The Ultimate RB Rankings for 2026 Fantasy Football

Ashton Jeanty is ranked as the 20th overall player. Jir Gibbs notes a shift in strategy, moving from fading him to being willing to draft him, and suggests that potential early-season missed games should not significantly impact draft decisions.

Bijan Robinson is ranked as the RB2 overall. He averaged 20 points per game when reaching 15 touches and played 79% of snaps last year. While he faces competition for goal-line work, his receiving floor is high, having averaged 4.6 receptions per game (and nearly 6 in the final four games). He has significant upside if he improves his red-zone efficiency. Robinson is also cited as a benchmark for high-reception running backs, having recorded more receptions than most peers over the last two seasons.

Breece Hall is viewed as a benchmark for touchdown regression, having produced five to eight touchdowns in lower-end offensive environments recently. Jir Gibbs notes that offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur has a history of heavily utilizing young running backs once they prove to be the best offensive player, citing Hall's RB7 points-per-game finish during their first season together with the Jets.

The primary question regarding Brian Robinson is whether he will operate in a limited role similar to Tyler Allgeier or if he will emerge as a full bellcow back for the team.

Chase Brown is a strong target in the middle of the second round, currently ranked as the RB9 cumulatively. He benefits from an elite environment, including a strong offensive line and a team favored in 15 games. While a shift toward under-center formations may decrease his reception volume compared to previous seasons, he is expected to see increased efficiency in the ground game and remains a key red-zone option. He finished last season averaging 105 yards from scrimmage over his final 11 games.

Ranked as the RB4, Christian McCaffrey carries significant risk due to a 450-touch workload from last season and his age (30). Jir Gibbs expresses concern that historical data on high-touch running backs (350+ touches) suggests a potential performance 'cliff,' noting McCaffrey's efficiency decline last year (39th in YPC, 36th in yards after contact). Despite these concerns, his high-value touch volume and receiving floor keep his upside massive if he plays 17 games.

Dalton Kincaid is healthy entering the season, which contrasts with his injury status during previous periods, potentially allowing him to capitalize on an expected increase in Bills passing volume.

David Montgomery's availability significantly impacts Jahmyr Gibbs' fantasy production; Gibbs averaged 25.1 half-PPR points in the eight games where Montgomery either missed time or played under 25% of snaps.

Devon Achane is highly valued as a top-tier fantasy asset, supported by his 20+ fantasy points per game in full PPR last season. He is considered the best player on the Dolphins offense with limited target competition, making him a candidate for high manufactured touch volume. He is also noted as an effective pass-catcher who should be shielded from pass-protection duties.

Derrick Henry is a high-ceiling asset currently ranked 38th overall, despite finishing as the RB7 in PPG last season. He is projected for the most rushing touchdowns in goal-line situations, with 24 carries inside the 5-yard line in 2023. While his floor is lower than some peers, his potential for double-digit touchdowns puts him in elite historical company. He is also used as a stylistic benchmark for perimeter-based, high-size/speed usage.

Drake Maye is used as a reference point for full PPR rankings, with the subject player positioned one spot behind him.

Isaiah Pacheco is currently dealing with an injury, as noted by the hosts during their running back rankings discussion.

Ja'Marr Chase is preferred over Bijan Robinson in draft rankings, with Jir Gibbs placing him ahead of the Falcons running back.

Jahmyr Gibbs is the consensus RB1 overall. He has averaged over 20 points per game in the 25 games where he played 60% or more of team snaps, and 25.1 half-PPR points in games where David Montgomery was absent or played under 25% of snaps. The Lions are favored in 14 games, and Gibbs benefits from a revamped offensive line and his game-breaking ability. Jir Gibbs notes that James Cook may struggle to compete with Gibbs' production this season, making it difficult for Cook to close the gap in fantasy value.

Jir Gibbs suggests that James Connor should not be factored into fantasy projections due to his ongoing foot injury and the emergence of Jeremiah Love.

Jir Gibbs maintains a neutral-to-negative outlook on James Cook's ceiling, questioning his ability to finish as a top-three fantasy back. Despite a high-floor finish as the RB6 last year, his limited reception volume (1.9 per game) and increased target competition from DJ Moore and a healthy Dalton Kincaid, combined with a more Josh Allen-centric offensive approach, lower his odds of reaching an elite ceiling.

Jir Gibbs is highly optimistic about Jeremiah Love, calling him a 'very obvious bet on talent' and noting that his current ADP in the 30s is too low. Gibbs believes Love has the size to be a bellcow and expects him to receive a high volume of touches despite a difficult schedule, noting that he will handle passing down work over Tyler Algier.

Ranked as the RB3, Jonathan Taylor remains a focal point of the Colts' offense. He demonstrated massive upside last season, averaging 30.5 half-PPR points in Colts wins. He is expected to dominate goal-line work, with potential for increased reception volume if the quarterback runs less.

Keaton Mitchell is dealing with an injury heading into the season, though the severity remains unclear. Jir Gibbs questions his actual involvement in the backfield rotation, expressing concern that he may be limited to a small touch count of four or five per game.

Jir Gibbs ranks Kenneth Walker III as a top-6 RB, arguing he should not fall past the 13th overall pick. The team views him as a 'franchise altering player' and is tailoring the offense around his bellcow ability, with expectations he will reach 60% of snaps in every game. His skill set is compared to LeSean McCoy, and the team's significant financial commitment (three-year, $43 million) underscores his central role.

Malik Willis is viewed as a quarterback who may scramble and take sacks, potentially impacting the passing volume of the offense. However, some advanced metrics suggest he could perform adequately as a starter.

Jir Gibbs believes Mike Washington has earned a significant role in the Raiders' backfield, which will likely force Ashton Jeanty's touch share down from 84% to approximately 65-74%. Washington is described as an explosive change-of-pace back who performed well against SEC competition and at the combine. He is also a candidate to handle third-down snaps.

Omahrion Hampton is a high-upside 'boom-bust' RB1 candidate. Despite some skepticism regarding his between-the-tackles running style and pass protection, his size (220 lbs) and speed are ideal for Mike McDaniel's scheme, which emphasizes perimeter runs and explosive plays. He averaged 7.4 yards per rush on runs contacted beyond the line of scrimmage last year. He is compared to Derrick Henry for his perimeter utility and Devon Achane for his receiving profile.

Puka Nacua is preferred over Bijan Robinson in draft rankings, with Jir Gibbs placing him ahead of the Falcons running back.

Jir Gibbs ranks Barkley as his RB4 and a 'buy' in late round one, viewing his 2024 down year as an environmental failure rather than a talent decline. Gibbs expects a rebound as the Eagles' offensive line returns to health and the scheme incorporates more motion. Barkley's poor goal-line efficiency (one TD on 11 carries inside the 5-yard line) is considered unlikely to repeat.

Tyler Allgeier previously competed with Bijan Robinson for goal-line work, recording 10 carries inside the 5-yard line compared to Robinson's 11 last season.