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Grading the top five rookie running backs drafted in 2018

By Joel Deering

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley of Penn State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #2 overall by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 21: Ronald Jones #27 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after scoring in the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns on October 21, 2018 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs won 26-23. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

5. 38th Overall Pick – Ronald Jones II – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Games Played: 4

Games Started: 0

Rushing Stats: 19 attempts for 42 yards, an average of 2.2 yards per carry and 1 TD.

Receiving Stats: 6 receptions for 34 yards and 0 TDs.

Analysis: Ronald Jones II was drafted at the top of the second-round in the 2018 NFL Draft. The second-round is full of players who should be starters for your team. The top of the second-round is full of guys who could have easily gone in the first-round. Ronald Jones II had his name thrown around in the first-round conversation for much of the draft process.

Bottom line, Ronald Jones II should be a starter, or at least a significant contributor. What he should be isn’t what he’s been. Jones II has yet to start a game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the four games he’s played, he’s received 10+ carries once. The one time he received 10 carries, he rushed for 29 yards. That’s an average of 2.9 yards per carry.

In the other three games Jones II has played in, he’s received 1 carry, 6 carries and 2 carries. Those carries went for 3 yards, 13 yards and -3 yards in their perspective games. On the season, Ronald Jones II has an average of 2.2 rushing yards per carry.

Does that sound like the stats of a guy who was drafted at the top of the second-round and possibly could have been taken in the first? I don’t think so.

Looking at some of the RBs drafted after Ronald Jones II, we’ve got guys like Kerryon Johnson (503 rushing yards), Royce Freeman (309 rushing yards) and Nyheim Hines (238 rushing yards). All of those guys have done more for their team than Jones II has done for the Buccaneers. Ronald Jones II is not one of the top five rookie RBs, and he shouldn’t have been drafted as such. Bad pick by the Buccaneers.

Grade: F

Now you’ve got my grades for the top five rookie RBs drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Overall, the top five rookie RBs have been solid, but there are some who haven’t had a good start to their careers. What do you think about the top five rookie RBs?

Comment below what grades you’d give these rookie RBs and why!

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