After a historically sparse 2026 running back class in which just three ball carriers went in the early rounds, the 2027 NFL Draft group of RBs has a chance to be a refreshing change of pace.
There’s still much we don’t know about the 2027 NFL Draft class, but we can say this with certainty: there’s bound to be an uptick in sheer volume.
There are 20 2027 NFL Draft RBs in draftable range on the initial Mock Draft Simulator board, seven in the initial MDS Top 100, and four in the initial MDS Top 50.
The 2026 NFL Draft, to be sure, was comparably strong at the top; Jeremiyah Love was viewed in a similar tier to Ashton Jeanty and Bijan Robinson as a prospect, and Jadarian Price commanded Round 1 capital. But there was a void behind them. That might not be the case in 2027.
If your team needs an RB, the 2027 group should have plenty to choose from, and these are the top RB names on my 2027 NFL Draft board as it stands.
10) Will Henderson III, UTSA
Will Henderson III is one of the most intriguing Group of 5 talents in the class, who could go on to field mid-round capital with another strong year.
Originally a three-star recruit, Henderson was a dominant producer in high school, who also put up mind-boggling track numbers, among them a 10.28 100-meter dash and a 20.52 200-meter dash.
He joined Jeff Traylor’s squad in 2024 and preserved his redshirt while seeing limited action, but emerged as a very real rotational catalyst alongside Robert Henry. Henderson put up 866 yards and 6 touchdowns on 125 carries, and also caught 19 passes for 132 yards and 2 additional scores.
Henderson’s PFSN RB Impact score came in at a respectable 76.7, and he compiled a strong 43.2% elusive run rate.
In line for an increased role, Henderson has a chance to make an NFL Draft ascent as a redshirt sophomore.
At 5’10”, 185 pounds, Henderson is extremely light and lean, and what comes of that is a general lack of play strength and physicality in contact situations. Having said this, Henderson makes up for his more passive play style with a deadly kind of speed.
He’s an instant accelerator and a lightning-fast level climber who can use his game-breaking long-strider speed to warp early tackling angles, get upfield, and stretch big plays to the max.
To an inspiring degree, Henderson knows how to use his speed, too. There are certainly times where he uses his set-up space inefficiently and gets upfield into gaps too quickly, forfeiting cutback angles and redirection paths.
But there are just as many instances where Henderson uses his initial speed to induce panic and bait defenders into over-committing by pressing into gaps, before pivoting and bending upfield.
A certified speed-weaver with solid instincts and agility in congestion as a cut stacker, Henderson fits a clear mold as a change-of-pace and spark-plug back with game-changing speed and actionable receiving versatility.
His size may limit his volume utility and pass-blocking value, but he has the upside to be a high-level rotational player and vital momentum shifter when it counts.
9) Hollywood Smothers, Texas
Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers is a mid-round RB prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft, who could go on to be a value steal.
Smothers originally signed with the Oklahoma Sooners as a three-star recruit in 2023, but after preserving his redshirt, he transferred to NC State to gain more playing time.
With the Wolfpack, Smothers quickly became an offensive asset. In 2024, he amassed 571 yards and 6 touchdowns on 89 carries, and he racked up 263 yards and 2 scores as a receiver as well.
In 2025, Smothers remained productive, achieving career-highs in running yardage (939) and receptions (37). He logged a respectable PFSN RB Impact score of 79.2, and leveraged that production into a new transfer opportunity with the Texas Longhorns.
At around 5’11”, 195 pounds, Smothers is light and lean, and doesn’t quite have the low center of gravity that other smaller RBs boast.
That said, he’s a smooth and fluid runner with understated recalibration quickness, elite lateral and vertical explosion, and the long-strider speed to stretch seams and create chunk plays when working to the second level.
The nickname “Hollywood” is no accident; Smothers has an affinity for creating big plays in space, and he has the vision, pressing IQ, cutting flexibility, and peripheral vision to time and execute one-cut plays with precision before breaking loose.
MORE: Latest 2027 NFL Mock Draft
While Smothers is a capable creator, he’s not as consistent or comfortable in congested areas. He has a deference to space and outside-the-numbers play, and can be hesitant when faced with muddier looks between the tackles.
Additionally, Smothers lacks a notable physicality element, and can be neutralized in early contact situations, as evidenced by a -8.1% bust vs. boom rate, comparing big runs and stuffs at the line.
When Smothers gets loose, he’s extremely dynamic, but that featherweight build and space-preferred style can also be a double-edged sword.
Nevertheless, Smothers has a clear spark-plug projection, is a capable receiver and RAC threat, and is a willing pass protector. He has immediate high-end rotational appeal, and could grow to become a starter in wide-zone schemes.
8) Justice Haynes, Georgia Tech
Justice Haynes is an RB prospect with early-round upside in the 2027 NFL Draft, but also more to prove in 2026 at his third location.
He began his career at Alabama, where he arrived as a Top 50 recruit and instantly factored into the rotation. In 2024, he found the end zone 7 times, but ultimately chose to transfer to Michigan for the 2025 season.
While the Wolverines’ offense sputtered more often than not, Haynes himself was a bright spot, rumbling for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 121 carries. He averaged over 7 yards per attempt, while achieving a strong PFSN RB Impact grade of 80.9.
After his breakout campaign, Haynes transferred for a second time, this time to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, where he aims to boost his stock in a run-heavy scheme.
At 5’10”, 208 pounds, Haynes has a low center of gravity, excellent contact balance, elite explosiveness climbing to the second level, and real breakaway speed working past creases.
As a linear north-south runner, Haynes has the ideal size-speed profile, to go along with competent vision, adept pressing and weaving skills through crowds, and tenacious finishing physicality and forward-pressing leg churn.
Haynes has many appealing qualities as a prospective volume back, but there are limitations to note.
He’s more of a press-and-go runner than a true creator, who sometimes lacks the cutback anticipation or move arsenal to problem-solve in early contact situations.
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Additionally, he offers very little receiving value; through his first three full seasons, he’s only caught 30 passes for 149 yards.
Haynes’ unproven third-down profile serves as a defining question mark, but as an ultra-dynamic and physical north-south back, he has starting upside in a volume role.
7) Raleek Brown, Texas
Raleek Brown is a mid-round RB prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft, with early-round potential at his maximum.
A highly-touted four-star recruit out of high school, Brown signed with the USC Trojans and served as a rotational catalyst as a true freshman.
Receptions accounted for over 27% of his total touches in his first season, and the Trojans experimented with moving him to WR in Year 2, but he ultimately took a redshirt, and later transferred to Arizona State.
An injury limited Brown to two games in 2024, but in 2025, he exploded onto the scene as a star for the Sun Devils, accumulating 1,141 yards and 4 touchdowns on 186 carries, while also hauling in 34 receptions for 239 yards and 2 scores. His 86.6 PFSN RB Impact was ranked 13th in the nation, and he put up a strong elusive run rate of 38.2%.
At around 5’9″, 191 pounds, Brown is shorter and smaller than average, but nonetheless has decent compact mass to pair with hyper-elite linear and lateral explosive athleticism, angle-warping long speed, electric short-area quickness and twitch, and the bend and cutting flexibility to aid in fluid transitions.
Brown isn’t always the most efficient or patient using his set-up space, and can drift into congestion or past optimal angles as a result, but he nonetheless has high-level processing speed, reactive mobility, pressing IQ, and the acute angle freedom to execute eye-popping evasion plays working inside-out.
A skilled creator and a reliable seam-stretcher, Brown makes the most of his blocking, has good recovery capacity and adaptability, and carries that yard-accumulating skill set to the RAC phase as a receiver.
Additionally, Brown’s willingness as a pass blocker is refreshing, even if his hand usage and technique need major refinement.
Brown will be a 24-year old rookie, which may take him off some teams’ boards, and his lacking power element limits his volume upside, but as a dynamic rotational spark-plug and potential phase-diverse mismatch, Brown has quality starter upside.
6) Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
Ahmad Hardy is a potential early-round RB prospect with one of the most dominant production profiles in college football.
Hardy suffered a gunshot wound to the upper leg at a concert in mid-May and underwent successful surgery, and his current recovery timeline is unknown. If Hardy can return to 100% for the 2026 season, he stands to contend for high-end capital, but the same can be said if the recovery timeline is extended and forces him to wait until 2028.
Hardy began his career as a three-star signee at UL Monroe, and dominated as a true freshman, amassing 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2025, he transferred to Missouri and picked up where he left off against SEC competition, accumulating 1,649 yards and 16 scores on 6.4 yards per attempt.
Hardy’s 91.3 RB Impact score was sixth-best in the entire nation, and his yards after contact figure of 4.59 was best in the nation among RBs with at least 200 attempts.
The advanced numbers hint heavily at Hardy’s best trait: Contact balance. Hardy is one of the best RBs in recent memory at working through contact, a product of his low center of gravity, compact mass and density, and relentless, energized forward-churning style.
While Hardy isn’t the most explosive on the vertical plane, he functions as a jackhammer at times with his ability to find creases and chisel forward with constant leg action and applied physicality.
Additionally, Hardy has some measured creation ability in tight spaces, with a vast move set, solid cutting flexibility, and stellar processing speed.
A select few factors call Hardy’s ultimate upside into question, and it’s why he’s ultimately lower than you’d expect on my personal list: He has just 14 total receptions across his career to this point, he’s scarcely used as a pass protector, and he visibly lacks breakaway speed.
Hardy’s third-down value is very uncertain, and that’s an important point in every RB’s evaluation, as it can cause their usage profile to be limited. But as an early-down volume back and a weapon within positive game scripts, Hardy has impact potential in gap, power, and inside zone schemes.
5) Antwan Raymond, Rutgers
Antwan Raymond is a mid-round RB prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft who has exciting high-value volume potential.
A three-star recruit originally, Raymond joined the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at the peak of the Kyle Monangai era. And after spending his true freshman season spelling Monangai and sharing short-yardage duties, Raymond filled Monangai’s shoes as the full-time starter in 2025, with impressive results.
In just 12 games, Raymond amassed 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns on 244 carries, averaging over 5 yards per attempt. Additionally, he logged 225 yards and 2 scores on 18 receptions, and took home a composite PFSN RB Impact score of 92.2 that ranked fifth in the entire nation.
On top of the elite Impact number, Raymond also forced the fifth-most missed tackles in the FBS. And as a pass protector, Raymond averaged 11.6 blocking reps per game, with just a 2.9% pressure rate allowed.
Raymond is cut from a similar cloth as Monangai, but could go on to be an even better prospect. At a listed 205 pounds, he’s dense, compact, and low-to-the-ground as a runner, with twitched-up and sudden short-area mobility, fluid redirection skills, and truly elite running instincts.
Raymond processes space and angles exceedingly fast, he has excellent cutback ID skills, lane anticipation, and peripheral vision, which he routinely weaponizes with sharp pressing IQ, bend and weaving ability, and an affinity for spatial navigation.
Raymond knows that even initial set-up angles ordain reactions from defenses, and he consistently manipulates those angles to bait defenders into gaps, create space for himself, and capitalize.
Raymond’s vision, patience, and spatial IQ are near the top of the class, but he is close to average size, without domineering physicality or leg churn. He can be more consistent as a receiver, and while his explosiveness and speed are serviceable, neither is elite.
Still, Raymond has true NFL volume upside with his high-level creative instincts and efficiency as a scheme-adherent runner in power, gap, and zone looks, and his pass blocking grants him third-down utility.
4) Isaac Brown, Louisville
Isaac Brown is a potential early-round RB prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft who offers dynamic big-play propensity and potential return value.
Brown first joined the Cardinals as a three-star recruit in the 2024 cycle, and immediately broke out as a true freshman. That year, Brown amassed 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns on 165 carries, averaging over 7 yards per carry while earning a strong 84.6 PFSN RB Impact score.
In 2025, Brown missed several games due to a lower body injury, but still put up 884 yards and 7 scores on only 101 carries and was able to return to action for the team’s bowl game.
At 5’9″, 190 pounds, Brown is below-average size, and doesn’t have an overbearing physicality element, but his superpower is his combination of speed, quickness, flexibility, and overall dynamism.
With lightning-quick foot speed, instant upfield acceleration, wicked strider speed, and the cutting flexibility and bend to sustain acceleration through sharp transitions, Brown has an elusive framework and big-play affinity that’s nearly unmatched in the 2027 class.
He weaponizes that special creative athleticism and seam-stretching explosiveness with sharp vision and processing ability, keen patience and reactive adaptability, elite pressing intelligence working around blocks, and instinctive navigation in congested areas.
Brown’s creative ability is characterized best by his 48.4% elusive run rate from 2025, which was fourth in the entire nation among RBs with at least 90 carries.
As a pure runner, Brown brings a specific brand of dynamism to the table that’s very hard to replicate, but his game is still relatively one-dimensional.
He’s produced sparingly as a receiving threat, his hand usage in pass protection needs work, and ball security is a major issue; he had 3 fumbles each in 2024 and 2025.
Nevertheless, Brown’s creative gifts make him scheme-diverse, and his elite burst and speed elevate him as a true game-breaker in space. At his peak, Brown has impact starter upside.
3) LJ Martin, BYU
LJ Martin is one of the top returning RB prospects after a 2026 NFL Draft cycle in which he could have declared.
A former four-star recruit, Martin joined the BYU Cougars in 2023 and immediately made an impact as a true freshman, eclipsing 500 yards at almost 5 yards per clip. The 2024 season saw Martin increase his output, but the 2025 campaign was his best yet.
In 13 games, Martin amassed 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns on 236 carries, while also hauling in 36 receptions for 255 yards. Martin’s PFSN RB Impact grade of 94 was second in the entire nation, behind only Emmett Johnson.
Standing at 6’2″, 225 pounds, Martin is a powerfully built back who plays with a contrasting air of finesse and fluidity. He’s not overly explosive, nor is he a field-stretcher working to the second and third levels, but he instead excels as a fleet-footed, quick-firing, and adaptable spatial operator between the tackles.
Martin has great short-area quickness, to go along with malleable hips, and he possesses a sharp instinct for using set-up space efficiently, navigating through congestion, pressing defenders outside of gaps, and anticipating cutback lanes.
On gap and duo runs, Martin thrives as a plant-and-redirect runner who can flow and oscillate through narrow creases to work upfield, where he then has the urgent leg churn to finish with grating physicality.
Martin is close to average as a receiving threat, and still has room to improve his consistency as a pass blocking presence on third downs. Nevertheless, as a pure runner, Martin has an ideal blend of instinct, quick feet, smooth fluidity, and physicality, and he can be a true volume back and impact starter at the NFL level.
2) Jadan Baugh, Florida
Jadan Baugh is a potential early-round RB prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft, and he’s very much in the running for the RB1 mantle on my board.
As an unheralded three-star recruit, he first committed to Arkansas before flipping his allegiance to Florida. He factored into the rotation early as a true freshman, and in his first career start, he broke the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game with 5.
As a sophomore, Baugh took the full-time starting role and ran with it literally and figuratively, accumulating 1,170 yards and 8 touchdowns on 220 carries, while also catching 33 receptions for 210 yards and 2 scores.
Additionally, Baugh’s PFSN RB Impact score of 93.5 was the third-highest in the entire FBS, behind only Emmett Johnson and LJ Martin.
At 6’1″, 228 pounds, Baugh flashes freakish athleticism, both in terms of long speed and explosiveness, and short-area mobility.
In spite of his rocked-up frame, Baugh is a springy short-area and lateral athlete with excellent hip fluidity, and he weaponizes that fluidity with rapid reactive instincts, keen vision, sharp pressing IQ, and angle anticipation.
He’s ultimately more reactive than manipulative as a mover, and can improve at cutting down instances of premature lane commits.
That said, very few backs in the 2027 NFL Draft have Baugh’s combination of size and athleticism, and fewer yet complement that physical talent with Baugh’s level of vision, creative IQ, and pass-down value.
Already, Baugh appears to be one of the best volume backs in the 2027 class, with the athleticism, instincts, and physicality to underscore an impact starter profile, as well as the receiving utility and high-end pass blocking to ensure usage on all three downs.
A scheme-diverse runner with an all-encompassing skill set, Baugh has impact starter ability, and further development with lane efficiency can make him a real RB1 contender.
1) Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
Kewan Lacy is a contender for the RB1 mantle in the 2027 NFL Draft. An absurdly efficient high school producer, Lacy originally signed with Missouri as a three-star recruit, but transferred to Ole Miss after a nondescript 2024 campaign.
In 2025, Lacy exploded onto the scene as one of the most dynamic runners in college football. Across 15 games, he totaled 1,567 yards and an SEC-leading 24 touchdowns on 306 carries, while adding 177 yards on 29 receptions.
He was one of just seven RBs to earn a PFSN RB Impact score over 90, an exclusive group that included 2025 third overall pick Jeremiyah Love.
At around 5’11”, 205 pounds, Lacy isn’t powerfully built, but he stands out as one of the most natural, instinctive creators in the 2027 RB class.
Lacy is a springy athlete and an easy accelerator with great stride quickness, who also possesses jittery twitch and short-area correction, as well as true seam-stretching speed at the second level.
Moreover, he’s an elite press-and-go runner, and a quick processor who can read gap fluctuations and power vectors to guide his decisions flowing upfield.
Working behind his blocks, Lacy knows how to adhere to path of highest efficiency, but he’s also a gifted creator who knows how to cultivate space for himself by stemming defenders out of gaps or pressing tight behind blocks with patience.
Physically, Lacy is less imposing than he is invigorating, but he can still use his lower-body explosion to scrape past adjacent contact threats at times.
He’ll never have high-end contact resistance, balance, or driving physicality at the end of rushes, and within his mold, there’s room for Lacy to keep expanding his route tree and usage pallet as a receiver.
Regardless, as a sheer volume runner and creator, Lacy’s game echoes the same elements that have made James Cook successful in NFL, and he possesses that level of potential. He’s my RB1 heading into the 2026 college football season and the 2027 NFL Draft cycle.
Honorable Mentions
- Cam Cook, West Virginia
- Waymond Jordan, USC
- Tre Wisner, Texas
- Wayshawn Parker, Utah
- Fluff Bothwell, Mississippi State
- DeSean Bishop, Tennessee
- Mark Fletcher Jr., Miami (FL)
