NFL Draft Betting: How Many Running Backs Will Be Drafted in the First Round?
The NFL Draft, which starts on Thursday, April 27th, is just days away, and there are a lot of NFL Draft odds up at FanDuel Sportsbook.
One of the markets available is how many running backs will be selected in Round 1. The line is set at 1.5, with -122 odds on the over and a number of -108 on the under.
Let's take a look at the outlook for running backs in Round 1.
All NFL Draft odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
According to Grinding the Mocks, two running backs have an expected draft position (EDP) inside the first two rounds -- Bijan Robinson (15.7 EDP), and Jahmyr Gibbs (41.1).
Barring a sudden change, Gibbs appears to be the key to this bet.
For Robinson, the question is less "Will he be drafted in the first round?" and more "When in the first round will he be drafted?" Robinson is the clear-cut top running back in this class, and the odds reflect that. His draft position over/under is at pick 12.5, with an even price on the over and the under.
Robinson was electric in his final season as a Texas Longhorn, turning 258 rushing attempts into 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns. In the passing game, he caught 19 passes for 314 yards (16.5 yards per reception) and 2 touchdowns.
Robinson is +100 to be a top 10 pick, and the team most likely to select him is the Atlanta Falcons (+250) followed by the Houston Texans (+650), Philadelphia Eagles (+750), Washington Commanders (+850) and Dallas Cowboys (+1200).
After two excellent seasons at Georgia Tech, Gibbs transferred to Alabama last year and continued to produce. He turned 151 rushing attempts into 926 yards and 7 touchdowns, and he continued to excel in the passing game, catching 44 passes for 444 yards (10.1 yards per reception) and 3 touchdowns.
Gibbs, listed at 5-foot-9, 199-pounds, is smaller than Robinson, and his skills in the passing game are crucial to his potential to be a first-round draft pick. Todd McShay ranked him first on his list of Best Playmakers in Space, one spot ahead of Robinson, citing Gibbs' ability to be a "dynamic pass-catching weapon" and "one of the most dangerous receivers out of the backfield".
Gibbs is currently priced at -125 to be selected in the first round, implied odds of 55.56%. The team most likely to draft Gibbs -- the Cowboys (+650) -- currently holds the 26th and 58th picks. Behind Dallas are the Miami Dolphins (+1000), who do not have a first-round pick this year, the Cincinnati Bengals (+1000), who have picks 28 and 60, and the Arizona Cardinals (+1000), who have picks 3 and 34.
How you feel about the potential for Gibbs to be taken late in Round 1 should determine which side of this bet you're on.
The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.