Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty Rankings 2017: Top Five Running Backs

If you’re in a Fantasy Football Dynasty league like I am, one of the key lists you need to develop each summer, to prepare for your draft, is the Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty list by position.  Depending on your Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty rules, the right draft pick can set you up for several league winning seasons in a row.  The right picks will either land you a big points player, or arm you with the best trade options to build Fantasy Football championship teams.

Last summer, before training camps even opened, there was a lot of hype around Ezekiel Elliott‘s fantasy football value.  Elliott was the hot Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty pick for many football analysts, but there were plenty of skeptics as well, including yours truly.  

It was hard to believe that Elliott, who seemed pretty immature off the field, would turn into a top ten Fantasy Football running back.  But, as we all know, Zeke’s hype was well justified. If you were smart enough to grab Elliott in any round of your Dynasty drafts, you’re now set for a few years with the NFL’s top running back.

We’re going go preview who we believe the top five Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty running backs are heading into your 2017 Fantasy Football draft.  Hopefully this article can arm you with a list of options throughout your draft, so that you can snag the next Zeke Rookie Dynasty pick.

Let’s start with number five on our list…

Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty RB Pick: No 5

The Kansas City Chiefs used their late 3rd round pick in the 2017 NFL draft to grab another great offensive product from the Toledo Rockets, Kareem Hunt.  This pick feels like a potential steal, even as high as the 3rd round.

Hunt played four straight seasons for the Rockets, 2013-2016, and 44 games.  Kareem averaged over 1,200 yards per season, and over 112 yards per game rushing.  Hunt had eleven touchdowns per season, averaging exactly one rushing touchdown per game.  Last season, Kareem’s passing game emerged, piling up 41 receptions in thirteen games.  Hunt also had 403 receiving yards and a touchdown through the Rockets 2016 passing game.

Kareem is developing into a duel-threat running back for a team who specializes in developing backs in all phases of the game.  Andy Reid’s program is a great place for Hunt to continue to develop beyond his emerging duel-threat 2016 collegiate season.

Kareem’s long-term value is relevant for a high Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty pick.  But Hunt could even challenge Spencer Ware for the top running back spot on the Chiefs depth chart for the 2017 season.  At worst, Hunt is the best handcuff for Ware, and grab him in your Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty regardless of his depth chart placement at the end of camp.

Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty RB Pick: No 4

While Hunt’s college stats represent a clear workhorse, Dalvin Cook had an amazing 2015 and 2016 season for the Florida State Seminoles.  The Minnesota Vikings grabbed Cook with a high 2nd round draft pick, and you could argue some teams missed out picking Cook in late in the 1st round.

Dalvin had over 1,000 yards in the three seasons he played for the Seminoles.  Over the last two seasons, Cook averaged over 1,700 yards per season, or 138 yards per game rushing. Also over the last two years, Cook had 19 touchdowns per season, or almost two TD’s per game. That’s consistently incredible production back-to-back over two seasons.

While Cook’s rushing production exceeds Hunt’s, it’s clear Dalvin is already a more well-developed running back in the passing game.  Cook had 20 to 30 receptions in the three seasons he played for the Seminoles.  Dalvin had over 200 receiving yards per season, and climbed above 400 yards last year.

Cook is very clearly already a well-developed duel threat running back, and will fit into the Vikings system well.  But the Vikings have historically leaned on a bruising running game, so it’s unclear how well they’ll use Cook’s passing game.  But we know Dalvin has tremendous game-breaking ability on the ground.

Cook will have to compete with Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon.  But Dalvin is a clear three-down back, and the Vikings don’t seem convinced Murray or McKinnon is the right long-term answer in the backfield.

Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty RB Pick: No 3

Off-field issues aside, Joe Mixon has tremendous potential in the NFL.  The Cincinnati Bengals surprised no one, adding another off-field issue to their roster in the middle of the 2nd round.  But the Bengals may have grabbed one of the best running back options later than he should have landed, behind Cook.

Mixon is a 6’1” 225+ pound beast out of the backfield from the Oklahoma Sooners.  Joe only played two seasons for the Sooners, a total of 15 games.  But Mixon was productive during his time on the field, averaging over 1,000 yards per season and over 135 yards per game.  Joe didn’t have as many rushing attempts as Cook, but had nearly a 7 yards per carry average each year. Mixon also averaged just over eight touchdowns per year.

Joe’s receiving game is where he starts to create light between himself and Cook.  Mixon had two 100+ yard receiving games, and over 400 yards per season.  In 2016, Joe had over 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns.  Mixon averaged over 30 receiving yards per game and 13 yards per catch.  So it’s very clear Joe is another duel-threat back in the NFL draft.

At the start of the 2017 season, it’ll be interesting to see where Mixon lands in the very crowded running back depth chart for the Bengals.  Joe may not start out the gate, but it’s the long-term value that Mixon presents for Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty drafts.  The Bengals have a gaggle of players with pieces of Mixon’s talent, but when the dust settles, Joe has the complete package and will ultimately become the lead back.

Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty RB Pick: No 2

As we approach the top two options for Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty running backs, we’re looking for players who’ll most likely start their first season, but also have a long fantasy football life.  Christian McCaffrey is a clear top candidate.  The Carolina Panthers used the 8th overall pick in the draft to grab McCaffrey in the first round.

McCaffrey, the son of former Denver Broncos great Ed McCaffrey, had a break-out season in 2015.  McCaffrey had over 2,000 rushing yards and almost 650 receiving yards in 2015.  Christian had over 100 rushing yards in eleven of his 14 games that season.  McCaffrey also had eight rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns in 2015.

So heading into the 2016, everyone was expecting Christian to have a Heisman candidate type of year.  While McCaffrey had another great year, it wasn’t quite like his breakout 2015 season.  Still, Christian had over 1,600 rushing yards and his rushing TD production climbed to 13 in just eleven games.  McCaffrey had less receptions, 37 compared to 45 in 2015, but still had 310 receiving yards and three touchdowns.  Also, Christian’s 2016 stats likely would be more padded if he hadn’t elected to sit out of the Stanford Cardinal’s bowl game.

McCaffrey is a clear all-purpose beast on the football field and it’s not surprising anyone tried to grab him within the top ten NFL draft picks.  It’s also clear why the Panthers were eager to get a back like McCaffrey.  While Jonathan Stewart may still have some shelf-life left, he’s now over 30 years old and McCaffrey is a clear replacement.  Also, even if they Panthers let Stewart take the first two snaps, Christian will likely be involved in the passing game as a second back, and will at least take punt returns.  Get McCaffrey early in the draft and cling to him for several years.

Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty Pick: No 1

Several years ago, I watched a high school football game showcased on ESPN in late August. It’s one of the ways I get my fix before the College Football and NFL seasons.  During the game, I remember Leonard Fournette being mentioned a few times.  I recall wondering who that was, but figured it out immediately.  Fournette looked like a man among boys.  He has been a large imposing back since he was in high school.

The 6′ 240 pound LSU Tiger had a tremendous collegiate career.  Fournette averaged 120 yards per game, averaged well over six yards per carry and 1.25 touchdowns per game throughout his collegiate career.  Leonard’s productivity is predominately on the ground, but he still had almost 15 receptions per year, averaging close to 200 receiving yards per season.  Like McCaffrey, it’s the 2015 when we saw how powerful Fournette’s offensive talents could be.  Leonard had 22 rushing touchdowns in just 12 games, and one receiving touchdown.  Even in the NFL, he may seem like trying to stop a stop a runaway freight train.

At least initially, the biggest concern about Fournette will be the terrible offensive line of the Jaguars.  But if they can put together even a slightly better front wall, Fournette’s value in the 2017 will become impressive immediately.  If the Jaguars build an offensive line around Leonard in future drafts, he has the potential to produce Zeke-like numbers.

If you have a chance to draft Fournette, do it regardless of timing.  Fournette is one of the best running back for this year’s Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty draft and one of the top options of any position.

Next: Dynasty Football: Roll The Dice On Joe Williams?

Now that we’ve reviewed the top running backs for your Fantasy Football Rookie Dynasty drafts, we’ll begin to breakdown top wide receiver options.  Look for the receivers article soon.  In the meantime, follow us on twitter, @fantasycpr, for updates.