(05-03-2021, 09:52 AM)Cleatwood Wrote:

(05-03-2021, 09:43 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: Yes, but it's so much BS because history shows, the best running backs are taken in the first round, the second best running backs are taken in the second round, and so forth.  Of course you can find a running back in a later round, just like you can find any position in a later round, but doesn't logic dictate, the best ones tend to get drafted first and the worst ones tend to get drafted last?  

Would you take Barry Sanders in the first round?  How about Walter Payton? 

Tom Brady got drafted in the 6th round, but somehow, people didn't start waiting until the 6th round to draft quarterbacks.  Why running backs?  It doesn't make any logical sense.  If you want to get the best running back, take the one you like the most.  And take him before he gets taken by anyone else.  

I heard Pete Prisco one time say, "Don't draft a guard early.  You can find guards in later rounds."  So where was Quentin Nelson drafted?  6th overall.  It applies to any position.  The best ones go early.  If you want the best ones, take them early.

Carolina could have drafted Mahomes and then Cook round 2 instead of McCaffery..... Which do you think they prefer? Heck... Even Lattimore and Cook is better than McCaffery.

McCaffery is a great player but the RB itself is less important than the Oline or QB. It's why in really good systems, you can just plug in random RBs and they still produce.

A few problems with this.

First, just because there were players at other positions better than the guy you drafted doesn't mean the guy you drafted was not worthy of a first round pick.  Joey Bosa, Ezekiel Elliott and Jalen Ramsey were deemed better than Tredavious White in the 2016 draft.  Does that mean White wasn't worthy of being a first round pick?  Of course not.

Secondly, I'm not sure it's conclusive Dalvin Cook is better than McCaffrey.  Cook has made two Pro Bowls but never made All-Pro.  McCaffrey had one Pro Bowl season but made All-Pro.  McCaffrey also has more receptions and has been more durable, even with his injury last year.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/p...CaCh01.htm

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/p...okDa01.htm

Finally, I'm unsure about the whole "random" RBs thing working.  Furthermore, what of "average" NFL running attacks?  Can a "random" RB be productive? How is productivity defined?

---