Running Back Sleepers, Values & Breakouts (2026)
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As regular readers know, I tend to follow the touches when attacking the running back position in fantasy drafts, and that usually means drafting 1-2 heavy-usage backs in the early rounds.
Like last year, there are a few high-touch backs available in the 4th-5th range, the so-called “RB Dead Zone,” and some intriguing breakout candidates still on the board even later in drafts, so the “Hero RB” strategy—drafting one bell-cow back early on and then drafting a few guys to potentially fill your RB2 spot—is doable. And those managers who want to ditch the position completely in the first few rounds (with a Zero-RB approach) can wait and find quality values later on, though that strategy has seemingly fallen out of favor in recent years.
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Below is a list of Values, Breakout Candidates, and Sleepers that might help fantasy managers sort out their running back strategies in 2026.
Breakout Candidates
Cam Skattebo, Giants
A dislocated ankle in Week 8 is the only reason Skattebo isn’t in the RB1 conversation. From Weeks 2 through 7, he averaged 19.5 touches, 97 rushing yards, and a touchdown per game, and the receiving metrics (88th-percentile YPRR, 90th-percentile route grade) say he’s a legitimate three-down back, not just a between-the-tackles grinder. Health-wise, he should be ready by Week 1. Tenth overall pick Francis Mauigoa should help improve the pre-contact numbers that were below average last year.
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