Fantasy Football Rookie RB Outlooks: Breaking Down the 2026 Draft Class

Our series on fantasy football outlooks on rookies rolls on here with a look into running backs.

We already looked over quarterbacks and tight ends, and will cover wide receivers in the days to come.

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Jeremiyah Love - Arizona Cardinals

Love was an early draft surprise, going No. 3 overall to Arizona.

He joined a running back room that already included Tyler Allgeier, James Conner and Trey Benson, but teams won't draft a running back early to sit him. The backfield should be led by Love in 2026.

I expect one of the backups to be let go or traded before the season starts, which will make Love a safer fantasy asset for the upcoming year. I already like his outlook, and it only should improve before the season begins.

His long-term outlook is great, and he should be a fantasy asset in all redraft leagues for 2026, even if that's as a flex-level option in standard leagues.

Jadarian Price - Seattle Seahawks

Price was the last pick in the first round, going to the defending Super Bowl champs.

He joins a backfield that lost Kenneth Walker. Zach Charbonnet has been a big part of things over the years as well, but he's coming off a major injury.

I expect Price and Charbonnet to share the backfield, and that should help both be pretty good assets for 2026. They are better deep-league assets, but could be standard league options as flex guys, or standard league starters if the other is injured.

Price could be the best fantasy back of this rookie class, so don't overlook him.

Kaelon Black - San Francisco 49ers

Black was a third-round pick, and landed in a unique spot.

Christian McCaffrey is the top back in San Fran, and is the workhorse when healthy. Injury concerns are there with CMC, which makes Black an intriguing fantasy asset.

Black has some decent upside in the long term, but for 2026, he's likely to only be a deep-league asset, and probably not startable most weeks. He would be a better option if CMC would ever go down with an injury, so don't forget about Black.

Jonah Coleman - Denver Broncos

Coleman was a fourth-round pick to Denver. He joins a backfield where J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey are in place.

Dobbins is another injury-prone running back, so even though Coleman looks buried on the depth chart, his outlook isn't quite so bleak. Harvey showed some good things in his rookie year, but the team brought back Dobbins, so they don't fully believe in Dobbins yet.

I like Coleman's long-term outlook more than his outlook for 2026. Don't completely overlook him though, because he could carve out a bigger role than expected, or fill a big role if a back ahead of him gets injured.

Mike Washington Jr. - Las Vegas Raiders

This was an interesting landing spot for Washington, who went in the fourth round. That backfield is led by Ashton Jeanty, but Washington might already be RB2 in Vegas.

Washington could carve out a small role as RB2, but Jeanty should be the workhorse back. If Jeanty goes down with an injury, then Washington could be a fantasy star.

Washington doesn't have a very good long-term outlook with Jeanty around, but he's a name to keep in mind for as long as he's RB2.

Emmett Johnson - Kansas City Chiefs

Johnson was a fifth-round pick, and joins a backfield that includes Walker and Brashard Smith.

Injuries are likely the only thing that could thrust Johnson into a bigger role in 2026. Walker should lead the backfield, and Smith could carve out a small role as well. That doesn't leave much room for Johnson.

Johnson has a little long-term upside, but he landed in a tough spot. We'll see if he can surprise and make a name for himself.

Nicholas Singleton - Tennessee Titans

Singleton was a fifth-round pick, and joins a RB room that includes Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears already.

Singleton is an intriguing prospect, and he has some good upside in the long run. This is an OK backfield to land in, but he'll have to win the backfield to take over the starting role for the years to come.

To open 2026, he has some deep-league upside, but will need to show something consistently to work into standard leagues. He's worth stashing in dynasty/keeper leagues in hopes that he eventually pans out.

Adam Randall - Baltimore Ravens

Randall is another fifth-round pick. He joins a backfield led by Derrick Henry, and with Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali also as options. 

It seems like a longshot for Randall to factor in at any point in 2026, unless there's injuries ahead of him. It might also be tough for Randall to factor in down the line, even if Henry eventually leaves.

Randall is still worth tracking, just in case he surprises and takes off. 

Kaytron Allen - Washington Commanders

Allen was a sixth-round pick and joins a backfield full of options.

Rachaad White and Jerome Ford were signed this offseason, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols are still around. That leaves the sixth-round pick with an uphill battle to carve out any role.

Allen is a name to keep in mind, but seems unlikely to ever become a star in Washington. Crazier things have happened though, so don't write Allen off.

Demond Claiborne - Minnesota Vikings

Claiborne was a sixth-round pick, so he adds depth to the Vikings' backfield.

Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason are the top options for now, with Zavier Scott an option as well. It's not a locked-in backfield, and that works to Claiborne's benefit.

Claiborne is a potential sleeper to keep tabs on. We'll see if he can take advantage of a decent opportunity in Minnesota.

Eli Heidenreich - Pittsburgh Steelers

Heidenreich is a seventh-round pick, so he's another depth option. He lands in a decent backfield, where Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle and Kaleb Johnson are already present.

Warren and Dowdle are likely to lead the backfield in 2026, and Johnson is likely to be given another chance this year. That doesn't leave much for Heidenreich, and his long-term outlook isn't all that great either.

He's still one to keep tabs on, just in case something breaks in his favor.

Seth McGowan - Indianapolis Colts

McGowan was another seventh-round pick, and joins a backfield led by Jonathan Taylor. DJ Giddens is a backup option, and now McGowan joins the mix.

Taylor has been injury prone in the past, so that opens the door for McGowan to factor in if Taylor gets injured again. If Taylor is healthy though, he's the workhorse back.

McGowan is worth watching, but until Taylor is out or gone in Indy, the seventh-round pick isn't likely to be a very big fantasy asset. 

Jam Miller - New England Patriots

Miller is another seventh-round pick. He joins a backfield split by Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.

An injury to one of those two could lead Miller to a bigger role, but otherwise he just looks like a depth option. His long-term outlook isn't too bad either, as Stevenson could move on, leaving Miller to that RB2 role in time.

Miller is another potential sleeper to keep tabs on. His landing spot is a bit better than you think at first glance.