2024 NFL Draft — Trey Benson, Bucky Irving rank high on updated running back rankings
By Hunter Haas
The positional rankings continue as we pivot from the game's most important position to arguably the least important — depending on who you ask. Running backs have faced an uphill battle in recent years when it comes to garnering the respect of football fans. Thanks to their short shelf life, it’s hard to blame those who are skeptical about shelling out cash for a ball carrier. That is where the NFL Draft comes into play.
2024 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings (Fall Update)
The reluctance to pay the premium price for a veteran running back has led to increased importance on selecting a capable ball carrier every few drafts. While the elite of the elite still deserves their flowers, it’s a fair approach for teams to invest elsewhere and continue finding bargain-bin players on rookie deals.
The 2024 NFL Draft lacks the high-end running backs of yesteryear, but make no mistake, the positional group has plenty of talent from top to bottom. In today’s top 10 rankings, let’s highlight the best of the bunch while also pointing out some potential risers and sleepers as draft season approaches.
Trey Benson Reigns Supreme As RB1
RB1: Trey Benson (Florida State)
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 223 pounds
2023 Stats: 156 attempts, 905 rushing yards (5.8 YPC), 14 touchdowns, 551 yards after contact, 44 forced missed tackles, 20 receptions
Trey Benson is a bruising ball carrier who excels between the tackles just as much as he does in space. At 6-foot-1 and weighing 223 pounds, the Florida State star has the requisite size to serve as a bell-cow running back on Sundays. Benson has forced 118 missed tackles over the past two seasons, highlighting his elusiveness out of the backfield.
Don’t expect any running back to come off the board in the first round — this isn’t one of those classes. But don’t sell Benson short, either. He has the chops to be an early second-rounder who steps in as the RB1 for his team as a rookie. If only marginally, he stands above the rest at the position.