We ranked every running back by projected season-long fantasy football points to build a “projection rank,” then compared that to each back’s actual expert consensus rank (ECR). These are the backs where the raw, points-based projection is significantly higher on the player than our experts’ rank.
- 2026 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings
- Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer
- Best Fantasy Football Rankings
2026 Fantasy Football Draft Advice: Running Backs Projections Love
Let’s look at a few running backs the fantasy football projections love for 2026.
Kaelon Black (SF) — ECR: RB82 | Projection Rank: RB60 | Projected FPTS: 68.6 | Diff: +22
Kaelon Black looks to have an early edge to climb into the clear RB2 spot on the 49ers’ depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey, with Jordan James now dealing with a rib fracture. James sustained the injury in Monday’s practice. Isaac Guerendo has had his own injury demons to deal with during his NFL career and has seemingly fallen down the depth chart with the team drafting James and Black in back-to-back years. I wasn’t in love with Black as a prospect as a rusher who failed to finish inside the top 40 FBS backs last year in yards after contact per attempt, breakaway rate, or elusive rating (per PFF). He’ll be climbing up my ranks, though, into the clear handcuff tier because, as we’ve seen over the years, Christian McCaffrey‘s health is never a certainty.
Derrick Henry (BAL) — ECR: RB11 | Projection Rank: RB5 | Projected FPTS: 264.2 | Diff: +6
Last year was another impressive year for Derrick Henry. He didn’t show any signs of slowing down with 307 rushing attempts, 1.595 rushing yards, 16 total touchdowns, and an RB8 finish in fantasy points per game. Last year, among 49 qualifying backs, Henry ranked 16th in yards after contact per attempt and seventh in explosive run rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Henry won’t contribute much in the passing game, but that’s a given at this point. It doesn’t crush his overall production, but it isn’t there to help add to his weekly floor. Henry had five games last year as RB25 or lower in weekly fantasy scoring. I still want to invest in Henry as an RB1 again in 2026. If Lamar Jackson can bounce back, Henry could inch back closer to his 2024 production (RB4 in fantasy points per game). He’s at worst a low-end RB1 with top-five upside.
Josh Jacobs (GB) — ECR: RB16 | Projection Rank: RB11 | Projected FPTS: 239.1 | Diff: +5
Josh Jacobs has been the RB8 and RB9 in fantasy points per game during his two seasons in Green Bay. he dealt with a knee injury last season, which impacted his snap share and effectiveness. Last year, after Week 6, he surpassed 60% of the snaps in only two games. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Green Bay limit his playing time to an extent this year to keep him healthy all year, but that’s just a projection. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see them run him out there for 70-80% of the snaps weekly if his body can hold up. Last year, he ranked 22nd in explosive run rate and 19th in missed tackle rate (per Fantasy Points Data). Jacobs’ touchdown equity in the Green Bay offense has helped him a ton over the last two seasons, as he has averaged 15 total touchdowns per season while ranking ninth and fifth in red zone touches. Jacobs is a top 20 back with RB1 upside in 2026.
De’Von Achane (MIA) — ECR: RB10 | Projection Rank: RB6 | Projected FPTS: 259.3 | Diff: +4
Last season, De’Von Achnae was the RB5 in fantasy points per game while racking up 305 touches and 1,838 total yards. After a dip in 2024, he returned to being an otherworldly back in terms of efficiency. Among 49 qualifying backs, Achane was first in explosive run rate, 13th in missed tackle rate, and sixth in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). He was also a key cog in the passing game, ranking second among backs in target share (18.7%), 12th in yards per route run, and fourth in receiving yards. He was fifth in targets among backs with 85. That number is sure to drop this season with Malik Willis in Miami. I don’t think he’ll be a zero in the passing game, especially considering the receiving depth chart for Miami, but Willis’s rushing ability will lead to fewer checkdowns for Achane in 2026. Achane should still be considered an insanely talented RB1 that could lead the NFL in rushing yards this season, but if his receiving work takes a hit, he’ll probably lack top 3-5 upside at the position.
Isiah Pacheco (DET) — ECR: RB51 | Projection Rank: RB47 | Projected FPTS: 105.4 | Diff: +4
Isiah Pacheco lands with the Lions as the change-of-pace back/handcuff for Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco’s health has been an issue for the last three years. In a complementary/goal-line role, he could pay dividends for Detroit. If he can recapture any resemblance to the player that posted a 5.4% explosive run rate and 2.77 yards after contact per attempt in 2023 in Detroit, he should pay off for the Lions in 2026 (per Fantasy Points Data). If Gibbs were to miss any time, Pacheco would likely be an RB2 option for fantasy gamers.
Rachaad White (WAS) — ECR: RB37 | Projection Rank: RB34 | Projected FPTS: 147.8 | Diff: +3
Over the last two seasons, with Bucky Irving in town, Rachaad White was a more effective per-touch player, but with Irving out of the lineup last year, he proved again that he can carry the mail (although while being horribly inefficient). Last season, in Weeks 5-12, White averaged 14.6 touches and 60 total yards while seeing 71% of the snaps. During that span, White was the RB23 in fantasy points per game with a 1.2% explosive run rate, a 14% missed tackle rate, and only 1.52 yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). White has moved on to Washington for the 2026 season, and he could easily be their starting running back this season if he can secure the job coming out of camp. He is a decent dice roll for fantasy football for 2026, who could stack up enough volume to pay off for fantasy gamers.
Breece Hall (NYJ) — ECR: RB15 | Projection Rank: RB13 | Projected FPTS: 229.9 | Diff: +2
Breece Hall had a tough time last year despite finishing as the RB20 in fantasy points per game. New York’s quarterback play was dreadful, and the offense overall was a mess, which led to them ranking 29th in points per game and red zone scoring opportunities per game. The good news is that despite those factors, he ran behind an offensive line that ranked seventh in adjusted yards before contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). New York’s offensive line remains largely intact while adding Dylan Parham to the mix to replace the often-injured and departed Alijah Vera-Tucker, so they could easily be a top-shelf unit in 2026. The Jets also added Geno Smith, Omar Cooper Jr., and Kenyan Sadiq to the mix, which will raise the ceiling and floor of the overall offensive environment. This is all great news for a back that was also fourth in explosive run rate and tenth in missed tackle rate last year. Hall should enjoy more scoring opportunities this season and hopefully a bounce back in the receiving department while finishing with a career-low 10.9% target share last season. Hall should be considered a top-shelf RB2 with RB1 upside.
Cam Skattebo (NYG) — ECR: RB19 | Projection Rank: RB17 | Projected FPTS: 221.5 | Diff: +2
The human battering ram known as Cam Skattebo made waves in his rookie season before being sidelined by a horrible ankle/fibula fracture that also ruptured his deltoid ligament in Week 8 of last season. In Weeks 2-7 as the Giants’ workhorse, Skattebo averaged 19.5 touches and 96.3 total yards as the RB8 in fantasy points per game. I won’t be surprised if Skattebo’s per-touch efficiency is impacted for at least part of his 2026 season, if not the entire year, as he works his way back from last year’s injury. If he’s good to go, he should be the Giants’ leading ball carrier this season. Last season, he was stellar with his touches, ranking fourth in missed tackle rate and yards after contact per attempt, 11th in target per route run rate, eighth in yards per route run, and second in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). He’s best viewed as a volume-driven RB2, but I won’t be shocked if he’s an RB1 this season.
Bhayshul Tuten (JAC) — ECR: RB25 | Projection Rank: RB23 | Projected FPTS: 193.9 | Diff: +2
With Travis Etienne gone, Bhayshul Tuten will compete with Chris Rodriguez to be the lead back for the Jaguars in 2026. I want to bet on Tuten this year and his talent. Last year, Tuten was unfortunately robbed of the stretch run of his rookie season as he was sidelined by a finger injury. Before the injury, he was starting to make some noise. This could be the big breakout season for Tuten, who, on a per-touch basis, flashed the immense talent that I really liked when he was in college. Last season, among 55 qualifying backs, he ranked fifth in rushing success rate, 11th in missed tackle rate, and 17th in yards after contact per attempt. Rodriguez will remain a worry for Tuten at the goal line and to his overall touch count until we see his role fleshed out this season, but if he can be the clear lead guy, he has the talent to match Etienne’s RB13 finish last year in fantasy points per game.
Tony Pollard (TEN) — ECR: RB28 | Projection Rank: RB26 | Projected FPTS: 175.1 | Diff: +2
Tony Pollard remains the clear leadback for the Titans entering the 2026 season. Last year, he ranked 15th in snap share, 17th in opportunity share, and 16th in weighted opportunities, but because of the putrid offensive situation he found himself in, he was only the RB29 in fantasy points per game. This can be traced to his five total touchdowns, which were a result of an offense that was 30th in points per game and 32nd in red zone scoring attempts per game, so it makes sense that he also ranked 49th in red zone touches. Pollard was still solid on a per-touch basis. Among 49 qualifying backs, he ranked 25th in explosive run rate and 22nd in yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Brian Daboll, his new offensive coordinator, has historically ridden one running back in his offenses, and Pollard looks to be that guy this season. Pollard should find running room in 2026 with Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson added to the passing game, improved play from Cam Ward, and an offensive line that last year was quietly 13th-best in yards before contact per attempt. Pollard will be lingering in the RB3 range in plenty of drafts, but I think he returns strong RB2 value and production this season.
View the Best Fantasy Football Team Names 
Fantasy Football Draft Rankings
Check out the consensus 2026 fantasy football draft rankings from our experts.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
