X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Ahead of the Game - 2019 College Football Running Back Prospects

Matt Wispe profiles three of the top NCAA football running backs to watch in dynasty and devy fantasy leagues.

In my series preview, I presented five draft-eligible wide receivers who project to be early NFL draft selections and potentially great dynasty assets. Today, I'll focus on the running back position, specifically the top three RBs who were expected to declare for the 2018 class and made the late decision to return to school.

Typically, my prospect scouting leans on the athletic traits of RBs, but with the combine still a year away, I'll shift my focus to their receiving capabilities, ability to maintain efficiency on a heavy workload, and their dominance of their team's backfield including projected 2018 usage.

These three RBs aren't necessarily the top three in the class, but all projected as draftable backs in the loaded 2018 class and in a class that is generally seen as weaker, they could enter with a slightly increased draft value.

 

NCAA Running Backs to Watch

Bryce Love, RB, Stanford

Bryce Love was such a lock to be drafted, I included him in my draft preview series as one of the top five RBs in the class. Some outlets were projecting Love as a possible first-round pick. And if there's any question as to why, here's a quick reminder of his career to date:

Bryce Love G Rush Att Rush Yds Yards per Carry Rush TD Receptions Rec. Yds Yards per Reception Rec. TD
2015 14 29 225 7.8 2 15 250 16.7 1
2016 12 111 783 7.1 3 8 83 10.4 1
2017 13 263 2118 8.1 19 6 33 5.5 0
Career 39 403 3126 7.8 24 29 366 12.6 2

And I can't necessarily blame Love for returning to school rather than entering one of the deepest RB classes in recent history, it was a real surprise when he announced his intent to return for another season at Stanford.

Love sat behind Christian McCaffrey for his first two seasons and in intermittent work, he had a high yards per carry average and showed some capabilities as a receiver. What stands out most for Love is his improved efficiency during his workhorse 2017 campaign. In his first season over 200 carries, Love not only eclipsed six yards per carry, but he comfortably surpassed it. And he tacked on 19 touchdowns. The slightly concerning side of his production is averaging only 0.46 receptions per game during his breakout season along with averaging less than ten yards per catch.

MS RuYds MS RuTDs Rushing Dominator MS Total Yards MS Total TDs Total Dominator
2017 0.75 0.62 0.68 0.40 0.36 0.38

The former four-star high school prospect solidified himself as the key component of the Stanford offense last year. Not only did he account for 75 percent of the total rushing yards, but he handled 40 percent of the team's total offensive yardage. He'll share the backfield with a similar cast as 2017 so it can be expected that he'll play a big part in the offense once again.

The best outcome for Love in 2018 would include an expanded role in the receiving game while maintaining his elite rushing efficiency. He enters the 2018 season one of the favorites for the Heisman trophy and should be one of the first RBs selected. If he can solidify himself as a first-round selection, drafters will likely be considering him in the top five of rookie drafts.

 

Myles Gaskin, RB, Washington

If you're outside of the Pacific Northwest or don't follow college football closely, Gaskin might be a relative unknown. But he's a true workhorse and one of the most productive backs in the country. And if his stats show anything, it's that he's seemingly evolving each year.

Year G Rush Att Rush Yards Yards per Carry Rush TD Receptions Rec Yards Yards per Reception Rec. TD
2015 13 227 1302 5.7 14 6 19 3.2 0
2016 14 237 1373 5.8 10 19 137 7.2 1
2017 13 222 1380 6.2 21 19 232 12.2 3
Career 40 686 4055 5.9 45 44 388 8.8 4

Gaskin has managed over 200 carries each of his first three seasons and has expanded his work in the passing game each year. Each season, he's appeared to add an additional tool to his arsenal that has improved his stock as a prospect. His handling of a heavy workload in 2015 with a slightly below expected efficiency would have been better than many prospects considering his freshman status. Then, in 2016, he expended his role in the passing game while slightly increasing his rushing efficiency and usage. And then 2017 marked his notable passing of certain efficiency thresholds on a big workload. If he can keep up this efficiency, even with the expected TD regression, he could be a standout prospect by the end of the year.

MS RuYds MS RuTDs Rushing Dominator MS Total Yards MS Total TDs Total Dominator
2015 0.47 0.59 0.53 0.21 0.20 0.20
2016 0.50 0.42 0.46 0.24 0.15 0.20
2017 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.31 0.43 0.37

Despite sharing the backfield with Lavon Coleman, who signed with Houston as a priority UDFA, Gaskin has accounted for the majority of the team's rushing yards for consecutive seasons. His 22 TDs, which includes three in the passing game, represented 43 percent of the team's total.

He'll share the backfield with sophomore, Salvon Ahmed, who was a four-star prospect and handled more than 70 touches as a freshman, but Gaskin should have a healthy share of his team's carries. Ideally, Gaskin would continue to improve his rushing efficiency and if he edged closer to two receptions per game, it could go a long way to help his draft stock.

 

Damien Harris, RB, Alabama

Harris is in the most unique situation of all of the prospects. He may be one of the most talented draft-eligible backs this season, but he may also be the second or third most talented RB on his own team.

Year G Rush Att Rush Yards Yards per Carry Rush TD Receptions Rec Yards Yards per Reception Rec. TD
2015 10 46 157 3.4 1 4 13 3.3 0
2016 15 146 1037 7.1 2 14 99 7.1 2
2017 14 135 1000 7.4 11 12 91 7.6 0
Career 39 327 2194 6.7 14 30 203 6.8 2

There's no questions about Harris's efficiency in the running game. Well over the six yards per carry mark, the only question is whether he'd maintain it on a workload over 200 carries. During his time at Alabama, he's played an ancillary role to bigger backs like Derrick Henry and Bo Scarborough. He may never eclipse the ideal 200 carry threshold because of ever-present competition, but he could prove to be among the most efficient backs in the class.

MS RuYds MS RuTDs Rushing Dominator MS Total Yards MS Total TDs Total Dominator
2016 0.28 0.06 0.17 0.17 0.07 0.12
2017 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.18 0.18 0.18

The biggest obstacle for Harris is going to be his competition for carries. Cases could be made that any of Joshua Jacobs, Brian Robinson, and particularly Najee Harris could be the team's carry leader and Harris will need to become the team leader if he has any chance of becoming a first-round draft pick.  This competition may keep him from ever handling a true workhorse workload, but potentially three straight 1000 yard rushing seasons would be nothing to overlook. He's considered by some film scouts the best RB in his conference and will have chances to score on Alabama's offense.

More NCAA Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Junior Caminero

Day-to-Day With Back Tightness
Will Smith

Won't Return When First Eligible
Tyler Soderstrom

Returns to A's Lineup
Tyler Warren

Sidelined on Wednesday with Toe Injury
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable for Week 3 Against Buffalo
Joe Burrow

Bengals Not Closing the Door on Joe Burrow Returning This Year
CFB

LaNorris Sellers to Play Against Missouri?
Kyle Tucker

Progress has "Plateaued"
Isaac Paredes

has "Outside Chance" to Return This Weekend
CFB

Kaidon Salter Expected To Start for Colorado on Saturday
Willson Contreras

Goes on 10-Day Injured List, Done for Season
Justin Fields

Ruled Out for Week 3 Due to Concussion
Jayden Reed

Out Indefinitely After Foot and Shoulder Surgery
Washington Commanders

Preston Smith Signs With Commanders
Trey Jemison III

Joins Knicks on Two-Way Contract
Kevin McCullar Jr.

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Knicks
Matt Ryan

Returns to Knicks on Exhibit 10 Contract
New York Knicks

Alex Len Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks
Nickeil Alexander-Walker

Expected to Take on Larger Offensive Role With Hawks
Thomas Sorber

Undergoes Surgery
Dominic Canzone

Has Five-Hit, Three-Homer Game Tuesday
Cal Raleigh

Sets Single-Season Home Run Record for a Switch-Hitter
Jayden Reed

Undergoes Clavicle and Foot Surgeries, Out for Foreseeable Future
Bo Bichette

to Miss Rest of Regular Season
Zach Neto

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Hand Injury
Yordan Alvarez

Out on Tuesday, Dealing With "Significant" Ankle Sprain
Aaron Jones Sr.

Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injury
CFB

Diego Pavia Refutes Report of Seeking Seventh Collegiate Season
Christian Kirk

Expected to Return in Week 3
CFB

Diego Pavia Seeking Another Year of Eligibility
Tarik Skubal

on Track to Start Thursday
CFB

Kevorian Barnes Questionable Against SMU
Bo Bichette

has Short-Term Knee Injury, Could Return for Postseason
Tosan Evbuomwan

Joins Knicks
NBA

Kai Jones Links Up With EuroLeague Team
Bismack Biyombo

Returns to Spurs
Bones Hyland

Rejoins Timberwolves
Kobe Bufkin

Moves to Brooklyn
Trey Yesavage

Sets Franchise Strikeout Record On Monday
Yordan Alvarez

To Receive MRI For Sprained Left Ankle On Tuesday
Willson Contreras

Exits Early Monday With Right-Biceps Tightness
Yordan Alvarez

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Brock Bowers

Officially Active on Monday Night
Jauan Jennings

Day-to-Day With Ankle Injury
Logan O'Hoppe

Activated Off Seven-Day Injured List
CBJ

Denton Mateychuk Dealing With Groin Issue
Bo Horvat

Fine for Training Camp
Kirby Dach

on Track to Be Ready for Opening Night
Jose Altuve

Returns Against Rangers
J.J. McCarthy

Expected to Miss 2-4 Weeks With High-Ankle Sprain
J.J. McCarthy

Likely Out for Week 3 With High-Ankle Sprain
Jean Silva

Gets Finished For The First Time In His Career
Aaron Jones Sr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 3 Due to Hamstring Injury
Diego Lopes

Returns To The Win Column
Jayden Daniels

' Week 3 Status in Doubt
Rob Font

Outclassed In The Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
David Martinez

Wins His Second UFC Fight
Jared Gordon

Suffers Brutal TKO Loss At Noche UFC 3
Rafa Garcia

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Brian Thomas Jr.

Dealing with Wrist Injury
Dustin Stoltzfus

Drops A Decision At Noche UFC 3
Kelvin Gastelum

Gets Back In The Win Column
Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP