4. Todd Gurley, RB, St. Louis Rams
May 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams first round draft pick Todd Gurley poses for a photo after a press conference at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Based on pure ability at the running back position, there are few players in today’s game who can rival the skills of Todd Gurley. He has an incredible combination of speed, power, athleticism and natural field vision that makes him a potential star in the making. Gurley is a fantastic runner, impressive receiver out of the backfield and an advanced pass protector for a back his age. He truly has the total package.
The only mark on Gurley’s record is a very scary one, and that is his past riddled with injuries. Gurley has an extremely physical style of running which has caused him to suffer through nagging injuries multiple times in college.
However, nothing compared to the injury Gurley suffered when he tore the ACL in his left knee last November. He has under-gone reconstructive knee surgery, and could be on pace to contribute this season.
Despite coming off of such a devastating injury, the Rams took a chance on Gurley’s talent by selecting him with the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. It is unclear how much Gurley will contribute this season, but his natural skills make him an interesting player if he can get on the field.
My guess is that the Rams take it slow with Gurley, but if he looks alright after the first month or so of the season, they could easily unleash the beast. I could see Gurley having a dominating performance down the stretch that leads him to being named rookie of the year, similar to what happened with Beckham last season.
If he were healthy, Gurley would be the clear favorite. But even with his injury, he is a serious contender.
Next: Number Three