2020 NFL Draft – Running Back Rankings

Complete NFL Draft Rankings – RB:

You are currently viewing the best running backs in the 2020 NFL Draft. Our top running back prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the most talented ball carriers in college football. Even though only about 20 will get selected in an average draft, dozens more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite. Find who is a first round talent, and who is likely nothing more than a training camp body. Find draft stars, RB sleepers, who will be a bust, and who is being undervalued.

BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2020 NFL draft running back prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.

(Last Updated: April 16, 2020)

2020:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | DE | OLB | ILB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

Did people just forget that Jonathan Taylor is the most productive college running back of all time? He’s 6th all time with 6,174 career rushing yards, and he did that in 3 seasons. Everyone else in the top 15 of that category took 4 years to do it. Taylor ran a 4.39 at 226 pounds, and has a rare combination of speed and power. While he doesn’t have elite quickness, he is agile in the open field with a one-cut ability, and can run through many would-be tacklers. He has the size to excel as a blocker, and the only knock on him is his pass catching. But get this: Taylor had 252 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns this year. Both of those are significantly more than D’Andre Swift, Cam Akers, and JK Dobbins. Taylor is a tireless worker with unheard of productivity, great instincts, elite durability, and should be a day 1 starter with a long career.

2019 Stats

14 games: 2003 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, 6.3 yards per carry, 252 receiving yards.

Most media scouts consider D’Andre Swift the best running back in the draft class, and his fit into the NFL is obvious. He is extremely quick, a nightmare to tackle in space, and has great vision. Along with his solid rushing ability, he is a natural hands catcher who runs good routes, and he understands blocking out of the backfield. While he was considered quicker than fast, a 4.48 is nothing to scoff at. While it is a stretch to say he under-performed it college, I question how a potential first round running back could score only 8 total touchdowns in 14 games with a high quality offensive line and QB, while being the clear #1 back. Swift hasn’t been very productive at the goal line, and will also need to work on holding onto the ball.

2019 Stats

14 games: 1218 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, 6.2 yards per carry, 216 receiving yards.

I really liked Cam Akers since I first watched him as a highly-touted freshman at Florida State. At the combine, I started liking him even more. He was the MVP of the running back drills, and had a great day of workouts all around after clocking a 4.47 40 yard dash. Unlike the other running backs on this list, Akers didn’t have the luxury of a great offensive line, something other runners will have to adjust to at the next level. While he needs to improve his ball security, he’s looked solid catching passes out of the backfield and has shown some ability to pass block. The best running backs in today’s game have elusiveness and the power to run through a tackle, and Akers fits that mold.

2019 Stats

11 games: 1144 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 5.0  yards per carry, 225 receiving yards.

Dobbins is another modern NFL back who mostly relies on power, but is also reliable catching the ball and can make some defenders miss in the open field. He weighed in lighter than I expected at 209 pounds (5’9"), which is surprising considering he didn’t run the 40 yard dash. The 2nd team all American had a bounce back season with identical numbers to Jonathan Taylor, on a few less carries. Dobbins is a willing blocker and plays with toughness, running through tackles and never missing a game in his 3-year career. He understands how to stay low, and is able to run between the tackles or outside.

2019 Stats

14 games: 2003 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, 6.7 yards per carry, 247 receiving yards.

Edwards-Helaire burst onto the scene in 2019, totaling 1867 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns. Standing only 5’7" doesn’t slow him down thanks to his thick build and ability to properly square his pads. While not possessing big time speed, Edwards-Helaire is very quick and forces a lot of missed tackles. He was a perfect fit in LSU’s revamped offense, as he is a great receiver with a knack for route running. While he has a number of rushing moves, he could struggle running between the tackles or at the goal line due to his size, and doesn’t have the speed to get to the edge. He benefited greatly from LSU’s system, and his success will greatly depend on the system he falls into.

2019 Stats

15 games: 1414 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, 6.6 yards per carry, 453 receiving yards.

Complete draft rankings for 2020 – Running Backs

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2020: | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | DE | OLB | ILB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

The running back class is a lot better than I initially anticipated, with 5 running backs standing out above the rest; Taylor, Swift, Akers, Dobbins, and Edwards-Helaire. Beyond that quintet, there’s surprisingly good depth with a lot of players that can excel if used properly. There’s a lot that goes into being a running back, and players who specialize in one particular skill will make the roster while continuing to hone their craft. Some of the best running backs in the league go undrafted, and there are a number of RBs who weren’t invited to the combine who could end up being great NFL players. Adrian Killins comes to mind as a speedster who will immediately contribute as a return man, and Reggie Corbin has a unique skillset similar to Raheem Mostert. Taylor tops my class rankings following an absurdly productive career and combine performance, with D’Andre Swift and Cam Akers not far behind.