Fantasy Index

Factoid

2012 running back draft class: yikes

It's said that you need three years to accurately judge an incoming rookie. Three years after the 2012 NFL Draft, we can judge that class of running backs to be among the more disappointing of all time.

Working on updating our rookie files this week, in which we track all the numbers for skill position players in their first three seasons. With the 2012 rookie runners, very few have any 2014 statistics that can be updated, or need to be.

Trent Richardson, the first running back drafted, is the most significant disappointment. But he's not the only one.

Of the 11 running backs drafted in the first five rounds, only 2 figure to starters just three years later. Alfred Morris, drafted in the sixth round, is arguably the only top-quality NFL running back selected that year.

By way of comparison, consider the 2013 draft, which produced Andre Ellington, Eddie Lacy, LeVeon Bell and Giovani Bernard. Even 2011 looks better right now; it yielded DeMarco Murray, Mark Ingram, Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley.

The crop of 2012 drafted runners is presented below. The players who are likeliest to help NFL or fantasy teams in 2015 are in bold. (Maybe Ronnie Hillman should be one of those players; I debated it. I was more generous with Dan Herron, but he's no lock to start in Indianapolis this year.)

2012 DRAFTED RUNNING BACKS
RdPickPlayerCollegeNFL Team2015?
13Trent RichardsonAlabamaBrowns/Colts/?No. 3 at best
131Doug MartinBoise StateBuccaneersProbable starter/committee back
132David WilsonVirginia TechGiantsRetired
250Isaiah PeadCincinnatiRamsFighting for roster spot
261LaMichael JamesOregon49ers/DolphinsFighting for roster spot
367Ronnie HillmanSan Diego StateBroncosNo. 2 at best
384Bernard PierceTempleRavensNo. 3 at best
497Lamar MillerMiamiDolphinsDecent starter
4106Robert TurbinUtah StateSeahawksNo. 2 at best
5159Chris RaineyFloridaSteelers/ColtsOut of league
5170Vick BallardMississippi StateColtsNo. 2 at best
6173Alfred MorrisFlorida AtlanticWashingtonPro Bowler
6182Cyrus GrayTexas A&MKansas CityFighting for roster spot
6191Dan HerronOhio StateBengals/ColtsPossible starter/committee back
6202Terrance GanawayBaylorJets/RamsRetired
7212Michael SmithUtah StateBuccaneersOut of league
7229Bryce BrownKansas StateEagles/BillsPossible starter/committee back
7250Edwin BakerMichigan StateChargers/Browns/SaintsFighting for roster spot
7252Daryl RichardsonAbilene ChristianRams/JetsFighting for roster spot

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index