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RotoBaller's early 2026 fantasy football rankings for running backs in redraft leagues. 2026 tiered rankings give an early look at 2026 drafts at RB
Who is already ready for the 2026 fantasy football season? We are! Unfortunately, we have a long way to go, but it's never too early to take a look at next year's pecking order. Drafting the right combo of productive running backs is always key for a potential championship run, so let's kick things off with our early 2026 fantasy football running back rankings. Below, check out where key RBs like Omarion Hampton, Josh Jacobs, Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, Bucky Irving, and RJ Harvey stand, among all others.
These 2026 fantasy football RB rankings are put together by Nick Mariano, a top-accuracy industry ranker and the lead forecaster here at RotoBaller. The 2026 NFL rookies are not included in these rankings, but they will be added as updates are made constantly up until the NFL Draft, and after the draft as well.
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2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Redraft
| Tier | Rank | Name | Team | Position |
| 1 | 1 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | RB |
| 1 | 2 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | RB |
| 1 | 3 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | RB |
| 2 | 4 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | RB |
| 2 | 5 | De'Von Achane | MIA | RB |
| 2 | 6 | James Cook III | BUF | RB |
| 2 | 7 | Omarion Hampton | LAC | RB |
| 2 | 8 | Josh Jacobs | GB | RB |
| 3 | 9 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | RB |
| 3 | 10 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | RB |
| 3 | 11 | Chase Brown | CIN | RB |
| 4 | 12 | Derrick Henry | BAL | RB |
| 4 | 13 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | RB |
| 4 | 14 | Bucky Irving | TB | RB |
| 4 | 15 | Kenneth Walker III | SEA | RB |
| 4 | 16 | Kyren Williams | LAR | RB |
| 4 | 17 | RJ Harvey | DEN | RB |
| 4 | 18 | Cam Skattebo | NYG | RB |
| 4 | 19 | Breece Hall | NYJ | RB |
| 5 | 20 | Travis Etienne Jr. | JAC | RB |
| 5 | 21 | D'Andre Swift | CHI | RB |
| 5 | 22 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | RB |
| 6 | 23 | Javonte Williams | DAL | RB |
| 7 | 24 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | RB |
| 7 | 25 | Kyle Monangai | CHI | RB |
| 7 | 26 | Rico Dowdle | CAR | RB |
| 7 | 27 | Woody Marks | HOU | RB |
| 7 | 28 | Tony Pollard | TEN | RB |
| 7 | 29 | Aaron Jones Sr. | MIN | RB |
| 7 | 30 | Blake Corum | LAR | RB |
| 8 | 31 | James Conner | ARI | RB |
| 9 | 32 | David Montgomery | DET | RB |
| 9 | 33 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | RB |
| 9 | 34 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAC | RB |
| 9 | 35 | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | RB |
| 9 | 36 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | RB |
| 9 | 37 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | RB |
| 9 | 38 | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | RB |
| 9 | 39 | Alvin Kamara | NO | RB |
| 9 | 40 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | RB |
| 9 | 41 | Trey Benson | ARI | RB |
| 9 | 42 | Dylan Sampson | CLE | RB |
| 10 | 43 | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG | RB |
| 10 | 44 | Keaton Mitchell | BAL | RB |
| 10 | 45 | Jordan Mason | MIN | RB |
| 10 | 46 | Tank Bigsby | PHI | RB |
| 10 | 47 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | RB |
| 10 | 48 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | RB |
| 10 | 49 | Joe Mixon | HOU | RB |
| 11 | 50 | Kimani Vidal | LAC | RB |
| 11 | 51 | Kendre Miller | NO | RB |
| 11 | 52 | Jonathon Brooks | CAR | RB |
| 11 | 53 | Brian Robinson Jr. | SF | RB |
| 11 | 54 | Jaylen Wright | MIA | RB |
| 11 | 55 | Emanuel Wilson | GB | RB |
| 11 | 56 | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS | RB |
| 11 | 57 | Braelon Allen | NYJ | RB |
| 12 | 58 | Rachaad White | TB | RB |
| 12 | 59 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | RB |
| 12 | 60 | Kaleb Johnson | PIT | RB |
| 12 | 61 | Devin Neal | NO | RB |
| 12 | 62 | Jarquez Hunter | LAR | RB |
| 12 | 63 | Audric Estime | NO | RB |
2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Outlooks, News
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson hasn't scored a touchdown in two playoff games this year, but he has recorded 209 scrimmage yards on 33 touches. Stevenson had 16 rushing attempts for 70 yards and also caught all four of his targets for 11 yards in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. The 27-year-old's 16 carries were the second-most he's had all year, with rookie TreVeyon Henderson carrying the ball 12 times for only 25 yards.
Fantasy managers should expect Stevenson to have another big role in the AFC Championship clash this Sunday against the Denver Broncos. His role makes him a top-three fantasy RB in playoff leagues, but the sledding could be tough on the road against a Broncos defense that allowed the fewest half-PPR points per game during the regular season.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Updating a previous report, Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (knee) suffered a torn ACL in his knee in Saturday's Divisional Round win over the San Francisco 49ers, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Charbonnet will require surgery and will not only miss the rest of the playoffs, but he'll most likely miss most of the 2026 season as well, given the timing of his injury. Before tearing his ACL, the 25-year-old third-year back ran the ball five times for 20 yards. Kenneth Walker had 19 carries for a season-high 116 yards and three touchdowns with Charbonnet out.
It's a tough ending to Charbonnet's best season in the NFL, as he set career highs across the board during the regular season in carries (184), rushing yards (730), and rushing touchdowns (12). Walker should see a bigger workload the rest of the way in the postseason, with Velus Jones Jr. being elevated to the RB2 role.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen said on Tuesday that running back Cam Skattebo (ankle) should be ready for organized team activities in the spring, according to Evan Barnes of New York Newsday. Skattebo's first NFL season ended in late October when he suffered a gruesome dislocated right ankle. The 23-year-old is already out of his walking boot, though, and should be ready for the start of training camp in the summer and the Week 1 regular-season opener, barring a setback along the way.
In his eight games played for the Giants in 2025, Skattebo had 101 carries for 410 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, adding 24 catches on 32 targets for 207 yards and three more touchdowns as a pass-catcher. The Arizona State product took over lead-back duties with the G-Men and should be their preferred option in the backfield again in 2026 if he's fully healthy.
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
When asked whether he expects a future with running back Joe Mixon (foot, ankle) on Monday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said, "As of right now, I don't know that," according to Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. Mixon didn't play at all during the 2025 season, yet the Texans managed to make the playoffs for the third straight year without him. The 29-year-old's future in Houston depends entirely on the health of his foot/ankle going into next season.
From a contractual perspective, Mixon is with the team through the 2026 season. Veteran Nick Chubb opened the year as Houston's primary running back before rookie Woody Marks took over in the second half. Even if Mixon recovers this offseason and is ready to go for the season opener this fall, he won't be guaranteed to get the RB1 job back with Marks around.
RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey had a disappointing showing on the ground in the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, carrying the ball six times for only 20 yards. Harvey helped his fantasy managers in PPR leagues by catching five of a season-high six targets for 46 yards through the air, though. Against a weaker Buffalo run defense, it was a disappointing performance for Harvey, who saw his lowest carry total since Week 10.
Things won't get any easier for the second-rounder going into a tough AFC Championship matchup against the visiting New England Patriots. Although Denver may put more of an emphasis on trying to get their ground game going now that starting quarterback Bo Nix (ankle) is out the rest of the way, it doesn't mean that Harvey will have success against a Patriots defense that allowed the fourth-fewest half-PPR points per game to RBs this year, including only eight rushing TDs.
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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
