Ranking the 2022 NFL Draft's top 40 running backs: Ten earn top 150 grades
This running back class doesn't feature any first-round locks, but it's incredibly deep
The 2022 NFL Draft opens tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. It’s unlikely we see any running backs go in the first-round this year, but there are plenty of day two and early day three options for teams looking to upgrade their backfields. There’s a clear two-man top tier leading the way, and we’ll discuss them first in this top-40 breakdown.
I provided in-depth profiles for the top 20 prospects in this article, including comments on their physical measurements, production, and traits. I’m planning on adding those details for the remaining running backs in the top 30 throughout today. Running backs after 30 will only have their measurements and production listed.
Feel free to tell me in the comments or on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 if you believe a certain prospect should rank higher. Let me know if I missed anyone.
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*All player measurements come from the NFL.com unless otherwise specified
Tier 1- Late First/Early Second
1. Kenneth Walker III, RB Michigan St.
Size: 5'9", 211 lbs. with 30 3/8" arms
Pros: Doak Walker Award Winner (2021), muscular build for a 5'9" back, explosive runner with underrated breakaway speed, sticks his foot in the ground and changes directions immediately, arsenal of jukes and spins, burst in the initial ten yards lets him fly by everyone, finishes through tackles, breaks arm tackles, bounces off shoulder throws, multiple cuts per play, led college football running backs with 1,168 yards after contact and 89 forced missed tackles in 2021, 46 runs of ten or more yards in 2021
Cons: Unproven as a receiver, pass protection is below average, can improve his stride pacing
Production: 263 carries for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021
2. Breece Hall, RB Iowa St.
Size: 5'11", 217 lbs. with 31 1/4" arms
Pros: Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, 2020 & 2021 Big 12 OPOY, 3,044 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns over the past two years, won’t turn 21 until May, patient runner with excellent vision, plenty of 50+ yard plays on tape, 76 forced missed tackles in 2021, footwork to surprise defenders with his cuts, plays through contact
Cons: Patient to a fault, 800 touches in college, below average in pass protection, average depth of target was behind the line of scrimmage in 2021, pass protection, speed and burst need to translate to the field more
Production: 253 carries for 1,472 yards and 20 touchdowns plus 36 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns in 2021
Production: 279 carries for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2020
Tier 2- Late Second/Early Third
3. Jerome Ford, RB Cincinnati
Size: 5'10 1/2", 210 lbs. with 30 5/8" arms
Pros: Homerun speed, hasn’t taken many hits, explodes when he decides to head upfield, maintains balance through contact and arm tackles, speed to power, keeps legs churning, sticks his foot in the ground and hops outside of potential tacklers
Cons: Turns 23 in September, five fumbles in the past two years, doesn’t create for himself when there are no obvious openings, pass protection, runs a little high giving defenders a bigger target
Production: 215 carries for 1,319 yards and 19 touchdowns plus 21 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown in 2021
4. Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M
Size: 6'0", 217 lbs. with 31 3/4" arms
Pros: Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, 56 forced missed tackles on 179 carries, turns 21 in August, surprising number of cuts that broke for big gains, built to take hits and keep trucking, good concentration to secure passes, open field cuts can stall defenders
Cons: Limited production as a receiver, body catches, more of a one-speed runner, limited wiggle, can’t outrun defensive backs and he knows it, six fumbles in his career, cuts aren’t always as fast as you want
Production: 179 carries for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns in 2021
Tier 3- Fourth Round Selections
5. Brian Robinson Jr., RB Alabama
Size: 6'2", 225 lbs. with 31 7/8" arms
Pros: High-end pass protection, natural hands catcher, 79 missed tackles forced in 2021, 40 runs of ten or more yards in 2021, nearly 900 yards after contact (2021), breaks arm tackles, zero fumbles in 2021, dishes out punishment and falls forward when tackled, quick choppy footwork, over 300 special teams snaps, Alabama RB factory
Cons: Turned 23 in March, lacks breakaway speed, ability to make defenders miss in space is limited, speed is more build-up than instantaneous, lacks initial burst at point of attack
Production: 271 carries for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns plus 35 receptions for 296 yards and two touchdowns in 2021
6. Rachaad White, RB Arizona St.
Size: 6'0", 214 lbs. with 31 1/4" arms
Pros: Highly productive as a pass catcher, bouncy feet as he patiently waits for a lane, quick feet to put defenders on skates, throttles up and down at will, difficult to get a hand on in the open field, strings multiple moves together to make defenders miss
Cons: Turned 23 in January, lacks true breakaway speed, doesn’t consistently break tackles, pass protection, thrown off balance by contact
Production: 182 carries for 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns plus 43 receptions for 456 yards and one touchdown in 2021
7. Dameon Pierce, RB Florida
Size: 5'10", 218 lbs. with 30 3/4" arms
Pros: Fresh legs (only 374 college touches), high-end pass protection, forced 39 missed tackles on 100 carries, zero fumbles in 2021, legs are constantly driving, subtle movements to stall defenders, wiggle to make defenders miss in one-on-one situations, turns up the juice when the end zone is in his sight, finishes through contact, extensive special teams experience
Cons: Not a dynamic open-field runner, lacks breakaway speed, minimal college production, fewer missed tackles forced once he’s beyond the line of scrimmage, unproven as a pass catcher
Production: 100 carries for 574 yards and 13 touchdowns plus 19 receptions for 216 yards and three touchdowns in 2021
8. Tyler Allgeier, RB BYU
Size: 5'11", 224 lbs. with 31 1/2" arms
Pros: Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, 36 touchdowns in the last two years, averaged over four yards after contact per attempt in 2021, 1,143 yards after contact and 77 forced missed tackles in 2021, 40 runs of ten or more yards in 2021, vision, played some linebacker in 2019, contact balance to run between the tackles, acceleration sees him pull away from linebackers at the second level, chased down a potential pick-six against Arizona State and forced a fumble to get BYU the ball back
Cons: BYU’s offensive line usually outclasses its competition, lacks top gear, wish he was a little more violent as a runner, four fumbles in 2021, little wiggle, lacks initial burst at the point of attack
Production: 276 carries for 1,601 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2021
9. Keaontay Ingram, RB USC
Size: 6'0", 221 lbs. with 31 1/2" arms
Pros: Seems to have adequate hands as a pass catcher, strings together cuts easily, accelerates well once he finds space, patient and creative runner who consistently finds space, reverses field to make big plays, vision is something special, plays through contact
Cons: Never been a dominant back (yards or touchdowns), four fumbles in the past three years, leggy running style leads to a high pad level, wish he had more violent finishes, pass protection
Production: 156 carries for 911 yards and five touchdowns in 2021
10. James Cook, RB Georgia
Size: 5'11", 199 lbs. with 30 3/4" arms
Pros: Excellent receiving option with slot potential, plenty of tread left, zero fumbles in 2021, smooth acceleration and speed when he gets downhill, quick feet, loose athlete capable of making defenders miss, he makes the most of opportunities in space
Cons: Limited option between the tackles, turns 23 in September, lacks lower body mass, struggles to play through contact, has good speed but lacks that top gear, pass protection
Production: 113 carries for 728 yards and seven touchdowns plus 27 receptions for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
Tier 4- Fifth Round Selections
11. Abram Smith, RB Baylor
Size: 6'0", 213 lbs. with 30 1/4" arms
Pros: Played linebacker in 2019 and 2020 and it shows in his physicality, showed better than expected hands at the Senior Bowl, more wiggle and better acceleration than he’s given credit for, 44 runs of ten or more yards in 2021, lowers his shoulder and lays the boom, legs constantly churning, seven special teams tackles in 2019
Cons: Turns 24 in September, lacks a top gear, limitations to his elusiveness in space, two fumbles and two dropped passes in 2021, pass protection is inconsistent, pad level stays high
Production: 257 carries for 1,601 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021
12. Pierre Strong Jr., RB South Dakota St.
Size: 5'11", 207 lbs. with 31 7/8" arms
Pros: Three seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards, possesses breakaway speed, vision, shifty runner who breaks ankles, great burst in the first ten yards, averaged 9.5 (2018), 7.1 (2019), and 7.0 (2021) yards per carry, physical profile to become a receiving threat
Cons: Turns 23 in December, touches start adding up, runs out of gas before reaching the end zone, doesn’t break many tackles, limited contact balance, four fumbles and four dropped passes in 2021
Production: 240 carries for 1,686 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021
13. Kyren Williams, RB Notre Dame
Size: 5'9", 194 lbs. with 28 5/8" arms
Pros: Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, thumper pass protection, cut down on drops from 2020 to 2021, experience working out of the slot, highly productive pass catcher, makes concentration catches, constantly looking to provide his quarterback with a target, leadership and character are high-caliber, skies through the trash by bouncing off of bodies
Cons: Athletic testing at his size was horrendous, not above the 33rd percentile in anything, eight fumbles in the past two years, lacks a top gear, struggles to beat defenders to the outside, lacks burst and twitch, lacks true power running style and weight
Production: 204 carries for 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns plus 42 receptions for 359 yards and three touchdowns and 14 punt returns for 151 yards in 2021
14. Zamir White, RB Georgia
Size: 6'0", 214 lbs. with 31 1/2" arms
Pros: Explosive athlete with good linear speed, weight room legend with the nickname “Zeus”, quick feet, drives into and through contact, smooth athlete, lower body strength is legitimate
Cons: Limited number of big plays, 17 career receptions, torn ACLs in both knees, acceleration seemed inconsistent, better plowing into a crowd than beating a defender one-on-one in space, pass protection is underdeveloped, can’t play on third down right now
Production: 160 carries for 856 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2021
15. Tyler Badie, RB Missouri
Size: 5'8", 197 lbs. with 29 3/8" arms
Pros: Kick return experience, 46 runs of ten or more yards in 2021, over 900 yards after contact (2021), forced 57 missed tackles (2021), burst gets him to the third level, three seasons with 300 receiving yards, rarely drops the ball, zero fumbles since 2019, gets low when he senses contact is coming, plays through contact, doesn’t need to decelerate to cut
Cons: Undersized running back, over 630 touches at his size, gets knocked back in pass protection, lacks the power to run over linebackers, cuts and jukes in space were noticeable rarer on his film than others
Production: 268 carries for 1,604 yards and 14 touchdowns plus 54 receptions for 330 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
16. Ty Chandler, RB North Carolina
Size: 5'11", 204 lbs. with 32 1/8" arms
Pros: Kick return experience, four fumbles in a five-year career, 19 runs of at least 15 yards (2021), accelerates quickly with fast feet, plays through arm tackles, speed to reach the outside and turn the corner, possesses breakaway speed, upside as a pass catcher out of the backfield
Cons: Turns 24 in May, pass protection, sometimes looks hesitant behind the line of scrimmage, more straight-line speed than dynamic cutter in the open field, lacks power to move the pile
Production: 182 carries for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021
17. Hassan Haskins, RB Michigan
Size: 6'2", 228 lbs. with 31 3/4" arms
Pros: Contact balance, forced 53 missed tackles in 2021, zero fumbles in 2021, proven red zone rushing option, doesn’t run out of gas downfield, falls forward when tackled, pass pro upside
Cons: Lacks dynamic and shifty movements, largely unproven as a pass catcher, no top gear and little burst, took an NFL-caliber amount of hits in 2021, struggles to make defenders miss in space
Production: 270 carries for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021
Tier 5- Sixth/Seventh Round Selections
18. ZaQuandre White, RB South Carolina
Size: 6'0", 206 lbs. with 30 3/4" arms
Pros: Averaged over 4.6 yards after contact per attempt (2021), two fumbles in 2020 but zero in 2021, keeps grinding through contact, capable of cutting across the whole field to keep plays alive, plenty of bounce in his step, hasn’t taken many hits, has the agility to make split-second cuts to open space
Cons: Turns 24 in December, four dropped passes (2021), pass protection, freelances, runs high, has a good second gear but lacks true home run speed
Production: 88 carries for 583 yards and two touchdowns plus 19 receptions for 202 yards and three touchdowns in 2021
19. Tyrion Davis-Price, RB LSU
Size: 6'0", 211 lbs. with 30 3/4" arms
Pros: Wrecked Florida (2021), good combination of size and play strength, surprising acceleration to the second and third level, will drop his shoulder and truck a defender, just over 400 touches in college, plays through contact, three pressures allowed on over 100 pass blocking snaps (2021)
Cons: Three fumbles in 2021, unproven as a pass catcher, lacks top gear, not twitchy or elusive in space, will struggle to get outside and winning around the corner, patience and feel for rushing lanes are underdeveloped
Production: 211 carries for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 2021
20. B.J. Baylor, RB Oregon St.
Size: 5'10 3/8", 200 lbs. with 31 1/4" arms (NFLPA Bowl)
Pros: Forced 57 missed tackles in 2021 for nearly 800 yards after contact, just over 400 touches meaning he has plenty of tread left, plays through arm tackles, strong cuts when working between the tackles, burst at the line carries him to the second level, sees a hole and accelerates through it at top speed
Cons: Turns 24 in September, two drops in 2021, largely unproven as a pass catcher, limited reps in pass pro but generally performed poorly, three fumbles in 2021, one season with over 200 rushing yards, gets caught from behind
Production: 227 carries for 1,337 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021
21. Kennedy Brooks, RB Oklahoma
Size: 5'11", 209 lbs. with 30 1/4" arms
Pros: Three 1,000-yard seasons, broke 60 tackles and created roughly 800 yards after contact (2021), one fumble in his college career, opted out of 2020 which preserved his legs, underrated acceleration, does his best work going north to south, plays through arm tackles
Cons: Athletic testing confirmed a limited profile, turns 24 in October, unproven pass catcher, hits start adding up (over 500 touches), struggles to accelerate once slowed by contact, lacks homerun speed, not a dynamic open-field runner
Production: 198 carries for 1,253 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021
22. Jaylen Warren, RB Oklahoma St.
Size: 5'8", 204 lbs. with 29 7/8" arms
Pros: Over 800 yards after contact and 85 missed tackles forced in 2021, spots hole instantly and goes for it, packs a lot of muscle into a 5'8" frame, low center of gravity leads to defenders missing and sliding off him
Cons: Turns 24 in November, two fumbles in 2021, lacks breakaway speed, acceleration is average, not much east to west wiggle, pass protection
Production: 256 carries for 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2021
23. Trestan Ebner, RB Baylor
Size: 5'11", 206 lbs. with 29 3/4" arms
Pros: Highly experienced return man with three kick return touchdowns in the past two years, proven pass catcher who averaged over 300 receiving yards per year, threatens defenses on wheel routes, one drop in the past two years, his 4.43 40-time shows up on film in a good way, glides at his maximum speed, blows by safeties at the third level
Cons: Turns 24 in January, one season with more than 70 carries, four fumbles in 2021, fewer jukes and cuts than you would expect from a return man
Production: 148 carries for 799 yards and two touchdowns plus 28 receptions for 284 yards and two touchdowns and 23 kick returns for 511 yards and a touchdown and 19 punt returns for 154 yards in 2021
24. Jashaun Corbin, RB Florida St.
Size: 5'11", 202 lbs. with 31 1/2" arms
Pros: Doesn’t run out of gas on long plays, active and bouncy feet, waits patiently for holes to open but knows when it’s time to go, unafraid of stacked boxes, under 400 career touches, drives legs through contact, makes linebackers and safeties miss in the hole
Cons: One season with high usage, two fumbles in 2021, patience works against him at times, lacks burst to separate over the first ten yards
Production: 143 carries for 887 yards and seven touchdowns plus seven kick returns for 128 yards in 2021
25. Jerrion Ealy, RB Ole Miss
Size: 5'8", 189 lbs. with 29 1/8" arms
Pros: Three years of kick return experience (including two touchdowns), over 700 rushing yards in each of the past three seasons, zero fumbles in the past two years, averaged over four yards after contact per attempt in 2019 and 2021, bouncy back who shoots through gaps with surprising contact balance, has a great inside-out move to freeze defenders in space, upside as a pass catcher
Cons: Gets overwhelmed in pass protection, undersized back, long speed is average, burst is good but not what you want from a player his size, can’t create against heavy boxes
Production: 133 carries for 768 yards and five touchdowns plus 32 receptions for 218 yards and two touchdowns and 11 kick returns for 258 yards in 2021
26. Sincere McCormick, RB UTSA
Size: 5'8 1/2", 205 lbs. with 29 7/8" arms
Pros: Two seasons with elite production (Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021), zero drops in 2020 and 2021, averaged 780 yards after contact in the past two years, zero fumbles in 2021, accelerates through the hole and is gone, upside as a pass catcher, contact balance, quick feet help with change of direction
Cons: Too small to maintain his workload in the NFL, over 780 touches in college, size to get dominated in pass protection, under three yards after contact per attempt (2021), competition level was inconsistent
Production: 298 carries for 1,479 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2021
Production: 249 carries for 1,467 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020
27. D'Vonte Price, RB Florida International
Size: 6'1", 210 lbs. with 31 1/2" arms
Pros: Footwork makes up for a lack of wiggle, speed to pull away from the defense, upper body strength, willing to get his hands dirty in pass pro, traits to build up a nasty stiff arm
Cons: Turns 23 in June, two fumbles in 2021, never really had high-end production, three drops (2021), competition level, runs upright, not a part of the passing game, lacks contact balance especially if he’s hit down low, not dynamic in space
Production: 129 carries for 682 yards and six touchdowns in 2021
Tier 6- Priority UDFAs
28. Zonovan Knight, RB N.C. St.
Size: 5'11", 209 lbs. with 30 1/2" arms
Pros: Three consecutive 700-yard seasons, eliminated drops in 2021, handled kick return duties in 2020 and 2021 and scored three kick return touchdowns, keeps legs driving to carry potential tacklers, saw his role as a pass catcher increase over the past two seasons
Cons: Multiple fumbles each year, speed allows defenders to catch up, limited wiggle, pass protection is getting better but still needs work, very average athletic and production profile in this class
Production: 140 carries for 753 yards and three touchdowns plus 16 kick returns for 550 yards and two touchdowns in 2021
29. Kevin Harris, RB South Carolina
Size: 5'10", 221 lbs. with 31 1/4" arms
Pros: One fumble in college, build to run through people in the NFL, almost looks like a modern fullback but clearly moves like a running back, legs hammer the ground giving him power to speed, 40-time isn’t reflective of his breakaway capabilities, vision, arm tackles and half-hearted attempts mean nothing to him
Cons: Back surgery in 2021 offseason, production plummeted from 2020 to 2021, three drops in 2020 and 2021, only six carries for 15 or more yards in 2021, lacks wiggle, stop-start ability is low, can’t regain momentum once he loses it
Production: 152 carries for 660 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
Production: 185 carries for 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2020
30. Isaih Pacheco, RB Rutgers
Size: 5'10", 216 lbs. with 30 1/2" arms
Pros: Kick returner in 2018, intriguing weight/speed combination, easily gets outside and reaches the sideline, violently quick feet, shows burst once he’s facing north-south, drops his pads to dish out punishment
Cons: Over 600 touches in college, never a consistent producer as a receiver, rarely forced missed tackles, two drops in three consecutive years, rises when making some cuts, needs a better understanding of timing and patience
Production: 167 carries for 647 yards and five touchdowns in 2021
31. Snoop Conner, RB Ole Miss
Size: 5'10", 222 lbs. with 30 1/4" arms
Production: 130 carries for 647 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021
32. Tyler Goodson, RB Iowa
Size: 5'9", 197 lbs. with 29 1/2" arms
Production: 256 carries for 1,151 yards and six touchdowns and 31 receptions for 247 yards and one touchdown in 2021
33. Max Borghi, RB Washington St.
Size: 5'9", 210 lbs. with 29 5/8" arms
Production: 160 carries for 880 yards and 12 touchdowns and in 2021
Production: 127 carries for 817 yards and 11 touchdowns and 86 receptions for 597 yards and five touchdowns in 2019
34. Greg Bell, RB San Diego St.
Size: 5'10 1/2", 201 lbs. with 30 7/8" arms
Production: 245 carries for 1,091 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021
35. Leddie Brown, RB West Virginia
Size: 6'0", 213 lbs. with 31 3/8" arms
Production: 223 carries for 1,065 yards and 13 touchdowns and 36 receptions for 217 yards and one touchdown in 2021
36. Bryant Koback, RB Toledo
Size: 5'11", 208 lbs. with 31" arms (NFLPA Bowl)
Pros: Averaged over 4.4 yards after contact (2021), 46 runs of ten or more yards in 2021
Production: 208 carries for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns and 30 receptions for 334 yards and three touchdowns in 2021
37. CJ Verdell, RB Oregon
Size: 5'8", 194 lbs. with 29 1/4" arms
Production: 78 carries for 406 yards and five touchdowns in 2021
Production: 197 carries for 1,220 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019
38. Mataeo Durant, RB Duke
Size: 5'11 3/8", 190 lbs. with 32" arms (NFLPA Bowl)
Production: 255 carries for 1,241 yards and nine touchdowns and 27 receptions for 256 yards and two touchdowns in 2021
39. Ricky Person Jr., RB N.C. St.
Size: 6'1", 222 lbs. (ESPN)
Production: 135 carries for 636 yards and five touchdowns and 28 receptions for 240 yards and two touchdowns in 2021
40. Jah-Maine Martin, RB North Carolina A&T
Size: 5'10", 220 lbs. (Football Program)
Production: 134 carries for 522 yards and four touchdowns in 2021
Production: 187 carries for 1,446 yards and 23 touchdowns in 12 games in 2019
Honorable Mentions
Lyndemian Brooks, RB Prairie View A&M
Brittain Brown, RB UCLA
Ezra Gray, RB Alabama St.
Cam'Ron Harris, RB Miami
Shermari Jones, RB Coastal Carolina
T.J. Pledger, RB Utah
Ronnie Rivers, RB Fresno St.
Master Teague III, RB Ohio St.