With The First Pick
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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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Dec 5, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) carries the ball against the Southern California Trojans during the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi
Dec 5, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) carries the ball against the Southern California Trojans during the Pac-12 Conference football championship game at Levi /

Christian McCaffrey

Christian McCaffrey may win the Heisman, making him the best college football player in the nation. It’s hard to ignore his all-around contributions, from rushing to receiving to the return game. But that doesn’t make him the best pro running back prospect.

The receiving aspect of his game is probably the most impressive as Pro Football Focus has him at an average of 3.2 yards per route run, trailing only a few of the nation’s best wide receivers. He’s a guy that needs space to work in to make big plays out of short passes.

He’s a click-slower version of Reggie Bush and you see how Bush worked out in the NFL. He’s too small to protect the quarterback, and to run the ball on 3rd-and-short. So he’s not a bell-cow and will have to have another guy come in for him in certain situations.

The first round is for bell-cows but McCaffrey’s value as a return man puts him there. He should go late in the first round to a team that likes to throw to running backs. That sounds like the perfect pick for the New England Patriots, who have not yet replaced Danny Woodhead.

Next: No. 4

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