The 2022 NFL Draft isn’t elite at the running back position but has quality depth. Here are my top-10 RB rankings entering draft season.
The 2022 running back class this year has some good depth, while the top-four seem to be on another level from the rest of the class, it’s quite a deep class. We could see some surprises late in this draft who show up big at the next level.
While I would not look to find another Adrian Peterson or Derrick Henry in this draft, we should have some solid everyday starters. Here are my current top-10 running back rankings so far for the 2022 NFL Draft:
2022 NFL Big Board: Top-10 running backs
1. Kenneth Walker, Michigan State 5-foot-10 210lbs
2021 Stats: 1,636 yards, 6.2 yards per carry, and 18 TD. 13 catches, 89 yards, and one TD.
2020 Stats: Played at Wake Forrest 579 rush yards, 4.9 yards per carry, and 13 TD. three catches for 30 yards.
Kenneth Walker ran away with the best RB in the country award and with good reason, putting up some gaudy stats. He is a great downhill runner and built like a brick building, but shows the speed to run in any style of scheme.
His lack of pass-catching I don’t think will be a knock, as any team who drafts him will use him as downhill or zone runner, and have someone else take over pass catching.
2. Breece Hall, Iowa State 6-foot-1 220lbs
2021 Stats: 1,472 yards, 5.8 yards per carry, and 20 TD. 36 catches, 302 yards, and three TD.
2020 Stats: 1,572 yards, 5.6 yards per carry, and 21 TD. 23 catches, 180 yards, and two TD.
When the season started Breece Hall was my pick to take the top spot on this board. However, Walker had such an elite season pushing Michigan States to a CFP conversation. Breece Hall, will be a threat at the next level, he has great size and speed, plus he can catch.
It is not like he was constantly pressured though in a weak Big 12, and his QB was also a rushing threat. But, his moves side to side are sweet and he can jam that foot in the ground and cut upfield.
3. Kyren Williams, Notre Dame 5-foot-9 199lbs
2021 Stats: 1,002 yards, 4.9 yards per carry, and 14 TD. 42 catches, 359 yards, and three TD.
2020 Stats: 1,125 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 13 TD. 35 catches, 313 yards, and one TD.
Kyren Williams to me is the most complete back in this class. I just wanted more production out of him behind one of the better lines in college football. He can catch, block, and run in any direction he is asked.
I like his current frame, but want to see what he can do in the 40 yard at the combine, as I am concerned if he has that next gear to truly separate at the next level. The positive here is he has been very consistent so you know exactly what you are getting.
4. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M 6-foot-1 215lbs
2021 Stats: 1,011 yards, 5.6 yards per carry, and six TD. 25 catches, 189 yards, and one TD.
2020 Stats: 1,036 yards, 5.5 yards per carry, and nine TD. 20 catches, 193 yards, and zero TD.
Isaiah Spiller this year was asked to do quite a lot after the starting QB went down. He is much faster than he should be at his current size, and I expect him to get some more catches at the next level. Some questions about pass-blocking ability, and him wanting to dance around too much.
5. Kennedy Brooks, Oklahoma 5-foot-11 215lbs
2021 Stats: 1,253 yards, 6.3 yards per carry, and 13 TD. Nine catches, 73 yards, and zero TD.
2020 Stats: 1,011 yards, 6.5 yards per carry, and six TD. 10 catches, 79 yards, and zero TD.
Kennedy Brooks is a name that should not be as far under the radar as it is. With three consecutive 1,000+ yard rushing seasons, and only in the COVID-19 marred season did he not have double-digit touchdowns.
He is a bit of a liability in the passing game, and was a simple runner, but runs hard. Like really, really hard. This is not someone you want to try and tackle up high at the next level.
6. Master Teague, Ohio State 5-foot-11 226lbs
2021 Stats: 355 yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and four TD. Two catches, 12 yards, and zero TD.
2020 Stats: 514 yards, 4.9 yards per carry, and eight TD. Five catches, 46 yards, and zero TD.
It is so hard to make out who Master Teague really is. We have seen his skills show up in multiple ways in high-end games. But, there have been injuries and he has always been a split back, so it’s hard to tell if the split back is what made him shine, or if he had the talent all along.
Teague is faster than he should be at his size, but he won’t be useful in any system where the running back is asked to catch the ball. I also think he needs to be in a “Steelers” type of rushing offense.
7. Jerome Ford, Cincinnatti 5-foot-11 220lbs
2021 Stats: 1,319 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, and 19 TD. 21 catches, 220 yards, and one TD.
2020 Stats: 483 yards, 6.6 yards per carry, and eight TD. Eight catches, 51 yards, and zero TD.
It’s a hard call to make if moving over from Bama to Cincy was the right call for Ford, I think he is better than Robinson who Bama had this year. Ford showed up in a big way for Cincinnatti and might be the most aggressive RB in this class.
I would not worry about his pass-catching abilities as he can pass-block with the best of him, and will be on angry runs once a week on the NFL Network at the next level.
8. Hassan Haskins, Michigan 6-foot-1 220lbs
2021 Stats: 1,327 yards, 4.9 yards per carry, and 20 TD. 18 catches, 131 yards, and zero TD.
2020 Stats: 375 yards, 6.1 yards per carry, and six TD. No receptions.
Haskins was asked to do everything after several other players got injured and he stepped up to the plate. While he may not have been the best overall RB on the team he sure produced like one. I like Haskins more as a third-down or short-yardage back at the next level. His size is amazing, but I am afraid he may come in slow for the 40-yard dash hurting his ability to be a true RB1 at the next level.
9. Rachaad White, Arizona State 6-foot-2 210lbs
2021 Stats: 1,006 yards, 5.5 yards per carry, and 15 TD. 43 catches, 456 yards, and one TD.
2020 Stats: 420 yards, 10 yards per carry, and five TD. Eight catches, 151 yards, and one TD.
White showed out this year after a shortened 2020 season. He might come in as the tallest and heaviest RB in the combine, which depending on your view could be a good thing or a bad thing. The fact he is that size and can catch is something you can not ignore. But, I did expect more out of him this year in the running game. Questions with speed, and vision.
10. Tyler Badie, Mizzou 5-foot-8 194lbs
2021 Stats: 1,604 yards, 6.0 yards per carry, and 14 TD. 54 catches, 330 yards, and four TD.
2020 Stats: 242 yards, 5.0 yards per carry, and 4 TD. 28 catches, 333 yards, and two TD.
Badie has the chance to be a Bad man, he lit it up in 2021. However, it went largely unnoticed as Mizzou was never on TV and didn’t do well. This is an Alvin Kamara-type back, no he doesn’t have that level of talent, but he can stay on the field for every down and even split out at WR.
He needs to get a bit more polished but could be an amazing late-round draft find for a team that utilizes versatility.