Ameer Abdullah is getting some love. He’s speedy and quick, and he busted a lot of long runs at Nebraska. And Joique Bell is banged up after offseason surgeries on his knee and Achilles. Could this second-rounder be the surprise rookie?

I don’t think so.

It’s tough to ask a running back to come in and be a big-time player from the get-go. Especially coming out of spread offense (like Abdullah ran out last year). LaMichael James, Bishop Sankey and Carlos Hyde all excelled in spread offenses in college, and they all were underwhelming in their first NFL seasons. They were all, like Abdullah, selected in the second round.

There have been 27 running backs selected in the second round in the last 10 years. Only six of those guys put up noteworthy numbers in their first year. (I’ve got them in bold below). Of the other 21, six didn’t even play at all because of preseason injuries. (I’ve got a black ball in front of those guys).

SECOND-ROUND RUNNING BACKS
YearPlayerRunRecTotalTD
2005J.J. Arrington, Ariz.3701395092
2005• Eric Shelton, Car.0000
2006Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac.9414361,37716
2006LenDale White, Tenn.244603040
2007Brandon Jackson, G.B.2671303971
2007Chris Henry, Tenn.119531722
2007• Kenny Irons, Cin.0000
2008Matt Forte, Chi.1,2384771,71512
2008Ray Rice, Balt.4542737270
2009LeSean McCoy , Phil.6373089454
2010Toby Gerhart, Minn.3221674891
2010• Montario Hardesty, Clev.0000
2010• Ben Tate, Hou.0000
2011Daniel Thomas, Mia.581726531
2011Shane Vereen, N.E.570571
2011• Ryan Williams, Ariz.0000
2011• Mikel Leshoure, Det.0000
2012LaMichael James, S.F.125291540
2012Isaiah Pead, St.L.5416700
2013Eddie Lacy, G.B.1,1782571,43511
2013LeVeon Bell, Pitt.8603991,2598
2013Giovani Bernard, Cin.6955141,2098
2013Montee Ball, Den.5591457044
2013Christine Michael, Sea.790790
2014Jeremy Hill, Cin.1,1242151,3399
2014Bishop Sankey, Tenn.5691337022
2014Carlos Hyde, S.F.333684014

—Ian Allan