NFL Betting: Top 5 Running Back Prospects In 2022 NFL Draft

The 2022 NFL draft is near. Let’s look at the best running backs on the board, keeping in mind the point that as the passing game becomes more central to an NFL team’s fortunes, running backs aren’t seen as first-round picks by many teams. Najee Harris was the exception last year, taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but for the most part, teams try to find value at the running back position by using avenues other than the draft. If teams do draft a running back, it isn’t in the first 50 picks in most cases.

1 – Kenneth Walker, Michigan State

Walker was viewed as a Heisman Trophy contender for much of the 2021 college football season. Walker led Michigan State to 10 wins last season. He was a workhorse who was there for the Spartans the whole season. He didn’t have two or three huge games; he had stacks of really good games and didn’t take many plays off for the team. The offense went through him, opposing teams knew he was getting the ball, and yet he still produced at a very high level. Michigan State did not threaten opposing defenses with its vertical passing game. Defenses were stacking the tackle box and expecting Walker to get the ball. He did the job anyway. That’s something NFL people will notice when looking at film and his overall profile. Walker is a strong between-the-tackles runner who is also perfectly capable as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He brings a lot of assets to the NFL and should have a good career.

2 – Breece Hall, Iowa State

The Iowa State Cyclones will miss Hall, who was a rock of reliability for head coach Matt Campbell. Iowa State suffered in 2021 not because of anything Hall failed to do, but because veteran quarterback Brock Purdy struggled after having a positive 2020 campaign. Hall wasn’t as dynamic within the 2021 ISU offense because his team’s passing game didn’t spread the field or loosen up the defense enough for him to be effective. NFL teams might wonder if this is Hall’s fault, but the film will show that Purdy just didn’t put Hall in the best possible position to succeed. Hall hits the hole quickly and has considerable burst. He is an exceptional straight-line runner with above-average toughness. An NFL team should be thrilled to get him late in the second or early in the third round on Day 2 of the draft, which is Friday.

3 – Kyren Williams, Notre Dame

When healthy, Kyren Williams made Notre Dame’s offense considerably better than it otherwise would have been. Williams is an electric runner who makes a lot of splash plays and bounces off defenders at the first point of contact. His injury issues will naturally elicit concerns from NFL teams who don’t want to invest in a draft bust, but the team which trusts his ability will get an inspired, fully-dedicated player who will go all-out to prove that his body can take the punishment which is part of the NFL. This is a high-risk, high-reward pick, a very intriguing situation on draft night.

4 – Tyler Allgier, BYU

The BYU offense exceeded expectations last season, posting huge numbers in a majority of games even though quarterback Zach Wilson moved to the NFL. Allgier proved to be the catalyst within the new-look BYU offense. He is a versatile player who balances inside running with pass-catching in the flats and on the edges. He can be slotted into different positions and alignments and will give NFL offensive coordinators the chance to move him around the field as a Swiss Army knife player. That’s quite valuable in the modern iteration of pro football.

5 – Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

The Aggies struggled at quarterback last year, but Spiller showed he can run and catch and make contributions at different points on the field, much like the other running backs on this list. He isn’t a one-note player, and that is essential for being a credible NFL threat at running back.