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1st-round running backs

Was Barkley's early selection end of era?

The NFL Draft is just two weeks away, and you wonder if any running backs will be drafted in the first round. There are a couple of guys who might be, but no sure things.

This isn't necessarily a big deal in fantasy leagues. Backs drafted in the second, third and even fourth rounds can certainly be quality NFL starters and even stars. Jonathan Taylor, who will be the top pick in most fantasy leagues this season, was a second-rounder; so was Javonte Williams. Matt Forte, LeVeon Bell, Derrick Henry -- lots of the best former and current players at the position.

What seems to be clear is that if any are selected in the first round, it will be late in the first. The days of running backs being selected in the top 5 or 10 picks have been dwindling, and might be over.

Take a look at all the running backs selected in the first round this century. There have been 51, and about a third (16) were selected with top-10 picks. But only three of those came in the last five years: Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey in 2017, and Saquon Barkley in 2018. Barkley was the last running back drafted that high, and considering how poorly that pick has aged, he might be the last one drafted that high for a while.

There have been six other running backs drafted in the last five years, and all of those guys were taken in the last 10 picks of the round -- 24th or later.

In the table, sorted by first-round selection, running backs drafted in the last five years are in bold.

FIRST-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 2000-PRESENT
YearPkPlayerRunRecTotTD
20182Saquon Barkley, NYG1307721202815
20062Reggie Bush, N.O.56574213079
20052Ronnie Brown, Mia.90723211395
20123Trent Richardson, Clev.950367131712
20174Leonard Fournette, Jac.1040302134210
20164Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1631363199416
20084Darren McFadden, Oak.4992857844
20054Cedric Benson, Chi.27232750
20055Cadillac Williams, T.B.11788112596
20015LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D.1236367160310
20005Jamal Lewis, Balt.136429616606
20077Adrian Peterson, Minn.1341268160913
20007Thomas Jones, Ariz.3732085812
20178Christian McCaffrey, Car.43565110867
20109C.J. Spiller, Buff.2831574401
201510Todd Gurley, St.L.1106188129410
200011Ron Dayne, NYG770117815
201012Ryan Mathews, S.D.6781458237
200912Knowshon Moreno, Den.94721311609
200712Marshawn Lynch, Buff.111518412997
200813Jonathan Stewart, Car.8364788310
201515Melvin Gordon, S.D.6411928330
200216William Green, Clev.88711310006
200218T.J. Duckett, Atl.507615684
200019Shaun Alexander, Sea.313413542
200621Laurence Maroney, N.E.7451949397
200822Felix Jones, Dall.266102764
200823Rashard Mendenhall, Pitt.5817750
200323Willis McGahee, Buff.0000
200123Deuce McAllister, N.O.911662572
202124Najee Harris, Pitt.1200467166710
201924Josh Jacobs, Oak.115016613167
200824Chris Johnson, Tenn.1228260148810
200424Steven Jackson, St.L.6731898624
202125Travis Etienne, Jac.0000
200426Chris Perry, Cin.133340
201827Rashaad Penny, Sea.419754942
200927Donald Brown, Ind.2811694503
200627DeAngelo Williams, Car.5013138142
200327Larry Johnson, K.C.852871
200127Michael Bennett, Minn.6822269083
201128Mark Ingram, N.O.474465205
201030Jahvid Best, Det.55548710326
200630Joseph Addai, Ind.108132514068
200430Kevin Jones, Det.113318013136
201831Sony Michel, N.E.931509816
201231Doug Martin, T.B.1454472192612
200931Beanie Wells, Ariz.7931439367
200031Trung Canidate, St.L.64100
202032Clyde Edwards-Helaire, K.C.80329711005
201232David Wilson, NYG358343925

Iowa State's Breece Hall (pictured) is one possibility to be the first running back selected; Michigan State's Kenneth Walker another. At least based on what the various mock drafters are saying; NFL teams may view these guys differently. Whatever the case, don't expect any of these guys to be selected any earlier than the mid-20s. And it's possible they won't go on the first night at all.

--Andy Richardson

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