Odds to Be the First Running Back Drafted Favor D'Andre Swift Over Jonathan Taylor and J.K. Dobbins

D'Andre Swift is projected to be the first running back off the board in 2020.
D'Andre Swift is projected to be the first running back off the board in 2020. / Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
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Despite it being an impact skill position on Sundays, running backs are not generally taken as high in the NFL Draft anymore. This has more to do with the position's shelf life in the league, and the wealth of RB depth around the NFL. Still, first-round running backs can often become immediate stars, as recently proven by Josh Jacobs.

This year, three running backs will likely compete to be the first RB off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft. Georgia's D'Andre Swift (-120) is currently favored to be the first RB selected, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, though he'll face some stiff competition from Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor (-110) and Ohio State's J.K. Dobbins (+750).

Swift is more of an early-down rusher, touted for his intelligence and ball-carrier vision. At Georgia, he rushed for 2,885 yards in three seasons (1,218 his senior year), adding 666 total receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns.

Swift is not the consensus number one running back, however, as Taylor is right on his heels. Taylor's overall stats are more impressive, with the Wisconsin Badger tallying 6,174 rushing yards and 55 TDs in three seasons with the team. He also tore up the NFL Combine, posting a sub-4.40 40-yard dash despite weighing in at 226 pounds.

Dobbins has the third-best odds to be the first RB off the board. He played three seasons at Ohio State, but he could stand out thanks to his ability to serve as a third-down threat. He's racked up a combined 510 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons.

All three of these backs have the talent to become high-level NFL starters, but the landing spot will certainly factor in their level of success.

As things currently stand, though, Swift is the favorite to be the first RB selected, but these odds will surely continue to shift as the offseason progresses.


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Michael Obermuller is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Michael Obermuller also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username king_mizzard. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.