Early Fantasy Look: Running Backs

Here is a severely early preview of how the top prospective rookies look.  The draft is at the end of April but it is still a good idea to look at what these guys might become.  I'm going to look at the RBs first as they are usually able to produce more in their rookie season the most other positions. Have at it hoss.

Mark Ingram

The former Heisman Trophy winner is undoubtedly going to be the first running back taken in the draft. I currently have him going to the New York Giants at #19 but I foresee him moving up in my next mock draft.  He has solid measurements ( 5'10" 212lbs) and can hide behind a large offensive line very well.  He initiates contact and can easily sustain 20 plus touches per game.  He won't be a reception monster, so he is not appealing in PPR leagues.  He will be a great fit in Washington (10th pick), Miami (15th), and with the New York Giants (19th).

For seasonal leagues he will probably get drafted anywhere between the 5th and 7th rounds.  Anything earlier than that just shows that the owner that drafts him has a man crush on him.  See Ryan Matthews last year.  Keeper leagues can take the risk to draft him in the 3rd or 4th round due to his ability to be a solid keeper for the next 6 years.  In rookie only drafts he will be a guaranteed top 3 pick depending on need and strategy.

Mikel LeShoure

If Mikel LeShoure was at a top 15 school we would have heard about him a lot more during the season. Fortunately enough for Mikel LeShoure, this is the 21st century and up and coming players are talked about more than ever thanks to the Internet.  He's big, strong, and has great agility.  His lateral movement allows him to juke tacklers that are coming in on an angle and he is strong enough to lower his pads and go boom.  Another great thing about Mikel is his receiving ability.  Many draft guru's are comparing him to Rashard Mendenhall simply because of the fact they both went to Illinois.  He is a better comparison to Ronnie Brown.  Ronnie is an excellent pass catcher out of the back field with amazing agility.  Injuries slowed Ronnie up significantly, but if Mikel can stay healthy the sky is the limit. 

I have Mikel has a second round pick and the only reason is because of his maturity.  Apparently he got into a fight with a teammate in which he got his jaw broken.  This is a slight indication that Mikel LeShoure can't fight, (ba-da bump) Thank you I'll be here all week.  Teams might get scared of that but if he blows scouts away at the combine with his 6'1", 230 lb frame, he could sneak into the end of round 1.

Seasonal leagues will need to monitor the situation that Mikel falls into.  He has starting talent, but if he gets stuck in a crowded backfield, he may not get the production you will want.  Right now I'd consider him a 8th-10th round type of player. Keeper leagues should look to get him around the 6th round as he will probably be a starting RB where ever he goes, maybe even by the end of the season. I'd look to grab Mikel around pick 5, again depending on his situation.

Ryan Williams

Before the season started, I was raving about Ryan Williams. I thought he was going to have a legitimate shot at the Heisman but he simply couldn't stay healthy.  Then he got stuck splitting carries and just never made the impact he was looking for.  His is a slightly undersized player at 5'10, 200 lbs, but players with top end speed and agility will always be a focal point on the offense.  He is the mold on DeAngelo Williams and his overall fantasy value will depend on his situation.  I can see a team like Green Bay or New England taking him in the 2nd round.  After his combine I'll have a better expectation of where he will go.

Temper your expectations for seasonal leagues.  He is mostly going to be a player who gets 5-10 touches a game max his rookie year, a la Felix Jones.  He is mostly a good draft pick for keeper leagues in the 8-10 round range and a probable top 5 pick for a team looking to add youth to their RB depth.