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When the NFL draft rolls around every year, we hear the lines repeated with mind-numbing frequency.

"The running back position is devalued in today's NFL."

"You don't need to waste a first-round pick on a running back."

"You can get the same kind of production out of a mid-round pick at running back."

More and more NFL teams have been moving from the "featured back" model to the committee approach in recent years—only seven backs topped 1,000 yards rushing in 2015, the fewest since 1991—but does that mean they're better off waiting until the later rounds to address the position? Should teams pass on a potentially dynamic talent and get better value deeper in the draft?

Jason DeCrow/Associated Press

The well-documented failures of recent high draft picks like Trent Richardson have led many to believe running backs aren't worth a top pick. But while there have been quite a few busts at the position near the top of the draft, recent history tells us that the majority of the NFL's top backs were taken in the first two rounds.

Since 2005, there have been 52 different running backs that have finished in the top 10 in the league in rushing yards. Of those 52, 33 were drafted in the first two rounds—23 in the first round and 10 in the second round.

Here's the breakdown of the first-rounders from that group:

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Player Year Adrian Peterson 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 LaDainian Tomlinson 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Steven Jackson 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 Thomas Jones 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 Marshawn Lynch 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Chris Johnson 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 Willis McGahee 2005, 2007, 2011 Edgerrin James 2005, 2007 Larry Johnson 2005, 2006 DeAngelo Williams 2008, 2015 Jonathan Stewart 2009, 2015 Ryan Mathews 2011, 2013 Doug Martin 2012, 2015 Shaun Alexander 2005 Warrick Dunn 2005 Jamal Lewis 2007 Fred Taylor 2007 Cedric Benson 2009 Ricky Williams 2009 Rashard Mendenhall 2007 C.J. Spiller 2012 Darren McFadden 2015 Todd Gurley 2015

13 of the 23 first-rounders finished in the top 10 multiple times, and seven did it three or more times. If we include second-round picks, the case for spending an early choice on a running back grows even stronger:

Player Year Clinton Portis 2005, 2007, 2008 Maurice Jones-Drew 2009, 2010, 2011 Ray Rice 2009, 2010, 2011 LeSean McCoy 2011, 2013, 2014 Tiki Barber 2005, 2006 Matt Forte 2008, 2013 Eddie Lacy 2013, 2014 Travis Henry 2006 Le'Veon Bell 2014 Jeremy Hill 2014

With the second-rounders included, that makes 20 backs who finished in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing multiple times since 2005. Only 10 backs drafted after the second round accomplished that feat over the same span.

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How do the rest of the rounds break down? Let's take a look.

Third Round

Player Year Frank Gore 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Jamaal Charles 2010, 2012, 2013 Brian Westbrook 2006, 2007 DeMarco Murray 2013, 2014 Steve Slaton 2008 Stevan Ridley 2012

Fourth Round

Player Year Rudi Johnson 2005, 2006 Lamar Miller 2014 Devonta Freeman 2015

Fifth Round

Player Year Michael Turner 2008, 2010, 2011

Sixth Round

Player Year Alfred Morris 2012, 2013 Chester Taylor 2006 Latavius Murray 2015

Seventh Round

Player Year Ahmad Bradshaw 2010 Justin Forsett 2014

There are a few backs from each round sprinkled throughout the top 10 rushers since 2005, but it's clearly more rare to find them in the draft after the second round. Heck, if a team is going to wait until Day 3 to get its runner, it might as well just wait until the draft is over and sign one of the leftovers as a free agent.

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Take a look at the undrafted free agents who have made that list:

Player Year Arian Foster 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 Willie Parker 2006, 2007 Ryan Grant 2008, 2009 Chris Ivory 2015

That's right. Since 2005, the NFL has gone just one season—2013—without an undrafted free agent finishing in the top 10 in rushing yards.

This year's draft class features plenty of backfield talent, led by two of the nation's most productive and dynamic workhorses—Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliot and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry from the Alabama Crimson Tide—but many NFL fans are already wondering if either is worth a premium draft pick.

While it's easy to point to busts like Richardson as cautionary tales, the same argument can be made for just about every position on the field.

Elliot, in particular, has a rare skill set that should make him the first back off the board come April, combining fantastic power and toughness between the tackles with superb vision, quickness, patience and explosion.

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Henry isn't the quickest or the fastest back in the world, but his relentless running style and ability to get more effective as the game wears on make him an attractive prospect who could thrive as the "thunder" in a split backfield.

Should NFL teams—especially those with a need for a dynamic young running back—pass on these kinds of talents just for fear of them busting? Should they just wait until the later rounds, assuming they can scrape the bottom of the barrel and come up with a top-10 rusher?

Over 10 years worth of data tells us, "Not so fast, my friend."

Elliot and Henry have a chance to be impact players as soon as they step onto the field at the next level. Teams would be wise not to avoid them, unless they're on the opposing sideline.

*All stats courtesy of ESPN.com

Luke Easterling is a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft for Bleacher Report. He also covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Scout. Follow him on Twitter @LukeEasterling.