The running back dead zone has generally been the third and sixth rounds of fantasy football drafts. Running backs in this range have struggled historically compared to wide receivers and even tight ends in the same range, especially in half-point and full PPR scoring.
A couple of factors go into the running back dead zone. The top one is fantasy players pushing running backs up in the ADP after seeing an early run at the position in the first two rounds. However, that has changed over the past few years. The general public has become more willing to draft wide receivers early in their drafts. With more wide receivers getting drafted in the first two rounds, running backs have been more appropriately ranked and drafted.
Furthermore, the running back dead zone is arguably gone. The ADP shows that fantasy players are rightfully prioritizing wide receivers over running backs. According to the FantasyPros PPR ADP, 15 wide receivers, two tight ends, and one quarterback are coming off the board in the first three rounds. By comparison, 16 running backs have a top-36 ADP.
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Fantasy Football Running Backs to Avoid Inside the RB Dead Zone
While the dead zone might be a thing of the past, there are still running backs that fantasy players want to pass on drafting in that range. Here are three running backs inside the dead zone that I will avoid drafting in 2026.
TreVeyon Henderson (NE): ADP 52.5 | RB22
I understand the love for Henderson. He is an exciting young running back who was a fantasy superstar when given the chance to be the featured guy as a rookie. The former Ohio State star played three games without Rhamondre Stevenson, averaging 19 touches for 110 scrimmage yards, 1.7 touchdowns, and 24.3 PPR fantasy points per game, earning 74% of the backfield workload. Unfortunately, he clearly took a backseat to Stevenson when both running backs were healthy.
Henderson averaged 11.3 touches for 57.3 scrimmage yards, 0.4 touchdowns, and 9.5 fantasy points per game, earning 43.4% of the backfield workload when playing alongside the veteran. Furthermore, the team leaned on Stevenson during their Super Bowl run, giving the veteran 70 touches in the playoffs, including 12 in the matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. By comparison, Henderson had 35 touches in the playoffs, with nine coming in the Super Bowl. More importantly, the Patriots will have an improved passing attack in 2026.
New England added A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs to their receiving corps this offseason. Last year, the wide receiver duo combined to average 13.4 targets and 25 fantasy points per game. The improved passing attack will create better running lanes for Henderson, but he still has to surpass Stevenson as the lead running back. While I would have the former Ohio State star higher in my fantasy rankings, fantasy players are better off drafting Stevenson at his ADP (78.5 | RB30) than Henderson at his.
Bucky Irving (TB): ADP 58.5 | RB25
Many were shocked when Irving became a fantasy star as a rookie despite Rachaad White finishing the 2024 season as an RB2. Irving was the RB13 as a rookie, averaging 14.4 PPR fantasy points per game, posting 5.4 yards per rushing attempt. By comparison, White finished as the RB22, averaging 12.5 fantasy points per game. More importantly, both running backs had an impact in the air. Irving averaged 2.8 receptions on 3.1 targets per game as a rookie, while White averaged 3.2 and 3.6.
Unfortunately, the former Oregon star severely regressed last year. Irving missed seven games because of a foot injury. More importantly, he averaged 3.4 yards per rushing attempt, down two yards compared to his rookie season average. Furthermore, his touchdown rate declined significantly, from 3.9% in 2024 to 2.0% last year. Irving also didn’t see an increase in work in the passing game, averaging three receptions on 3.5 targets per game in 2025, which is important given the offseason addition of Kenneth Gainwell.
The Buccaneers signed Gainwell to a meaningful contract on the first day of free agency, heavily suggesting the team expects the veteran to have a significant role on offense this year. Furthermore, Sean Tucker is back after accounting for 55% of Tampa Bay’s rushing attempts inside the five-yard line last season. By comparison, Irving has zero such rushing attempts. Quinshon Judkins (53.5 | RB23) and Bhayshul Tuten (56.5 | RB24) have ADPs similar to Irving’s but carry significantly less risk and more upside.
Jaylen Warren (PIT): ADP 70.5 | RB27
Fantasy players have begged the Steelers for years to give Warren a chance as the featured running back. Many thought it would happen last season with Najee Harris gone and Kaleb Johnson struggling during training camp. Unfortunately, Warren ended up splitting the backfield workload with Kenneth Gainwell. While he averaged more rushing attempts than the veteran (13.2 vs. 6.7), Warren averaged significantly fewer receptions (2.5 vs. 4.3) and targets (2.8 vs. 5.0) per game than Gainwell last year.
Furthermore, Gainwell was the more productive player, averaging more yards (5.5 vs. 5.1) and PPR fantasy points (1.2 vs. 0.9) per touch than Warren. Fantasy players finally thought the former Oklahoma State star would get an opportunity to be the featured guy this offseason after Gainwell signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unfortunately, Warren’s chance to be a fantasy star died when Pittsburgh signed Rico Dowdle to a meaningful contract, reuniting him with his former head coach Mike McCarthy.
While some believe he will take over the Gainwell role in the passing game this year, potentially earning the same 85 targets the veteran did last season, Warren has significantly more competition for targets. Last year, DK Metcalf was the Steelers’ only meaningful wide receiver. Unfortunately, the team added Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard this offseason. While Aaron Rodgers likes to target his running backs, Warren won’t see enough volume to warrant his sixth-round ADP. I would rather draft Dowdle two rounds later.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.