Midseason 2027 NFL Draft RB Report: Injuries and Slumps Leave a Once-Promising Class Looking Below Average

There has been a recent renaissance of sorts at the running back spot in the NFL Draft, as more teams are greenlighting first-round selections at the position. Three of the past four drafts have witnessed multiple running backs being chosen in Round 1. And in all those instances, a running back ended up in the top 10 picks. Many believed that would happen in next April’s draft, but opinions are changing.

There was a lot of hope in the scouting community for the top prospects at the running back position before the season began, but that has since eased. Several scouts had Kewan Lacy rated far ahead of the pack, while others believed Jadan Baugh would be the first running back selected in the middle of Round 1.

NCAA, College League, USA Football: Mississippi at Oklahoma Oct 25, 2025 Norman, Oklahoma, USA Ole Miss Rebels running back Kewan Lacy 5 scores a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Norman Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Oklahoma USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKevinxJairajx 10242025_krj_aj6_0000157

The explosive Lacy has flashed brilliance at times, but his season has been marred by injury. Lacy, graded as a top-10 prospect coming into the season by yours truly and a first-round pick by scouts, has played just four games with 46 total carries. Lacy has suffered from a left shoulder injury, something the team hoped offseason surgery would resolve. Unless he finishes strong and healthy, Lacy may be better off staying in school.

GAINESVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 12: Jadan Baugh 13 of the Florida Gators warms up before the game between the Florida Gators and the Campbell Fighting Camels on September 12, 2026 at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fl. Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 12 Campbell at Florida EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260912260915

Baugh has cooled off after early-season dominance. He rushed for a combined 464 yards against Louisville, Auburn and Mississippi. But the last two games against Missouri and South Carolina resulted in just 72 combined yards. He has also registered just seven receptions this season. Baugh looked like RB1 during the Auburn and Mississippi games and has a lot riding on the rest of the season.

CLEMSON, SC – OCTOBER 03: Mark Fletcher Jr. 4 of the Miami Hurricanes runs with the ball during the college football game against the Clemson Tigers on October 03, 2026 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 03 Miami at Clemson EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon573261003033

Mark Fletcher Jr. has not been anything spectacular this season, but the Hurricanes have not needed the big back to stand out considering how well Darian Mensah has played. Fletcher is averaging just 13 carries a game, which could be a silver lining, yet his grinding, downhill style won’t be for every team at the next level.

LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 09: Louisville Cardinals RB Isaac Brown 1 walks off the field following a college football game between the Florida State Seminoles and Louisville Cardinals on October 9, 2026 at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, KY. Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 09 Florida State at Louisville EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon261009047

Isaac Brown has probably helped himself more than any other running back this season, and he continually proves to be a big-play threat. He is averaging 7.5 yards on 75 carries and has had touchdown runs of 70 and 97 yards, respectively, in the past two games while also trampling Florida State for 235 yards on the ground. Brown is a smaller back and the antithesis of Mark Fletcher, which will push him out of the draft’s initial 42 selections.

The other back who has stepped up his game is Jamal Roberts, who’s taken hold of the starting opportunity as teammate Ahmad Hardy remains sidelined. Roberts has run roughshod over opponents, totaling 828 yards in six games, including 211 yards against Florida and 222 yards against Texas A&M. He also has eight TDs on his ledger and looks like a solid Day 2 pick.

November 29, 2025: Ahmad Hardy 29 Missouri running back comes up the side of the field with the ball. Missouri defeated Arkansas 31-17 in Fayetteville, AR. /CSM Fayetteville USA – ZUMAcm9_ 20251129_faf_cm9_091 Copyright: xRicheyxMillerx

Hardy, who was highly rated entering the season, has not returned from the gunshot wound he suffered last May, and there’s no timetable for his return. LJ Martin, graded as a Day 2 selection, has also been sidelined with injury, as has Darius Taylor, another highly rated ball carrier who struggled with durability issues in 2025.

CJ Baxter, DeSean Bishop and Wayshawn Parker, as well as Jalen Buckley, have all performed beyond expectations, raising their draft stock.

With all the injuries and at times subpar play, the running back class for next April’s draft is shaping up to be below-average. There are few feature runners, and the pass-catching production, especially for the ball carriers at the top, leaves a lot to be desired.

RBs With Draftable Grades
Grade	Rnd	Full Name	School	Yr
4.26	1st	Kewan Lacy	Mississippi	3Jr
4.16	1-2	Jadan Baugh	Florida	3Jr
3.86	2nd	Mark Fletcher Jr.	Miami-Fl	4Sr
3.83	2nd	Justice Haynes	Georgia Tech	4Sr
3.83	2nd	Isaac Brown	Louisville	3Jr
3.74	3rd	Ahmad Hardy	Missouri	3Jr
3.73	3rd	Jamal Roberts	Missouri	4Jr
3.68	3rd	LJ Martin	BYU	4Sr
3.67	3rd	Hollywood Smothers	Texas	4Jr
3.58	4th	CJ Baxter	Kentucky	4Jr
3.55	4th	Quintrevion Wisner	Florida State	4Sr
3.54	4th	Cameron Dickey	Texas Tech	3Jr
3.53	4th	Darius Taylor	Minnesota	4Sr
3.52	4th	DeSean Bishop	Tennessee	4Jr
3.49	4-5	Raleek Brown	Texas	5Sr
3.45	5th	Wayshawn Parker	Utah	3Jr
3.43	5th	Jalen Buckley	Western Michigan	5Sr
3.41	5th	Wayne Knight	UCLA	5Sr
3.40	5-6	Antwan Raymond	Rutgers	4Jr
3.36	6th	Nate Frazier	Georgia	4Jr
3.35	6th	Marcellous Hawkins	Virginia Tech	5Sr
3.34	6th	Carson Hansen	Penn State	4Sr
3.33	6th	Waymond Jordan	USC	4Sr
3.33	6th	J’Koby Williams	Texas Tech	3Jr
3.32	6th	Abu Sama III	Wisconsin	4Sr
3.31	6th	Ja’Kobi Jackson	Ohio State	5Sr
3.30	6-7	Makhi Hughes	Houston	4Jr
3.29	7th	Eli Gillman	Montana	5Sr
3.29	7th	Victor Dawson	Illinois State	6Sr
3.28	7th	Braylen Russell	Arkansas	3Jr
3.28	7th	Ca’Lil Valentine	Illinois	3Jr
3.27	7-FA	Cam Edwards	Michigan State	5Sr

 

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