With The First Pick
Fansided

2017 First-Round Running Back Draft Prospects

By Carl Cockerham

Nov 14, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) watches from the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Tiger Stadium. Arkansas defeated LSU 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) watches from the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Tiger Stadium. Arkansas defeated LSU 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 14, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) watches from the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Tiger Stadium. Arkansas defeated LSU 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) watches from the bench during the fourth quarter of a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Tiger Stadium. Arkansas defeated LSU 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The running back position is coming back!

You can devalue the running back position all you want but you need a good one to win. If the Seattle Seahawks showed the way with Marshawn Lynch a couple of years ago. One more carry for him in Super Bowl XLIX, would have won them back-to-back Lombardis.

DeMarco Murray ran the Dallas Cowboys to their first playoff win in 20 years in 2014. So two running backs went in the first round in 2015 after none the previous two years. Todd Gurley was picked No. 10 overall in 2015 despite going in with a torn ACL.

Then we had the Cowboys take Ezekiel Elliott at No. 4 overall of the 2016 NFL Draft. The value of the running back position has more to do with the players in the draft than anything. An average running back doesn’t belong in the first round of the draft just like any other position.

In 2017, there are five prospects that should go in the first round of the draft.

Turn the page for a look at them.

Next: No. 5

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