PJ’s Rankings Review Part 4 – Five RBs I Have Ranked Higher Than Consensus

Last week, we focused on the negative, but this week, I get to highlight five players that I think are better than their consensus rankings. I am higher on most of these players because I think I value the production they are going to bring to your fantasy teams higher than my compatriots, but with production comes NFL buzz, and it wouldn’t shock me if some or all of these players end up with higher draft capital than people think as a result. Injuries or a bad season could definitely move them down my rankings, but for now, here are the five players I think should be getting drafted higher.

Jordon Davison (PJ Rank: 13 Consensus Rank: 16)

Davison is a four-star running back prospect in the 2025 class who committed to Oregon. Given the presence of players like Noah Whittington, Makhi Hughes, Jayden Limar, and Jay Harris, most didn’t expect him to see the field much in his freshman season. He ended up with the second most carries on the team (113) and led the team and was tied for the Big Ten lead in rushing touchdowns by a running back with 15.

Whittington graduates and Limar, Harris, and Hughes all hit the transfer portal, so the future is bright for Davison. He is going to share time with fellow 2025 recruit Dierre Hill Jr., but I think he is going to get 60-65% of the carries and will almost certainly receive the lion’s share of the goal line work. He is no slouch in the receiving game either, catching 12 passes for 62 yards last season, which is pretty impressive considering he is listed at 236 pounds.

Despite the weight, he has an 82-star index score according to the site’s athletic comparison tool, and I think his value will only continue to climb as he puts up another 10+ touchdown season this year. Others have players like Jordan Marshall and Darius Taylor ranked ahead of him, and I just don’t see it – grab Davison now while Hill is getting some spring buzz before the fall when his price blows up. 

Mark Fletcher Jr. (PJ Rank: 14 Consensus Rank: 28.5)

Fletcher Jr. is a 4-star running back who was the sixth-ranked running back in the class according to 247Sports. He had two moderately productive seasons in 2023 and 2024 for the Hurricanes, rushing for a total of 1,121 yards and 14 touchdowns, but he was a key factor last season in the Hurricanes’ run to the National Championship game.

Despite ceding 122 carries to CharMar Brown and 96 carries to Girard Pringle and Jordan Lyle, he exploded for 1,192 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while also catching 17 passes for 140 yards and another two scores. I think most are down on Fletcher because they think his athleticism will limit him in the NFL, but he scores a 78.3 star index rating using the athletic comparison tool and comps to former NFL players such as Arian Foster and Larry Johnson.

The same running back committee is back this season, but I see no reason to think that, after his breakout performance last season, he will touch the ball less. He was already getting a ton of NFL buzz during the Hurricanes’ playoff run, but decided to return to college to make more money and to chase a National Championship. I see no reason Fletcher can’t be one of the top five running backs off the board next year after another top 15-20 college season at the position, and that is enough for me to rank him this high.

Martin has steadily improved season over season at BYU, rushing for 109-518-4 as a freshman in 2023, then improving to 138-723-7 in 2024, and exploding for 236-1,305-12 last season for the Cougars. However, perhaps his biggest jump last season was in the receiving game. After only catching 22 passes across his first two seasons, he brought in 36 receptions last season for 255 yards.

I think most are down on him because they see him as a two-down thumper whose ceiling is likely something similar to another BYU RB – Tyler Allgeier – but I think the improved pass-catching numbers could catch the eye of NFL teams. He has the build of an NFL RB, and I think he is likely going to be the top-five running back this season for your college rosters. I think Martin could see late-day two/early-day three draft capital and end up assuming a valuable role at some point in an NFL offense. Others have guys like Gideon Davidson and Daylan Smothers ranked ahead of him, and I think Martin has more NFL upside than those players and will certainly be more valuable for your CFF rosters this season.   

Raymond is a three-star prospect in the 2024 class who backed up Kyle Monangai in his freshman season before bursting onto the scene last year for 1241 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns for a Rutgers team that only won five games. While I am not sure Rutgers will be much better this season, they don’t play Ohio State or Oregon like they did last year, so I think he can build on what he did last season.

I think others have him ranked lower because of perceived limited NFL upside, and while his star index rating isn’t amazing at 52.2, I am cautiously optimistic given his receiving production last year: 18 catches for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards per reception. If he has another strong season in the Big Ten, he is going to start to gain attention from NFL teams.

Raymond also still has two years of eligibility remaining, so he can return to Rutgers or transfer up and chase the NIL next season and help your college teams for multiple seasons. I think all these factors play into why I seem to like him more than others, but if Rutgers struggles again this season and he regresses, he is definitely at risk of dropping in my rankings.

Turbo moves from Boston College to Indiana this year after a breakout performance last year for the Eagles, rushing for 749 yards and nine touchdowns while catching 30 passes for 213 yards and two more scores. Curt Cignetti is a coach who loves to utilize multiple running backs, so while Turbo isn’t going to be a workhorse this season, his main competition is Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr., which doesn’t worry me a ton.

I think Turbo is going to be the RB1 in terms of carries, and given that those two combined only caught two passes last season, I think he will be the third-down back rather easily. His star index rating of 67.7 on the site gives me hope for NFL upside, at least as a possible third-down back, and he compares favorably to comps such as Brian Westbrook, Devonta Freeman, and Giovanni Bernard.

While I think high-end NFL upside is probably doubtful, I think he can find a role in the league and should be able to carve out a role as a FLEX option for your fantasy teams for the majority of the season, and given he plays at Indiana and is likely to be involved in the playoffs this season, his buzz could easily grow. I have him ranked at least 15 spots higher than anyone else, but I believe in the talent and upside.

These players all have the upside, in my opinion, to outperform their consensus ranking and be stars for your fantasy teams and earn a role at the next level. Will all of them reach that potential? Probably not, but I believe in them enough to rank them higher than the rest of my fellow rankers. Stay tuned for the next series of articles, where I will discuss the wide receivers I have ranked higher and lower than the others. Until then, happy drafting!

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