2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Rankings (Early Edition): Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Jonah Coleman, Kaytron Allen

January 6, 2026

2026 fantasy football rookie running back (RB) rankings, early edition. RotoBaller's top rookies and draft targets, including Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Jonah Coleman, Kaytron Allen.

Whether you play in dynasty leagues and are getting your early rookie draft prep in, or are just looking forward to next year's rookie class for redraft purposes, we'll have you covered all offseason long. Check out these way-too-early 2026 fantasy football rookie running back rankings. Identifying young running backs with high-touch upside is key, no matter the format, and this class is full of sleepers and potential league winners.

These initial 2026 rookie RB rankings are put together by Jackson Sparks. We will update these rookie rankings all offseason long, and there will be major shake-ups based on all of the NFL prospect offseason activities, including the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and NFL Draft. It's worth noting that not all of these collegiate players have declared for the NFL Draft yet, and players will be removed and added as those announcements come out. It's never too early to start your research and homework on rising NFL players, so let's get to it!

In addition to these rookie rankings, in our 2025 fantasy football rankings dashboard, you will also find our team's Dynasty League rankings. Bookmark that page, and use it to prepare for all of your 2026 fantasy football dynasty league drafts.

NFL Rookie Running Back Rankings for Fantasy Football (Early Edition)

Check out our PPR fantasy football rankings and standard (non-PPR) fantasy football rankings as well:

Rookie Running Back Fantasy Football Outlooks

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is the consensus top fantasy football rookie in 2026, and the 20-year-old is expected to be a first-round pick in April's NFL Draft.

The Missouri native had a fantastic career in South Bend, particularly in his sophomore and junior seasons. In his last 28 collegiate games, Love rushed 362 times for 2,497 yards (6.9 YPC) and 35 touchdowns. He added 55 receptions for 517 yards and five scores through the air.

He was named a Heisman Trophy finalist, the Doak Walker Award winner, and a unanimous All-American after his final season with the Irish. Love has game-breaking speed, high-end elusiveness, receiving chops, elite vision, and impressive athleticism at 215 pounds.

He checks all the boxes of a future NFL workhorse, and if he fetches early first-round draft capital as expected, he will likely carry an RB1 outlook immediately in his rookie campaign. He's the clear No. 1 pick in single-QB dynasty rookie drafts, and he'll be in play for the top pick in superflex drafts.

Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price shared a backfield with Heisman runner-up Jeremiyah Love for his entire collegiate career, but the 22-year-old flashed enough for many to consider him the second-best RB prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class. While playing second fiddle to Love over the last two seasons, Price rushed 233 times for 1,420 yards (6.1 YPC) and 18 touchdowns in 28 games. He also secured three touchdown receptions.

Jadarian Price WOULD NOT GO DOWN on the way to the end zone. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/vvrKQmfrXd

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 4, 2025

Price is a dangerous kick returner, tallying 12 returns for 450 yards and two touchdowns in his final collegiate campaign. Love is expected to be the lone first-round NFL Draft pick among running backs, but Price could earn his way into Round 2 with a strong predraft process.

Given the lack of high-end talent at the RB position in this rookie class, Price could end up as a consensus first-round pick in dynasty rookie drafts.

Jonah Coleman, Washington

Washington running back Jonah Coleman has been one of the most productive running backs in college football since joining the Huskies in 2024, rushing 349 times for 1,811 yards and 25 touchdowns over his last 25 games.

He's also been a productive receiver, snagging 54 receptions for 531 yards and two scores in his Washington career. With Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love locked into the top running back prospect slot, Coleman is among the contenders to be the second running back off the 2026 NFL Draft board.

With a do-it-all skill set at 220 pounds, Coleman's testing numbers at the 2026 NFL Combine could carry significant weight in his draft stock. Either way, he's a clear top-5 rookie running back in the upcoming NFL Draft at this point in the offseason, making him an intriguing dynasty fantasy football pick. With the right landing spot, he could be a contributor right away.

Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton, who was a clear first-round rookie pick if he'd come out of school a year ago, had a disaster of a senior season. Part of that is that the Penn State coaching staff seems to prefer Kaytron Allen, but that doesn't explain everything, like how Singleton averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season but has dropped down to 3.6 this year.

That's especially concerning because, as a freshman, he averaged 6.8 yards per carry before a sophomore slump where he dropped to 4.4. If he can play his best football consistently, he can be a star in the NFL, but he's just been way, way too uneven to really trust at this point. He'll be a risky late first/early second in rookie drafts.

Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson is forgoing the rest of his collegiate eligibility to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Johnson was one of the lone bright spots in the Cornhuskers' disappointing season, rushing 251 times for 1,451 yards (third most nationally) and 12 touchdowns.

He also hauled in 46 passes for 370 yards and three more scores. With 92 career receptions in three seasons at Nebraska, he should draw the interest of plenty of NFL teams, thanks to his do-it-all skill set. Nebraska will have to replace his elite production in 2026.

🌽 32 Touches
🌽 129 RUSH YDS
🌽 103 REC YDS
🌽 3 TD@HuskerFootball RB Emmett Johnson is the only FBS player this season with 💯 rushing and receiving yards in the same game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Yo2lFfVJkk

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 9, 2025

Johnson projects to be a potential third-round pick, which would give him the draft capital to be a first- or early second-round consideration in rookie drafts.

Kaytron Allen, Penn State

Penn State running back Kaytron Allen is viewed as a fringe top-5 running back prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class despite overtaking Nicholas Singleton as the top Nittany Lions running back in 2025. After a 1,100-yard, eight-touchdown season as a junior in 16 games, Allen rushed for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior in 12 games.

Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton heading off together after their final regular season game. The duo combined for 312 yards and a trio of touchdowns.

Safe to say the four-year starters and roommates were fired up for each other. pic.twitter.com/3wBGemBtTM

— Lyle Alenstein (@LAlenstein) November 30, 2025

Allen finished his collegiate career with 4,670 scrimmage yards and 43 touchdowns in 54 contests. He's been a big-time producer throughout his career, so his performance at the 2026 NFL Combine could determine whether he's a Day 2 or Day 3 pick.

His 70 career receptions demonstrate his ability to play on all three downs at the next level, and in a running back class that is not as deep as last year's, there is a wide range of outcomes in April's draft at the RB spot.

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