Complete NFL Draft Rankings – FB:
You are currently viewing the best fullbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Our top FB prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the most talented players in college football. Even though only one is expected to get selected in the draft, several more are signed as free agents, and many will 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, FB sleepers, who will be a bust, and who is being undervalued.
BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2021 NFL draft fullback prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.
(Last Updated: April 19, 2021)
1. Ben Mason, SR, Michigan
Ben Mason came to Michigan as a highly touted linebacker, but moved to fullback and started right away as a true freshman in 2017. With a powerful 6’2" 250lb frame, Mason still plays with the ferocious nature of a linebacker. He takes great pride in his blocking, and is the best in the class at opening up holes from the position. He has good enough hands, and is a solid athlete with the ball in his hands. While he’ll never be an elite playmaker, he’s a true old school fullback with big personality and a lot to offer as a run blocker.
Career Stats
32 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 87 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns
2. Tory Carter, SR, LSU
Tory Carter was Scout’s top rated fullback recruit in 2017, and saw playing time right away for LSU as a freshman. At 6’0" 245 pounds, he has stereotypical size for a lead blocker and has delivered some big hits over his career. While many NFL fullbacks pick up the position in college or even the pro level, Carter is the son of a fullback and has been groomed to play the position long before he got to LSU. He’s shown reliable hands out of the backfield when needed, but hasn’t gotten many opportunities as a runner.
Career Stats
157 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns, 4 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
3. Mason Stokke, SR, Wisconsin
Wisconsin is one of the few teams in college football who routinely uses a fullback, and Stokke is the most recent player to man the position. Stokke started his career at Wisconsin as a linebacker, but he was a great running back in high school who was plenty experienced with the ball in his hands. He isn’t quite as good of a blocker as the two players above him, but is a little bit more nimble in the open field and has plenty of experience in successful ground games. Stokke is also a high character individual with a high football IQ.
Career Stats
105 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns, 109 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
4. Xavier Gaines, SR, Marshall
Xavier Gaines played all over the field for Marshall, lining up as a slot receiver, tight end, out of the backfield, and even at QB. At just 6’3" and 220 pounds, he doesn’t have the size to block on the line as a tight end, and not enough speed to separate as a receiver. Fullback is the logical spot for him, and he’d be a diverse playmaking threat from the position. His blocking right now is subpar, but he is the best athlete at the fullback position, giving him solid potential to improve.
Career Stats
923 receiving yards, 8 receiving touchdowns, 225 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
5. Carl Tucker, SR, Alabama
Carl Tucker was a 4 star prospect out of high school, primarily playing tight end. He spent four years at UNC before transferring to Alabama where he was primarily a blocker. Though most of his experience is as a tight end, his 6’2" 245 pound frame and solid athleticism make him a good choice as a fullback with some versatility and receiving ability. Tucker is a very solid run blocker with improving form, and was a phenomenal special teams player this past season.
Career Stats
549 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns, 0 rushing yards, 0 rushing touchdowns
Complete 2021 FB draft rankings
| RANK | NAME | SCHOOL | AGE | HT | WT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Mason | Michigan | SR | 6'2" | 255 |
| 2 | Tory Carter | LSU | SR | 6'0" | 245 |
| 3 | Mason Stokke | Wisconsin | SR | 6'2" | 240 |
| 4 | Xavier Gaines | Marshall | SR | 6'3" | 220 |
| 5 | Carl Tucker | Alabama | SR | 6'2" | 250 |
| 6 | Houston Heimuli | Stanford | SR | 5'11" | 270 |
| 7 | Chris Elmore | Syracuse | SR | 6'0" | 285 |
| 8 | John Raine | Northwestern | SR | 6'2" | 230 |
| 9 | Kevonta Moses | Shaw | SR | 6'1" | 240 |
| 10 | Clint Ratkovich | Western Illinois | SR | 6'1" | 220 |
Overall Opinion of the FBs
It can always be tough to scout fullbacks, but this year is harder than ever. The lack of usage in college means many players don’t have a lot of film available for evaluation, and the most known players are often tight ends who are too small to play inline for an NFL team. This year, the added layer of eligibility makes things more difficult. A lot of players don’t have any publicly available information about whether or not they’re in the NFL. Of the guys we know are in the draft, many believe the class begins and ends with Michigan’s Ben Mason. He’s an old school fullback who is nasty at run blocking and has fairly reliable hands. It’s unlikely any other player will be drafted at this position, but there’s still room for a surprise star during pro days to compete with Mason.