2017 NFL Draft: Christian McCaffrey is easily the top rated running back

The 2017 NFL Draft class is filled with talent at the running back position, but there should be no doubt that the best running back is Christian McCaffrey.

There are so many great players in the running back class this year, such as Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, D’Onta Foreman and Christian McCaffrey. While all of these running backs are great in their own way, the best all-around running back is definitely McCaffrey.

McCaffrey led the NCAA in all-purpose yards in two of his three years at Stanford. His best year was his sophomore year when he tallied up 2,019 rushing yards, 645 receiving yards, 1,070 kick return yards, 130 punt return yards and 39 passing yards. He also earned a total of eight rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns, one punt return touchdown, one kick return touchdown and two passing touchdowns.

His next year wasn’t as successful, but it was still phenomenal. He had 1,603 rushing yards, 310 receiving yards, 318 kick return yards and 96 punt return yards. McCaffrey did have 16 rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns, but he did not have any return or passing touchdowns.

More from The Jet Press

• NY Jets should target TE Hunter Henry in free agency
• NY Jets: Why the team should target cornerback Shaquill Griffin
• NY Jets reportedly non-tendering linebacker Harvey Langi
• NY Jets: Why the team should not cut Jamison Crowder
• NY Jets should try to sign Kenny Golladay in free agency

It’s true that there are a lot of good running backs in this year’s draft class. Fournette is a great west coast back who can push for short to middle yardage, but he isn’t versatile. He’s also a little heavy, and that’s never good.

Cook is very good and can fit in well with any pro system. However, he may have some character issues. Back in 2015, Cook was involved in an incident that got him accused of misdemeanor battery. Those charges were dropped, though, as he was found innocent. Cook has said that he has put his problems behind him, but any legal trouble is always a red flag.

D’Onta Foreman, the Texas Longhorns’ running back, played really well last season, but he certainly wasn’t the best out there. It seemed like he only did well because the team’s passing game was struggling, and the only thing they could do was run the ball, so they did.

The bottom line is that McCaffrey is easily the best back in this class. He has pure talent and has no legal trouble. If a team wants a player who can really do it all, then McCaffrey is the man for the job.