Fantasy Football: Rookie RB Film Grades 2023

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Top 25 Rookie RB Film Grades 2023 for fantasy football broken down into different categories, including footwork, balance and more.

Every year, a group of rookie running backs enter the NFL and well… hit the ground running. Relative to other fantasy relevant positions, half backs seem to have a simpler transition from college to the pros. Therefore, a thorough look at the incoming RB class before the NFL draft is important. Regardless of the capital spent (or lack thereof), any RB could see an increase in opportunity at any given moment. That is why it is important to know and evaluate as many running backs as possible during this time.

In this article, you will find a table with the top 25 running backs ranked in order by their overall film grade. You will also the individual scores for each of the 4 main categories I evaluate: footwork, fluidity, balance, and burst. Below the rankings table, you will also find detailed explanations for each of those categories. I will share exactly what I am looking for when evaluating players.

Note that this rankings is strictly based on the college game film I have watched for these players. At some point before the NFL combine, I will publish a rookie RB ranking that will incorporate collegiate production alongside my film scores. For now, this is what I think of the 2023 rookie running back class based purely on the eye test.

Rookie RB Film Grades 2023

Footwork

In the sport of football, footwork might be one of the most important techniques to succeeding. Especially for running backs who are constantly running on their feet. There are several aspects that I am watching for when evaluating a back’s footwork.

Starting off I look at movement efficiency. Are there any wasted steps that a player takes in the backfield? When changing direction, can an RB do so with one step or will take take extra footwork? In football, every second is important as defenders are coming fast and hard. Therefore, every step an RB takes has to be done with purpose. I am beginning my detailed explanations with footwork because this includes, literally, the first steps a player takes at the start of every play.

However, my evaluation of footwork does not end in the backfield. Another important aspect to this skill is continuing momentum through contact. Does an RB continue to move his feet after he is hit, or does he stop all leg movement when he is tackled?  Considering how strong and fast NFL defenders are, churning feet through contact is an important aspect for an RB to help gain extra yards on a play-by-play basis.

Specific Players

Looking at my film scores, Chase Brown has the highest footwork grade. The Illinois RB effectively displays both of the primary aspects I look at with footwork, movement efficiency and churning through contact. Brown can easily change direction with one step, and when he is hit, he keeps his feet moving. He also wastes no time or steps in the backfield before hitting the hole. This is especially important for Brown, as he may not have the elite speed that other running backs in this class posses. So if he wants to gain yards before defenders close in, he cannot afford to waste any steps or movements before hitting the hole set up by his offensive linemen.

Brown has the technical aspects of running down. The real question is the burst. Does he have the athleticism to excel in the NFL? Certainly, Brown’s combine results and relative athletic score should help answer that question.

Fluidity

Of the four main aspects that I evaluate for running backs, this one might be the hardest to name, as body fluidity, pad level, and smoothness are all terms I have used in the past. Basically all are ways of describing how a players moves the rest of his body besides his feet (as we covered that portion in the footwork evaluation).

Does an RB lower his center of gravity in order to give a stronger base? That usually comes with a player’s shoulder pad level. Can they get lower than the oncoming defenders trying to tackle them? Furthermore, can the RB contort his body to avoid as much contact as possible? There are various ways that body fluidity can be demonstrated on the field. The most important thing is how an RB can process which aspect of fluidity is most useful on any given play.

In this 2023 class, Devon Achane is the RB with the best body fluidity score. At 5’9″, the Texas A&M product is usually able to be the low man relative to the oncoming defenders. That can help him avoid the most powerful hits, while also helping gain extra yards. To go along with the best fluidity score in this class, Achane also has the 3rd highest film grade overall. Definitely one of the RB prospects I am most excited about.

Balance

Contact balance may be the simplest concept to understand and to see on the tape. When evaluating balance, and am looking to see the push and pull of the RB vs defenders. Does the running back power though contact and gain extra yards after being hit? Or is the RB stood up on even pushed back after contact with a defender?

Balance can also be how well a players stays upright when changing direction. Does the RB keep forward momentum after making a cut, or do they require extra time to solidify their balance on those change of directions?

Looking at those who declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, the RB with the best contact balance is Chris Rodriguez. The Kentucky back has a similar profile to Chase Brown, who was referenced earlier. Like Brown, Rodriguez has an excellent footwork score. And while Brown’s balance grade is not quite as elevated as that of Rodriguez, it is still in the top 10 of the class. So with Brown and Rodriguez, the footwork and contact balance are solid, but questions remain about their overall athleticism. Of 25+ ruining backs that I evaluated on a film basis, Rodriguez was dead last in burst score.

Burst

Now for the back everyone is probably bursting at the seam to talk about. But first, a little bit about how I measure the burst score. When watching college tape, I am looking to see how quickly running backs are going from the backfield to hitting the hole opened by the offensive line. I am also evaluating how often running backs are making defenders miss. How effective is an RB at avoiding other players, while still gaining yards?

In this 2023 class, no RB is better at using their speed and burst than Bijan Robinson. Throughout his collegiate career at Texas, Robinson was incredibly productive at making defenders miss, and transforming his athleticism into production.

If you look at Robinson’s overall film grade, you will notice that he is first in this class by a long shot. While I graded him outside the top 10 in terms of footwork (11th is still not too shabby), Robinson still finished top 3 with the fluidity, balance, and burst scores. As long as he gets the requisite capital in the upcoming NFL draft, Robinson will likely be the first RB off the board in dynasty rookie drafts.

Thank you for reading Rookie RB Film Grades 2023. Be sure to check out all of the great NFL Draft content available on Full Press Coverage. That includes several updates of the rookie running back rankings in the future.