Fantasy: Ranking the top rookie RBs drafted through 3 rounds

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After Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the lone running back selected in the first round of the NFL draft, four ball carriers found very promising homes in Round 2.

While each has a chance to emerge as an immediate fantasy star, they'll all face varying levels of competition for touches during their rookie seasons.

Let's take a closer look at what their fantasy futures might hold, including early projections for 2020.

1. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs (32nd)

Star potential: ★★★★★
2020 projection: 214 carries, 984 rushing yards, 7 TDs, 2 FUMs
41 receptions, 278 receiving yards, 1 TD

The Chiefs offer arguably the most fertile landing spot for any fantasy running back and with draft capital working in his favor, Edwards-Helaire is poised to become an immediate week-winner.

He's a three-down back who exploded in his final season at LSU, grinding out yards on the ground and excelling as a pass-catcher. His performance led multiple members of the Chiefs' front office to compare him with Brian Westbrook and Andy Reid suggested his new rusher might turn out to be even better.

The rookie will take over lead back duties from Damien Williams, who earned the trust of Kansas City's coaching staff and isn't going to fade away completely. While Edwards-Helaire will be handed the bulk of the touches in the backfield, Williams should still carve out the smaller portion of a 70-30 split - preventing CEH from attaining the type of workhorse volume reserved for a select few at his position.

Even with Williams partially involved, Edwards-Helaire is a lock to be a top-15 fantasy back immediately and has a legitimate opportunity to be a fantasy RB1 during his debut campaign.

Stock Up: Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Stock Down: Damien Williams, Darwin Thompson, DeAndre Washington

2. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (41st)

Star potential: ★★★★★
2020 projection: 264 carries, 1,189 rushing yards, 9 TDs, 2 FUMs
13 receptions, 97 receiving yards, 0 TDs

What happens when you combine the best pure runner in this draft class with one of the best offensive lines in the NFL? We're about to find out after Indy moved one spot ahead of division-rival Jacksonville to secure Taylor's rights early in the second round.

Taylor was the star of the NFL combine after a dominant career at Wisconsin, where he averaged more than 2,000 rushing yards per season over the last three years. At 226 pounds, Taylor ripped off a 4.39-second 40-yard time giving him an off-the-charts athletic profile for his size. Pair that with a very efficient downhill running style and you have the makings of a star at the next level.

The main knock on Taylor is his lack of receiving production, something he set out to improve in 2019. To his credit, he didn't look out of place in the pass-catching opportunities he was given, but drops remained a problem. It's unclear whether NFL teams will trust him in a pass-catching role, which could restrict his workload if the Colts turn those duties over to Marlon Mack or Nyheim Hines. It's rare, but we've seen players like Derrick Henry post top-10 fantasy numbers in PPR formats with limited receiving stats.

Though Mack was a solid producer behind this offensive line, Taylor will be even more productive as a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside if he stays on the field for passing downs.

Stock Up: Jonathan Taylor
Stock Down: Marlon Mack

3. D'Andre Swift, Lions (35th)

Star potential: ★★★★★
2020 projection: 178 carries, 859 rushing yards, 5 TDs, 1 FUM
35 receptions, 242 receiving yards, 1 TD

Swift was my top-ranked running back prospect in this class, so it was disappointing to see him end up with a team that's failed to get the most out of Kerryon Johnson over the last couple of seasons. Not only will Swift have to overcome a coaching staff that's displayed an affinity for timeshares, he'll also need to battle Johnson for the lead back role.

Ranking Swift third on this list might be stubborn in hindsight, but this is a "bet on talent" situation. The 21-year-old is a complete package coming from a Georgia program that's groomed several top-end NFL rushers in recent years, including Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley, and Sony Michel. Competing against some of the best college football has to offer in the SEC, Swift exhibited outstanding patience, combined with a cutting ability that often left defenders grasping at air. Though not a powerful runner, the 5-foot-8, 212-pounder packs a punch and has impressive burst and breakaway speed when a hole opens up. He has a three-down skill set as a versatile weapon with good hands, who can even be deployed out wide as a receiver to create mismatches.

A few months from now, we might be talking about Swift as the next Alvin Kamara or Dalvin Cook. That's the type of upside he brings.

The Lions' offense was performing at a surprisingly high level before Matthew Stafford was lost for the year, so there's reason for hope now that their franchise quarterback is returning. If Swift is the player I believe him to be, he'll eventually earn the majority of snaps and take the first steps towards being a top-20 back in the pros. Just be prepared for a slow start as he shares touches with Johnson.

Stock Up: None
Stock Down: Kerryon Johnson

4. Cam Akers, Rams (52nd)

Star potential: ★★★★☆
2020 projection: 198 carries, 752 rushing yards, 8 TD, 1 FUM
29 receptions, 201 receiving yards, 1 TD

Darrell Henderson's time as the heir apparent to Todd Gurley might be short lived. For all of Henderson's explosive plays in college, he reportedly struggled to pick up the Rams' system and didn't improve enough as a pass blocker to earn extended snaps as a rookie.

Enter Cam Akers - an intriguing talent who played behind a bad offensive line at Florida State. How much that influenced his production and habits is difficult to say. What we do know: he's a hard worker who transformed from a dual-threat quarterback to a lead runner with an intriguing mix of vision, power, and pass-catching ability. His straight-line speed is more of an asset than his lateral agility and he can sometimes get a little sloppy with his balance. Overall, he has the tools to be an NFL starter from Day 1 and the Rams need him to fill that role.

Akers' only problem is that he's joining a team with another subpar set of blockers. Gurley was able to boost his fantasy numbers with volume and touchdown scoring. Akers will need to do the same if he's going to produce consistent RB2 results. For now, he should be viewed as an upside RB3 with a much higher ceiling if he wins the starting job outright.

Stock Up: Cam Akers
Stock Down: Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown

5. J.K. Dobbins, Ravens (55th)

Star potential: ★★★★☆
2020 projection: 119 carries, 618 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 1 FUM
14 receptions, 106 receiving yards, 0 TDs

If you've been following my work leading up to the draft, you know Dobbins was my fifth-ranked RB prospect in this class - far lower than most analysts in the industry. While I felt vindicated when the previous four rushers were picked ahead of him, Dobbins ultimately landed in one of the best possible scenarios.

The Ravens' rushing attack is lethal, built around Lamar Jackson's dual-threat ability. It allowed Gus Edwards to be a fantasy difference-maker down the stretch in 2018 and put Mark Ingram in position to deliver low-end RB1 fantasy numbers in 2019. However, Ingram will turn 31 in December - making him extremely long in the tooth for a running back. The veteran brought an attitude and an identity to the locker room, so don't cast him aside just yet. In fact, he's the only thing holding Dobbins back from a breakout in 2020.

Though I had Dobbins lower on my board entering the draft, his arrival in Baltimore offsets any questions about his skills. We just might have to wait a year before we see him unleashed. If Ingram gets hurt at any point this season, Dobbins will have RB1 upside in all formats.

Stock Up: J.K. Dobbins
Stock Down: Mark Ingram, Justice Hill, Gus Edwards

6. Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers (76th)

Star potential: ★★★★☆
2020 projection: 179 carries, 805 rushing yards, 6 TDs, 1 FUM
32 receptions, 231 receiving yards, 1 TD

The Buccaneers addressed a couple of positions before settling on a running back in the third round. They came away with value, though, in Vaughn.

The 22-year-old had sneaky big-play ability behind a Vandy offensive line that didn't do him any favors. He has the speed to capitalize on holes inside or bounce to the edge and always seems to fall forward for positive yardage. He also showed well against top competition like LSU.

One area he'll need to develop if he's going to reach his peak as a pro is in the passing game - both as a receiver and a blocker. That's concerning for a rookie who'll be lining up next to Tom Brady. Not only is Brady fond of targeting his backs, the soon-to-be 43-year-old will be priority No. 1 in Tampa for as long as this fairy tale lasts.

While the Bucs' front office has talked up Ronald Jones on several occasions, this is a clear sign they aren't sold on him as their lead back. It's possible we see Jones and Vaughn enter a RBBC and it wouldn't be shocking to see the team bring in a veteran pass-catching specialist to join the mix.

That unfortunately clouds Vaughn's outlook, but there's a path for him to secure the bulk of the touches and emerge as an RB2 in fantasy in what could be one of the league's most potent offenses with Brady at the helm.

Stock Up: Ke'Shawn Vaughn
Stock Down: Ronald Jones

Other Day 2 RBs

• Zack Moss, Bills (86th): Moss isn't going to steal the starting job from Devin Singletary, but his presence will bump the Bills' lead back down a few spots in the rankings. Look for Moss to serve as a younger version of what Frank Gore did in Buffalo last season.
• AJ Dillon, Packers (62nd): Drafting Dillon might be the first sign the Packers don't intend to sign Aaron Jones to a contract extension down the road. Until Jones is out of the picture, Dillon is purely a depth piece behind Jones and Jamaal Williams.
• Antonio Gibson, Redskins (66th): Gibson actually might end up playing more receiver in Washington since the team has a crowded backfield already. He's an exciting real-life addition, but he's unlikely to see enough touches to become a regular fantasy starter.
• Darrynton Evans, Titans (93rd): Evans isn't particularly effective between the tackles, but he's a quality pass-catcher and a threat to score from anywhere on the field. A perfect complement to Derrick Henry's punishing style.