5 Fantasy Football Running Backs to Draft: Backup RB Sleepers (2026)

May 14, 2026

Dave Ventresca's backup running backs to target and draft in fantasy football. His top NFL stashes, sleepers, and draft values for 2026 redraft leagues.

The running back position had a resurgence during the 2025 season. 17 backs eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark last year. That was the most since 2004. This development shows that NFL offenses are running the ball more often than they have in recent years. It also means the running back position carries more importance than it previously has for fantasy football purposes. That’s not to say the position was ever completely overlooked, as we all know the league-winning upside that comes with drafting stud backs. However, with the rise of Zero RB and Hero RB draft strategies, the position has certainly been devalued by the fantasy community.

While rostering good, strong starting running backs is important to building a championship-caliber fantasy team, we should also keep an eye on backup running backs, too. Even though we had 17 backs eclipse the 1K mark last year, the NFL still has its fair share of committee backfields. Drafters often overlook members of these backfields, but oftentimes these players carry unseen upside. There's even contingent value in drafting a talented backup running back if the starter is injured. If you select a few of these players later in your draft and even just one hits, it can be all you need to put your team over the top.

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for your fantasy football needs. Here are five sleeper backup running backs to target in 2026 fantasy football drafts.

Kyle Monangai - RB, Chicago Bears

Monangai enjoyed a nice rookie year in 2025. He ran for 783 rushing yards, scored five touchdowns, and looked like he belonged in the NFL.

Monangai's TD extends the Bears lead!

CHIvsPHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/S7vJLennWQ

— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2025

It was not a bad showing for a seventh-round rookie. Unfortunately for Monangai, he is stuck behind current Bears RB1 D’Andre Swift. He is coming off arguably his best season in the NFL, and it does not appear Monangai will supplant him anytime soon. Still, there is a path for Monangai to emerge as a viable fantasy contributor.

We know that Chicago wants to run the football, and that should continue to be a huge part of this offense in 2026. That means there will be plenty of opportunities for Monangai to contribute.

He operated in a David Montgomery-like role in Chicago’s offense last year, and with the team failing to add significant competition to the running back room this offseason, there’s no reason to believe things will change in 2026.

Even though Swift led this running back room in touches, the gap between him and Monangai was not ridiculously wide. Swift only outtouched Monangai by a 257-187 margin.

That means Monangai carries standalone value and can be a viable flex play in some leagues. If Swift were to miss time due to injury, then Monangai would be in line for a huge workload. All of that makes him one of the top backup running backs to target in drafts this year.

Blake Corum - RB, Los Angeles Rams

After a disappointing rookie season in 2024, Corum made immense improvements as a sophomore. He forced his way into a timeshare with RB1 Kyren Williams and showcased the same big-play ability we saw during his time at the University of Michigan.

Blake Corum rumbles 48 yards for the TD!

LARvsAZ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/aroS7jo0iI

— NFL (@NFL) December 7, 2025

Corum ran for 746 yards on just 153 carries and averaged a robust 5.1 yards per carry. Among 49 backs with 100+ attempts, he finished ninth in Next Gen Stats' rush yards over expected per attempt (RYOE/attempt) and 12th in PFF’s breakaway run rate. He is clearly a good player, and if he ever received a starter's workload, he'd be in contention to finish as a top-12 fantasy back.

We have already seen reports that the Rams want to further divide touches between Williams and Corum this year. That would obviously be good news for the latter’s fantasy outlook. However, it doesn’t mean that Williams is going away, and we should not expect Corum to completely take over as the RB1.

But it does mean that this backfield is morphing into a 1A/1B situation, which makes Corum a super appealing pick in drafts. Consider Corum a flex play with league-winning upside if Williams suffers an injury.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. - RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Rodriguez signed with the Jaguars in free agency. It was one of Jacksonville’s first moves and was an interesting signing following the departure of Travis Etienne Jr.

The prevailing thought process across the fantasy industry is that second-year back Bhayshul Tuten will take over as Jacksonville’s new RB1. That could be the case, and admittedly, I also lean in that direction. However, we should not completely overlook the team’s addition of Rodriguez.

In three years with the Washington Commanders, Rodriguez’s career never really got off the ground. 2025 was his best season as he finally saw an expanded role, rushing for 500 yards and six touchdowns on 112 carries.

Rodriguez also finished 14th in RYOE/attempt and eighth in PFF’s yards after contact per attempt. So there is some data available that suggests he could be an effective rusher.

Jaguars head coach Liam Coen also has a prior history with Rodriguez. In 2021, Coen was the offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky, and Rodriguez was his starting running back. 2021 would be the best season of Rodriguez’s collegiate career as he ran for 1,379 yards, averaged 6.1 yards per carry, and scored nine rushing touchdowns.

It's understandable why Tuten is the favorite to lead this backfield, but Rodriguez showed some flashes last year and has a history with Coen. This situation could be more of a timeshare than some gamers realize, and there’s a chance Rodriguez outright leads this backfield in touches. If that’s the case, then he’ll wind up being a major bargain in drafts.

Kenneth Gainwell - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gainwell had a career year in 2025. He set career highs in carries, rushing yards, yards per carry, targets, receptions, receiving yards, and total touchdowns.

Early touchdown for Kenneth Gainwell and the Steelers

PITvsNE on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/VhvmYqYez1

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

After that performance, Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason. Some may look at the presence of Bucky Irving and write off this signing as a nothing burger, but there is a very real path for Gainwell to take over this backfield.

Irving struggled mightily in 2025. He battled with some injuries, but even when he was on the field, he didn’t play up to the level we saw in 2024.

Take a look at the data for yourself. Among 49 running backs with 100+ touches, Irving ranked:

• 27th in missed tackles forced, per PFF
• 31st in PFF’s elusive rating
• T-44th in PFF rushing grade
• 48th in Next Gen Stats' rush yards over expected per attempt
• 49th in yards per carry
• 49th in yards after contact per attempt, per PFF

Irving was arguably the worst starting running back in the league last year. Things look even better for Gainwell when you consider that he finished higher than Irving in all of the above metrics except for missed tackles forced.

There was also a report that stated Irving is still dealing with a lingering shoulder injury.

#Bucs RB Bucky Irving apparently has not been cleared to participate just yet coming off shoulder surgery. Time will tell if he is able to get cleared to see the field during OTAs or if the team will hold off until training camp.

— PewterReport 🏴‍☠️ (@PewterReport) May 12, 2026

It stands to reason that if Irving’s slump continues in 2026, Gainwell could completely usurp the RB1 crown from Irving. Even if that doesn’t come to fruition, Tampa Bay made it a point to sign Gainwell this offseason.

It clearly sees something it likes, and it's safe to say he’s going to have some type of role in this offense. Even if it’s just as a pass-catcher, Gainwell could see enough volume to be a viable flex play in PPR leagues.

Consider Gainwell a priority target late in drafts. If things break right, you might nab a starting running back for a great bargain.

Jordan James/Kaelon Black/Isaac Guerendo - RB, San Francisco 49ers

Ok, so we're cheating a bit here by naming three backs for the price of one. All three of these running backs tie directly to current 49ers RB1 Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey is coming off a 2025 season where he touched the football a ridiculous 450 times. There is a long history of running back production declining following a 400-touch season, and we’ve often seen backs suffer several injuries the year following such a large workload.

McCaffrey is no stranger to injuries and has missed large chunks of seasons before. Combine that with the fact that he will soon be 30 years old, and it’s probably wise to assume that he is going to miss some time this year following a 450-touch season.

That brings us to James, Guerendo, and Black. All three are candidates to begin the season as the 49ers' RB2. James did not receive a single touch in 2025, but is reportedly still highly regarded by the 49ers. Guerendo has shown flashes in a few spot starts, but he was mainly limited to special teams duties last year.

Black was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He was reportedly very high on San Francisco’s draft board, and the team felt Round 3 was the right time to pull the trigger. We won’t dive too much into the 49ers' recent drafting record here, but while Black was a reach, he could still emerge as the team’s RB2.

The 49ers' RB2 battle should be closely monitored by all fantasy football players. Whichever player wins the RB2 job will be a hot commodity in drafts, and rightfully so when you consider McCaffrey’s situation.

Keep a close eye on any summer/training-camp reports that indicate which of James, Guerendo, and Black is emerging as the team’s preferred RB2. A good way to do that is to make sure you download the RotoBaller app here so our award-winning news desk can keep you up to date on any developments in that regard.

Whoever wins the 49ers' RB2 job could wind up being a very valuable player for fantasy football purposes. So make sure you follow the news closely and are ready to strike when your fantasy football drafts begin.

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