College Football Preview: Top 5 Fantasy Running Backs

Nov 28, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Elijah Hood (34) runs the ball as he is pursued by North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive back Hakim Jones (1) during the first half at Carter Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

College Football Preview is a ‘way too early’ look at each College Football position heading into the 2016 season. The rankings are based on prior performance and expectations heading into the 2016 season.

While we watch the mid-summer classic, MLB All-Star game, or continue to flip through sports channels in desperation for any live sports, now is a good time to begin thinking about your college football draft, with the 2016 College Football season only weeks away.

The 2016 Division I-A season kicks off Friday, August 26th, in a unique way, at 10pm ET in the ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia. The game is between the Rainbow Warriors of Hawaii and the California Golden Bears. The remaining games of Week 1 play through the Labor Day weekend, starting on Thursday, September 1st and ending with a great one between the Ole Miss Rebels and Florida State Seminoles in the Citrus Bowl at 8pm ET on Labor Day, Monday, September 5th.

So with games beginning only six weeks away, we’ll continue our College Football Preview with the top 5 player options at each position, now reviewing running backs. Let’s take a look:

Next: CFB Fantasy RB No. 5

Nov 14, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook (4) celebrates a touchdown during the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5 Dalvin Cook, Florida State

Entering the 2015 season, Dalvin Cook had plenty of hype, after rushing for over 1,000 yards and piling up 8 TD’s for the Florida State Seminoles during the 2014 season. But Cook blew the door open in 2015 and essentially carried the Seminoles on his back, rushing for 1,691 yards and 19 TD’s. Cook ended the season 6th in total rushing yards, behind Ezekiel Elliott (1,821 yards). Cook was tied for 8th in total rushing touchdowns, and 2nd among all rushers (with more than 100 attempts) in average yards per carry, 7.4 yard/carry. The Seminoles took a step back last season. If they can get back to a more dominate form in all phases of the game, that’ll provide greater opportunity for Cook to excel even beyond what he was able to produce in 2015. However, there’s no indication that’s the case, yet, and until we see how Florida State enters the 2016 season, there is some risk with Cook, who’s carrying his team this season.

Next: CFB Fantasy RB No. 4

Oct 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) rushes against the Washington Huskies during the first quarter at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 Royce Freeman, Oregon

With plenty of hype surrounding Elliott, Fournette, McCaffrey, and Derrick Henry, and because the Oregon Ducks surprised many with abnormal struggles last season, Royce Freeman‘s performance seem to be muted. That’s a shame, because he was outstanding and enters the 2016 season looking to expand on an already outstanding career with the Oregon Ducks. In Freeman’s freshman year, he rushed for an outstanding 1,365 yards and 18 TD’s. In Royce’s sophomore season, last year, he rushed for 1,836 and 17 TD’s. Maybe because Freeman only added just under 500 more yards and one less touchdown, Royce wasn’t as much fun to talk about. But he was 4th overall in rushing and had 6.5 yards per carry. Freeman also proved that even as the Ducks are finding their way through struggles, he can still produce outstanding results. I’m excited to see how Royce caps off his college football career and likely enters the NFL draft next spring.

Next: CFB Fantasy RB No. 3

Dec 23, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Jeremy McNichols (13) scores on a 29-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies in the 2015 Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 Jeremy McNichols, Boise State

Jeremy McNichols is the only RB in the top 5 who didn’t finish in the top 6 in total rushing yards. McNichols finished the 2015 season with only 1,337 rushing yards, but also 20 TD’s, tied with Alex Collins at 5th among all rushers. Also, 2015 was Jeremy’s coming out party, finally earning the lead rushing attempts each game by the mid-part of the season. McNichols started the season never rushing above 89 yards in a game, through the Boise State Broncos first four games. But Jeremy then ended the season getting over 100+ yards in seven of the Broncos last eight games, the exception only rushing for 93 yards against Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl. Although, McNichols did have two touchdowns in the Poinsettia Bowl as well. Many except Jeremy and the Broncos offense to only get better this year, and McNichols will likely be a top 5 rusher and scorer in college football this year.

Next: CFB Fantasy RB No. 2

Dec 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) rushes against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 Leonard Fournette, LSU

Even in High School, many already knew Leonard Fournette was an absolute beast of a running back. At 6′ 1” and 230 lbs, Fournette honestly looks more like a linebacker than a running back, but he has incredible power with his legs and is shifty enough to burn linebackers on the field often. I remember watching Leonard in a HS game on ESPN, thinking he looks like a man among boys, and I’m not sure that’s changed at the college level either. In 2015, Fournette rushed for an amazing 1,953 yards on 300 carries, a 6.5 yards per carry average, 3rd among all rushers behind only Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey. Leonard piled up 22 total rushing touchdowns, 4th among all running backs. Many consider Fournette to be a favorite for the Heisman Trophy this year, and I agree, depending on how McCaffrey’s season goes. If you can get Fournette on your roster, you have one of the best, if not the best, college football players this season.

Next: CFB Fantasy RB No. 1

Jan 1, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter in the 2016 Rose Bowl at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

When it comes to the number one fantasy college football running back, I could honestly go either way with Leonard Fournette or Christian McCaffrey. I had to make a decision, so I’m going with the guy who came in 2nd to Derrick Henry in the Heisman Trophy voting, McCaffrey. Christian’s season was remarkable in 2015, and he would’ve been a lock for the Heisman most years, if it wasn’t for Henry’s jaw-dropping performance, 2,219 rushing hards and 28 TD’s, the most of any college football player in 2015. McCaffrey was the only other running back with more than 2,000 yards, finishing the year with 2,019. Christian only had 8 rushing TD’s, but he also had 645 receiving yards, 14.3 yards per reception, and 5 receiving TD’s, leading to his remarkable overall year.

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McCaffrey can do it all from the backfield and I’d imagine many NFL teams are eager for the 6′ 1” 200 lbs junior to enter the draft in the spring. Also helping Christian’s NFL prospects are the fact that his father is Ed McCaffrey, who played 13 seasons for the Denver Broncos. Christian’s older brother Max played for Duke, and his younger brother Dylan is on his way to Michigan, a family almost resembling the Mannings. It’ll be interesting to see if McCaffrey can create another remarkable season in 2016, and he’s likely an early Heisman Candidate and probably Leonard Fournette’s only competition for the lead rushing spot.