Dynasty Draftnik

Ravens, UDFA. W. Ky.: Short, but good bulk. Small hands. Not on early Shrine Game roster, but added before practice week.

Positives: Adequate speed. Above-average quickness and burst. Fair vision. Above-average upper-body strength. Runs with adequate power, but willing to lower shoulders at the finish for extra yards.

Negatives: Suspect hands — dropped easy screen pass in Shrine Game. Loses balance constantly and is easy to bring down.

Projection: Will compete for the team’s last RB spot, but isn’t good enough to beat Rice, Allen, Pierce or Berry. May stick on a practice squad, but unlikely to ever be a fantasy factor.

Redskins, UDFA. Syracuse: Very short for the position, but compact build. Below-average hand size.

Positives: Runs through arm tackles. Gets low and tunnels through traffic — similar to Delone Carter. Nice burst and speed. Good vision. Fairly patient. Tracks ball well over shoulder and can snag passes away from frame. Fairly agile. Great effort for extra yards. Effective receiver.

Positives: Lacks power. 

Projection: Is on a crowded, but mediocre, RB depth chart on Redskins, so he could make the team and be an effective part-timer. Would probably put up RB3 numbers if used in a 3rd-down RB role in a PPR league, and you never know who’s getting the ball in a Shanahan offense.

Positives: Keeps balance after contact. Keeps legs churning. Fair power. Picks way through line very quickly.

Negatives: Hamstring injury in October that lingered through year. Suspect vision. Suspect hands.

Projection: 7th round. I want to see more of him, but what I’ve seen makes me think he will only ever be a bench player.

Good size.

Positives: Slashing style. Runs with knees high and good body lean. Good inside cutback vision and quickness. Fair hands catcher. Adequate change-of-direction skills. Falls forward for extra yards.

Negatives: Below-average speed.

Projection: Undrafted. I need to see more of him, though.

Eagles, UDFA. Stanford: On early NFLPA Bowl roster, but not later one. 49ers have shown interest.

Positives: Slashing runner with one-cut style. Average speed. Above-average power. Effective in short yardage. Also makes good special teams decisions. Good hands.

Negatives: Long injury history and not used often due to injuries in 2009 and 2010. Granted another year of eligibility in 2011.

Projection: Is probably competing for the team’s last RB spot, but may also compete with Stanley Havili, their FB, which is probably his best chance to make the team. Probably destined for the practice squad, though.

Below-average size.

Positives: Good acceleration. Average change-of-direction skills. Keeps legs going to fight for yards. Above-average vision. Nice jump cut and has quick feet to find hole.

Negatives: Suspect pass protection skills — lunges to block and gets caught out of position often.

Projection: Undrafted. Should get a camp invite, and has an outside chance of sticking on a practice squad.

Adequate height, slightly below-average bulk.

Positives: Gets low in short yardage. Patient runner who allows blocks to develop. 3 TDs in ACC championship. Keeps legs moving after contact. Adequate burst. Above-average hands and can extend. Very good effort for errant passes. Solid in pass protection.

Projection: Undrafted. I need to see more of him, though.

Bears, UDFA. Wyo.: Good height, but below-average bulk. Junior who declared for 2012 draft.

Positives: Above-average burst and speed. Nifty spin move. Patient. Good balance after contact. Willing run blocker.

Negatives: Average hands at best.

Projection: Enters a depth chart with three or four backs ahead of him — Forte, Bush, and probably Kahlil Bell. Team is also bringing Adonis Thomas into rookie minicamp, who I think is a better RB. Has the skills to eventually be a part-time contributor, but not likely on the Bears.

Bears and Buccaneers, UDFA (Tryout). Toledo:

Positives: One-cut and go runner. Very good speed and burst. Tough after contact. Quick feet. Has the quickness and vision to bounce from inside to outside.  Good leverage in short yardage. Pops back defenders when he hits them. Tenacious. Adequate upper-body strength. Keeps moving forward even while making moves. Experienced as a receiver.

Negatives: Sometimes dances too much. Questionable ball security when making moves. Suspect hands in traffic.

Projection: Should be able to latch onto a team with a tryout, and has enough talent to eventually produce RB3 fantasy numbers.

Updated 4/30/2012

I think the 2012 class for RBs is fairly talented at the top — with Trent Richardson, one of the best RBs to come out of college in several years, being the obvious front-runner. But the top four guys are the only ones I would consider drafting for my dynasty team if I need immediate help. Then you have four guys who may contribute somewhat right away. And then there’s a long list of guys I would only draft if I have space on the bench or are in a very deep league. Not that they don’t have talent, but they are probably going to have a hard time finding a place in the league.

With the heavy emphasis on the running-back-by-committee approach in the NFL, however, it’s hard to be able to tell what the future really holds for any of these guys — especially when it comes to fantasy football production. But the top 15 on this list, at least, are worth keeping an eye on.

But here it goes for now:

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama, Browns
2. Doug Martin, Boise State, Buccaneers
3. David Wilson, Virginia Tech, Giants
4. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati, Rams
5. Terrance Ganaway, Baylor, Jets
6. Robert Turbin, Utah State, Seahawks
7. Lamar Miller, Miami, Dolphins
8. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M, Chiefs
9. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State, Colts
10. Bernard Pierce, Temple, Ravens
11. LaMichael James, Oregon, 49ers
12. Lennon Creer, Louisiana Tech, Redskins
13. Adonis Thomas, Toledo, Tryout for Bears and Others
14. Dan Herron, Ohio State, Bengals
15. Chris Polk, Washington, Eagles
16. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State, Broncos
17. Chris Rainey, Florida, Steelers
18. Davin Meggett, Maryland, Texans
19. Tauren Poole, Tennessee, Seahawks
20. Michael Smith, Utah State, Buccaneers
21. Alvester Alexander, Wyoming, Bears
22. Jeremy Stewart, Stanford, Eagles
23. Antwon Bailey, Syracuse, Redskins
24. Alfred Morris, Florida Atlantic, Redskins
25. Bryce Beall, Houston, Tryout for Cowboys
26. Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky, Ravens
27. Travaris Cadet, Appalachian State, Saints
28. Lance Dunbar, North Texas, Cowboys

Here are my rankings from 2/29:

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama
2. David Wilson, Virginia Tech
3. Lamar Miller, Miami
4. Doug Martin, Boise State
5. Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M
6. Robert Turbin, Utah State
7. Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati
8. LaMichael James, Oregon
9. Vick Ballard, Mississippi State
10. Terrance Ganaway, Baylor
11. Bernard Pierce, Temple
12. Adonis Thomas, Toledo
13. Dan Herron, Ohio State
14. Chris Polk, Washington
15. Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State
16. Chris Rainey, Florida
17. Tauren Poole, Tennessee
18. Alvester Alexander, Wyoming
19. Davin Meggett, Maryland
20. Lennon Creer, Lousiana Tech
21. Ty Jones, Florida State
22. Levell Coppage, Wisconsin-Whitewater
23. Jeremy Stewart, Stanford
24. Enrique Davis, Ole Miss
25. Alfred Morris, Florida Atlantic
26. Bryce Beall, Houston
27. Antwon Bailey, Syracuse
28. Bobby Rainey, Western Kentucky
29. Jermaine Thomas, Florida State
30. Travaris Cadet, Appalachian State
31. Lampford Mark, Nevada
32. Foswhitt “Fozzy” Whittaker, Texas
33. De’Vion Moore, Missouri
34. Michael Smith, Utah State
35. Lance Dunbar, North Texas
36. Rashaad Slowley, Southern Connecticut
37. Steven Knight, Mississippi College
38. DJ McNorton, North Dakota State