NFL Draft: Top 5 RB Needy Teams

Sky’s Top RB Needy Teams for the NFL Draft + Rankings

This is my fifth round of RB rankings, but this time I list my Top 5 most needy teams to upgrade their running back room in the NFL Draft coming up in April. With Free Agency behind us, there’s not a ton left on the waiver wire. So, teams will need to look for incoming rookies to fill their void in the backfield or at least increase positional depth. Bookmark this page to keep tabs on my rankings. These rankings are for RB only and based on PPR settings. Some players are not yet included in my Top 24 that will most likely land there due to their uncertainty of free agency, player options, returning from injury, etc. J.K. Dobbins and Nick Chubb are among those. Rookies are also not yet listed in my rankings.

Which RBs am I too high/low on? Comment below and we’ll discuss in the chat.

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Top 5 RB Needy Teams for the NFL Draft

(In No Particular Order)

• Team: Arizona Cardinals
• Current Running Backs: James Conner, Michael Carter, Emari Demercado

The Cardinals pick 4th overall, but that’s almost certainly going to either be Marvin Harrison Jr. or a trade back situation for the right price. Either way, I expect them to target a top WR early, but they do pick again in the 1st Round at 27th overall. Arizona also picks third in the 2nd Round and third in the 3rd Round. They could take a pick of the litter at RB in the 2nd or most likely still get a Top 3 choice in the early 3rd Round. James Conner continues to produce when healthy, finishing as the RB7, RB9 and RB13 in ½ PPR PPG the last three seasons. He was also RB4 twice and RB1 (!!!) over the final three games of last season. The concern is that he’ll be 29 and has yet to play a full season in his seven year career. The Cardinals have little reliable depth behind him and need to keep Kyler Murray protected in the pocket. 

• Team: Carolina Panthers
• Current Running Backs: Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders, Raheem Blackshear

The Panthers need a lot more than RB depth, but let’s start with a game breaker in the backfield. Over the years, Carolina has been known for some great backs like Christian McCaffery, DeAngelo Williams, Johnathan Stewart and others. Chuba Hubbard was fine last year racking up 1,100+ total yards and five touchdowns, but Miles Sanders didn’t do anyone any favors as a 5th Round fantasy pick finishing RB51 in PPR. The Panthers do not have a 1st Round pick, but pick twice in the first seven selections to start the 2nd Round. I expect them to add either a starting caliber RB or pile up depth pieces to battle it out in training camp. Bryce Young needs all the help he can get.

• Team: Los Angeles Chargers
• Current Running Backs: Gus Edwards, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller

Nobody cleaned house this off-season like the Chargers. Oof. Pour one out for my boy Justin Herbert. He’s the only one left as LAC moved on from Austin Ekeler (WAS), Keenan Allen (CHI), Mike Williams (NYJ) and Gerald Everett (CHI). There’s been talk of free agent J.K. Dobbins landing on Los Angeles as he too has history with new (and former) OC Greg Roman. Gus Edwards landed in LA as well. Dobbins and Edwards played for Roman in Baltimore. Dobbins is coming off a gruesome leg injury, but has been cleared for “football activity”. Still, he’s not on the team yet and LAC can’t rely on those two. Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller have had their shots backing up Ekeler, but haven’t done enough to earn starting roles. Most predict former Michigan Wolverine Blake Corum to be drafted by his former coach and new LAC HC Jim Harbaugh. The Chargers pick 5th overall, but that’s most likely a Top3 WR or TE Brock Bowers; unless they trade back. They pick again at 37th overall (fifth pick of the 2nd Round). That could be a perfect chance to land Corum. Regardless, Harbaugh and Roman have one single-minded offenses scheme… run the f***ing ball.

• Team: Dallas Cowboys
• Current Running Backs: Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Malik Davis

Shockingly, the Cowboys were completely silent during free agency. Tony Pollard simply did not return the expectations the Cowboys expected last year. He started hot with two touchdowns opening night, but then failed to score again until Week 11. He signed as a free agent with the Tennessee Titans this off-season. While Pollard wasn’t much for goal line conversions, he was the 8th most targeted running back in the NFL. The Cowboys threw to their RBs 100 times which was 12th most. Their current RBs profile as smaller “scat” backs. Look for them to find an early downs bruiser in the NFL Draft. I would not be surprised if Dallas is the first team to take an RB with their 24th pick. If not, definitely in the 2nd Round at pick 56. 

• Team: New York Giants
• Current Running Backs: Devin Singletary, Matt Breida, Eric Gray

Saquon Barkley leaving for Philadelphia in free agency is obviously a major loss for the Giants’ backfield. I don’t hate Devin Singletary, but he’s not an every down back worthy of taking Barkley’s place entirely. Matt Breida is lucky to still be in the league and Eric Gray hasn’t shown consistency yet. The Giants pick 6th overall, but they’ll either take a Top 3 QB/WR or trade back. They don’t pick again until pick 47 in the middle of the 2nd Round. That would be a great spot to target a top RB if they didn’t in the 1st Round. 

For more from Sky and his Razzball content, find him on Twitter @skyguasco.