Fab's Way-Too-Early 2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

There are plenty of questions that need to be answered at the position over the offseason.

2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings | Sports Illustrate

It's never too soon to look ahead to the next fantasy football season! Here's my Fab's Five top five fantasy running backs for 2026 ... did Saquon Barkley make the list?

Find out! @SInow pic.twitter.com/v91DkwuG8x

— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) January 23, 2026

Running back was the most reliable position in fantasy football this past season, at least as it pertained to the top players. Based on the average draft position data of the top 12 running backs selected, nine finished the fantasy season ranked in the top 12. That’s 75 percent. By comparison, just 50% of the top 12 wideouts based on ADP hit that level.

The best player at the position was Christian McCaffrey, who scored 404.9 points in the fantasy season. Other big names, like Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, De’Von Achane, Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry, were all as good as ever in the stat sheets. 

Looking ahead to 2026, there are plenty of questions that need to be answered at the position. The NFL offseason has been far more active in recent years, so we’re in for a treat with future trades and player movement via free agency. (You will see an asterisk next to the runners who will be free agents, at some level, during the offseason). 

Several players went down with injuries whose recoveries we’ll be monitoring, none more critical than Quinshon Judkins (knee), Cam Skattebo (leg), and James Conner (foot). And of course, we’ll be watching the scouting combine and the 2026 NFL draft to find who could be helpful to fantasy options as rookies. 

Here are my initial 2026 fantasy football running back rankings. I’ll be updating these often throughout the offseason, so keep checking back!

All Positions: Quarterbacks | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends

2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

RK	Player	Pos	Team
1	Bijan Robinson	RB1	ATL
2	Jahmyr Gibbs	RB2	DET
3	Christian McCaffrey	RB3	SF
4	De'Von Achane	RB4	MIA
5	Jonathan Taylor	RB5	IND
6	James Cook	RB6	BUF
7	Chase Brown	RB7	CIN
8	Travis Etienne Jr.*	RB8	JAC
9	Ashton Jeanty	RB9	LV
10	Josh Jacobs	RB10	GB
11	Derrick Henry	RB11	BAL
12	Kyren Williams	RB12	LAR
13	Javonte Williams*	RB13	DAL
14	Omarion Hampton	RB14	LAC
15	RJ Harvey	RB15	DEN
16	TreVeyon Henderson	RB16	NE
17	Saquon Barkley	RB17	PHI
18	Bucky Irving	RB18	TB
19	Kenneth Walker III*	RB19	SEA
20	Quinshon Judkins	RB20	CLE
21	Cam Skattebo	RB21	NYG
22	Breece Hall*	RB22	NYJ
23	D'Andre Swift	RB23	CLE
24	Jaylen Warren	RB24	PIT
25	James Conner	RB25	ARI
26	Kyle Monangai	RB26	CHI
27	Tony Pollard	RB27	TEN
28	Rhamondre Stevenson	RB28	NE
29	Alvin Kamara	RB29	NO
30	Chuba Hubbard	RB30	CAR
31	Woody Marks	RB31	HOU
32	Aaron Jones Sr.	RB32	MIN
33	Kenenth Gainwell*	RB33	PIT
34	Jordan Mason	RB34	MIN
35	Devin Neal	RB35	NO
36	Rico Dowdle*	RB36	CAR
37	Isiah Pacheco*	RB37	KC
38	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	RB38	WAS
39	David Montgomery	RB39	DET
40	Dylan Sampson	RB40	CLE
41	Rachaad White*	RB41	TB
42	Trey Benson	RB42	ARI
43	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	RB43	NYG
44	Blake Corum	RB44	LAR
45	J.K. Dobbins*	RB45	DEN
46	Tyler Allgeier*	RB46	ATL
47	Tyjae Spears	RB47	TEN
48	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	RB48	WAS
49	Bhayshul Tuten	RB49	JAC
50	Tank Bigsby	RB50	PHI
51	Braelon Allen	RB51	NYJ
52	Jaylen Wright	RB52	MIA
53	Kimani Vidal	RB53	LAC
54	Keaton Mitchell*	RB54	BAL
55	Brian Robinson Jr.*	RB55	SF
56	Brashard Smith	RB56	KC
57	Sean Tucker*	RB57	TB
58	Emanuel Wilson*	RB58	GB
59	Jaydon Blue	RB59	DAL
60	Joe Mixon	RB60	HOU
61	Ollie Gordon II	RB61	MIA
62	Najee Harris*	RB62	LAC
63	Ty Johnson	RB63	BUF
64	Kareem Hunt*	RB64	KC
65	Kaleb Johnson	RB65	PIT
66	Ray Davis	RB66	BUF
67	Samaje Perine	RB67	CIN
68	Jaleel McLaughlin	RB68	DEN
69	Kendre Miller	RB69	NO
70	Austin Ekeler*	RB70	WAS
71	Nick Chubb*	RB71	HOU
72	Devin Singletary	RB72	NYG
73	Justice Hill	RB73	BAL
74	Isaiah Davis	RB74	NYJ
75	Tahj Brooks	RB75	CIN
76	Audric Estime	RB76	NO
77	Jawhar Jordan	RB77	HOU
78	Jerome Ford*	RB78	CLE
79	Jeremy McNichols*	RB79	WAS
80	George Holani*	RB80	SEA

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