2016 NFL Draft: Ezekiel Elliott Offers Rare Skill Set and Top-10 Value

As the playoffs advance deeper, more teams and fans are looking to the 2016 NFL draft. It’s the time of year to build hope for next season. Which players might be on the board who can make an immediate impact on the win column is at the forefront of many debates.

Finding above-average to great players via the draft is critical for team success. Not only do homegrown players offer long-term control for the franchise, but they also offer a cheap alternative to the free-agency route. The risks of signing a free agent is high because many are damaged goods by the time they are free to test the open market.

One position that has been devalued in the draft and free-agency spending is running back. There is a misnomer that backs are easily replaceable based on instances where backups come in and play fairly well for short periods of time. But the reality is that star running backs still have immense value for a team.

As Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Luke Easterling pointed out, the returns for highly drafted running backs since 2005 have been solid. Of course, there are busts like any position, but the numbers don’t lie. Fifty-two different running backs have finished in the rushing yards’ top-10 list. Thirty-three of those players were drafted in the first two rounds.

The 2016 class does not look overly strong at this juncture. While early entrants are still trickling in, there is one running back who has everything necessary to be a superstar at the position….

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