2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 10 running back prospects

Travis Etienne is going to be a true featured back at the next level and has a chance to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He is one of my favorite offensive weapons in the class and has obvious upside as a playmaker with the ball in his hands.

Etienne is ridiculously fast and explosive with the ball in his hands. His acceleration and speed are legitimately elite. If you give this guy a crease, he will take it to be gone before you know it. His ball carrier vision is solid and his burst through the hole is incredible.

He is also a difficult player to take down in space. His explosive speed immediately stands out on tape, but Etienne has a bit of wiggle to his game as well. He changes directions quickly, puts his foot in the ground and is off to the races. When he cannot shake the defender, Etienne does show some nice power at the point of attack. He is a tough runner who refuses to go down easily and has great contact balance.

There are major concerns about Etienne’s ability to make an impact as a receiver, but he has improved in that area this season. Etienne is unlikely to be a huge receiving threat at the next level, but his speed, acceleration and quickness make him a threat to dominate after the catch. Simply put, Etienne is an incredibly explosive player who should be able to handle a full load of carries at the next level.

Swift, Etienne and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor have long been considered the top three running backs in the 2020 NFL draft class. However, the more I watch Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, the more I fall in love with his game. This guy needs to be considered one of the premier running backs in the 2020 NFL draft class.

Dobbins is just a rock-solid back who is always moving forward. He shows fantastic ball carrier vision and incredible instincts with the ball in his hands. Dobbins is slippery in traffic and shows good burst through the hole. He is also a strong finisher, showing great competitive toughness and power at the point of attack. His contact balance is also among the best in the 2020 NFL draft class.

Dobbins has also shown some nice upside as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He is not an elite receiver at the running back position, but he can work his way open, catches the ball well and can create after the catch.