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RotoBaller's rookie running back rankings for dynasty fantasy football drafts. These updated staff tiered RB rankings are from after the 2026 NFL Draft..
The incoming class of running backs isn't loaded with high-end star-power, but several Round 3-7 picks could emerge as fantasy contributors this year or next. To help you nail your rookie draft picks, we're back with our updated fantasy football rookie running back rankings.
These updated 2026 rookie RB rankings are put together by Matt Donnelly, Phil Clark, Jackson Sparks, and Andrew Lalama. These rankings will be updated throughout the offseason, up until the start of the 2026 NFL regular season, based on training camp intel, preseason performances, and more. Below, check out where Jeremiyah Love, Nicholas Singleton, Jadarian Price, Mike Washington Jr., and more stand, among all others.
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.
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Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Rankings
Check out our PPR fantasy football rankings and standard (non-PPR) fantasy football rankings as well:
| Tier | Rank | Player Name | Pos |
| 1 | 1 | Jeremiyah Love | RB |
| 2 | 2 | Jadarian Price | RB |
| 3 | 3 | Jonah Coleman | RB |
| 3 | 4 | Kaelon Black | RB |
| 3 | 5 | Nicholas Singleton | RB |
| 4 | 6 | Emmett Johnson | RB |
| 4 | 7 | Mike Washington Jr. | RB |
| 4 | 8 | Kaytron Allen | RB |
| 4 | 9 | Demond Claiborne | RB |
| 5 | 10 | Adam Randall | RB |
| 5 | 11 | Seth McGowan | RB |
| 5 | 12 | Jam Miller | RB |
| 5 | 13 | Roman Hemby | RB |
| 5 | 14 | J'Mari Taylor | RB |
| 5 | 15 | Noah Whittington | RB |
| 6 | 16 | Jaydn Ott | RB |
| 6 | 17 | Desmond Reid | RB |
| 6 | 18 | Terion Stewart | RB |
| 7 | 19 | Rahsul Faison | RB |
| 7 | 20 | CJ Donaldson | RB |
| 7 | 21 | Robert Henry Jr. | RB |
| 7 | 22 | Jamal Haynes | RB |
2026 Fantasy Football Rookie Running Back Outlooks
Seth McGowan, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan was a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after an up-and-down collegiate career that saw him make stops at four different schools, but if he can beat out 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens for the team's primary backup role behind Jonathan Taylor, he could soon be viewed as one of fantasy's most valuable insurance backs. While Giddens has the better draft capital and a more complete collegiate profile, he dealt with minor injuries as a rookie and was held out of several contests as a healthy scratch, only averaging 3.7 yards per carry on his limited opportunities.
Like Giddens, McGowan is a big-bodied back and capable pass-catcher, meaning whoever earns the job could render the other a non-factor on gamedays. With pads yet to be donned, any competition between the two is purely speculative at this point, but their battle bears monitoring when training camps open in summer, and at RotoBaller's rookie RB11, McGowan is worthy of a bottom-of-the-roster spot in deep dynasty leagues, at least until depth charts are sorted.
Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos
Early on in the pre-draft process, Denver Broncos running back Jonah Coleman was in conversation to become the second running back selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. In falling to Denver in the fourth round, he ultimately became the fourth back off the board, and while the draft capital may be difficult to get overly excited about, the landing spot could prove to be an ideal fit for his well-rounded skill set. Coleman is a proven pass-catcher in a Sean Payton offense that is at its best when involving its backs as receivers.
The Broncos spent a 2025 second-round pick on RJ Harvey, but his efficiency metrics were underwhelming across the board as a rookie, while Coleman forced missed tackles at the highest rate of all backs in the incoming rookie class. Veteran J.K. Dobbins could hold onto lead-back duties to enter the year, as he did until a Lisfranc tear ended his 2025 season, but no stranger to injuries, he has now missed 53 of a potential 85 games over the past five seasons.
While a slow start to his rookie season would not be unexpected, Coleman could eventually take over as the most fantasy-relevant running back in Denver, and at RotoBaller's rookie RB3, he is one of the higher upside picks in the second round of dynasty rookie drafts.
Kaytron Allen, Washington Commanders
With rookie running back Kaytron Allen lasting all the way to pick No. 187 of the 2026 NFL Draft before the Washington Commanders selected him in the sixth round, he landed in as ideal a situation as can be found for a late Day 3 pick. No running back on the roster handled more than 37% of their team's carries last season, with the Commanders' leading rusher, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, himself a seventh-round pick in 2025.
No stranger to working in a committee, Allen set the all-time Penn State rushing record while playing all four of his collegiate seasons alongside 2026 fifth-round pick Nicholas Singleton. In Washington, he will be battling veteran Jeremy McNichols for the third spot in a rotation alongside Croskey-Merritt and free agent signee Rachaad White, and with White potentially making McNichols' pass-catching role redundant, the edge could go to the rookie.
At RotoBaller's dynasty RB40, Allen is not a flashy pick in the middle rounds of rookie-only drafts, but he has one of the clearer paths to immediate fantasy relevance, which is not a luxury to be overlooked in a generally unexciting draft class.
Demond Claiborne, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings running back Demond Claiborne was a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a historically difficult spot from which to find fantasy success. On the rare occasions when a back with such late draft capital has made a meaningful fantasy impact, the setting is often a backfield without a clear leader. With neither Aaron Jones nor Jordan Mason handling more than 39% of the team's carries or reaching 760 yards on the ground in 2025, the landing spot in Minnesota certainly qualifies as such.
Claiborne is only 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, so he is unlikely to ever find an every-down role in the NFL, but he offers an element of speed unique to the Vikings' running back room. If he can beat out 2023 undrafted free agent Xavier Scott, he could carve out a role in a three-man rotation in an offense projected to get back on track after the worst showing of the Kevin O'Connell era. At RotoBaller's rookie RB8, Claiborne is at least worth a dart throw in the closing rounds of 2026 rookie drafts.
Jam Miller, New England Patriots
New England Patriots running back Jam Miller was selected in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and he figures to enter into competition with Lan Larison, Terrell Jennings, and undrafted free agent Myles Montgomery to claim the third running back spot behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. With Josh McDaniels regularly deploying a three-man rotation and most of the moves made by the Patriots this offseason suggesting an emphasis on getting more physical in the running game, whoever wins the job could have sneaky short-term value that could eventually grow into something more.
Before tearing his ACL in a 2025 Week 5 win over the Bills, Antonio Gibson had averaged a red zone carry per game and converted one of his two goal-line attempts into a touchdown. While nothing monumental, it's at least enough to keep the role relevant in best ball formats. At RotoBaller's rookie RB12, Miller is going regularly unselected in dynasty rookie drafts, but if he emerges from training camp as the team's third back, he belongs at the bottom of dynasty rosters.
Adam Randall, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens running back Adam Randall could get involved on third downs during his rookie season. The Clemson product was selected in the fifth round of last month's NFL Draft after tallying 1,068 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns in his final year with the Tigers. A significant portion of his production came in the passing game, as he caught 36 passes for 254 receiving yards. The Ravens have a dependable and consistent ball-carrier in Derrick Henry, but they could use some pass-catching competition behind him.
Justice Hill has been the Ravens' third-down back in the past, but he's now 28 years old and could be falling out of favor with the team's new coaching staff. That paves the way for Randall to contribute right away, even if it's only on half the passing downs. There's long-term dynasty upside for the 21-year-old to become an RB3/flex in dynasty leagues. For now, he projects as a mid-to-late third-round pick in 2026 fantasy football rookie drafts.
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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.
