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Factoid

Slower running backs

Hunt, Perine starting candidates despite poor 40s

The times players put up in the 40-yard-dash aren't everything. Faster players often flop, slower players can emerge as great pros. Sometimes the times players put up at the combine can be influenced by an injury or whatnot. But we all tend to notice when a running back puts up a fast time, or a slow one.

Kansas City used a third-round pick to select Kareem Hunt over the weekend. Hunt (who played for the Toledo Rockets, interestingly enough) ran a 4.62 40 at the combine. But with only Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West and C.J. Spiller on the roster, Hunt needs to be viewed as a candidate to climb the depth chart and make some starts this season.

Washington drafted Samaje Perine just seven picks into the fourth round, and he ran an even slower combine time (4.65). But their incumbent, Robert Kelley, is even slower, having barely cracked 4.70 at his pro day.

I decided to look at all the running backs drafted in the first three rounds since 2000, pulling out the ones who ran a 4.60 or slower. One guy who showed up on the list is one of the league's best backs (LeVeon Bell). Mark Ingram is also pretty good (though Sean Payton doesn't seem to agree). Some others quickly washed out of the league.

SLOWER RBS, 2000-PRESENT (FIRST 3 ROUNDS)
YearRdPkPlayer40 timeTime?
200514Cedric Benson, Chi.4.60Pro Day
2002116William Green, Clev.4.60combine
2015254Ameer Abdullah, Det.4.60combine
2013248LeVeon Bell, Pitt.4.60combine
2015236T.J. Yeldon, Jac.4.61combine
2001258Travis Henry, Buff.4.61combine
2015395Matt Jones, Wash.4.61combine
2008369Jacob Hester, S.D.4.61combine
2002384Lamar Gordon, St.L.4.61combine
2017386Kareem Hunt, K.C.4.62combine
2011128Mark Ingram, N.O.4.62combine
2014257Carlos Hyde, S.F.4.62combine
2009365Shonn Greene, NYJ4.62combine
2011262Daniel Thomas, Mia.4.65estimate
2011373Stevan Ridley, N.E.4.65combine
2014255Jeremy Hill, Cin.4.66combine
2013258Montee Ball, Den.4.66combine
2005373Vernand Morency, Hou.4.66Pro Day
2000381Rueben Droughns, Det.4.66combine
2007390Tony Hunt, Phil.4.68Pro Day
20053101Maurice Clarett, Den.4.68Pro Day

I don't think a poor 40 is a killer for Hunt, or Perine if you want to dip outside the first three rounds. But we can look back at some of the guys who washed out of the NFL and say, yeah, maybe they weren't fast enough.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index