Running back was the most reliable position in fantasy football this past season, at least as it pertained to the top players. Based on the average draft position data of the top 12 running backs selected, nine finished the fantasy season ranked in the top 12. That’s 75 percent. By comparison, just 50% of the top 12 wideouts based on ADP hit that level.
The best player at the position was Christian McCaffrey, who scored 404.9 points in the fantasy season. Other big names, like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry, were all as good as ever in the stat sheets.
Looking ahead to 2026, there are plenty of questions that need to be answered at the position. The NFL offseason has been far more active in recent years, so we’re in for a treat with future trades and player movement via free agency. (You will see an asterisk next to the runners who will be free agents, at some level, during the offseason).
Several players went down with injuries whose recoveries we’ll be monitoring, none more critical than Quinshon Judkins (knee), Cam Skattebo (leg), and James Conner (foot). And of course, we’ll be watching the scouting combine and the 2026 NFL draft to find who could be helpful to fantasy options as rookies.
Here are my initial 2026 fantasy football running back rankings. I’ll be updating these often throughout the offseason, so keep checking back!
2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
| RK | Player | Pos | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bijan Robinson | RB1 | ATL |
| 2 | Jahmyr Gibbs | RB2 | DET |
| 3 | Christian McCaffrey | RB3 | SF |
| 4 | De'Von Achane | RB4 | MIA |
| 5 | Jonathan Taylor | RB5 | IND |
| 6 | James Cook | RB6 | BUF |
| 7 | Chase Brown | RB7 | CIN |
| 8 | Travis Etienne Jr.* | RB8 | JAC |
| 9 | Ashton Jeanty | RB9 | LV |
| 10 | Josh Jacobs | RB10 | GB |
| 11 | Derrick Henry | RB11 | BAL |
| 12 | Kyren Williams | RB12 | LAR |
| 13 | Javonte Williams* | RB13 | DAL |
| 14 | Omarion Hampton | RB14 | LAC |
| 15 | RJ Harvey | RB15 | DEN |
| 16 | TreVeyon Henderson | RB16 | NE |
| 17 | Saquon Barkley | RB17 | PHI |
| 18 | Bucky Irving | RB18 | TB |
| 19 | Kenneth Walker III* | RB19 | SEA |
| 20 | Quinshon Judkins | RB20 | CLE |
| 21 | Cam Skattebo | RB21 | NYG |
| 22 | Breece Hall* | RB22 | NYJ |
| 23 | D'Andre Swift | RB23 | CHI |
| 24 | Jaylen Warren | RB24 | PIT |
| 25 | James Conner | RB25 | ARI |
| 26 | Kyle Monangai | RB26 | CHI |
| 27 | Tony Pollard | RB27 | TEN |
| 28 | Rhamondre Stevenson | RB28 | NE |
| 29 | Alvin Kamara | RB29 | NO |
| 30 | Chuba Hubbard | RB30 | CAR |
| 31 | Woody Marks | RB31 | HOU |
| 32 | Aaron Jones Sr. | RB32 | MIN |
| 33 | Kenenth Gainwell* | RB33 | PIT |
| 34 | Jordan Mason | RB34 | MIN |
| 35 | Devin Neal | RB35 | NO |
| 36 | Rico Dowdle* | RB36 | CAR |
| 37 | Isiah Pacheco* | RB37 | KC |
| 38 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | RB38 | WAS |
| 39 | David Montgomery | RB39 | DET |
| 40 | Dylan Sampson | RB40 | CLE |
| 41 | Rachaad White* | RB41 | TB |
| 42 | Trey Benson | RB42 | ARI |
| 43 | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | RB43 | NYG |
| 44 | Blake Corum | RB44 | LAR |
| 45 | J.K. Dobbins* | RB45 | DEN |
| 46 | Tyler Allgeier* | RB46 | ATL |
| 47 | Tyjae Spears | RB47 | TEN |
| 48 | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | RB48 | WAS |
| 49 | Bhayshul Tuten | RB49 | JAC |
| 50 | Tank Bigsby | RB50 | PHI |
| 51 | Braelon Allen | RB51 | NYJ |
| 52 | Jaylen Wright | RB52 | MIA |
| 53 | Kimani Vidal | RB53 | LAC |
| 54 | Keaton Mitchell* | RB54 | BAL |
| 55 | Brian Robinson Jr.* | RB55 | SF |
| 56 | Brashard Smith | RB56 | KC |
| 57 | Sean Tucker* | RB57 | TB |
| 58 | Emanuel Wilson* | RB58 | GB |
| 59 | Jaydon Blue | RB59 | DAL |
| 60 | Joe Mixon | RB60 | HOU |
| 61 | Ollie Gordon II | RB61 | MIA |
| 62 | Najee Harris* | RB62 | LAC |
| 63 | Zach Charbonnet | RB63 | SEA |
| 64 | Ty Johnson | RB64 | BUF |
| 65 | Kareem Hunt* | RB65 | KC |
| 66 | Kaleb Johnson | RB66 | PIT |
| 67 | Ray Davis | RB67 | BUF |
| 68 | Samaje Perine | RB68 | CIN |
| 69 | Jaleel McLaughlin | RB69 | DEN |
| 70 | Kendre Miller | RB70 | NO |
| 71 | Austin Ekeler* | RB71 | WAS |
| 72 | Nick Chubb* | RB72 | HOU |
| 73 | Devin Singletary | RB73 | NYG |
| 74 | Justice Hill | RB74 | BAL |
| 75 | Isaiah Davis | RB75 | NYJ |
| 76 | Tahj Brooks | RB76 | CIN |
| 77 | Audric Estime | RB77 | NO |
| 78 | Jawhar Jordan | RB78 | HOU |
| 79 | Jerome Ford* | RB79 | CLE |
| 80 | Jeremy McNichols* | RB80 | WAS |
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fab's Way-Too-Early 2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings.
