Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Rankings (2026): Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Kaytron Allen, Emmett Johnson, Jam Miller, Le'Veon Moss

January 20, 2026

2026 dynasty fantasy football rookie running back rankings. RotoBaller's top rookies and dynasty draft targets, including Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Nicholas Singleton, and more.

The 2026 rookie running back class isn't seen as one of the best in recent years, but the No. 1 RB in this year's class could carry a workhorse role right away, and injuries will force many first-year RBs into action during their rookie campaigns. Rookie drafts will be starting soon enough, so let's get started with our 2026 NFL rookie running back rankings, where you will see where the top 11 ball carriers, such as Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, Kaytron Allen, Emmett Johnson, Jam Miller, and  Le'Veon Moss, stand, among all others.

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! These initial 2026 rookie rankings are put together by Jackson Sparks and Phil Clark.

In addition to these rookie rankings, in our 2026 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.

2026 NFL Rookie Running Back Rankings for Fantasy Football

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

Fantasy Football NFL Rookie Running Back News and Outlooks

Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson enjoyed the best season of his collegiate career in 2025, totaling 1,451 rushing yards, 370 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns. The 22-year-old handled 297 total touches to close out his career in Lincoln, showcasing his workhorse ability. The upcoming rookie running back class isn't viewed as one of the best in recent years, but Johnson is largely considered one of the top five ball carriers heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.

Johnson's 92 career receptions demonstrate that he can operate in a modern NFL offense, and he's a strong tackle-breaker. For fantasy managers taking part in early rookie drafts, Johnson has appeal in the middle of the second round in single-QB formats. He should at least have the chance to compete to work in a committee backfield as a rookie.

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-five 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.

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.

Kaytron Allen, Penn State

Penn State running back Kaytron Allen is viewed as a fringe top-five 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. 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, so there is a wide range of outcomes in April's draft at the RB spot.

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.

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.

Jam Miller, Alabama

Alabama running back Jam Miller finished his Alabama career with 349 rushes for 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns in 51 games. He also recorded 40 receptions for 336 yards and two scores. The talented ball carrier never fully broke out during his time in Tuscaloosa, failing to reach 700 rushing yards in a single season.

However, the 2026 NFL Draft running back class is not viewed as strong or particularly deep, so he should hear his name called in April. He projects as a sixth-round pick early in the process, meaning he won't be guaranteed a roster spot, much less a major role in an NFL offense in Year 1. That said, if he impresses at the NFL Combine, he could see his stock rise. As of now, he's a solid flier in the third or fourth round of single-QB dynasty fantasy football rookie drafts.

Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton was viewed as one of the top running back prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class this time a year ago, but his senior season regression has hurt his stock. Had he declared for last year's draft after a 1,000-yard season, he could've been a second-or-third-round selection. However, he rushed for just 549 yards in 2025, and his average yards per carry fell from 6.4 to 4.5 from his junior to senior campaign. Now, Singleton is projected as a fourth-or-fifth-round pick this April.

The 22-year-old remains a talented ball carrier with strong receiving chops, so depending on his landing spot, he could be a worthwhile handcuff stash at the NFL level. He should be passed on until at least the late-second round in upcoming rookie fantasy drafts.

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