Death, taxes and fantasy football fortunes are decided by the fates of running backs. Perhaps that’s an overly simplified version of things, but think back through your best fantasy football seasons, and you most likely struck gold at the running back position. Whether that was a late-round gem or a player who gave you far stronger production than predicted.
Either way, finding good running backs gives you a heck of a leg up on your league mates. Here are four running backs you should prioritize for fantasy football in 2026.
- Fantasy Football Research & Advice
- Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
Must-Have Fantasy Football Running Backs
Javonte Williams (RB – DAL)
It’s a little perplexing that Javonte Williams isn’t getting more hype. At age 25, Williams is entering year six of his career, and despite the awful injuries early on, he’s now played 16+ games in each of the last three seasons.
Williams is the clear starter for the Cowboys, with no serious threats behind him. The team stood pat with Jaydon Blue and Malik Davis as backups, yet Williams remains RB17 in average draft position (ADP) and is ranked 41st in the expert consensus rankings (ECR).
There doesn’t seem to be any obvious reason the Cowboys might not be good this year, and they’ve typically leaned into bell-cow running backs over the years.
Javonte Williams pic.twitter.com/DPX7NODE0Y
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 20, 2026
Blue and Davis combined for 90 rushing attempts and 379 total yards last season, while Williams recorded 252 attempts for 1,201 yards and 4.77 yards per carry (YPC). Williams had the eighth-highest success rate among running backs and finished with career highs in attempts, rushing yards, touchdowns and longest career rush.
Williams is far enough removed from his injuries to shed the injury-prone label and start believing in his talent and situation.
D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
A year ago, many were convinced that the Bears would simply have to bring in someone else with only D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai on the roster. Many were also convinced Ben Johnson wouldn’t vibe with Swift after seeing him traded away during their time together in Detroit.
Instead, what we saw play out was 223 rush attempts for Swift for 1,087 yards, and 169 attempts for Monangai for 783 yards. Swift had a higher explosive run rate (5.4% vs. 4.1%), a better missed tackles forced rate (0.17 vs. 0.10), generated more yards before contact and was the better receiving back.
D'Andre Swift survived another offseason with the Bears ????
2024: RB19
2025: RB15
2026: RB???pic.twitter.com/WwqLFKfACB— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) May 7, 2026
Combine this all with the fact that Swift was the preferred option around the goal line, and it becomes quite hard not to be interested in him at his current cost of RB25, going around pick 60. This is Johnson’s second year in charge of the Bears, and it wouldn’t be outlandish to expect another jump in efficiency.
If that happens, Swift could easily be a top-18 running back for fantasy.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB – NYG)
The Giants were often linked to running backs in free agency and the draft, which might have been subterfuge or mistruths, but it certainly didn’t sound like they believed they had a bell-cow back on the roster.
Cam Skattebo had an explosive run rate identical to Tyrone Tracy‘s (4%). But Tracy led in yards per carry (4.20 vs. 4.06), while Skattebo forced more missed tackles (0.26 per attempt vs. 0.12). This trend of flip-flopping stats is generally evident across most analytics you look at.
Tracy is three years into his four-year rookie contract, and there’s little reason for the Giants not to keep him involved. All signs point to Skattebo being the lead back if he recovers fully from the mid-season injury that saw him dislocate his ankle, break his fibula and rupture the deltoid ligament. Assuming the workload will heavily lean toward one running back might be incorrect.
Only once during the three years Matt Nagy was offensive coordinator with the Chiefs did any running back climb over a 52% snap share, and John Harbaugh stood idly by as Todd Monken rotated Derrick Henry for Justice Hill in Baltimore. At RB43, and available around pick 130 in ADP, Tracy is 90 spots behind Skattebo and is a very worthwhile pickup.
In a similar range of drafts, you’ll also find Rachaad White, who is the RB39 and has an ADP of 122. The Commanders didn’t sign White to a particularly strong contract, barely paying him above the veteran minimum. That doesn’t mean he won’t have a valuable role, however.
White has had back-to-back years of 4.3 YPC and over 50% success rate, which, in the first two years of his career, were numbers he struggled with. He makes up for inefficiency in the ground game with his pass-catching upside. Now that White is at least more competent in those areas on paper, offenses can do more with him on the field.
*Shuts blinds*
*Locks door*
*Puts tape over webcam*
*Whispers*
Is Rachaad White this year's Javonte Williams
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 2, 2026
The Commanders never expected to rely on Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jacory Croskey-Merritt so heavily in 2025, but their hands were forced when Austin Ekeler tore his Achilles. White might not offer the explosivity that Ekeler once did, but he does come close with pass-catching work, averaging 51 receptions and 7.1 yards per reception in his career.
If new offensive coordinator David Blough can get the Commanders back on track, White could be the mid-round running back who provides great value.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn