptions, 184 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
4) Khalil Herbert – Virginia Tech
Projection: Backup for the Cardinals
Outlook: Arizona is also in need of a backup Running Back. Kenyan Drake left to play for Las Vegas, and the team looks to make Chase Edmonds their starter in 2021. Herbert would be an excellent addition to this team, as he possesses great enough speed to break away from defenders in the open field. He’s a terrific pass-catcher, catching 10 passes for 179 receiving yards and one touchdown last season for Virginia Tech. As mentioned, Edmonds would likely be the favorite to be the starter, but Herbert would more than likely see a lot of touches in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.
Projection: 16 Games Played
Rushing: 66 carries, 290 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving: 39 receptions, 386 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns
5) Trey Sermon – Ohio State
Projection: Backup for the Broncos
Outlook: Denver wants to run the ball, and they also let go of Phillip Lindsay in free agency. Melvin Gordon III should start the season as the clear favorite to be the team’s starting back. Sermon would be a great replacement for Lindsay on this team. He is a shifty back who makes defenders miss on a consistent basis. He hasn’t been the best pass-catcher out of the backfield, but he shows promise. Bringing in a valuable, young backup Running Back is something that the Broncos could potentially find in the middle rounds of this year’s draft.
Projection: 17 Games Played
Rushing: 88 carries, 378 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving: 15 receptions, 122 receiving yards
Notable Mention:
Kenneth Gainwell – Memphis
Projection: Backup for the Falcons
Did you enjoy this article and want more fantasy content? Make sure to check out my recent posts, and stay tuned for other positional rankings in the future. You can also follow me on Twitter @dirrim23, where I love talking about all things fantasy football!
