Fantasy Football Running Back Breakouts for 2026 - Sneaky Candidates to Claim RB1 Status

March 26, 2026

Andy discusses running back fantasy football breakouts, sleepers - sneaky candidates to be an RB1 in 2026. Who will finish as a top-12 fantasy football RB?

Everyone is looking for the next late-round breakout who could nearly single-handedly win you your fantasy football league. During the 2025 season, fantasy managers saw Javonte Williams and Travis Etienne Jr. emerge as elite high-end RB1s despite carrying a low draft cost.

These running backs below did not finish as top-12 options last season and enter the early part of the offseason very underrated, but could emerge as must-start top-12 options in 2026. And yes, even though Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton were not top-12 options last season, they will be excluded from this list as they are prime breakout candidates and will be going within the top 10 at the position come draft season. In this exercise, we will look to predict the next Williams/Etienne for the upcoming season.

Let's take a look at six "way-too-early" running back sleepers who could emerge as weekly must-start RB1s in 2026.

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

Quinshon Judkins had a slower start to the season after being away from the team for most of training camp, but quickly took over RB1 duties in Cleveland. However, his rookie season was eventually cut short after suffering a dislocated ankle in Week 16.

Across his first 14 games in the NFL, Judkins totaled 827 yards and had seven rushing scores. He averaged a low 3.6 YPC, but given his offensive surroundings, managers should not be overly concerned.

However, what makes him a prime breakout candidate in 2026 is his projected workload, which can offset his lower efficiency. During his first season in the NFL, the former national champion immediately took on a large workload and will enter the 2026 season with minimal competition on the depth chart.

From Weeks 2 through 15 (removing Week 16, where he exited early), Judkins averaged 17.1 rushing attempts per game and added 2.3 targets per game. Even while playing on a team that was often given a negative game script, the Browns leaned heavily on Judkins to spark the offense. He would finish his rookie season as the RB25 in terms of FPTS/G (in PPR scoring).

The team's No. 2 running back last season, Dylan Sampson, only saw 2.7 rushing attempts per game during this stretch. Judkins was deployed as a bell cow, which will set him up for a massive 2026 season. While the passing game remains a concern for the overall state of the offense, Judkins' role should put him within the top-12 conversation.

If the Browns can find more stability under center, Judkins could see a top-12 outcome.

Quinshon Judkins rips off a big run, and the Browns are in the red zone.

MINvsCLE on @nflnetwork
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/2JnjSdT0EH

— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2025

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

The Commanders were linked to several of the top running backs in free agency, such as Kenneth Walker III and Etienne. However, they were unable to sign any of them and instead pivoted to Rachaad White, whom they signed to a cheap one-year contract.

White figures to have a role in passing downs, but he is not projected to take much of the early down and red-zone work from Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

While the Commanders could look to target a top running back in the NFL Draft as well, as of this writing, Croskey-Merritt faces minimal competition to be the team's primary running back, while succeeding passing down work to White.

The seventh-round pick had a mixed bag of results during his rookie season. Croskey-Merritt enjoyed a hot start in Week 1, totaling 82 yards and a score on 10 rushing attempts. Over the next five games, he would total double-digit PPR points in just two, but would enjoy an impressive 111-yard, two-TD effort against the Chargers in Week 5.

However, from Weeks 7 through 14, the Arizona product was likely cut in most leagues, as he averaged a modest 3.5 PPR points per game during this rough skid. The entire Washington offense struggled without Jayden Daniels, which limited his upside.

Despite the disappointing stretch, the Commanders turned back to him over the final month, and he did not disappoint. In Weeks 15 through 17, he would total 15.5 PPR points per game and score four touchdowns over this stretch. He would average an elite 6.1 YPC, which was even higher than the 5.7 YPC he posted from Weeks 1 through 6.

Bill! Bill! Bill! (Christmas edition)

📺 #DALvsWAS Netflix pic.twitter.com/VeB49IuZab

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 25, 2025

A top prospect like Jeremiyah Love would ruin any chance of Croskey-Merritt achieving RB1 status, but seeing the Commanders opting to avoid a top-tier RB in free agency (even with the cap space they possessed) suggests they do believe in the young running back.

Croskey-Merritt could prove major value in drafts, especially if the Washington offense can return to its 2024 form with a healthy Daniels and Terry McLaurin.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

With the Jaguars parting ways with Etienne, rookie Bhayshul Tuten appears to be the early favorite to take over the backfield. While newly signed Chris Rodriguez Jr. could play a role, given that this coaching staff and management personally selected Tuten with a fourth-round pick one year ago, he will likely enter training camp as the slight favorite for the job.

The 23-year-old was not given many opportunities in his rookie season, as Etienne typically dominated the backfield, but he was effective when he was on the field. Over 83 attempts, Tuten punched in five rushing scores and totaled 3.7 YPC. Through the air, he brought in 10 of his 14 targets for 79 yards and another two touchdowns.

Running backs have found great success in the Liam Coen-led offense, like Bucky Irving back in 2024 and most recently Etienne, which sets up Tuten for a breakout season. Etienne averaged under 4.0 YPC in 2023 and 2024 and entered the 2025 season with major question marks. Reports suggested that Tuten may be given a larger role, especially if Etienne saw these struggles linger.

However, in this newly implemented scheme, Etienne found great success, posting a solid 4.3 YPC while rushing for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Jacksonville offense continued to improve as the year went on, and QB Trevor Lawrence looked like a late-season MVP sleeper. If Lawrence continues this trajectory, Tuten should possess 10+ TD upside while seeing a near three-down role.

Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks

While Charbonnet is unlikely to finish as an overall top-12 RB in total PPR points in 2026, he could very well finish within the top 12 in terms of points per game. During their run to the Super Bowl, Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL. While most recoveries take between eight and 12 months, the Seahawks have expressed great optimism about their current trajectory.

Earlier this offseason, Seahawks GM John Schneider noted that he "was not going to rule out the possibility" that Charbonnet would be available in Week 1. While this is highly unlikely to happen given the time he suffered the injury, even if he were to be active by the first month of the season, he could immediately make a massive impact in fantasy.

In free agency, the Seahawks opted not to re-sign Walker, which paves the way for Charbonnet to become the long-term option at the running back position. While they brought in former Packers backup Emanuel Wilson, Charbonnet would immediately become the RB1 once cleared for contact.

In 2025, Charbonnet split most of the work with Walker and was highly effective when on the field, especially in the red zone. The former UCLA standout totaled 12 rushing scores while averaging 4.0 YPC. He was given 512 carries within his 20-yard line and 31 within his 10-yard line. Walker saw only 10 carries within the 10-yard line during the entire 2025 regular season.

Charbonnet would see immense TD upside and would likely see the largest workload of his career once he is active. While he may start slow, Charbonnet should, on a per-game basis, possess top-12 upside in 2026.

Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals

Allgeier enjoyed a strong housing underpinning his rookie season, where he ran for over 1,000 yards, but never returned to that workload, as he shared a cushion with Bijan Robinson from his past career. However, after a strong showing as the team's No. 2 option in 2025, Allgeier landed a two-year contract with the Cardinals this spring.

While the Cardinals backfield appears crowded on the surface, Allgeier should face a little trouble rising to the top of the depth chart. He is set to compete for opportunities alongside James Conner and Trey Benson. However, Conner played in only three games this season and has always had his value limited by injuries throughout his career.

Benson, who appeared to be the team's long-term answer at the position a year ago, has also dealt with several injuries over his first two NFL seasons and is trending in the wrong direction. In 2025, Benson appeared in only four games but was effective, tallying 5.5 YPC, and appears to have already lost management's trust, as it brought in Allgeier.

However, Allgeier has played in all 17 games over three straight NFL seasons and has been nearly as effective, despite a limited workload. In 2025, Allgeier punched in eight touchdowns while posting a 3.6 YPC mark.

On just 8.4 rushing attempts per game, Allgeier averaged 7.2 FPTS/G, making him a low-end flex option every week. In a full workload, Allgeier could emerge as a legit top-12 option, especially in a potent Arizona offense.

A TOUCHDOWN!
Tyler Allgeier walks into the end zone to extend Atlanta’s lead.
📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/v41gxUlUzi

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 15, 2025

While the rushing attack struggled, Jacoby Brissett's passing attack averaged 232.6 yards per game, well above the average. Allgeier should see multiple opportunities every week and quickly claim the lead role in this crowded yet oft-injured backfield. This crowded backfield will keep Allgeier's price affordable, making him a prime early sleeper.

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Rounding out this list will be a running back who saw his value plummet in 2025 but could be poised for a bounce-back in 2026. While Hubbard opened the season as Carolina's RB1, he eventually lost the starting job to Rico Dowdle. However, with Dowdle now in Pittsburgh, Hubbard has a chance to reclaim the starting job.

While former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks (knee) could make an impact, he is working his way back from a pair of serious knee injuries and will likely be ready for action in 2026, opening the door for Hubbard to lead the backfield.

In 2025, Hubbard had a down season, as he ran for only 511 yards and punched in one score. Through the air, Hubbard caught just 30 passes for another 223 yards and three scores. However, in the previous season, Hubbard was a league winner down the stretch, averaging an impressive 4.8 YPC while taking on a career-best 250 carries for 1,195 yards and 10 rushing scores.

Seeing the Panthers avoid any of the top running backs in free agency, as Washington did, suggests they still believe in Hubbard, who they signed to a four-year contract back in November 2024.

His current stock may be at an all-time low, but this presents a prime buying opportunity for a running back who should face minimal competition to earn a three-down role in this offense. Hubbard is well-positioned for a major resurgence.

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