LZs initial rating of this years crop of Running Backs (pre-combine)

[nunusguy]

Some teams still want a guy who can get three tough yards, protect the QB on third downs in case of a blitz and carry an increased load if called to do so during a game. Other teams are starting to lean more towards finding a couple of running backs to work in combination so that they can get speed, power, inside running, pass receiving and pass protection all rolled up into one position shared by two players.
**
• Fresno State's Ryan Matthews "might be the best value in the entire draft" according to one scout who believes that Matthews is a better running back than Jonathan Dwyer.
**
• There seems to be a bit of a split on Stanford's Toby Gerhart. While nobody is blown away by him, I do think you will see some teams who prefer a more powerful inside runner take a look at him by the mid-to-late second round despite having a 3rd round grade on him. The thought is that while Gerhart has a limited ceiling, his floor is very safe and whoever drafts him should see a fairly consistent level of production.
**
• Cal's Jahvid Best is considered one of the top two most explosive backs inthis year's draft , but his lack of ideal NFL size means it is highly unlikely he gets drafted in the first round since he will have to be part of a running back tandem.
http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootba.../post_143.html

[NBT]

Toby Gerhart would really be a value pick if he were still there for us in the 3rd round IMHO.