2017 NFL Draft: Yes, Leonard Fournette Could Be That Good

The 2017 NFL Draft is stacked at running back and the class could be historic in talent, which is headlined by Leonard Fournette.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette is likely to be the first running back off the board in the 2017 NFL Draft and for good reason. He is billed as a generational talent and one of the best backs seen in years. Hot off the heels of Ezekiel Elliott’s dominant, rookie campaign in 2016, that’s saying something.

Over at MMQB’s The College Column, Emily Kaplan performed a quick analysis comparing Fournette – and his 2017 peers – to the most recent draft classes to see how they shook out by asking a scout to add the 2017 prospects into the rankings. Fournette, no surprise, was leading this year’s pack and second behind only Elliott. Dalvin Cook was right behind him at third overall.

Here’s the whole list:

1. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
2. Leonard Fournette, LSU
3. Dalvin Cook, Florida State
4. Todd Gurley, Georgia
5. Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
6. Joe Mixon, Oklahoma
7. Derrick Henry, Alabama
8. Carlos Hyde, Ohio State
9. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee
10. Christian McCaffrey, Stanford
11. Tre Mason, Auburn
12. Jeremy Hill, LSU
13. Jordan Howard, Indiana
14. Tevin Coleman, Indiana
15. D’Onta Foreman, Texas