We asked our Featured Pros for their favorite early and late running backs to target in 2026 fantasy football. Here are the players they think have league-winning upside to help you dominate your season.
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2026 League-Winning RBs to Target
What RB between RB6-20 in our consensus half-PPR RB ADP has the most league-winning upside?
Kenneth Walker III (RB – KC)
“Kenneth Walker III is the easy choice here. Coming off a Super Bowl MVP season with the Seahawks, he now finds himself on a Chiefs squad that has long sought a true workhorse running back for as long as Patrick Mahomes has been there. After yielding some touches to talented backfield mate Zach Charbonnet, Walker now finds himself as easily the most talented back on this roster. Look for Walker to set career highs in carries, yards, and targets, which will return first-round fantasy value. Jump on the Walker train now; it’s only going to pick up speed. By this time next year, he will be a top-five fantasy pick.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
“Kenneth Walker III. The Chiefs haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher in Patrick Mahomes‘ eight seasons as a starter, but Walker is about to change that. Mahomes is coming off a major knee injury, so Walker is going to play a big role in the Kansas City offense. He showed in last season’s playoffs that he can thrive in an expanded role. Walker had more than 100 scrimmage yards in all three of Seattle’s playoff games and scored four touchdowns. It’s worth remembering that once upon a time, Andy Reid was the playcaller for some epic RB seasons by Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy and Brian Westbrook. If opposing defenses continue to throw two-high-safety looks at the Chiefs as often as they have in recent years, Walker will go bonkers this season.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“While there is major risk associated with Kenneth Walker III, the upside is enormous after trading Seattle for Kansas City. In Seattle last season, Walker was reduced to being a part of a committee with Zach Charbonnet. Now in Kansas City, Walker stands to achieve career highs in carries, yards, and touchdowns, as the lone wolf at running back for the Chiefs. With Patrick Mahomes on the mend from a torn ACL, and no clear competition in the Chiefs backfield, Walker has clear top-5 upside in 2026 if he can remain healthy.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
Chase Brown (RB – CIN)
“Chase Brown. Currently ranked as my RB5. Once Joe Burrow returned to the lineup last season, Brown’s production spiked, averaging an impressive 20.6 half-PPR points per game and ranking as the RB3 across Weeks 13-17 (averaging a 61% snap share). Through the last two years, Brown has averaged just shy of 1,000 rushing yards and nearly 1,400 yards from scrimmage. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, the former 5th-round draft pick will be looking to finish 2026 on his highest note to date. List of RBs last season with at least 400 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards: CMC, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, De’Von Achane, and Chase Brown. Happily drafting him ahead of Ashton Jeanty and Saquon Barkley. Even with a projected snap split with Samaje Perine (70-30%) based on preseason Week 1 usage…Brown should still smash versus the Bengals’ third-easiest league schedule.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Chase Brown (RB9) carries legitimate league-winning upside as a locked-in workhorse. He operates in one of the league’s most efficient offenses when healthy, with virtually zero competition in Cincinnati’s backfield. The 2025 baseline speaks for itself: 300+ touches, almost 1,500 total yards, and 11 total TDs. The unlock for 2026 is TD efficiency; if the Bengals can protect more leads (translating to positive game scripts and more rushing volume near the goal line), Brown’s profile shifts from back-end RB1 to elite, high-end RB1 territory. At RB9, the gap between cost and ceiling is narrow.”
– Jacob Piccolo (TrueRGM)
“Chase Brown has the most league-winning upside for me in this range. He already has the workload, receiving role, and scoring environment, but he is still being drafted below the truly elite backs. I view him as a lighter version of Gibbs or Bijan, with several ways to score points every week. If Cincinnati stays healthy, Brown has a legitimate path to finishing as the overall RB1.”
– Jay Henry Ocho (Jay Henry Ocho)
Omarion Hampton (RB – LAC)
“Omarion Hampton (RB10 in ADP) is my pick for the RB with the most league-winning upside in this range because I’m fully buying into the 2026 Chargers offense and what Mike McDaniel can do with an elite RB talent. We’ve already seen Hampton’s ceiling, as he scored 13+ PPR points in six of his nine games last season and topped 20 points three times despite dealing with injuries and an injured offensive line. McDaniel has already shown he can create elite RB1 fantasy production for backs like De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert, and now he gets a bigger, more complete back in Hampton. The Chargers are also leaning into McDaniel’s scheme with additions like Alec Ingold. If this offense hits, I think Hampton has legitimate upside for the overall RB1.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)
“Omarion Hampton is coming into year two healthy after missing a handful of games in his rookie year. Upon his return, he is being gifted a healthy offensive line and a Mike McDaniel system that made Raheem Mostert a star. In his nine games last year, Hampton flashed his pass-catching abilities (32 receptions) and ability to run through tackles to move the chains (4.4 yards/carry). Currently being drafted as RB10, Hampton has the offensive system, talent, and teammates around him to help him lead fantasy owners to championships in 2026!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“Omarion Hampton has the most league-winning upside for me. We already saw the ceiling as a rookie, as he averaged nearly 20 fantasy points per game when playing at least 70% of the snaps. Now he enters 2026 with a healthier offensive line, a clearer lead role, and Mike McDaniel designing the offense. McDaniel’s history of creating receiving opportunities for running backs gives Hampton another path to elite production. With that combination of workload and receiving upside, Hampton has a legitimate top-five RB ceiling.”
– Doug Burrell (Draft With Doug)
Ashton Jeanty (RB – LV)
“Ashton Jeanty is my pick for the most league-winning upside in this range. His rookie season left us wanting more, but the talent that made him such a highly regarded prospect didn’t disappear. With improvements throughout the Raiders organization and another year of development for Jeanty, I’m betting we haven’t seen anything close to his ceiling yet. If those changes translate into a true breakout season, RB6 could actually prove to be a value.”
– Stephen Floyd (Draft With Doug)
Derrick Henry (RB – BAL)
“Despite the Ravens never getting on track in 2025, Derrick Henry had another solid season. Just think if Lamar Jackson can stay healthy? Baltimore also addressed the trenches. While they lost All-Pro center Tyler Lindstrom in free agency to Las Vegas, they brought back former Raven John Simpson and drafted one of the top offensive line prospects, guard Vega Ioane. Both should help open holes for Henry. I’ve seen no signs of Henry losing a step. He seems like he’s in store for another great year. With his ADP sitting at RB12, Henry seems like a bargain. Long live the King!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
De’Von Achane (RB – MIA)
“De’Von Achane falling to the second round is an RB who can play like the RB1 any given Week. Going into the preseason, I was a bit worried about Malik Willis and this awful Dolphins pass offense, but after watching Malik in the preseason opener and all the good words out of camp, the Dolphins look to be competent on offense. As long as the Dolphins are competent, Achane will find himself with a ton of touches and a ton of fantasy points as the heart and soul of the Dolphins offense.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)
“De’Von Achane is coming off a season of 1,838 yards from scrimmage, 67 receptions, and 12 touchdowns while averaging an absurd 5.7 yards per carry, and he finished as the RB5 in PPG, yet we can still draft him at RB8. Miami invested heavily in an offensive line that already looked improved in the preseason opener, and Achane immediately gave us a glimpse of what that could mean, turning seven carries into 39 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive. Malik Willis‘ ability to hold backside defenders on zone reads only creates more opportunities for Achane to hit the explosive plays that have defined his career, while a depleted receiving corps should keep him heavily involved through the air. With Bobby Slowik providing schematic continuity and likely retaining plenty of the screen game and manufactured touches that fit Achane perfectly, I’m not sure we’ve actually seen his ceiling yet. At RB8, Achane isn’t just my favorite bet in this range; he has a very real path to finishing as the overall RB1.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (The Armchair Sports Corner)
“De’Von Achane has one of the highest league‑winning upsides among RBs in the RB6–20 range. He caught 69 passes last season and is heavily involved as a pass-catcher, giving him a massive ceiling in half‑PPR formats. With Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle gone, Miami’s offense now runs directly through Achane’s explosiveness and versatility. Even if his 1,350 rushing yards regress, he remains the focal point of one of the league’s most efficient attacks. His blend of elite efficiency, heavy receiving usage, and a consolidated offensive role gives him true league‑winning potential.”
– Lawrence Iacona (FantasyPros)
Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – NO)
“As of about yesterday, the answer is Travis Etienne Jr. With Alvin Kamara‘s month-long absence now confirmed due to injury, I’m expecting the Saints to take their time with their franchise back as he enters the twilight of an exceptional career. The problem with that for Kamara is that the offense is set to explode with a tuck-and-run-and-gun QB in Tyler Shough, (hopefully) two stud WRs stretching the field, and a fast-paced, tough-to-defend offense schemed up by Kellen Moore. That’s a long-winded way of saying that whoever is the primary back in this O is gonna see a ton of open space. With AK shelved, Etienne will be that guy. We saw him deployed in a 3-down role last season that led him all the way to an RB1 finish on the back of 13 touchdowns. As the current RB19, available in the mid-third round of drafts, Etienne is a nice get, especially if you decide to grab your pass catchers early.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI)
“Saquon Barkley – The Eagles offense was difficult to watch in 2025. After ranking 6th in offensive EPA per play in 2024 under Kellen Moore, they fell to 16th in 2025 under Kevin Patullo. With Patullo replaced by Sean Mannion, there is an opportunity for the entire offensive ecosystem of the Eagles to improve. Mannion has talked about increasing motion, play action, and under-center rates, all of which the Eagles did sparingly in 2025 – ranking 28th in motion, 25th in play action, and 30th in under-center dropbacks per SharpFootballAnalysis. Additionally, natural regression could be in store for Barkley; after 17 rushes of 20+ yards in 2024, he managed just 4 in 2025 – somewhere in between those numbers should be our expectation. From a draft strategy perspective, many of the running backs going in rounds 3 and 4 of drafts profile as dead-zone backs pushed up boards due to the scarcity of the position; I’d much prefer to get at least one RB in the first 2 rounds and use my middle-round picks on other positions.”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
“The answer to this has to be Saquon Barkley, right? We’ve already seen his league-winning ability, and it wasn’t long ago. In 2024, Barkley delivered one of the best running back seasons in NFL history, rushing for 2,005 yards and scoring 15 total touchdowns before sitting out Week 18. Also, who can forget the infamous backward hurdle? When asked about the new offensive system, right tackle Lane Johnson recently said that “We will see the Saquon of two years ago.” It’s not often you find the potential for 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20-plus fantasy points per game outside of the first round. Barkley has that in spades. Add in the Eagles’ favorable strength of schedule for running backs, and he’s quickly becoming a smash pick in Round 2, no matter the format.”
– Wolf Trelles-Heard (FantasyPros)
What RB outside the top 20 in our consensus half-PPR RB ADP has the most league-winning upside?
Bucky Irving (RB – TB)
“Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving has to be the answer here. As is usually the case at running back, this will depend completely on his health, but you can say that about basically every running back in the league. Irving was excellent in 2024, before taking a huge step back in 2025 due in large part to missing roughly half the season. This year, he has fallen to RB21, and that is too low. I understand that the fantasy community tends to overreact to injuries and player values can tank quickly, but Irving is a player who was going into the second round at this point last year. The talent is still there, and the offense is still going to be solid. Despite me leading the charge on the “don’t draft injured players” agenda, count me in on the Bucky Irving injury discount. We are getting the discount because of last season’s injury and his offseason surgery. By all accounts, he is healthy and will be ready to go for Week 1, and that’s a situation I am happy to gamble on.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Sports Advice Network)
“In 2024, from Week 10 on, Bucky Irving averaged 115 yards a game, scored five touchdowns, and was RB7 in half-point PPR points per game. Irving led all qualifying running backs in yards after contact per carry that season with 3.93. He had a breakaway run rate of 34.9% and ranked sixth in the league in rushing yards over expected per attempt, just ahead of Jahmyr Gibbs and James Cook. Last year, Irving was banged up, and the Tampa Bay offensive line dealt with a plethora of injuries. As a result, Irving’s numbers plummeted. But Irving is healthy now, and so is his offensive line. I’m not worried about Kenneth Gainwell or Sean Tucker taking a significant bite out of Irving’s workload, considering that Bucky had a bad season in 2025 and still averaged just over 20 touches a game.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Blake Corum (RB – LAR)
“Blake Corum. The third-year RB plays in one of the most high-powered offenses, where he rotates with Kyren Williams every other drive. Even without an injury, Corum could easily crack the top-24 RBs based on how explosive he was last year (second in explosive run rate). He can hit more chunk plays than Williams and also seize opportunities in the red zone (earned more goal-line carries last year). Sean McVay continues to praise his stud 3rd-year RB, and fantasy managers would be wise to take notice. Because if Williams were to miss any time, Corum would be a locked-and-loaded top-10 fantasy RB (at an RB3 cost).”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Bhayshul Tuten (RB – JAC)
“Bhayshul Tuten has enormous upside in 2026, if he can separate himself from the pack. Tuten is currently listed as the co-starter atop Jacksonville’s RB depth chart with Chris Rodriguez, yet it is Tuten that Jags HC Liam Coen has raved about at every possible point imaginable. If Tuten can secure high-leverage short-yardage and goal-line touches away from Rodriguez, and even LeQuint Allen, Tuten could become a star for the Jags and for fantasy managers in 2026.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“Bhayshul Tuten is my favorite RB outside the top 20 (RB25 in ADP), and I think he’s a great value in Round 4. Jacksonville has 260 vacated rushing attempts, giving Tuten a massive opportunity to take over this backfield. More importantly, Liam Coen loves scheming up his running backs as weapons in the passing game. The Jaguars ranked fourth in the NFL in RB screen routes last season, while Travis Etienne trailed only Christian McCaffrey in screen routes and targets. I’d be more worried about Tuten as my RB1, but as an RB2 in Rounds 4-5, I love the upside.”
– Brady Auer (BA Sports Podcast)
“For me, it’s Bhayshul Tuten. He’s a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. He runs with a tremendous burst and plays on a good offense. With respect to Chris Rodriguez, I think Tuten is the most electric RB in Jacksonville. When it comes to Bhayshul “Rootin'” Tuten, his talent is obvious. He’s the fastest RB north, south, east, and west of the Pecos, according to Yosemite Sam Ringo. Ringo’s comp: Tuten reminds me of a smaller version of former Bronco and Redskin, Clinton Portis.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
“Bhayshul Tuten is the answer outside the top 20. The market is still pricing in uncertainty, but Travis Etienne is gone, and Liam Coen has already shown he can create major fantasy value for his lead back. Tuten was efficient in the red zone as a rookie, can contribute in the passing game, and has the explosiveness to produce league-winning weeks. If he takes control of the Jacksonville backfield, his current RB2 price will look ridiculous.”
– Jay Henry Ocho (Jay Henry Ocho)
“I like what we’ve been hearing out of camp about Bhayshul Tuten recently. Sports Illustrated’s John Shipley, who covers the Jaguars, recently said that the second-year back was dominating in joint practices against the Panthers and “looked like an absolute star.” That’s music to your ears if you’re targeting Tuten in Round 5. Travis Etienne’s departure frees up nearly 300 touches. Some of the early-down work will go to Chris Rodriguez Jr., but Tuten will get plenty of opportunities on an offense that scored the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in 2025. We know Tuten has insane straight-line speed — he ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at last year’s NFL Combine. If we combine that explosiveness with substantial volume, Tuten will easily pass his RB25 price tag and crush for fantasy managers this season.”
– Wolf Trelles-Heard (FantasyPros)
“One running back outside the top 20 with real league‑winning upside is Bhayshul Tuten. After an injury‑shortened rookie season, he’s expected to open 2026 as Jacksonville’s lead back with Travis Etienne now in New Orleans. Reports out of camp say he’s been one of the most impressive players on the field and was nearly unstoppable in joint practices this week. He caught 10 passes on 14 targets in limited action last year, and with a full workload he could realistically climb into the 50-60 reception range. That blend of receiving growth, opportunity, and early‑camp buzz gives him legitimate breakout potential at his current ADP.”
– Lawrence Iacona (FantasyPros)
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)
“Jonathon Brooks (RB35) is the late-round league-winner if you’re betting on talent over situation. Yes, two ACL tears in the same knee make availability the primary risk factor, but the path to volume is clear. Chuba Hubbard‘s inefficiency is well-documented; he lost the starting job last season to near-journeyman Rico Dowdle. Brooks has the skill set to claim lead-back duties if healthy. The schedule is a headwind, as Carolina ranks dead last in RB strength of schedule for 2026, and the offense remains a work in progress. But at RB35, the cost is minimal relative to the upside: a healthy Brooks profiles as a volume-based RB2 with weekly RB1 spike weeks, making him a significant value over his current ADP.”
– Jacob Piccolo (TrueRGM)
“Jonathon Brooks is the player outside the top 20 who immediately jumps out to me. Injuries have kept us from seeing whether the player who showed so much promise in college can translate that talent to the NFL. At RB31, though, I’m willing to bet on that uncertainty because the acquisition cost leaves tremendous room for profit. If Brooks is finally healthy and becomes the player Carolina originally invested in, he has the kind of upside that can dramatically outperform his draft price.”
– Stephen Floyd (Draft With Doug)
Isiah Pacheco (RB – DET)
“Isiah Pacheco is a Jahmyr Gibbs missed game away from being a very late draft pick to an instant RB1. Pacheco is missing time right now due to a sprained MCL, which has caused his draft stock to fall even further, but he is expected to be back by Week 1 for the Lions. Regardless of when he is back, the Lions do not have an RB on their bench who will pass Pacheco on the depth chart. Pacheco will not do much while Gibbs is healthy, but the second Gibbs is OUT, Pacheco is an RB1 with league-winning upside.”
– Muntradamus (Beast Dome)
D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
“This one is easy, because it always was and will continue to be D’Andre Swift. The only issue with his cost now is that it’s on the rise due to Kyle Monangai‘s camp injury. But it was always Swift before this injury, too, as the clear 1A in one of the most electric offenses in football that should only get better. As an RB2 in every one of his 6 seasons in the league, Swift has balled out on efficiency earlier in his career and on volume now in his prime. With over 250 touches in 3 straight seasons, that’s very much on the table again for one of the league’s healthiest backs in that span as well. Plus, the way that Ben Johnson not only trusts him but also regularly schemes him into space makes him a dynamic playmaker. With a points-per-game mark similar to Travis Etienne last season, he’s still one of the most under-the-radar clicks you can still get in the 5th round right now. But he’s likely to move up to the 4th over the next few weeks, so take advantage of his value if you’re drafting soon.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)
David Montgomery (RB – HOU)
“David Montgomery is currently the RB22, and that is crazy for a player who was signed by the Houston Texans to handle all three downs and lead a team that should be competing for the playoffs. Obviously, the ranking is due to his age (29). If it were based on his situation and talent, including elite pass blocking and the ability to catch out of the backfield, which was lost in Detroit due to Jahmyr Gibbs‘ elite ability, Montgomery would be recognized as the top back he can be. Due to his draft spot (ECR 48, which is late in the 4th round, early 5th), Montgomery is a player that could lead owners to championships who take top-tier wide receivers early and take him as the foundation of their backfield!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
Jadarian Price (RB – SEA)
“Jadarian Price is my pick because the opportunity could get big in a hurry. Seattle has a lot of backfield volume up for grabs, and with Zach Charbonnet still working back from his ACL injury, Price has a real chance to establish himself as the lead back early. I also like the fit in a Seattle offense that wants to run the ball and should give him scoring opportunities near the goal line. If his receiving role is better than it was at Notre Dame, that is where the top-12 upside really starts to show.”
– Doug Burrell (Draft With Doug)
RJ Harvey (RB – DEN)
“RJ Harvey at RB26 is one of my favorite bets at the position because we already saw the upside as a rookie. Harvey led all running backs in fantasy points per touch during the first half of last season, scored 12 total touchdowns and, after J.K. Dobbins went down, averaged 16.8 touches per game while finishing as the RB13 in points per game from Weeks 11-18. He wasn’t simply living off Dobbins’ leftovers near the goal line either; Harvey had 26 carries inside the 20 and scored five times on those attempts, while also finishing sixth among running backs in targets per route run. Denver has since added Jaylen Waddle to an offense that won 14 games last season, and adding that type of explosive element should create more scoring opportunities for everyone around him. Dobbins is back, and Jonah Coleman was added, but at RB26 I’m betting on a second-year back who has already shown he can produce with limited touches, handle more volume when asked, and has legitimate RB1 upside if this backfield shifts further in his direction.”
– James Emrick-Wilson (The Armchair Sports Corner)
TreVeyon Henderson (RB – NE)
“TreVeyon Henderson does not have a flawless profile – per FootballGuys, in the Patriots’ playoff run last year, he played just 28.5% of snaps, while Rhamondre Stevenson played 70.75% (including 94% of snaps in the snowy AFC Championship game vs Denver). As a result, Henderson is cheaper in drafts than he was as a rookie despite flashing tremendous upside on the NFL field. Per SumerSports, he was 7th in the NFL in explosive rush rate and 9th in EPA per rush in 2025, while Stevenson was 18th and 44th, respectively. If given the keys to the backfield, whether via takeover or a Stevenson injury/fumbling bout, TreVeyon could break fantasy football – in the six games he had at least 15 opportunities in 2025, he averaged 17.9 half-PPR points per game. I will likely pass on Henderson in most drafts; my work has found highly drafted ambiguous backs to be poor bets, but lots of upside certainly exists if you are looking to take a big swing.”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
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