Rookie Running Back Rankings - NFL Week 3

After three weeks, we have 15 rookie running backs on our list (min. 6 touches) including (finally!) the highest drafted back in the class, Todd Gurley. If you were expecting him to impress in his first action after returning from injury, you were disappointed. The Rams only wanted to get him some game time to get acclimated to the speed of the NFL. He only had six carries and one target. We'll get a better idea of what he can do this weekend when he should have a larger role.

Karlos Williams now tops our list and is also the only running back to have a rushing touchdown in all three weeks. He overtook David Johnson for the top spot. Thomas Rawls and Jalston Fowler both make their debut on the list in the top six. Rawls looked impressive in relief of Marshawn Lynch and I'm not going to pretend that I saw Fowler play at all.

Melvin Gordon finally reached replacement level as a runner, but he gave back more value in the passing game than he gained as a runner. He falls three spots to 11th. It's interesting that Gordon and T.J. Yeldon are among the leaders in opportunities yet near the bottom in production. Hopefully, Gordon can break out against a suspect Cleveland Browns defense.

As always, the stats are from FootballOutsiders.com, sample sizes are small, and defense adjustments have yet to take effect.