THE_TITAN's 2016 NFL Draft RB Rankings

1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State Buckeyes - Elliott is the most explosive and best all-round running back in this draft class. He possesses long speed, power, good vision and a burst through the hole. There is really very little to dislike about him as a prospect. He occasionally could be more explosive when running underneath passing routes, but when thrown to him he demonstrates good hands when catching the ball. The only real 'weakness' that Elliott has is in pass protection where he needs to improve against the bull rush, but even in this category he is above average. Draft Ranking: Top 10

Ezekiel Elliott will make coaches salivate in the 2016 Draft.

2. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama Crimson Tide - Henry is a productive 'thumper', plain and simple. One of the most productive running backs in SEC history, the Heisman winner will have a lot of suitors in the draft. He's a powerful between the tackles runner that is able to wear teams out with his size, strength and powerful strides. On multiple occasions he was able to run an inordinate amount of times in one game that by the fourth quarter the defensive opposition couldn't handle him. He can also be relied on in pass protection. Concerns start to appear when you notice Henry's lack of burst, he's not a home run hitter and he does rely on his offensive line quite a bit on big games. While his vision is excellent, his feet aren't always able to keep up with his eyes. There are questions as to whether or not he can have significant production at the pro level behind a mediocre offensive line. 'Tread on the tires' should also be cause for concern, Henry ran the ball 566 times in college. Overall, though, Henry is a premier prospect. He's not going to catch many balls or hit many home runs but he will wear defenses out at the next level. Draft Ranking: 1st Round-2nd Round

3. Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA Bruins - Perkins is a prospect that seems to be going under the radar in many draft circles. I have no idea why that is the case, he has been the most productive runner in the PAC-12 for quite some time now. Perkins is not a shifty back, but if you let him hit the hole and power through he will get your team a lot of yards. He has good vision, a nice frame and is a violent runner. Also looks decent in pass protection and is willing to get physical with his pass routes and in chipping opposing players. His hands are good enough to make him a three-down-back. The concern with Perkins is that he doesn't come from a pro-style system. He's also not a particularly special athlete despite his production. His lean frame might lead to some holes in his pass protection, that we have yet to see, be exposed. All in all, he is a starting back for someone, probably more likely in year two than in his rookie season. Draft Ranking: 2nd Round

4. Devontae Booker, RB, Utah Utes - Booker is a short, thick, compact and powerful workhorse back. He was a decisive and reliable runner for Utah. His lack of height enables him to get a low center of gravity, making him harder to tackle and pick out in traffic. He's a single-decision, downhill runner that will not make many plays on the edge but will pick up plenty of four yard and five yard gains through the middle. He's also a three-down-back with his ability to catch underneath passes. Booker's draft stock takes a hit with his lack of home-run speed and his lack of lateral quickness. He's seen a lot of action at Utah so teams will be concerned about whether there is too much tread on the tires. He's also a work-in-progress as a pass protector. Draft Ranking: 3rd Round

Booker is a solid prospect but has a limited ceiling. 

5. Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas Razorbacks - Collins is a back that I only became aware of as the past season wore on and I watched more SEC football. Every time I caught Arkansas I thought to myself  "Who is this guy? I like him." and, after finally scouting him, my initial eyeball assessment looks to be right. He has a very thick frame and an explosive burst through the hole. His vision is very good in my opinion and he is also able to make people miss in the open field despite a lack of home-run speed. Collins is a physical runner with good production that projects to come into the NFL and challenge for a starting spot. Concerns lie with Collins' low ceiling. He is not much of a receiver which limits his third-down viability. Many have compared Collins' game to Isaiah Crowell and I would say that is a fair assessment but I think Collins will be a 1,000 yard runner at the next level (something which Crowell has yet to achieve). Draft Ranking: 3rd Round-4th Round

Tape References:

Elliot-
vs Oregon
vs Michigan
vs Virginia Tech
vs Wisconsin

Henry-
vs Georgia
vs Florida
vs Ole Miss
vs Wisconsin

Perkins-
vs Virginia
vs UNLV

Booker-
vs UCLA
vs Washington State

Collins-
vs Samford
vs Texas A&M
vs Texas Tech