Best Bets for First RB Drafted (2019 NFL Draft)
With the NFL Draft comes yet another opportunity to bet on major sporting events. Last week, we examined the best bets on where current hot topic and two-sport star Kyler Murray will land. Next up, we’ll begin to take a look at odds for the first players to be drafted for a given position.
Unlike in previous years, there isn’t a no-doubt top pick at the position. There are a few intriguing names, but there’s not a Saquon. While that’s not good news for NFL teams drafting early, it adds a bit of intrigue for bettors examining odds on the first running back off the board. Let’s take a look at those odds, courtesy PointsBet.com.
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| Player | Odds |
| Josh Jacobs | -400 |
| Miles Sanders | +500 |
| Damien Harris | +850 |
| David Montgomery | +850 |
| Justice Hill | +1600 |
| Darrell Henderson | +1600 |
| Devin Singletary | +3300 |
| Benny Snell Jr. | +4000 |
| Rodney Anderson | +5000 |
| Alex Barnes | +5000 |
| Elijah Holyfield | +10000 |
Who is the best bet to be the first RB drafted?
David Montgomery (Iowa State): +850
I’ve gone back and forth with Josh Jacobs and David Montgomery as my No. 1 running back in this class, but the truth is, I have fewer question marks about Montgomery, who is what he is – a hard-nosed running back who won’t go down on first contact, bouncing off tacklers, and creating yardage. While he’s lacking a bit as a pass-catcher, he’s capable of contributing. At +850, it makes him a much better bet than Jacobs who currently sits at -400. Jacobs is a solid all-around back, but he shared a three-way timeshare at Alabama and there’s no way to know if he’s going to be as effective in a workhorse role, which is what a team wants when selecting a running back in the first few rounds.
– Mike Tagliere (@MikeTagliereNFL)
Jacobs should be the favorite, without a doubt, but at +850, Montgomery is essentially 8.5/1 while Jacobs is 1/4 to be taken first. That difference is far too high, as running back is more of a position of fit than quarterback, defensive end or tackle. One team like the Texans may see a hole in Jacobs game that they believe Montgomery doesn’t have. As we saw last season with the Patriots and Seahawks taking Sony Michel and Rashaad Penny in the first, mock drafts and draft rankings have minimal coorelation with how the real draft plays out. Montgomery may be the #2 or #3 RB on most boards, but has a better than 8.5/1 chance of going first at the position.
– Bobby Sylvester (@bobbyfantasypro)
I think Josh Jacobs will more than likely be the first running back taken, but I’m not laying -400 on something that does not feel like an absolute guarantee. Montgomery offers a ton of value given his skillset. He led the nation with 99 broken tackles on runs in 2018 and tied for the national lead in 2017. He offers a tremendous blend of balance and vision that none of the other running backs in this draft class possess. From an overall skill-set perspective, I do not think he is far behind Jacobs.
– Shane Davies (@sbdavies7)
These odds scream value. Vegas either knows something we do not about David Montgomery or this is a bet we should all consider laying at least a partial unit on. Josh Jacobs and David Montgomery are the two backs in the mix to be the first back off of the board, and the odds here do not reflect that. Montgomery was the more productive back in college and profiles as a featured back, while Jacobs projects as more of a lead back. Lock this one in before money starts pouring in on it.
– Raju Byfield (@FantasyContext)
Josh Jacobs (Alabama): -400
Sure, the odds stink, but Jacobs looks like a lock to me. He brings an excellent blend of power and elusiveness — plus an ability to make plays as a receiver. With lead-back size (5’10, 220), Jacobs comps favorably to Kareem Hunt. A lack of production is somewhat worrisome, but the light load should help his NFL longevity.
– Kevin English (@DraftSharks)
Darrell Henderson (Memphis): +1600
I don’t believe that Jacobs is the best RB in this draft class. So at -400 it becomes an easy fade. For me, since there’s no clear standout, I want the best odds for a guy who could realistically be taken first. That’s why I’m going with Henderson. He had 12 plays of 50+ yards last year, on route to his SECOND consecutive season with 8.9 yards per carry. You read that correctly…8.9 yards per carry. Not only that, but this past season he was 8th in missed taclkes per attempt and led all RB’s with an earth-shattering 6.15 yards per carry after contact. That’s an entire yard per carry more than the next highest. Henderson may not have been playing against the same caliber defenders as some of the other elite RB’s, but I value athleticism and production…and he checks off both those boxes.
– Nick Zylak (@nickzylakFFA)
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