2022 NFL Draft – Running Back Rankings

Complete NFL Draft Rankings – RB:

You are currently viewing the best running backs in the 2022 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 2022 NFL draft running back prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.

(Last Updated: April 26, 2022)

2022:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | LB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

Breece Hall is likely the most complete running back in the class, totaling over 3000 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns over the past two seasons. At 6’1" 220 pounds, Hall has great size for the position, combined with above average athleticism. His open field speed and short area quickness are very solid for a bigger running back, while his first step is also strong. He plays with a low pad level despite his height, and is extremely hard to bring down for a loss of yardage. Besides just being a goal line option, Hall also has improved as a receiver out of the backfield, and is also one of the better blockers in the class. He surprised with a sub-4.4 40 at the combine, and could see his stock rise into the late 1st round.

2021 Stats

12 games: 1472 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns, 5.8 yards per carry. 302 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns

Kenneth Walker had a monumental season in his one year at MSU. The 5’10" 210lb Wake Forest transfer was first among Power 5 running backs with 1,636 yards, adding 18 touchdowns on over 6 yards per carry. Walker has elite balance, vision, and above average speed and quickness. While his size is below average, he plays with a high football IQ, good pad level, and is still young and healthy. He’ll want to prove this offseason that he is capable as a receiver and blocker if he wants to be viewed as a RB1 option.

2021 Stats

12 games: 1646 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 6.2 yards per carry. 89 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Isaiah Spiller has as high of a ceiling as any running back in the class, and still has an outside chance to be the first back taken come draft day. At 6’1" 215 pounds, he has enough size to be an every down option. Combined with his size, Spiller has a dangerous jump cut and very agile feet. He has average open field speed for a bigger back, but has been productive running inside and outside. Spiller’s patience and vision are very solid, and he’s a good route runner out of the backfield with plenty of scheme versatility. Ball security could be a potential issue for him, but that’s something which could certainly improve with coaching.

2021 Stats

12 games: 1011 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns, 5.6 yards per carry. 189 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Pierre Strong shot up draft boards after an elite performance at the combine, where he ran one of the fastest running back times of the past few years (4.37). The 5’11" 205 pound FCS star was impossible to tackle, averaging over 4 yards per carry AFTER contact, which led the nation. His shiftiness, patience, and open field burst will translate extremely well to the next level, and he’s been solid as a blocker as well. Strong wasn’t used too often as a receiver and looked average at best in the combine receiving drills, but his versatile running style, athleticism, and football IQ have pushed him all the way up to my top 5.

2021 Stats

15 games: 1686 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 7.0 yards per carry. 150 receiving yards

It’s not too common for a 5th year senior to be near the top of the running back rankings, but Brian Robinson has the skillset to contribute right away to an NFL team. At 6’1" 225 pounds, Robinson has a powerful frame with great contact balance and an ability to fall forward through contact. He shows solid recognition and effort in pass blocking, and good enough hands to be trusted as a pass catcher. He’s not overly agile in the open field, but his downhill speed is solid for a big back. Despite being older, he still has plenty of tread left on the tires, and played a key role for an Alabama team who’s always producing top tier running backs.

2021 Stats

14 games: 1336 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 4.9 yards per carry. 296 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

Complete 2022 RB draft rankings

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2022:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | LB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

This running back class looks like a microcosm of the 2022 draft as a whole: Weak at the top, but very strong later on. No one in this class is looking like a surefire first round pick, although Breece Hall has made a very strong case for it. While I only consider Hall and Walker to be “top" prospects, there is plenty of late depth that you could potentially grab an immediate contributor in undrafted free agency. Most of the top prospects are big and certainly look the part, but either don’t have elite athleticism or just didn’t produce as well as they were capable of. Still, there’s plenty of big names here and should be a good group if you’re looking to grab a back in rounds 4-7.