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

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While this is far from a generational look back, it does show just how good Fournette could be. If he even came close to Elliott’s league-leading 1631 yards and 15 touchdowns, Fournette would be considered a success. Todd Gurley’s 2015 campaign of 1106 yards and 10 touchdowns (in just 13 games) would also be considered a major success.

In a modern NFL where running backs have not mattered nearly as much as other positions, it’s important to reaffirm just how great they could be. Fournette stacks up with some of the best of recent years in this one prospect ranking exercise. Others are not alone in thinking he is this valuable and well worth a high first-round selection.

While prospect rankings are far from perfect, comparing Fournette to recent others could make more teams comfortable with taking him early in the 2017 NFL Draft.