2017 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Running backs (Final)

theScore's 2017 draft prospect rankings are compiled by NFL editor Dan Wilkins, breaking down the top talents and potential sleepers at every position group.

Overall
Top 50
Offense
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G/C
Defense
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S

Top Talents

Christian McCaffrey

The ultimate offensive weapon, McCaffrey is everything teams are looking for in an every-down player at the position. Any concerns about his athleticism were put to rest at the combine, where he was far and away the most impressive running back. Most notably, there wasn't another ball-carrier that came close to his 6.57-second time in the 3-cone - a drill that directly correlates with change-of-direction ability. That quickness and lateral movement, along with some impressive vision and patience, allows him to excel as both as an inside and outside runner.

A lack of size would be one, if not the only, reasonable critique in assessing his potential as a featured runner, and it's fair to suggest that he doesn't exactly win with power. But McCaffrey is consistently able run through contact and create additional yards because of his balance. He shouldn't have any issues translating that skill set to the next level. Throw in his ability as a receiver, either out of the backfield or lined up in the slot, and teams will be jumping at the chance to make him their offensive centerpiece. It should come as no surprise if McCaffrey ends up as the first running back off the board in April.

Leonard Fournette

Fournette will be pinned as somewhat of a poor fit for today's NFL and, in many respects, that's true. Offenses trending so quickly toward shotgun-heavy systems indeed favors the do-it-all backs like McCaffrey. That said, though, it would be a mistake for teams to pass over this kind of talent and not be willing to adjust their style of play accordingly. A running back prospect with such a freaky combination of size, speed, and power simply doesn't come around that often.

He's not a true three-down player in the sense that he excels at everything in the passing game, but Fournette is a capable blocker and serviceable receiver. A passable skill set in those regards is all he needs to complement the game-changing impact he can make on early downs. The LSU star is a true bell cow. Though not necessarily shifty, he creates yards for himself by exploding through contact and eliminating angles with his speed. Provided that the ankle issues he dealt with last season aren't deemed a concern going forward, scouts can likely be confident that Fournette's dominant sophomore season is the true indicator of his potential at the next level. A team that puts him in the I-formation or as a single back, rather than forcing him into a role that doesn't suit his skills, is going to be thrilled with the immediate and potentially long-lasting returns.

Dalvin Cook

Cook's draft stock is trending in the wrong direction after a largely disappointing showing at the combine. While that could be enough to make bump him back to borderline first-round territory, it all depends on how teams choose to interpret that information. This could simply end up being a case of where the tape does more than enough to squash concerns the poor workout numbers raised about explosiveness and change of direction. If the raw athleticism wasn't up to the level many were expecting after a pair of incredibly dominant seasons to close out his career, perhaps Cook's strengths in other areas are just enough to compensate.

A true big-play threat any time he gets the ball in his hands, Cook remains one of the top runners in this class. With an outstanding ability to set up blocks at the line and downfield, he makes the jump to the NFL boasting the kind of vision that's imperative for a successful outside and inside runner. Overall elusiveness and balance through contact makes him difficult to wrap up, and a second gear allows him to pull away when he gets into the open field. Pass-blocking needs a ton of work, so he may not have the opportunity to contribute in third-down situations early on, but he still does more than enough elsewhere to provide immense value. Cook has a rare feel for the position that can't be taught.

Joe Mixon

From a pure talent perspective, there really aren't any questions to raise about Mixon. The Oklahoma standout is another prospect perfectly suited for today's NFL. Along with a combination of quickness, burst, and overall athleticism that rivals any back in this class, and the majority of which in recent memory, his running style is highlighted by the kind of patience and vision that makes Le'Veon Bell so dominant in Pittsburgh. Also like Bell, Mixon has third-down upside in that he's a polished receiver out of the backfield. If on-field ability was the only factor in the equation, he'd be right alongside McCaffrey atop this list. But it's not.

Drafting Mixon will be out of the question for a lot of teams, and justifiably so. Not that the public should have ever needed a video to understand the heinous act, and bump his stock down accordingly, but the image of an incoming rookie punching a young female student in the face is something many owners will not want their organization linked to. It only takes one, and there will undoubtedly be several teams that warm up to the idea as the draft moves forward. Perhaps Day 2 can be considered a reasonable middle ground for the risk and talent.

Alvin Kamara

Kamara's first-round buzz makes plenty of sense in terms of pure upside. If the ability he flashed in a time-share role over his final two seasons at Tennessee is any indication, his potential is greater than any back beyond what's become the consensus top-four talents at the position. Kamara runs with incredible balance, and his smoothness catching the ball out of the backfield (particularly on screens) makes him a weapon in every area of the offense.

His ceiling is high, and that's what teams want. But the relative uncertainty comes with the difficulty in establishing his floor. Rarely do running backs who didn't have a featured role in college go on to enjoy success in such a role at the professional level. Why wasn't he able to have the typical star running back workload? Perhaps an alarming fumble rate was what kept him off the field, but that's not exactly a comforting reason. Kamara rounding out the top five is all about upside, and it's entirely possible his scaled-back role will be seen as a benefit for his long-term sustainability. The unique situation is notable either way.

Best of the rest

• A dynamic skill set puts Kareem Hunt atop the second tier of running backs in this draft. Though he may lack top end speed, the Toledo standout quite easily makes up for it by creating extra yards for himself. Hunt has the vision to set up his blocks and find the best possible running lane, as well as the elusiveness to make defenders miss either in the backfield or at the second level.
• D'Onta Foreman is another intriguing runner who should hear his name called in the middle rounds. His size and strength stand out above all else, and his value will thus be as an early down back who can wear down defenses, but he also flashes some impressive agility for a player of his size. Being able to either run through tackles or make defenders miss with quick cuts is a scary combination.
• Another prospect who can do it all, Jeremy McNichols should be a mid-round steal that instantly emerges as an every-down contributor. A strong combine performance confirmed that he has both the speed and lateral quickness to complement the balance that already makes him particularly difficult to bring down.
• Wayne Gallman flies a bit under the radar due to a lack of any elite traits, but a physical, downhill running style should translate quite well to the next level. That aggressiveness, along with the necessary patience to allow the play to develop in front of him, allows Gallman to maximize every carry. His pass-blocking ability will also give him the opportunity to stay on the field on third downs, a rarity for young backs.

Potential sleepers

Aaron Jones, UTEP

If bouncing back from injury to put together a stellar senior season wasn't enough to get the attention of NFL teams, an equally impressive combine performance should do the trick. Jones followed up his 1,773-yard, 17 touchdown season with a week in Indianapolis that confirmed all aspects of the athleticism he showed on tape. He was among the top running backs across nearly all events, with the most notable of which being his test scores in those correlating to explosiveness and change of direction ability. Jones could be yet another gem in a stacked class of running backs.

Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State

Pumphrey isn't a sleeper in the sense that he isn't well-known. After closing out his college career by setting an all-time NCAA rushing record, the San Diego state star certainly has the name recognition as he now transitions to the NFL. With a frame of just 5-foot-8, 176 pounds, though, Pumphrey will likely be in line for Day 3 consideration. Concerns in that regard are understandable, as running backs need size and strength to withstand punishment. But with so many offenses now using spread concepts, there shouldn't be any issues finding a Darren Sproles-like role for his talents.

Overall
Top 50
Offense
QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G/C
Defense
DL | EDGE | LB | CB | S

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)