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Should you draft Emmett Johnson, Nicholas Singleton, or Kaelon Black in fantasy football in 2026? RotoBaller's fantasy outlooks for these rookies running backs.
Rookie running backs can be a great source of fantasy football value if you can get the right options in the right spots to produce. Due to the wear and tear on running backs, the position always has quite a bit of turnover both from season to season and even within the season. With constant roster churn changing opportunities, keeping up with the latest on the newest additions to teams' RB depth charts is critical heading into fantasy football draft season.
Emmett Johnson, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaelon Black are intriguing options as they enter the league with a chance to make an impact in 2026 redraft leagues. In this article, we'll dive into each of their fantasy football outlooks.
Should you draft Johnson, Singleton, or Black in 2026? Read on to find out.
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Emmett Johnson Fantasy Football Outlook
Kansas City Chiefs running back Emmett Johnson slid to the fifth round of the NFL Draft after a big 2025 in his Senior year at Nebraska. He racked up 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 251 attempts and added 370 receiving yards and three more scores on 46 grabs. The well-rounded back could develop into a fantasy factor if he can claim enough playing time in the Chiefs' backfield.
He had a relatively quiet training camp but got off to a good start to the preseason with 12 carries for 59 yards and three catches for 10 yards against the Rams.
.@Chiefs rookie RB Emmett Johnson runs HARD.
LARvsKC on @NFLnetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ITzTG25Jpe— NFL (@NFL) August 15, 2026
Coach Andy Reid said he was "“one of the positives coming out of” the team's first preseason game, and he looks to be working his way up the depth chart. To overhaul the position this past offseason, the Chiefs brought in free agents Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado. Demercado worked with the second team for most of training camp and could mix in as a change-of-pace with Walker early in the year.
However, if either back goes down with an injury, Johnson has shown the potential to step up as either an early-down option or a third-down receiving back.
Johnson is currently ranked No. 60 in RotoBaller's RB rankings since his workload is uncertain. If he continues his strong preseason, though, he could rise through the rankings as we get closer to Week 1 and be worth drafting towards the end of standard-sized redraft leagues.
If you draft Walker, Johnson is a great handcuff to have on the bench in case of injury, and he is a nice sleeper depth pick late in drafts. The Chiefs love to rotate running backs and include multiple options in the game plan, so the rookie will likely have a role at some point this season.
Nicholas Singleton Fantasy Football Outlook
The Titans have a new Head Coach, Robert Saleh, at the helm, and a new Offensive Coordinator, Brian Daboll, who is trying to lead the young core of skill players to the next level. QB Cam Ward will look to improve on his promising rookie showing, and the Titans have veteran running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears back to work alongside him as a running back tandem.
The Titans also added a new face to the backfield mix by drafting Nicholas Singleton in the fifth round at pick No. 165, just four picks after the Chiefs moved up to snag Emmett Johnson. Singleton wasn't the only running back at Penn State during his four seasons with the Nittany Lions, but he excelled in the committee, averaging 5.56 yards per carry.
He showcased big-play and dual-threat potential, but his "boom or bust" style kept him from earning all the work in the backfield.
In training camp and preseason, he has been solid but not spectacular. He is still firmly behind Pollard and Spears, who are each entering a contract year. Either one or both of the veterans could be in their last season with the Titans, which could open up playing time for Singleton next season.
With the two established running backs ahead of him, Singleton will need to earn his way into the committee. He could get a change-of-pace series or two early in the season and has the potential to break enough big plays to earn more playing time. He will also need to improve pass protection after this play in Preseason Week 1:
Tatum Bethune destroys Nick Singleton, and Will Levis goes down again pic.twitter.com/x9nmTifZUy
— Jordan Dajani (@JordanDajani) August 14, 2026
For redraft leagues, Singleton is the RB73 this season in RotoBaller's standard rankings, but he has more value in dynasty leagues with a larger role potentially on the horizon next year. In RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, he checks in at RB42. If you are in a 12-team league and are hunting for late-round RB depth, Singleton is worth considering since he will likely get a chance at some point this season, but he is high-risk since there is no clear path to playing time.
Kaelon Black Fantasy Football Outlook
Two rounds before Johnson and Singleton, Kaelon Black went off the board when he was selected at No. 90 by the San Francisco 49ers. Black was part of the backfield for the national champion Indiana Hoosiers last season, where he worked mostly as an early-down, between-the-tackles runner. He was not very involved in the passing game in college, which makes him a potentially awkward fit as one of the options behind Christian McCaffrey, since he is so critical to the passing game.
Black is competing for the backup role with Jordan James, with Zamir White, Sincere McCormick, and Khalil Herbert also looking for time in the running back room. While James has been sidelined with a rib injury, Black returned from his own adductor injury with an impressive preseason game against the Rams.
Two big back-to-back runs for Kaelon Black.
33 yards on 8 carries for the #49ers rookie. pic.twitter.com/DDbyJGfgr5
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) August 21, 2026
In addition to running so effectively, Black did a great job in pass protection, stepping up to stop multiple blitzes. Coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game, "I was real happy with him [Black]...I thought he ran real physical. Would love to keep him in there a little bit longer, but with it being his second day back, I wanted to be smart with him."
Black seems to be moving in as the second option behind McCaffrey. Last year, Brian Robinson Jr. was in that role, but got very limited work. Black could get a few carries per game as the second back, and he could also get a chance to break out if McCaffrey struggles with injury issues. If CMC is healthy, Black could be stuck behind him on the depth chart, but he does have enough upside to be an option to draft near the end of deep-league or dynasty drafts.
In RotoBaller's PPR redraft rankings, Black is the RB64, while in dynasty rankings he climbs to RB52. After his strong showing against the Rams, though, he could move up a few spots on both lists. If all three of these rookie RBs are available, Black would be my favorite option since he is in a proven system behind a running back already dealing with "tightness."
Johnson could also be a great play for the Chiefs and would be my second option, while Singleton seems a little further away. Johnson is a little more versatile and has a higher floor, since he'll likely mix in more than Black if both backfields are fully healthy. Each of the three is definitely draftable for RB depth and brings breakout potential, even though they aren't quite as flashy as some of the elite rookie options.
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