2026 NFL Draft Late-Round Running Backs Featuring Nicholas Singleton & Emmett Johnson

Breaking down the best late-round value running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft, including Nicholas Singleton and Emmett Johnson, and what their profiles mean for fantasy and prediction markets.

Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) carries the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at SHI Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

In the 2025 NFL Draft, there was only one running back drafted in the third round (Kaleb Johnson). He was a non-factor in the fantasy market (28/69 with one catch for nine yards) over 10 games. Cam Skattebo was the best value in the fourth round (101/410/5 with 24 catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns), but his season was cut short after eight games.

Here’s a look at the second-tier running backs in the 2026 draft class:

Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Singleton comes to the NFL with four years of experience with the Nittany Lions. He played well in his freshman season (1,146 combined yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 catches) while peaking two years later (1,474 combined yards with 17 touchdowns and 41 catches on 213 touches). Unfortunately, his plays backed up in 2025, leading to a sharp decline in running value (123/549/13 – 4.5 yards per carry) and fewer pass-catching chances (24/219/1). In his college career, Singleton gained an impressive 9.7 yards per catch, with 54 touchdowns over 53 games.

For an NFL team looking for a goal-line runner, with a high floor on passing downs, Singleton could be a sneaky option. He is a bigger back (6’0” and 220 lbs.) who will handle himself well in pass protection, and bring plus speed (4.35 40-yard dash). His one lacking skill is patience, which would help his ceiling tremendously in the NFL. A broken foot in January led to him not performing at the 2026 NFL combine. I expect him to move up in this year’s draft. If Singleton lands on the correct NFL roster, he could be a highly sought-after value running back this summer in fantasy leagues. I have visions of a Kareem Hunt rookie season.

Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest

Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Demond Claiborne (1) celebrates on the sideline after a long touchdown run in the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

After posting a breakout year in 2024 (1,303 combined yards with 13 touchdowns and 23 catches on 251 touches), Claiborne had a pullback in his stats last season. He gained more yards per rush (5.1), but finished with 49 fewer carries, leading to 907 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Claiborne gained only 5.0 yards per catch (28/140), while failing to score a touchdown. Over his final six games in 2025, he didn’t deserve a starting job (110/368/2 – 3.3 yards per carry with 12 catches for 67 yards).

Claiborne brings elite speed (4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL combine), with an undersize profile (5’10” and 190 lbs.). He is a daylight runner who will excel in space while having the vision to change up his running route to make big plays. Unfortunately, his game takes a significant step back when needing to gear down in tight quarters at the line of scrimmage. His skill set will play well at the level, as a change of pace back with some pass-catching value. Claiborne can’t be trusted in pass protection, which limits his ceiling in touches earlier in his career. He is willing to run between the tackles, but negative plays could mount when trying to improvise behind a below-par offensive line.

Rahsul Faison, South Carolina

The stock of Faison was rising over his two seasons at South Carolina (316/1,845/13 – 5.8 yards per rush with 33 catches for 151 yards), but his play faded over two games at South Carolina in 2025. He only had 96 rushes for 470 yards and three touchdowns over 12 games with 19 catches for 118 yards. Faison had only five touches in four of his final games, while failing to rush for over 75 yards in any contest.

Faison enters the draft at age 26. The fantasy market should think of him as a poor man’s James Cook with a lower ceiling catching the ball. He runs with patience and a feel when to step on the gas. His vision plays well, and Faison does a nice job waiting to follow his blocks downfield. I like his feel for knowing when to blast the line of scrimmage or wait for his blocker to set up a late-developing hole. He has pass-catching talent, but a minimal role in college (52/269 with no TDs while gaining only 5.2 yards per catch). I suspect pass protection will be a liability in the NFL.

Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (RB10) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Cornhuskers gave Johnson a minimal role in 2023 and 2024, leading to 1,341 combined yards with five touchdowns and 46 catches over his 253 touches. Nebraska gave him a high volume opportunity last year (297 touches), and he responded with a league high in carries (251) and rushing yards (1,451). Johnson gained an impressive 5.8 yards per carry with 12 rushing touchdowns and plenty of help in the passing game (46/370/3). He ran a 4.56 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

Johnson is a jagged runner who won’t win with power due to his below-par lower half. He needs daylight and spacing to make big plays, and his movements in traffic lack rhythm and the smoothness to hold speed in tight quarters. Johnson will be an asset catching the ball, with a lot to prove in pass protection. More strength will help his value at the point of contact and finishing runs, but he won’t get any faster. His game is built on attacking the line of scrimmage as quickly as possible.

J’Mari Taylor, Virginia

In his only season at a top college program (Virginia), Taylor gained 1,315 combined yards with 15 touchdowns and 43 catches on 265 touches. He rushed for over 100 yards in three matchups (17/150/3, 21/105/2, and 18/133/2), all coming on the road against NC State, North Carolina, and Duke. The Cavaliers gave him a floor of 19 touches in 10 of his 13 starts. Taylor rushed for 1,146 yards and 15 touchdowns on 196 carries at North Carolina Central in 2024. He ran a 4.63 40-yard dash at Virginia’s pro day.

A step up in class for Taylor will force him to make quicker decisions with the balls in his hands. He must attack quickly and decisively after the snap, as he doesn’t have the edge in talent at the NFL level. Taylor is a smaller back (5’10” and 200 lbs.) who plays with strength. His carries tend to gain positive yards while running with patience and eyes up. He will make some big plays, but most of his damage will come over the short areas of the field on inside runs. Taylor has a good feel for his role in the passing game, and he will handle himself well in pass protection.