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Fantasy football running back (RB) sleepers, value picks for the middle rounds of 2026 drafts including Jonathon Brooks, RJ Harvey, Jordan Mason, Kenny Gainwell, and Blake Corum.
Welcome back to our annual middle-round fantasy football running back (RB) sleepers and draft values for the 2026 season. We take a look at some potential running backs who could smash value at their current ADP in the middle rounds of upcoming fantasy football drafts. Today we'll be taking a look at Jonathon Brooks, RJ Harvey, Jordan Mason, Kenny Gainwell, and Blake Corum.
The middle rounds of fantasy drafts are essential, as managers use them to build around their core players. In the middle rounds, managers can afford to take risks on a variety of players, including forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even skilled players with potential playing-time concerns. It's essential to have at least a handful of sleeper targets at each position heading into your fantasy football drafts, no matter the format. Here are some running backs for you to consider during the middle of the draft for this season.
Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Usually only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2026 Draft Kit. Be sure to subscribe today and start reading all 300+ of our 2026 player outlooks, along with many other premium articles and tools available exclusively in our 2026 Draft Kit.
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Jonathon Brooks, Panthers, Fantasy Football Outlook
Jonathon Brooks has emerged as a viable option to target at his current ADP, as he appears primed to make a long-awaited impact in Carolina's backfield rotation. Brooks became the first running back to be selected during the 2024 NFL Draft when the Panthers secured him in Round 2 (46th overall). Brooks' most prolific numbers at the collegiate level were assembled during his final season at Texas (2023), when he accumulated 1,139 rushing yards (103.5 per game), generated 10 rushing touchdowns, and captured 25 of his 30 targets. His contributions to Carolina's offense have been minimal (23 offensive snaps/12 touches/45 total yards) as a result of two ACL tears that he has sustained since November 2023.
It remains unclear whether Brooks can fully recapture the agility, elusiveness, and acceleration he displayed before his injuries. However, Brooks is still just 22 years old despite the protracted delay in his involvement, and his performance during OTAs has been encouraging. Brooks should ultimately operate as Carolina's RB2 behind Chuba Hubbard, who will turn 27 on June 11. Hubbard averaged 8.9 attempts per game last season while failing to generate a run that exceeded 14 yards and finishing just 44th in rush yards over expected (-39) per Next Gen Stats.
He’s at the end of it, but moved Jonathon Brooks into my tier with Monty, TreVeyon, Swift, Judkins, Price and Bucky Irving
May seem high to some but I think he fits well there. All have RB1 upside but with obvious concerns (another RB, bad offense, health, etc)
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) August 13, 2026
Brooks could secure a respectable role while functioning in a rotation with Hubbard. Brooks' projected placement on the Panthers' depth chart also positions him to emerge as an effective handcuff, as he should seize a significant workload if Hubbard is forced to the sideline. That makes Brooks an enticing option at his Round 9 ADPs in dynasty startups (98/RB32) and best ball leagues (107/RB37). Brooks has been healthy in camp, and Hubbard is week-to-week with a hamstring injury. His fantasy ADP continues to rise as Brooks is becoming one of the better values in upcoming fantasy football drafts.
Jordan Mason, Vikings, Fantasy Football Outlook
Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason is expected to be in a timeshare with backfield teammate Aaron Jones Sr. However, Jones' advanced age and injury-prone nature could create more opportunity for Mason. The 27-year-old rushed for 758 yards and six touchdowns on 159 rushing attempts, while catching 14 passes for 51 yards in 16 games for Minnesota last season. He was efficient on the ground, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. However, outside of one game in Week 3 against the Bengals, Mason failed to take the starting job from Jones despite plenty of opportunity.
People apparently hate Jordan Mason, not sure why
Here’s how he stacked up against Aaron Jones last year
He was THIS good DESPITE a bottom-5 offense “lead” by J.J. McCarthy
Kyler Murray now at QB + Jauan Jennings (elite run blocker) + Frank Smith OC + Aaron Jones 📉 = Mason 🚀 https://t.co/A7Zxyv8zIR pic.twitter.com/Nt6A0Q6wv6
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) August 9, 2026
The Vikings drafted rookie Demond Claiborne to compete for the backup job. Mason lacks pass-catching upside and averaged under four yards per carry aside from Week 3 in games where he had 10 or more carries. According to Jason Harmon of Sports Illustrated, Mason is having a strong camp, showcasing a level of speed we've rarely seen from his runs up the gut. "It seems clear that Mason is a beneficiary of Frank Smith's newly implemented outside zone scheme." Mason will handle most of the work between the tackles while Jones handles the majority of the work and most of the pass-catching downs. The drafting of Claiborne makes the Vikings backfield crowded, but Mason should get enough touches to make a difference. Minnesota named Kyler Murray as the team's starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy, which should help the Vikings offense as a whole. The former San Francisco 49er is RotoBaller's RB38 and is a great value at his current Yahoo Fantasy ADP of 128.
Blake Corum, Rams, Fantasy Football Outlook
After a quiet 2024 rookie campaign, Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum emerged in his second season as first a usable flex play and then a bona fide week-winner. With the Rams' sights set on a deep postseason run, they seemed to make a concerted effort to keep primary back Kyren Williams as fresh as possible, and after Williams opened the season with 19 touches per game through the first nine weeks, that average fell below 16 from Weeks 10 through 18.
With last year's fourth-round pick Jarquez Hunter relegated to special teams, those extra opportunities went entirely to Corum, and in adding an element of explosiveness to the backfield, he finished the year with 746 yards on a team-leading 5.1 per carry. Corum was the fantasy RB17 over the final six weeks of the season, and his five rushing touchdowns in that span were topped only by Derrick Henry's seven.
Blake Corum was “better” than Kyren Williams last season per advanced analytics
Yes, it was on fewer rush attempts (145 vs. 259), but Corum narrowed the gap in opportunity share
In 2024, Kyren had 316 rush attempts, Corum 58
50-50 split incoming in 2026?
(via @FantasyPtsData) https://t.co/nPLJiHerTC pic.twitter.com/uZHVRimSxs
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) August 9, 2026
For the first time since 2016, the Rams did not add a running back through the NFL Draft, so his role appears secured heading into year three, and with Los Angeles again an early Super Bowl favorite, it would stand to reason that keeping Williams fresh would still be a priority. Even as a change-of-pace back, the former third-round pick out of Michigan will continue to offer standalone flex value, but should Williams miss extended time, something he has not done since 2023, Corum would greatly exceed his price tag of RotoBaller's RB32.
Kenny Gainwell, Buccaneers, Fantasy Football Outlook
Kenny Gainwell assembled the most prolific numbers of his career last season with the Steelers and is now primed to seize a sizable role in Tampa Bay's reconstructed backfield. Gainwell easily exceeded expectations while delivering career-best numbers in attempts (114/6.7 per game), rushing yards (537/31.6 per game), targets (85/5.0 per game), and receiving yards (486/28.6 per game), securing a career-high 50% snap share and finishing as an RB1 during seven matchups. Gainwell also finished second among all backs in targets (51/6.4 per game), receptions (44/5.5 per game), and receiving yards (262/45.4 per game) from Weeks 11-18. Gainwell's performance also propelled him to a two-year, $14 million contract with Tampa Bay.
This will infuse Gainwell into a depth chart that also contains Bucky Irving, who will operate as the Buccaneers' lead back once he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. However, Gainwell's presence should prevent Irving from functioning as a workhorse. Irving was sidelined during seven contests last season (foot/shoulder), and his averages in yards per attempt (3.4) and yards after contact per attempt (1.6) were uninspiring.
Bucs RB Kenneth Gainwell has emerged as a dynamic receiving back, per @PewterReport
“It is clear that OC Zac Robinson trusts him to turn those plays at or behind the line of scrimmage into bigger gains.” pic.twitter.com/uQMcdIDwjx
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 9, 2026
Gainwell's versatility should propel him to a weekly allotment of carries while maintaining a role as Tampa Bay's primary receiving weapon from the backfield. Gainwell's proven ability to capitalize on those opportunities should sustain his standalone value. Gainwell also remains capable of approaching RB1 production if Irving is forced to the sideline. That justifies targeting Gainwell at his Round 9 ADP in best ball leagues (108/RB37), along with his Round 11 ADP in dynasty startups (121/RB41).
RJ Harvey, Broncos, Fantasy Football Outlook
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey stepped up as a rookie, notching 12 total touchdowns with 146 carries for 540 rushing yards alongside another 356 yards through the air on 47 catches. Even before J.K. Dobbins was lost for the year to a foot injury, Harvey had scored six TDs on 75 touches through 10 weeks, operating as a change-of-pace back. After Dobbins went down, Harvey tallied 96-326-5 on the ground (3.4 YPC) with another 22-181-1 receiving, so we saw more volume rather than big plays.
RJ Harvey to See a "Big Role" as Broncos' Pass-Catching Back https://t.co/fU2wiQ3e94
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 4, 2026
However, this did result in four top-12 RB weeks (half-PPR) between Weeks 13-17. He then tore his labrum in the AFC Championship Round and required shoulder surgery, which has limited his offseason involvement. Dobbins is now healthy, and Denver also took Jonah Coleman in the fourth round, so there's pessimism around the sophomore RB who relied on volume and TDs to pop. He may slide from his June half-PPR ADP of the RB30, going around overall pick 80, as a result. Our RotoBaller ranks have him closer to pick 90.
Popular Player Comparison Searches - Who To Draft
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