2020 Running Back Landing Spots: Rounds 1-3 + Honorable Mentions

In this article, I want to dive into the landing spots of the top running backs in this year's draft class. It has been well documented that running backs selected in the first three rounds have a much clearer path to playing time early on in their careers. This year we saw 10 running backs go within the first 3 rounds:

Round 1: 1

Round 2: 5

Round 3: 4

I want to take a look at each of these landing spots and dig a little deeper into the next wave of running back talent entering the NFL. Please note that my fantasy football outlook is based off of 0.5 PPR formats for both re-draft and dynasty, 1 QB leagues.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire; Kansas City Chiefs (Rd. 1, Pick 32):

We saw Clyde Edwards-Helaire be the only RB taken in the first round, and it just happened to be to the dream destination of just about everyone. Andy Reid is on record saying that CEH will be better than Brian Westbrook. Westbrook was a very productive RB and a consistent fantasy producer under Andy Reid in Philadelphia. CEH is perfect for Andy Reid’s system in KC and will be walking into one of the best situations in the NFL to help the Chiefs attempt to establish themselves as a football dynasty.

Re-Draft: Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be a premium name in re-draft leagues this year. Everyone knows this kid, and now he has landed in arguably the best position out of any of these RBs given his skillset as a pass catcher. Edwards-Helaire will likely be drafted in the top 3 rounds, and he may be worth that investment. There is a path to him finishing as a top 15 RB in his rookie season.

Dynasty: A legitimate case can be made for CEH as this years 1.01 in rookie drafts. The Chiefs were the dream landing spot for Edwards-Helaire. Andy Reid comparing this young player to Brian Westbrook should excite everyone for his potential in the NFL.

D’andre Swift; Detroit Lions (Rd. 2, Pick 3):

D’andre Swift will be competing with Kerryon Johnson for the majority of the touches in Detroit. The Kerryon Experiment may be coming to an end in Detroit. The dude can’t stay on the field. He is a good running back, but not an amazing athlete. Enter, Deondre Swift. Swift is the latest RB to come out of the RB factory that is the University of Georgia. Swift can do all of the same things Kerryon can do, but better. Swift had some seriously impressive statistics at Georgia and proved that he is a true duel threat RB, exactly what NFL teams are looking for. I don’t expect Kerryon Johnson to go away, but I do expect Swift to get the first crack at the starting job given the draft capital the team invested in Swift when RB was not necessarily the greatest team need at this point in the draft.

Re-Draft: Swift will likely go earlier than he should in re-draft given his situation. Given the college production and draft capitol, Swift could find himself in the top 5 rounds of re-draft leagues. Swift has been a household name for those of us who follow football year round, and with Kerryon being hurt (again) last year, a lot people may forget he is even there. If Kerryon Johnson gets hurt, which could definitely happen, Swift will be an absolute steal. One of the bigger risk/reward picks in re-draft leagues this year.

Dynasty: The selection of Swift bodes well for him long term. Once Kerryon’s rookie contract is up I do not expect him to be re-signed. Over the next two years we should see this backfield increasingly belong to D’andre Swift. Another factor to consider will be potential coaching changes in the future. If the Lions do not succeed this year, there will likely be changes coming. Luckily, Swift is very dynamic and should fit any offensive scheme he is asked to play in. Swift falls behind Taylor and Edwards-Helaire for me, but an argument can still be made for him to be a top 5 pick in rookie drafts given the unfortunate landing spots for this year’s top WR’s.

Johnathan Taylor; Indianapolis Colts (Rd. 2, Pick 9):

The Colts traded up in the 2nd round to select many peoples’ RB 1 pre-draft. Honestly, you can still make a strong case for J-Tay as the RB 1 of this class. The Colts trading up AND investing that 2nd round capital in Taylor says a lot about how they view the player, especially given their QB situation. Taylor’s college career was one of the most impressive we have ever seem from a RB, the stats speak for themselves. Despite Taylor’s heavy workload in college, he has remained healthy through it all. While there may be a little less tread left on the tires per say, Taylor find himself behind one of the best offensive lines in all of football. Indy’s RB room is crowded, but Taylor is far and away the most talented back on their roster. Taylor should make an immediate impact in the NFL as a pure rusher. He is also a very capable receiver, and we have seen Philip Rivers target his RB’s heavily as he wraps up the back 9 of his career. When Taylor has the ball in his hands, he is always a threat to score. Whether he runs around you, or over you is up to him.

Re-Draft: If Taylor takes over the starting job, and I expect him to do so, he would make an excellent RB 2 for your roster with legitimate upside to finish as a top 12 RB in his rookie year.

Dynasty: Dynasty players should also rejoice. Landing with the Colts and that offensive line places J-Tay very much in the mix for 1.01 in rookie drafts. He has shown great durability his entire career and projects to be a force in the NFL for years to come.

Cam Akers; Las Angeles Rams (Rd. 2, Pick 20):

Cam Akers truthers rejoice!! As we all know, Akers suffered from abysmal OL play at Florida State. Unfortunately for Akers, the Rams don’t have a stellar OL either, but it is quite literally impossible to get any worse than it was for Akers at FSU. Given that the Rams used 2nd round draft capital in a draft where they only had ONE pick in the first three rounds, they must feel strongly about Akers as their next RB. Akers has all the tools to be a workhorse back in the NFL, but it is more likely that he finds himself in somewhat of a RBBC his rookie year. The Rams spent a 3rd round pick last year on Darrell Henderson, and they just can’t let Malcom Brown go. Akers is the alpha of this group and there is no reason that he can’t be the lead dog in LA, but the Rams are financially invested in the other two RB’s as well, so I expect that to put a slight dent in Akers’s fantasy value.

Re-Draft: Akers should be a RB 3 with upside. He is worthy of a middle round pick because I expect him to lead this committee from the beginning. The creative offense that McVay runs should highlight Akers’s explosive playmaking ability.

Dynasty: Akers has the pure upside to be a top 5 pick in rookie drafts, but there is still a lot of ‘prove it’ work to be done in the NFL. With all of the other talent and landing spots for the rookie WRs, Akers could slip into the 2nd round of rookie drafts which would be an excellent value.

JK Dobbins; Baltimore Ravens (Rd. 2, Pick 23):

Join me in a moment of silence for Justice Hill… Thank you. Mark Ingram is in the back 9 of his impressive career. Ingram had a very impressive season last year, but the Ravens are making a statement for the future here by taking JK Dobbins in the 2nd round. One of the most formidable rushing attacks from 2019 just added a very dynamic back who can really do it all. Dobbins is a little undersized, but that does not mean he can’t sustain a workhorse role in the NFL. Dobbins’s junior (final) season at Ohio State was very impressive. He racked up 301 carries and eclipsed 2,000 RUSHING yards along with 23 receptions for 247 yards. The Ravens are getting a very capable RB of the future who possesses some really unique traits. Dobbins should split time with Ingram while Ingram is still with the team, but this could be a lot like the timeshare we saw in New Orleans when Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara established themselves as one of the best RB duos in the league. Both Ingram and Dobbins should have fantasy value this year, their upside will be limited only by each other (and Lamar Jackson lol). I am not comparing Dobbins to Kamara, but the situation could look similar.

Re-Draft: Dobbins might not make an immediate impact, but he should definitely be on your bench for when he does. If Baltimore uses Ingram and Dobbins in a timeshare, Dobbins could find himself on the winning side of that workload split. There is a path to Dobbins finishing the year as a top 24 RB. My only problem with Dobbins in re-draft is you may have to reach for him and he might do nothing for you for quite a while. Dobbins would be a fantastic trade FOR candidate a few weeks into the season if he has not started to produce (think Miles Sanders from 2019).

Dynasty: In dynasty leagues, this landing spot doesn’t really move Dobbins up or down. He should still be a mid to late 1st round pick. He is one of the most well rounded running backs in this class who just landed with a super bowl contending team. What’s not to like?

AJ Dillon; Green Bay Packers (Rd. 2, Pick 30):

I want to be transparent here, I am a big Packers fan, but this pick stunned me. AJ Dillon was a combine freak. The 6’0”, 250 lb. running back put on a show in Indy. I am not surprised that a team reached to get him, I am surprised that the Packers were that team. Again, as a Packers fan… WE JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE AARON JONES. I know that Jones’s 2019 season is an outlier. It is highly unlikely that Jones gets 19 TDs again, but 12 TDs could easily be Jones’s floor. AJ Dillon is a 250 lb. brick s#!t house that just fell right through Aaron Jones’s floor. There are some major contract implications with this draft pick as well. Both Jones and Jamaal Williams are in the final year of their contract. Given this pick (and the current state of RB contracts), it is possible that GB is preparing for life without Jones and Williams… This is just a really questionable pick given Dillon’s limited skill set as a receiver. On the bright side, Dillon is basically the size of a refrigerator who also ran a 4.5 second 40… so have fun tackling that. Dillon’s short term fantasy outlook is puzzling. I expect him to see short yardage and goal line work which should be good for 5-8 TDs this season.

Re-Draft: Dillon will be relevant, but not relevant enough for re-draft purposes. He should score the occasional TD, and possesses the explosiveness to pop off a big run every now and then, but he is limited as a receiver and will still not be the starter this year.

Dynasty: Dillon is worth a late 3rd round pick in dynasty leagues given the uncertainty in GB around the RB position for the future, at least we know Dillon will be there.

Antonio Gibson; Washington Redskins (Rd. 3, Pick 2):

Washington welcomes their 39th RB to the roster. Gibson was a true gadget player at Memphis (Memphis has quietly produced some really good RB’s in the past two years). Gibson played some WR at Memphis and actually tested at the NFL combine as a WR as well. The Redskins drafted him as a RB, but that does not mean they will not move him all over the field. Gibson has a large RB like frame, but WR like speed which will make him a very interesting addition to a team that really needs some offensive playmakers. As previously mentioned, the Redskins have SO many running backs on their roster, but we have seen new HC Ron Rivera heavily utilize the RB positon. We obviously must consider he had CMC in Carolina… I am in no way comparing Gibson to CMC, but Gibson possesses big play potential as both a running and receiving threat. Given his versatility and ability to move all over the field, I don’t see the team’s abundance of RB’s keeping Gibson off the field. Terry McLaurin on the edge and Gibson in the slot could cause some headaches for opposing defenses. Dwayne Haskins could cause some headaches for McLaurin and Gibson.

Re-Draft: Gibson would be worth a late round flier in redraft. His immediate impact may not be felt until the team gets a better understanding of how to use Gibson, but if/when that happens you will be happy he is on your bench.

Dynasty: Gibson’s versatility and upside should warrant a late 2nd or early 3rd round pick in rookie drafts. His landing spot is not ideal on paper, but Gibson is the kind of play maker that Washington could fall in love with. He is an offensive chess piece that can play multiple positions which means more opportunity for him. He could be a steal in dynasty drafts.

Ke’Shawn Vaughn; Tampa Bay Bucs (Rd. 3, Pick 12):

The Buccaneers make a statement by addressing their biggest offensive needs in the first 2 days of the draft (and adding a safety in the 2nd round!). This is a fantastic pick for the Bucs and for fantasy football. The Bucs are getting an extremely versatile weapon in Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Vaughn played at Vanderbilt, a pretty outmatched SEC team given the competition they face each year. That did not stop Vaughn from being incredibly productive in college. Vaughn immediately possesses a much more well rounded skill set than Ronald Jones, who the team could never really seem to commit to. Now that Arians is at the helm, it looks like they have gotten their guy in Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Vaughn should have the opportunity to compete for the Bucs starting RB in an offense that already boasts Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski and TOM BRADY. Vaugh is a very capable receiver who also possesses great power and balance as a runner. We all know Tom Brady loves throwing to his RBs. If Vaughn can win the trust of the GOAT there is no reason for us not to expect Vaughn to have a big year as a rookie. He lands in an amazing spot for a rookie RB, addressing a team need and rounding out what should be an explosive Buccaneers offense.

Re-Draft: Vaughn should be an excellent option in all fantasy formats. If Vaughn wins the starting job, a legitimate case could be made for Vaughn as your RB 2, he possesses that kind of upside.

Dynasty: With this landing spot Vaughn has cemented his spot as a 1st round pick. There are a LOT of bigger names that could push Vaughn into the early 2nd, in which case congratulations on the steal of your rookie draft. My only hesitation with Vaughn is inevitable when Brady and Gronk sail off into the sunset together, what does this offense look like? If they don’t address QB in the next year, Vaughn may be a nice sell high candidate in dynasty leagues.

Zack Moss; Buffalo Bills (Rd. 3, Pick 22):

The Buffalo Bills are embracing the RBBC approach heading into 2020. Devin Singletary showed immense promise in his rookie season. He really emerged as a premier talent at the end of the 2019 season. Singletary is a smaller back, so honestly protecting that talent by splitting the workload here is good for real football, just okay for fantasy football. Zack Moss has been a controversial player in the pre-draft process, for good reason. Most of the debate surrounded his athleticism. These same arguments seemed to surround Devin Singletary last year despite Singletary’s excellent college production. Zack Moss also compiled a really impressive career at Utah. Moss rushed for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons and also accumulated 66 receptions in those seasons as well. Moss has consistently showed that he has the SKILLS to get the job done, and I would argue that his athleticism is underrated. Moss does have a reckless play style that could lead to injuries at the next level, but he is a solid player who just gets the job done.

Re-Draft: Singletary should lead this backfield, but Moss should get his fair share as well. This could turn into a situation much like the one we all hated when Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams had almost a 50/50 split in Green Bay just a few years ago. Moss should only be a late round flier.

Dynasty: This landing spot is not bad, but it isn’t great. They now have 2 running backs on rookie deals that should both see production. The Bills will benefit from this as a franchise because both players are good. For me, Moss has dropped into the mid - late 3rd round consideration in rookie drafts.

Darrynton Evans; Tennessee Titans (Rd. 3, Pick 29):

This was one of my favorite picks of the draft so far. In an article I wrote a few days before the draft, I had Tennessee as one of my favorite landing spots for Evans. Evans has been a consistent riser in the dynasty community lately and for good reason. If you look at Evans’s statistical output at Appalachian State, you can’t help but be impressed by the former 2 star recruit. I go into more detail on Evans’s college statistics in my article, My Case for Darrynton Evans. That article can be found here: https://atozffb.wixsite.com/home/post/my-case-for-darrynton-evans-rb-appalachian-state

Evans being a day 2 pick signals that Tennessee might be preparing for a future without Derrick Henry, and possibly even a new look on offense all together. Derrick Henry is coming off of a season for the ages. 303 rushing attempts, 1540 yards and 16 TDs on the ground. Despite that production Henry did not get the long term contract that he was looking for, AND the team invested a day 2 pick in an extremely explosive player in Darrynton Evans. I fully expect Evand to see a role in the Titans offense during his rookie year. Henry and Evans is that classic thunder and lightning duo that could really cause some problems. What I am most excited for is Evans’s future outlook. If the Titans choose to move on from Henry after the 2020 season, Evans will find himself in an excellent situation. With signing of Ryan Tanehill and the emergence of AJ Brown, we could see the Titans shift away from their total reliance on the running game in the future. That bodes extremely well for a RB like Darrynton Evans.

Re-draft: Evans may have limited upside because Henry is still the lead dog. Evans is probably worth a late round flier just so we can see how he will be used. With the dominance of Derrick Henry last year, I do not think many people will have Evans on their radar.

Dynasty: This is where I get really excited about Evans because of his potential to be the next starting RB for the Tennessee Titans. Evans has moved himself into the late 2nd or early 3rd round of rookie drafts with tremendous upside.

Honorable Mentions: RBs taken after day 2 of the NFL draft have historically had a harder time earning snaps early on, this draft class does have a few day 3 RBs that could be an exception to this statistic.

La'Mical Perine; New York Jets (Rd. 4, Pick 14)

Anthony McFarland Jr.; Pittsburgh Steelers (Rd. 4, Pick 18)

DeeJay Dallas; Seattle Seahawks (Rd. 4, Pick 38)

Eno Benjamin; Arizona Cardinals (Rd. 7, Pick 8)

You made it to the end! Thank you for reading, I hope you found this insight useful. We may have differing takes on these players and the positions they landed in, but these are my first thoughts following the draft. As we enter the final day of the NFL draft, there are still a number of talented running backs on the board, these 10 players have a tremendous opportunity to make an immediate impact for their respective teams which is why I wanted to highlight them. If you have any questions or takes of your own please don't hesitate to leave a comment or reach out on Twitter @AtoZffb. We would love to talk.

-Zack Housholder

Sources: Sports-reference.com / NFL.com