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Dynasty rookie RB rankings for fantasy football drafts. The updated staff tiered running back rankings reflect the 2026 NFL Draft and include the top 22 players.
We remain optimistic about finding value in a lesser 2026 NFL Draft running back class thanks to serious talent at the top, as well as others who have found good team environments where they can develop. Experienced dynasty league managers know that even backups can find relevance in valuable offenses, while those with a lofty pedigree can wilt in a suboptimal spot. Allow us to cut through the noise with our updated dynasty fantasy football running back rankings.
The updated 2026 rookie RB rankings are constructed by our elite team of 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, injuries, and more. Below, check out where Jadarian Price, Nicholas Singleton, Emmett Johnson, Demond Claiborne, and more stand, among all others entering their first year of NFL action.
In addition to these rookie rankings, in our 2026 fantasy football rankings dashboard, you will also find RotoBaller's Dynasty League rankings. Don't head into the year without them! Bookmark that page, so that you may crush 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
Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love was viewed as the consensus top pick in dynasty rookie drafts for months heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, and even though he landed in one of the most crowded running back rooms in the league, nothing about that ranking has changed.
Love was an elite prospect with no holes in his profile, and by selecting him with the third overall pick, the Cardinals signaled a willingness to involve him early and often, even in a room with newly acquired free agent Tyler Allgeier and returning backs, James Conner and Trey Benson.
The Cardinals project to have one of the league's lowest win totals in 2026, which is not genuinely an environment that harbors fantasy success from its running backs, but Love's involvement as a pass catcher could provide a safe floor early in his career. While fantasy managers may require patience for him to ultimately reach his ceiling, Love is RotoBaller's dynasty RB4 and can be the exact piece needed to push a team into title contention or extend an existing window.
Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
After a highly productive career at the University of Nebraska, running back Emmett Johnson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Johnson dominated the Big Ten in 2025, recording 1,821 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns on 297 touches across 12 games.
His path to the starting job with the Chiefs is blocked by running back Kenneth Walker III, whom Kansas City signed to a big-money deal in free agency in March. However, Johnson could emerge as the team's RB2 in 2026 if he can beat out fellow Kansas City backs Emari Demercado and Brashard Smith.
Walker III was fully healthy in 2025, but he missed 10 games over the first three seasons of his NFL career from 2022 to 2024. If Johnson establishes himself as the primary backup running back for the Chiefs, his three-down skill set makes him a high-end handcuff option for fantasy managers. In dynasty formats, Johnson's stock is rising entering his rookie campaign.
Mike Washington Jr., Las Vegas Raiders
After recording 1,296 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 195 touches across 12 games at the University of Arkansas in 2025, running back Mike Washington Jr. was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Even after a relatively disappointing rookie season, 2025 number six overall pick Ashton Jeanty remains firmly atop the Raiders running back depth chart going into 2026.
However, Washington Jr. could be the favorite for the RB2 role in a backfield that also contains Dylan Laube, Chris Collier, and Roman Hemby. Jeanty has the skill set of a three-down workhorse and logged 321 touches across 17 games in 2025, so there may not end up being much fantasy-relevant playing time behind him in Las Vegas.
At the same time, Jeanty averaged a highly inefficient 3.7 yards per carry last season, and the Raiders could be looking to keep him fresher by spreading out their backfield touches a bit more. Washington Jr. could be a solid buy-low target for dynasty managers heading into 2026, given the opportunity available to him in Las Vegas.
Jam Miller, New England Patriots
New England Patriots running back Jam Miller could be an interesting stash option for dynasty managers. The Patriots selected Miller in the seventh round of this year's draft. He figures to compete for the No. 3 spot in the backfield with Terrell Jennings, Myles Montgomery, and Lan Larison.
This past season, Miller rushed for 504 yards on 130 carries with three touchdowns in 11 games at Alabama. The 3.9 yards per carry isn't ideal, but the Patriots believe Miller has the potential to be a decent contributor.
The Patriots often deploy three-man rotations in the backfield, which could give Miller some value right away, assuming he wins the job. At worst, Miller is someone worth stashing on the taxi squad in case an injury happens to Rhamondre Stevenson or TreVeyon Henderson.
Roman Hemby, Las Vegas Raiders
Despite recording 1,285 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 245 touches while winning a national championship during his final collegiate season at the University of Indiana, running back Roman Hemby went unpicked in the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, the 23-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders and could be in position to earn a roster spot with Las Vegas in training camp. Ashton Jeanty is firmly atop the Raiders running back depth chart and should dominate backfield touches for the team in 2026.
Still, Hemby looks to be fighting with the unproven running back trio of Mike Washington Jr., Dylan Laube, and Chris Collier for the RB2 role behind Jeanty. Because of his status as a UDFA, Hemby should be viewed as a long shot to carve out a fantasy-relevant role. At the same time, the situation around Hemby in Las Vegas could make him a worthy deep-league dart throw for dynasty managers.
J'Mari Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars running back J'Mari Taylor is an interesting late-round target for dynasty managers. Taylor was brought in as an undrafted free agent following this year's draft. He's looking at an uphill battle this summer, but the Jaguars don't have a ton of consistent contributors ahead of him.
Taylor could very well earn himself a role on this roster if he's able to impress the organization during training camp and the preseason. This past season, Taylor rushed for 1,062 yards with 14 touchdowns across 13 games with Virginia. He could be worth snagging in the final round of dynasty drafts or stashing on the taxi squad.
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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.
