Fantasy Football RB ADP Breakdown: Which Early-Round Running Backs Are Worth the Price?

Let's continue our fantasy football average draft position breakdown, looking at running backs next.

We have already looked at quarterbacks, and will cover wide receivers and tight ends in other articles. Also check out our ADP breakdown of the first three rounds of picks.

Fantasy football average draft position data can be found on FantasySP in the leadup to the 2026 NFL season!

Bijan Robinson - Atlanta Falcons

The first fantasy football running back of draft boards is Robinson. He's the top pick so far.

Robinson was the No. 3 overall fantasy player in 2025, and he's a great choice for the top pick. He will be the focal point of the Falcons' offense, but things are a bit in question with the quarterback position not set in stone.

Robinson is my favorite pick for the top fantasy pick, but that could change as the season nears. He's at least in the running for the top pick.

Jahmyr Gibbs - Detroit Lions

Gibbs is the No. 2 running back, and No. 2 pick overall right now.

He was the No. 4 overall fantasy asset last year, and is one of the top fantasy players in the game. Gibbs should be in the running for the No. 1 overall fantasy player again in 2026.

Gibbs will be the focal point of the Lions' offense, and will be the workhorse in the backfield. There's other playmakers around, but Gibbs will do most of the heavy lifting, so he's a candidate for the top pick and should go in the top-three picks.

Christian McCaffrey - San Francisco 49ers

CMC is the No. 3 running back taken, going at pick five on average so far.

McCaffrey was the top fantasy player a year ago, and continues to be a workhorse for the San Fran offense. The Niners have playmakers, but the injury to George Kittle should mean McCaffrey does a lot of heavy lifting in 2026.

With injury history as well, CMC is the ultimate boom-or-bust fantasy asset. He's a first-round pick, but know there's some risk involved with the aging running back.

Jonathan Taylor - Indianapolis Colts

Taylor is the fourth running back off draft boards. He is the seventh pick on average.

The Indy running back was the No. 6 fantasy player a year ago, so him going seventh makes a lot of sense. Taylor also has an injury history, making him another riskier pick in the first round.

Taylor will again be the workhorse in the Indy backfield, and he should star on that offense overall. He is a first-round pick, but know there's also some risk involved in taking him that early.

James Cook - Buffalo Bills

Cook is the fifth running back taken, going at pick nine on average so far.

This is the first running back pick that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Cook was barely inside the top-20 fantasy players overall.

He should be a big part of the Bills' offense, but remember that quarterback Josh Allen is going to steal some of Cook's production. I don't like taking Cook inside the first 10 picks, and would be much happier to get him closer to pick 20, or after.

Ashton Jeanty - Las Vegas Raiders

Jeanty is the sixth back off draft boards, going at pick 10.75 on average thus far.

He finished near the 40th-best fantasy player in 2025, so him going this early means fantasy owners are expecting a second-year leap from the Raiders' back. That's fair to assume, but I also think his ADP is too early.

Jeanty should be a big part of the team's offense, which should be improved in 2026. I think that will make him a good fantasy asset, but taking him near the first round doesn't give him much room to improve on that draft stock. If you can get him closer to pick 20, or after, then that's what I'd do.

De'Von Achane - Miami Dolphins

Achane is going near pick 13 on average. He is the seventh running back off draft boards.

Achane was just outside the top 10 as a fantasy asset overall last year. He's going to star for the Dolphins' offense, which lacks playmakers across the board.

Achane is going early in fantasy drafts, and I think there's room for him to outperform that draft slot still, so I like drafting Achane that early.

Omarion Hampton - Los Angeles Chargers

Hampton is the eighth running back off draft boards, going at pick 14.25 on average.

He wasn't a top-50 fantasy asset last season, with an injury holding him back some. That injury makes him a risky pick for 2026, especially as early as he's going.

I'm not a fan of taking Hampton inside the top-20 picks, even though he's definitely capable of finishing that high. Get him outside the top-20 picks to set up room for him to exceed expectations.

Saquon Barkley - Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley is going at pick 15 on average, which makes him the ninth back off draft boards.

He struggled last season, and finished in the 40s overall. He has an injury history as well, but not many are expecting a repeat performance in 2026.

Barkley could bounce back and be a top-five running back, and that would put him well inside the top-20 picks overall. It's still a risk after what happened last year, but Barkley could definitely be worth the gamble.

Kenneth Walker - Kansas City Chiefs

Walker is the No. 10 fantasy running back taken right now, going at pick 17.5 on average.

He was a decent fantasy asset while in Seattle, even while splitting the backfield. Walker should be the workhorse for the Chiefs, who are a more dangerous offense than the Seahawks.

Walker could shine in KC, but taking him this early is a mistake in my eyes. That's where I see his ceiling at, so getting him in the 20s and 30s makes the most sense to me.

The Next RBs Picked

The first back going outside the top 10 at the position is Cincinnati's Chase Brown, going at pick 19 on average. Arizona's Jeremiyah Love is next, and is the last back going in the top-20 picks.

There are just two running backs being taken in the 20s. Baltimore's Derrick Henry is at pick 25, while Green Bay's Josh Jacobs is at pick 27 on average.

Five running backs are being taken in the 30s. New York Jets' Breece Hall is at pick 31.25 on average, while Los Angeles Rams' Kyren Williams is at pick 31.75. Dallas' Javonte Williams is at pick 34.25, while Tampa Bay's Bucky Irving is at pick 34.5. New Orleans' Travis Etienne is the 19th back taken, going at pick 36 on average.

Just two running backs are going between picks 40-49. New Orleans' TreVeyon Henderson is going at pick 44.75 on average, with New York Giants' Cam Skattebo at pick 46.

The running backs rounding out the top 30 taken are: Cleveland's Quinshon Judkins, Houston's David Montgomery, Jacksonville's Bhayshul Tuten, Chicago's D'Andre Swift, Denver's RJ Harvey, Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren, Carolina's Chuba Hubbard, New England's Rhamondre Stevenson and Pittsburgh's Rico Dowdle.

We'll see how the ADP chart shifts over time. I'd bet there is a good amount of movement before the 2026 regular season hits, so be watching things closely.