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Top-10 rookie running backs

Barkley could be a first-round fantasy pick right away

Penn State runner Saquon Barkley is going to be a top-10 draft pick in April -- maybe top-5, to the Colts or Giants, and it's even possible the Browns will consider him at No. 1 overall. Assuming he is selected in those first 10 picks, there's a lot of recent evidence indicating he'll put up top fantasy numbers right away.

Over the last 20 years, 19 running backs have been selected in the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft. A whopping three quarters of those backs (14 of 19, or 74 percent) went over 1,000 total yards as rookies. A third of them (six) went over 1,500 total yards, and nearly half (eight) scored at least 10 TDs.

That doesn't guarantee they'll go on to have great careers. Trent Richardson and a pair of 2005 backs, Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams, ended up being disappointments, with injuries a factor for Williams. But the overall track record is really good.

RUNNING BACKS DRAFTED IN TOP-10, 1998-PRESENT
YearPkPlayerRunRecTotTD
19994Edgerrin James, Ind.1553586213917
20164Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1631363199416
20005Jamal Lewis, Balt.136429616606
19989Fred Taylor, Jac.1223421164417
20077Adrian Peterson, Minn.1341268160913
20015LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1236367160310
20174Leonard Fournette, Jac.1040302134210
20123Trent Richardson, Clev.950367131712
20062Reggie Bush, N.O.56574213079
201510Todd Gurley, St.L.1106188129410
20055Cadillac Williams, T.B.11788112596
20052Ronnie Brown, Mia.90723211395
20178Christian McCaffrey, Car.43565110867
19995Ricky Williams, N.O.88417210562
20084Darren McFadden, Oak.4992857844
20007Thomas Jones, Ariz.3732085812
19985Curtis Enis, Chi.497205170
20109C.J. Spiller, Buff.2831574401
20054Cedric Benson, Chi.27232750

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index