Nick Chubb, running back, Georgia
When healthy, Chubb has the potential to be one of the best running backs in college football — if not the best. The problem is this: he’s struggled to remain healthy. After a freshman season in Athens that saw him rush for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns (to go along with two touchdowns through the air), Chubb only played in six games in 2015 due to injury. To be fair, he did rush for seven touchdowns and 747 yards in those six games, and he caught another touchdown, but injury kept him from making an even bigger impact.
In 2016, Chubb made it back from injury and was able to play in 13 games for the Bulldogs. While he did rush for 1,130 yards and eight touchdowns, he simply did not live up to his full potential.
After busting out for three touchdowns in the first two games, Chubb didn’t find the end zone again until Week Six against South Carolina. And yes, he scored two touchdowns against the Gamecocks, but then he went on another rushing touchdown drought until the third-to-last game of the season against UL Lafayette.
Chubb did put up 142 yards and a touchdown in a bowl game win against TCU, and it’s hard to deny his talent when he’s “on” and healthy.
For a player with elite talent, though, there are simply too many question marks. At the very least, there are enough question marks that it makes it hard for him to stand out amongst a stellar 2017 running back group that features players like Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice, Royce Freeman, Myles Gaskin and Bo Scarbrough.