Building a winning fantasy football roster doesn’t always require spending premium draft capital on running backs.
In fact, one of the biggest themes from a recent FantasyPros discussion was waiting for value. Rather than forcing an early running back selection, the analysts highlighted four backs currently being drafted outside the elite tiers who offer the combination of workload, opportunity, and upside to outperform their draft cost.
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4 Fantasy Football Running Back Values Experts Keep Drafting in 2026
Whether you’re starting your draft with wide receivers, an elite tight end, or simply looking for reliable RB2 production, these are the running backs the FantasyPros crew keeps targeting.
David Montgomery (RB – HOU)
If Derek Brown has his way, David Montgomery will be on plenty of his fantasy rosters.
The biggest selling point is volume.
Brown repeatedly compared Montgomery’s projected role to the workload Joe Mixon handled in the same offense, pointing out that there’s a realistic path to 300 touches. He also dismissed concerns that Montgomery is slowing down, arguing his efficiency metrics from last season showed he remains an effective runner and receiver.
Another key point was competition for touches.
Brown believes Woody Marks profiles as a change-of-pace option rather than a serious threat to Montgomery’s workload. Combined with Montgomery’s pass protection and three-down ability, that creates a strong case for feature-back usage.
Pat Fitzmaurice echoed the optimism, noting Houston’s defense should create favorable game scripts while Montgomery projects as the primary goal-line option.
The result is a running back with a stable workload and legitimate touchdown upside at a discounted draft price.
Bucky Irving (RB – TB)
Bucky Irving generated the most spirited debate of the discussion.
Pat Fitzmaurice made it clear he’s far more bullish than consensus.
He pointed to Irving’s breakout stretch after taking over Tampa Bay’s backfield, when he averaged more than 100 scrimmage yards per game and produced RB1-level fantasy numbers. Fitzmaurice also argued that last year’s decline was heavily influenced by injuries along Tampa Bay’s offensive line rather than a drop in Irving’s talent.
He backed that up by highlighting Irving’s elite efficiency metrics, including his ability to generate yards after contact and explosive runs.
Derek Brown largely agreed that Irving remains Tampa Bay’s lead back but expressed more concern about durability.
Rather than focusing on the competition in the backfield, Brown questioned whether Irving can consistently stay healthy given the collection of injuries he’s dealt with dating back to college.
Even with those concerns, both analysts agreed Irving’s current draft price leaves room for profit if he stays on the field.
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN)
Tony Pollard may be one of the easiest value bets according to Derek Brown.
His argument centered on opportunity.
Brown believes Tennessee’s offense will continue to feature one primary running back under its current coaching philosophy, and he sees Pollard firmly holding that role. Concerns about Tyjae Spears didn’t move the needle, as Brown pointed to Pollard’s efficiency and the lack of evidence that Spears is ready to overtake the backfield.
The discussion also emphasized context.
Last season’s offense struggled to generate scoring chances, limiting Pollard’s touchdown opportunities despite solid overall usage. Brown expects those red-zone opportunities to increase if the offense takes even a modest step forward.
Pat Fitzmaurice added that Pollard finished last season on a strong note once Tennessee’s passing game became more functional, reinforcing the belief that a healthier offense should benefit everyone involved.
At his current RB3 price tag, the panel sees Pollard as someone capable of returning RB2 production.
D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
Pat Fitzmaurice believes fantasy managers may be overlooking one simple factor when evaluating D’Andre Swift.
The offense.
He repeatedly emphasized the impact of Ben Johnson‘s rushing scheme, pointing to both Johnson’s track record and Chicago’s commitment to the running game. Swift already produced strong fantasy numbers within the offense, and Fitzmaurice believes another productive season is well within reach.
The presence of Kyle Monangai doesn’t change that outlook.
While both analysts acknowledged Monangai should have a role, they don’t expect him to replace Swift as Chicago’s primary running back.
Derek Brown agreed, arguing Swift remains underpriced based on both his production and efficiency. Even after Monangai became more involved, Swift continued producing at a strong fantasy pace while outperforming him across several efficiency metrics.
The expectation isn’t necessarily that Swift dominates every touch.
It’s that Chicago’s running game can support multiple contributors while Swift continues leading the way.
Why These Running Backs Stand Out
One common thread connected all four recommendations.
Workload.
Each player projects for meaningful volume while being drafted outside the elite running back tiers. Rather than chasing uncertain committee situations, the FantasyPros analysts focused on players they believe have clearly defined roles with room to outperform expectations.
That’s exactly the type of profile fantasy managers should be targeting once the early rounds come to an end.
Fantasy Football Takeaways
- David Montgomery (RB – HOU) offers one of the strongest volume projections among mid-round running backs and carries significant touchdown upside.
- Bucky Irving (RB – TB) remains a high-upside value, though durability is the primary concern discussed by the panel.
- Tony Pollard (RB – TEN) is expected to continue leading Tennessee’s backfield and could benefit from an improved offense.
- D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI) is viewed as undervalued thanks to his role in a productive rushing attack and continued efficiency.
- Montgomery was the strongest volume-based recommendation from the discussion.
- Irving’s talent wasn’t questioned, but health remains the biggest variable.
- Pollard’s draft cost appears lower than the workload the analysts expect him to receive.
- Swift still projects as Chicago’s lead back despite additional competition for touches.
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