It’s time to kick off this year’s positional rankings series for the NFL Draft, and as always, we’ll start with running backs. For the next six weeks, we’ll alternate between offense and defense, sort of going by who would go up against each other in actual games – meaning linebackers as the contrast to this on Friday, offensive tackles and edge defenders, etc.

These lists are based on my personal evaluations, not taking current injuries or any potential off-field issues into account, since I simply don’t have insights into medical reports and other such information. And of course, this isn’t put together for any specific team or scheme, since all 32 NFL front offices will have these names stacked up differently, with regards to the people in-house.

Although we have a blue-chip prospect at the top, who will end up inside the top five of my own big board, this running back class unfortunately doesn’t have the same quality beyond that as we’ve seen in years past. I only view two other names as worthy of going in the second round and only three additional ones in the third. The rest of the top ten is rounded out by names you can make a case for early on day three, depending on your preferred flavor. Beyond that, there are intriguing rotational players and guys who can fill specific roles, but not the type of diamonds in the rough as I’ve highlighted at different points previously.

Let’s get into these names:

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