3 Dynasty Trade Targets: Running Backs (2026 Fantasy Football)

It’s risky business trading for running backs in dynasty fantasy football this early in the offseason. More than any other position, their value can crater overnight if the team brings in high-level competition. That said, it’s always worth exploring to see if you can improve your roster.

Whether you’re a contender needing points for the upcoming season or a rebuilder chasing youth and upside, I’ve got a few suggestions for you. Here are three running backs I’d be targeting in trades right now.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Targets: Running Backs

For Contenders: Chase Brown (RB – CIN)

Assuming the Bengals don’t select Jeremiyah Love in the first round and he survives the NFL Draft, Chase Brown is an awesome buy if you need to bolster your running back room. He won’t be cheap after his rip-roaring second-half finish last year, but I believe he’ll continue to be a steady producer for the next couple of seasons.

To say things started rough last year for Brown would be a massive understatement. Through Week 7, he was shaping up to be one of the biggest busts in all of fantasy, averaging a measly 10.1 fantasy points per game (RB30). He looked slow and was getting stuffed near the line of scrimmage on what felt like every carry.

Then a switch flipped in Week 8. From that point on, he was borderline unstoppable. Brown was the RB4 in fantasy the rest of the way. He more than doubled his per-game output, averaging a robust 21.2 fantasy points per game. The only backs who averaged more in that span were Christian McCaffrey and Jahmyr Gibbs. Some elite company, no doubt.

The efficiency metrics won’t knock anyone’s socks off, but Brown balled out thanks to some elite volume, particularly in the passing game. He was fourth among all running backs in targets (88), fourth in routes run (375) and seventh in target share (14.5%). If he continues to see work like that out of the backfield, he’ll be a locked-and-loaded RB1 in 2026.

I’ve seen Brown moved in a couple of leagues recently. In one, he went straight up for a 2027 first-round pick. In this rookie draft, I’d be happy to spend up to the 1.06 pick to acquire him. Cross positional players I’d be comfortable moving for him include Tyler Shough, Jaylen Waddle, A.J. Brown or Sam LaPorta.

For Rebuilders: Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAX)

This one requires a bit of wish-casting on our part as dynasty managers, but there is a massive opportunity awaiting Bhayshul Tuten going into his sophomore season. He has a chance to seize the lead role in Liam Coen’s offense, one that’s been very fruitful to his main ball-carriers over the past few seasons.

Gone is Travis Etienne. He’s now in New Orleans, wearing black and gold, and leaving behind 296 touches. That’s a lot of vacated opportunities. Yes, many of those will go to the newly signed Chris Rodriguez Jr., likely the early-down carries, since that’s his forte. But Tuten should see plenty of work, too, after only averaging 6.2 touches per game as a rookie.

Even though he didn’t break out the way many hoped, Tuten did some encouraging things in his limited playing time. He ranked 10th in juke rate (25.8%) and 16th in fantasy points per opportunity (0.91). Despite playing less than a fourth of the snaps (23.4%), Tuten finished his rookie campaign with 386 total yards and seven touchdowns on just 93 touches.

If Tuten can take a leap and earn a sizable role in the offense next year, a high-end RB2 fantasy season could be in play. Etienne averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game last season, ranking 13th at the position. It remains to be seen just how good Tuten could be, but he’s wicked fast — he ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the combine last year — and a home-run threat in the open field. I’m sure Coen has some creative ways to use that speed after selecting Tuten at the top of the fourth round just a year ago.

In dynasty, Tuten’s value has steamed up a bit this offseason as managers dream of a production leap. He’s usually ranked in the mid-to-upper 20s or low-30s among backs. He’s obtainable, though. I’ve seen him recently traded for Isaiah Likely and a 2026 third-round pick in a TE-Premium format. You could also send receivers like Wan’Dale Robinson or Ricky Pearsall for him.

The opening is there for Tuten; it’s up to him to take control. He feels like a solid bet given his profile. Just don’t go overboard when trading for him, and you likely won’t regret it.

For All Builds: Breece Hall (RB – NYJ)

Usually, I try to avoid recommending Jets players like the plague, but it’s hard to ignore how much of a value Breece Hall has become. That’s because he’s coming off a career-low season of 13 fantasy points per game (RB20). The down year, along with the general stigma of playing for the Jets, has depressed his dynasty value somewhat.

It wasn’t all bad, though. While Hall didn’t get his typical workload in the passing game, he did set a new personal best in carries with 243 and topped the 1,000-yard mark on the ground for the first time as a pro. And on the 36 catches he made, he averaged 9.7 yards per reception, ranking third among all running backs.

Heading into 2026, there’s some optimism for a better offensive environment. The team brought back Geno Smith this offseason, and while he’s not an elite signal-caller, Smith can sling it with the best of them. At minimum, he’ll at least have the offense looking like a functional unit, as opposed to last year when the trio of Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook stunk up the joint.

Smith’s presence should help open things up for Hall. Defenses won’t be able to crowd the line of scrimmage quite as aggressively, and we know he’ll be able to get Hall the rock in the passing game.

Hall probably won’t get back to his 2023 level, when he averaged 17.1 fantasy points per game and finished as the overall RB2 that year, but at 25 years old, he still has that type of upside in him. It’s not unreasonable to expect 15 or 16 fantasy points per game if his receptions and touchdowns get back to what they were in prior seasons.

If you have a mid-2026 first you want to unload, see if you can land Hall with it. I’d be OK sending a 2027 first, but only if it projects to be late. Otherwise, get creative and see if you can get Hall for a package of a lesser player and a second-rounder — you never know what another manager will accept for a back coming off a relatively disappointing year.