7 Fantasy Football RB Draft Steals to Target in 2026

Let's continue our fantasy football draft steal/bust series by looking at running back steals. 

Check back in the coming days for the running back bust story, plus steal/bust stories on wide receivers and tight ends. We will look at RB/WR/TE with PPR scoring in mind.

Here are the bust and steal articles for quarterbacks.

Fantasy football average draft position data can be found on FantasySP in the leadup to the 2026 NFL season! Conduct your fantasy football mock drafts through FantasySP too - you can now customize the scoring settings to tailor to your fantasy leagues!

Derrick Henry - Baltimore Ravens

Henry is the top-drafted fantasy running back who I have as a draft steal for the coming season. He's going at pick 22, but he's the 13th running back selected overall.

He was RB8 last season, so he's still capable of top-10 performances, and if he does that again, he'll be a draft steal. Henry just isn't slowing down, and I don't see a reason to expect it to happen in 2026.

If you can land Henry in the third round, you should be ecstatic. He's one of my favorite targets near that pick, especially if you have one, or no, running backs at that point.

Kyren Williams - Los Angeles Rams

Williams is the 15th RB being taken so far, going a pick 31 so far. He finished a spot behind Henry last season.

I love the value with Williams right now, and think he could be in store for his best fantasy season yet in 2026. Blake Corum is around, but I expect Williams to power the backfield again and be a high-end fantasy asset.

Be ecstatic again if you land Williams in round 4, or near his ADP. I think he's got a great chance to outperform his ADP, and be at least a high-end RB2, if not an RB1.

Bucky Irving - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Irving is another running back I really like. He's going 19th among RBs, at pick 43 on average so far.

After a great rookie season, he was hampered by injuries last season. That's making him go way later in fantasy drafts.

Sure, there's injury risk to be concerned about, but if you can get him in round 5, or near that pick, I'd be thrilled. He has top-10 fantasy RB potential, and he's got a great chance to outperform his ADP if he can stay healthy most of the season.

Quinshon Judkins - Cleveland Browns

Judkins is the No. 23 fantasy back right now, going near pick 53 on average.

He was a pretty good fantasy asset last season, and that was while only playing in 14 games. Judkins will be the workhorse back for Cleveland, which should be a bit improved in 2026.

Judkins has a good chance to outperform his draft slot, and there's a chance he is a big-time steal if the Browns' offense surprises a bit this coming year.

Bhayshul Tuten - Jacksonville Jaguars

Tuten is RB25 right now, going near pick 58 so far. I think that's stellar value for a clear RB1 for his own team.

With Travis Etienne gone, the backfield belongs to Tuten. I really think the only thing that could slow Tuten would be an injury. 

Tuten showed some promise in limited opportunities as a rookie, and I think he will explode as the top back for a good Jacksonville offense in 2026.

Jadarian Price - Seattle Seahawks

Price is a rookie running back who I really like for the coming season. He is RB29 and going near pick 73 right now.

Seattle let Kenneth Walker go, and while Zach Charbonnet is still around, Charbonnet is coming off a major injury, so there's a chance Price dominates the backfield in 2026, especially early on.

To be able to land him near that ADP would be a steal, even if he's only a high-end fantasy option for the first few weeks of the season. There aren't too many other players near that pick that have as high an upside, so if you want to take a swing on a potential league-winning type player, give Price some consideration.

Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers

Hubbard is the last running back I'll discuss as a possible draft steal. He's the 28th running back off draft boards, and going near pick 69 right now.

He lost his lead role in 2025 because of the emergence of Rico Dowdle, but Hubbard could be the lead guy again in 2026. Dowdle is no longer on the roster, and the oft-injured Jonathon Brooks is the projected No. 2 back, with Trevor Etienne as RB3 in Carolina.

Hubbard is an afterthought to most fantasy owners right now, but a little digging and projection should show you why I'm highlighting him here. Pick him near that ADP - or even better yet, after that - and you likely will have a big draft steal on your hands.