2026 Rankings Breakdown: Running Backs

Jun 02, 2026

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Our 2026 projections have been released, so it’s time to go position-by-position and explain what I’m seeing as the draft season starts to take shape. This is the last of a four-part series providing an early look at our early 2026 projections.

More Rankings Breakdowns: QB | WR | TE | RB

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Workload = Fantasy Points

Here’s my annual reminder to follow the touches. It’s not rocket science, but it’s still worth remembering.

In 2023, seven backs averaged at least 19.0 touches: Kyren Williams (21.7), Christian McCaffrey (21.2), Josh Jacobs (20.8), Saquon Barkley (20.6), Rachaad White (19.6), Alvin Kamara (19.6), and Travis Etienne (19.0). Only Jacobs (RB19) failed to finish in the top 11 in per-game scoring, and four of those seven backs finished in the top six.

Nine of the 14 backs who averaged 16.0 to 18.9 touches per game finished inside the top 18 in per-game scoring. Only four backs–Bijan Robinson (15.9, RB20), Jahmyr Gibbs (15.8, RB7), Raheem Mostert (15.6, RB3), and De'Von Achane (11.9, RB4)–averaged fewer than 16.0 touches per game but managed to finish in the top 20 in per-game scoring.

In 2024, there were nine players who averaged at least 19.0 touches, and all nine finished with RB1 numbers, inside the top 12 on a per-game basis.

Of the 19 players who averaged at least 17.0 touches, 16 finished inside the top 20, and all 19 finished inside the top 27.

Last year, seven backs averaged at least 19.0 touches per game: Christian McCaffrey (24.9), Jonathan Taylor (22.1), Bijan Robinson (21.8), James Cook (21.3), Saquon Barkley (19.8), Bucky Irving (19.6), and De'Von Achane (19.1). All seven finished inside the top 18 in per-game scoring, and five of the seven finished inside the top six.

The 16.0-to-18.9 touch group held up almost as well. Fifteen backs fell into that range, and 14 of the 15 finished inside the top 24 in per-game scoring. The lone miss was Tony Pollard, who averaged 16.1 touches per game but finished RB28.

To sum up, of the 22 backs who averaged at least 16.0 touches per game, 18 finished inside the top 20, and 21 finished inside the top 24. Only two backs averaged fewer than 16.0 touches per game but cracked the top 20: Cam Skattebo (15.6, RB10 per game) in eight games before a dislocated ankle ended his season, and Jaylen Warren (15.5, RB19), who turned a committee role into above-average efficiency.

As always, we should follow the touches when approaching the position, unless the player is highly efficient and/or catches an extreme number of passes.

The RB1s

As usual, I’ll refer to my rankings, FantasyPros consensus rankings, and Underdog ADP while analyzing the running back position as a whole.

This year, it seems we all agree that the top four backs are Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, and Christian McCaffrey–that’s my order right now. After that, De’Von Achane, Ashton Jeanty, James Cook, Chase Brown, Omarion Hampton, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Kenneth Walker III, and Jeremiyah Love round out the top 13 in consensus rankings and Underdog ADP, but there’s one player whose omission is glaring, at least to me. Every year, the industry sleeps on this guy, and every year he outproduces his ADP.

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams finished RB6 and RB8 in back-to-back seasons–the fantasy community continues to underestimate him, yet he continues to produce. Williams has quietly been one of the best fantasy backs in the league in the last three years, scoring 44 total touchdowns while averaging 1,455 yards per season and averaging 4.6 yards per carry. His 91st-percentile run grade is the standout number.

The Rams' scheme does a lot of the work, though–his 86th-percentile YBC/Att reflects good blocking as much as good running, and his elusive rating (35th percentile) and YAC/Att (52nd percentile) aren't generating much when the holes aren’t there, but the holes are usually there in Sean McVay’s scheme. The receiving role (36 catches) is fine, but nothing special. I’m expecting midrange to low-end RB1 numbers once again, so his midrange RB2 ADP is quite appealing.

If his third-round ADP holds up, I’m going to be clicking his name often this summer.