PJ’s Rankings Review Part Three – Five RBs I Have Ranked Lower Than Consensus

Last week, we focused on the field generals at quarterback, but this week, we shift our focus to the backfield and highlight some of the running backs that I have ranked lower than the consensus here at Campus2Canton. These guys are all top-50 players at their positions, but I just think there are a variety of factors preventing me from ranking them as high as everyone else. Positive spring news or injuries to running mates could vault some of these guys back up my rankings, but for now, here are the five guys I am down on entering this season.

Marshall burst onto the scene last season when Justice Haynes went down with an injury, rushing for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns, and had 100 rushing yards in four of the last five games of the season for the Wolverines. Haynes left town to chase the NIL bag at Georgia Tech, so you would think it would be his time to shine in that backfield, but Michigan brings in one of the top freshman running backs in the last few recruiting cycles in Savion Hiter.

Hiter is already getting a ton of buzz this spring about how he is going to challenge to lead that backfield from day one, so I am already a little skeptical of Marshall’s CFF value this season. If Hiter unseats Marshall by the middle of the season, then I am also concerned about Marshall’s future NFL prospects as well, barring a transfer next season. Marshall is someone that I would be trying to get out of now if I owned shares before his value plummets once Hiter assumes the RB1 role at Michigan.

Taylor is one of the guys I differ the most from among my fellow rankers, as I have him ranked nine spots lower than the next-closest person. Taylor seems great in theory – Minnesota loves to pound the rock, and his main competition, Fame Ijeboi, transferred to Purdue.

The issue that I have with Taylor is two-fold. Firstly, he can’t stay healthy. Minnesota loves to slam their running backs into a brick wall 25-30 times a game, and as a result, their running backs tend to get injured and are unable to complete a full season.

The main reason, however, I am down on Taylor is that his star rating on the site is 56.8, which is nothing special. Given that Minnesota running backs like Mohamed Ibrahim and Rodney Smith, who put up better stats for the Golden Gophers, did little to nothing at the NFL level, I don’t have high hopes for Taylor on Sundays. This is why I have guys like Jordon Davison and LJ Martin ranked ahead of him, unlike my fellow rankers. I’d rather take the upside of those two over Taylor in drafts.

I have all three Texas Tech RBs ranked lower than the consensus, so I figured I would group them together, especially since I think the logic behind each is very similar. I loved Quinten Joyner last season and was probably higher on him than most, but he went down with an injury and missed the entire season.

Williams and Dickey stepped in and formed a two-headed backfield for the 2025 season, frustrating people who were starting them each week, unsure which one would pop off. Like many, I assumed one of these players would enter the portal this offseason, but the Red Raiders ponied up on NIL and ended up convincing all three to stay in Lubbock.

This was already a frustrating situation last season with two guys in the backfield – count me out now that there are three guys rotating in week in and week out. If one or two get injured, I might come back around on them, but as long as all three are splitting carries, I’d rather have other options that are more certain to get a workhorse compliment of carries. I am still cautiously optimistic about Joyner’s NFL chances, but he is coming off an injury and is not guaranteed to put up amazing stats, so I’d still rather take a chance on others over him at this point.

Smothers broke out last season at NC State, rushing for 939 yards and six touchdowns along with 37 receptions for 189 yards and a receiving touchdown. After committing to Alabama, he decided to back out of his commitment and head to Texas, joining a backfield that also added Raleek Brown. Brown actually put up better stats for Arizona State last season, rushing for 1,141 yards and four touchdowns while catching 34 passes for 239 yards and two TDs, and this backfield smells like a committee.

I am not sure Smothers will be on the right side of it. Even if he emerges as the RB1a, I am still not confident I would want to start him week in and week out during the fantasy season, and while I think he has decent NFL upside, I think others in the same range have a better chance at more touches with similar upside, so I’d take them instead.

Sheppard exploded onto the scene for the Blue Devils as a true freshman, rushing for 1,132 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching 37 passes for 286 yards and another TD. I still like Sheppard the player – I just don’t love the situation this season. Duke rode Darian Mensah and shocked the world last season by winning the ACC Championship, but Mensah and his top two receiving targets left town via the portal, and this team looks like it is going to be a dumpster fire this season.

Walker Eget seems like the likely candidate to lead the offense, and in the wise words of Randy Jackson, “It’s a no for me, dawg.” I still think Sheppard is going to be the lead back, and might even see more goal line work with Anderson Castle leaving town, but the Blue Devils also brought in CJ Campbell to the backfield, and I just don’t see a way he is going to match his stats from last season.

If I can get him late enough, I would take him in drafts, and either hope that he transfers after this season or Duke adds guys in the portal for next season and is relevant in the ACC again, but given the current situation, there are other guys I would prefer over him.

Do I hate these players? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. I just think, given their current situation, there are other players others value lower than I do. Stay tuned for my next article, where I dive into five running backs that I have ranked higher than consensus. Until then, happy drafting! 

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