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By: Nate Christian (@NateNFL)
You have likely heard for a while now that the 2023 NFL Draft class was full of talent, especially at the running back position. Well, through the first month of the college season, that reputation has only been strengthened as many of the prospects in this class have gotten off to hot starts and look to be continually improving week-to-week. As many of the starting running backs in the NFL are a year or two into their second contract, or about to hit free agency, this class brings a lot of promise to help “turn over” the position at the next level. The players listed below could end up replacing some of the top running backs that you have come to know and love over the past five or six years.
Bijan Robinson – Texas
Possibly the best running back to come out of college since Saquon Barkley ($7,217,000), Robinson is getting comparisons left and right to the elite running backs of the NFL. At 6 foot and 215 pounds, Robinson has the NFL frame to go along with some great athleticism, with an expected 40 time around 4.5 seconds and an already confirmed 37” vertical. Robinson has been impressive since he stepped on the field for the Longhorns, totaling nearly 900 total yards and averaging 8.2 yards per carry as a true freshman. An injury-shortened sophomore season saw him carry the ball 195 times for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns, while adding 26 receptions for 295 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Beyond the statistics and production, Robinson passes the eye-test with flying colors. His ability to work both inside and outside of the tackles in the run game makes him the best runner in college football. He boasts the ability to create chunk plays throughout a game and can be used as a true workhorse at the next level. Robinson isn’t just a decent receiver, he’s an accomplished receiver. Often lining up in the slot or out wide, Robinson can run routes and catch outside of his frame like a wide receiver, potentially creating matchup advantages at the next level if his offensive coordinator can get a bit creative. That receiving upside makes him a huge target in fantasy football, and I believe that the moment he gets drafted he will be considered a top-5 running back in Dynasty Owner. Expect Robinson to be the shoe-in for the 1.01 in your 2023 Dynasty Owner rookie drafts.
Jahmyr Gibbs – Alabama
While at Georgia Tech, Gibbs was seen as a Day 2 pick with some upside as a pass-catching option out of the backfield. Since his transfer to Alabama and subsequent play, Gibbs is now being discussed as a possible first-rounder come April. I, for one, am not surprised by the rise of Gibbs among college football fans and NFL draftniks. During his two years at Georgia Tech Gibbs had nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage, averaging 6.8 yards per touch. With 59 receptions over that time, Gibbs was the main offensive threat for the Yellow Jackets and proved capable despite being surrounded by underwhelming talent. Now in Tuscaloosa, Gibbs is showing off incredible production and game-changing speed.
Through five games with Alabama, Gibbs has produced 585 yards from scrimmage at 9.4 yards per touch. Whether it’s on the ground where he’s averaging 8.8 yards per carry, or through the air where he’s already caught 19 passes, Gibbs has quickly become a staple of Alabama’s offense. Gibbs as a first rounder is certainly not outside the realm of possibilities at this point. We saw Travis Etienne ($3,224,526) get drafted in the first round after a successful college career and Gibbs could find himself in a similar position by the end of the season. Going into SEC conference play, Gibbs will be tested, but I fully expect him to stand up to the challenge and give us a season that will settle alongside the best that we’ve seen from Alabama’s vaunted backfield history.
Sean Tucker – Syracuse
Over in the ACC, Sean Tucker is quietly one of the best running backs in college football. With legitimate track star speed (Tucker also runs track for Syracuse as well) estimates are that we could see Tucker break 4.3 at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine. What a performance that would be, and it would assuredly concrete him in as a Day 2 pick, likely in the second round. Tucker has an explosive ability and put it on full display last year. Syracuse had a 5-7 record last year, going 2-6 in conference play, but Tucker still put up over 1,700 yards from scrimmage. 246 carries for 1,496 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, plus he caught 20 passes for 255 yards and 2 touchdowns. A very impressive display from the sophomore and many thought he would transfer, much like the aforementioned Gibbs. Tucker stayed at Syracuse and so far through five games he has averaged five yards per carry and has already caught 19 passes, as the team has tried to get him more involved in the pass game. Color me surprised, but it turns out that getting your best player the ball in space helps out the entire team, as Syracuse has started the season out 5-0.
Tucker likely goes into the NFL as a Day 2 pick and the 1b of a committee backfield. It’s not that he doesn’t have the size, 5’ 10” and 210 pounds is a solid frame, but his explosiveness will be utilized out in space, and we’ll likely see him get a lot of run on passing downs. Tucker is a good runner and has the ability to produce for a team on first and second down, but as he transitions into the NFL, I believe a team will get him quickly involved in the passing game before he starts seeing 10+ carries a game. If Tucker gets his Day 2 draft capital I think he will be valued somewhere around the back end of the first round in Dynasty Owner rookie drafts, and for me personally I think that is a steal.
Zach Evans – Ole Miss
I have some questions about Evans and some of the “issues” that have popped up around him over the past couple years, but at the end of the day none of it included legal issues or anything more suspect than some personal issues with coaching staffs. Feel free to check out his recruitment timeline, it’s a whirlwind. What I do not have questions about is his athleticism. Evans has been a hot commodity in the world of college football as he originally committed to Georgia but was released from the program before even getting there. He eventually ends up at TCU and spends his first two years of eligibility there. Evans flashed big while with the Horned Frogs, averaging 7.3 yards per carry over that span. After the 2021 season, Evans entered the transfer portal and ended up signing with Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss.
Fast forward to today and Evans has averaged 5.7 yards per carry, a slight decline but the SEC has some better defenses than the BIG 12, but isn’t seeing any extra receiving work (3 catches through 5 games). Evans has dealt with some minor injuries so far this season, but he’s quite possibly lost the lead role out of the backfield to true freshman Quinshon Judkins. Judkins is currently averaging 6.3 yards per carry and has performed very well for the Rebels. All this amounts to a lot of questions for Evans and his NFL future. Talent-wise he’s still a Day 2 pick, but we’ve seen players of a similar caliber fall into the 4th round after a disappointing final season (Isaiah Spiller – $1,099,238). Evans has the majority of conference play to right the ship and get back into the hype machine, but he’s got his work cut out for him at this point. Before we can make a concrete guess on his draft capital, we’ll have to wait and read the tea leaves as Evans gets into the pre-draft process.
Zach Charbonnet – UCLA
A player who I thought should have come out last year, in a much weaker running back class, Charbonnet has picked up from where he left off last year and once again finds himself as a top-5 back in the upcoming draft class. Another transfer, Charbonnet had a breakout freshman campaign for Michigan (726 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns) but then was put in the Jim Harbaugh doghouse in 2020. After a transfer to UCLA to join Chip Kelly, Charbonnet found his top-gear once again and posted 1,137 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns with an average of 5.6 yards per carry. He also was used in the passing game and totaled 24 receptions for the Bruins. So far in 2022 his usage has been improved with a 6.4 yards per carry and 11 receptions through four games. As of writing, Charbonnet is third in the Pac-12 in scrimmage yards.
Charbonnet would have likely been the RB3 in last year’s class, but he’s not likely to hit that threshold this year as the guys at the top are holding pretty strong. But with a couple disappointments and the inevitable return to college for a couple of these prospects, Charbonnet should be a top-5 back in this draft class if he keeps up his current level of play. A lot of teams will like that he was used so much in the passing game due to his blend of size (6’ 1” and 220 lbs) and athleticism (expected 40 time around 4.5). Come time for your Dynasty Owner rookie draft, Charbonnet may be an early second rounder and could find himself sneaking into the end of the first round if his landing spot looks wide open.