2022 Top 10 Rookie Running Backs

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With the 2021 fantasy football season in our rearview mirror, it is now time to focus on the rookie draft season. For some, it is an exciting time to retool your dynasty teams back into contention. Others, it is all about moving picks in order to acquire proven talent. If you are with picks and need some running back help, we have a few options you should consider. Keep in mind, things will change fairly often as the off-season moves along and the 2022 NFL Draft nears. Take a look at some of the top running backs in this class with my 2022 Top 10 Rookie Running Backs.

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Breece Hall – Iowa State

5’11 217 pounds

Before the 2022 NFL Combine most people had Breece Hall as the top running back of the class, and since completed he has only continued to separate himself from the rest of the class. Breece showed off his athleticism in the combine posting a blazing 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical leap. Coming off an impressive junior season of 253 carries for 1,472 yards while adding 36 catches for 302 and a combined 22 touchdowns, Hall looks to be an RB1 early in his career. Hall boasts great vision, patience, cutting ability, and pure speed to be a complete NFL back. Hall also boasts great hands and a true weapon in the passing game. With his combination of athleticism and high IQ, Hall is an elite prospect ready to be a starting running back from day one.

Isaiah Spiller – Texas A&M

6’1 217 pounds

One of the big headlines from the 2022 NFL Combine was Isaiah Spiller with his average vertical leap and broad jump, but most importantly his choice not to take part in the 40-yard dash or any of the agility drills. Although we now know that he was nursing a strained abductor muscle, many feel like he will not test very well and could slip in the NFL Draft. These concerns could be short-lived as he will test as Texas A&M’s pro day in the coming weeks. I am still going to keep him as my number two running back as he has all the tools needed to be a good running back. He was a high-level player in the SEC posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons while averaging 5.6 YPC. Additionally, he has shown great promise as a pass-catcher with 20 or more receptions every year. Spiller displays great patience, vision, and makes good, quick decisions in his cutbacks. While he doesn’t have elite speed, he has the ability to break off long runs with his power, change of speed ability, and vision. He is also very skilled in the passing game and provides you with great upside in PPR formats.

Kenneth Walker – Michigan State

5’9 211 pounds

Next up is Kenneth Walker, a running back who improved his draft stock at the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.38 40-yard-dash which is better than many anticipated. He weighed in a little heavier as well, meaning he added muscle mass, without sacrificing his speed. Walker burst onto the scene this season winning the Doak Walker Award posting 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns on 263 carries. Walker excelled in changing direction and speed, paving the way for him to lead the FBS in yards after contact with 1,154. Walker also displays great power, elusiveness, and patience to go along with his speed. My biggest concern is the lack of involvement in the passing game but is something that can be improved.

Rachaad White – Arizona State

6’0 214 pounds

Rachaad White is a running back I am loving drafting in the late first rounds of recent rookie drafts. He displays great bursts and can get to the next level quickly. He makes great one-cut moves and is really elusive in the open field. He posted a 4.48 40-yard dash at the combine, giving him the open field speed needed for breakaway runs. White also displays exceptional ball skills in the receiving game. During his final season at Arizona State, he posted 43 receptions for 456 and will be a PPR monster at the NFL level. I really like the film I have seen on White and could be a featured NFL back that you can get in the middle to the late first round of your rookie drafts.

Kyren Williams – Notre Dame

5’9 199 pounds

After going through the NFL Combine, Williams has seen his draft stock drop significantly. He posted the slowest 40-yard dash time, third-lowest broad jump, and was well below the middle of the pack in his vertical jump. However, the Notre Dame product is a proven commodity against the tough competition during his college career. He is a complete back who has put up great numbers in his two years of starting. During that time span, he has logged 415 carries for 2,127 yards and 27 touchdowns. While not to be forgotten is his receiving ability, where he posted 77 receptions for 672 yards and four touchdowns. While being a little undersized, Williams still is one of the more complete backs in this class and has shown great vision as a runner, while being versatile and able to line up and be productive as a receiver. With his post combine free fall, you could pick up Williams at a much cheaper price.

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Jerome Ford – Cincinnati

5’10 210 pounds

Former Bearcat running back Jerome Ford comes in at the number six running back in my rankings. Ford is a solid runner that shows good second-level vision and patience. He is a tough runner that shows good drive from his lower body. Some of the knocks against him include lack of top-tier elusiveness and is just average in overall burst and acceleration. He did post a 4.46 40-yard dash giving him the ability to use that second-level vision for chunk plays. He is an above-average pass catcher and could get early NFL work as a change of pace or third-down back.

Tyler Badie – Missouri

5’8 197 pounds

Tyler Badie is another successful SEC running back that is worth another look. Though he is a little undersized, Badie ran for 1,612 yards and scored 14 touchdowns on the ground last season as Missouri’s workhorse. Also, he is a skilled receiver adding 53 receptions for an additional 330 yards and four touchdowns. Badie boasts a strong lower body, good balance, and good body control along with running a 4.45 40-yard dash. He is an excellent route runner with good hands and should be able to find the field early as a third-down back.

Brian Robinson – Alabama

6’1 225 pounds

Brian Robinson is another bruising back out of Alabama. Robinson had to display a lot of patience at Alabama waiting his turn to take over the backfield. As the workhouse this year he carried the football 249 times for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also showed his versatility by catching 31 passes. Robinson is a strong back who is able to pick up tough yardage in tight spaces. He is solid at everything he does but lacks the upside to be an elite NFL running back. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash, which combined with his strength, points more towards a goal-line or short-yardage back.

Kevin Harris – South Carolina

5’10 220 pounds

Kevin Harris is one of my favorite late-round targets in this year’s rookie class. In 2020, he looked to be one of the top running backs in the class compiling 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. After having back surgery in the offseason and missing all of spring practice, Harris never quite looked the same. When healthy, he was able to display some key attributes I look for when finding running backs. He showed great patience, vision, and quick decision-making when reading the defense. Combined with great lower body strength and decent burst, and the previous production in a tough conference, you have a late-round flier with immense upside.

Tyler Allgeier – BYU

5’11 220 pounds

Tyler Allgeier is a highly productive running back out of BYU with over 2700 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns over his last two seasons. Allgeier is a powerful runner that has averaged over 4 YPC after contact throughout his college career. Allgeier is a hard downhill runner that uses his vision and patience to set up his blocks and is able to cut effectively for additional yards. He is another back with the physical attributes to lead a backfield and has shown he can handle a heavy workload. He is an above-average pass blocker and has shown an increased ability to catch the ball with 28 receptions last season.

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