How To Draft Running Backs in 2026: A Guide to Good RB Drafting

Every year brings its own fantasy landscape. Some years, tight ends are at a premium (but not this year!), some years, you absolutely must claim an early quarterback (but not this year!) but this year, it’s all about running backs. The number one question I’m getting across my socials and in the comments here is when to draft running backs after the initial studs are off the board and who to draft when you do strike. So here’s my full breakdown on running back draft strategy. 

Before we start, just a quick side note: Every league is different. Running backs have vastly different values in a half-PPR, 2WR league when compared to a PPR, 3WR league. So I’ll be aiming to give some general strategies, without always  highlighting specific rounds, which will change depending on your settings. If you are looking for strategies specific to your league, feel free to email me and I can arrange some personalised rankings for you.

Round 1:

The early rounds depend heavily on your draft position, but I’m generally targeting running backs whenever possible. I want to exit the first two rounds with at least one RB under all circumstances, as getting two reliable guys in the remaining rounds is a tough task even for the luckiest of drafters. As a result, when players have similar value, I’ll always lean the RB. So that means:

-Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs must be the first guys off the board if available.

-Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, James Cook, De’Von Achane, Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Chase Brown ahead of every receiver EXCEPT Jamarr Chase, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Amon-Ra St Brown.

-(I would have Taylor ahead of St Brown and maybe JSN in half-PPR and might take CMC ahead of St Brown too. In half-PPR, I’d consider Cook ahead of St Brown too.)

Round 2:

Things get really interesting at this point. I think Kenneth Walker and Omarion Hampton are getting over-drafted, but I’d still consider them over Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb, though it depends on who I took in the first round. I’m OK with taking the WR, though I feel far more comfortable if I went RB in the first round. Luckily for me, if Walker and Hampton are available, I can usually get one of my top ten runners and I can avoid the decision.

Once the consensus top 12 backs are gone though, things become far trickier. I’d highly recommend avoiding taking a tight end or quarterback this early, but I do think Jefferson, Lamb, Drake London and AJ Brown are all viable picks in this round. This could leave you with two wide receivers in your first two picks. That’s OK in PPR, especially if you’re starting 3 receivers plus flex spots, but it’s not an ideal situation and you really need to get a running back in the third round if that’s the case. Otherwise, I’d be targeting Javonte Williams and Josh Jacobs in the late second round if I’m forced to reach at RB. The alternative is Nico Collins or George Pickens and I’d rather go RB then get one of the many WRs of similar value in the third.

Round 3:

If you’ve taken two running backs already, you’re in a great position, as the wide receiver value if usually incredible in the third round. Ideally, I want to leave this round with two running backs, or feel very confident I can get a Top 20 running back in the fourth round (do the maths, you can usually guess by the time you’re on the clock how likely this is). But, there will be situations where running backs have flown off the board and the value simply isn’t there, so you have the option to go with a Hero-RB strategy and take your RB2 very late if necessary.

But who should you select here?

Target: Javonte Williams, Josh Jacobs, Breece Hall

Avoid: Kyren Williams, Jeremiyah Love (Williams is in a true committee with Blake Corum and Jeremiyah Love is an injury and workload concern in a mediocre offense.)

Round 4:

This is likely your final chance to draft a reliable starting running back. I’m comfortable taking any of Quinshon Judkins, Travis Etienne, Cam Skattebo and, in half-PPR, Bucky Irving. Though I admit I’d only take Skattebo and Irving if I don’t have two running backs yet, they’re desperation picks. Ideally, by this stage I’m taking advantage of the falling wide receivers or maybe Brock Bowers, Trey McBride or Josh Allen, who slip into the fourth round of good leagues are people aren’t sucked in by their false value.

After four rounds, ideally I want to have three running backs, though two is acceptable, especially in a PPR or 3WR league.

The Middle Rounds:

We’ve now officially hit the running back dead zone and I’m avoiding them like the plague, with a couple of minor exceptions. Every back in this range comes with major risk, and most are in a committee. Committee backs are fine bench options, but they’re all being drafted too early to represent a reasonable value. While Jadarian Price, Bhayshul Tuten and David Montgomery could all possibly earn a workhorse role, I think they’re all more likely to find themselves in a committee. You’re essentially paying for their ceiling, while the alternative is reliable receivers and high quality quarterbacks and tight ends.

But there’s a few guys I would seriously consider:

-Jonathon Brooks has a legitimate chance of winning the Panthers lead back job, a role that made Rico Dowdle a reliable starter at times last season. He’s available in the late seventh round, though his ADP is rising quickly (I was taking him in the tenth round not long ago) so you may have missed your chance for top value.

-JK Dobbins is, for me, the heavy favorite to be the Broncos’ top back this season, but he’s being drafted after RJ Harvey for no good reason. Harvey is hopeless and will, at best, be the receiving back in an offense that leans on the early down runner. I’d consider Dobbins in the eighth round as my third back, though he offers little value if you’re already strong at the position.

-Chris Rodriguez is a solid half-PPR option, as he’s a good chance of getting the goal line work in Jacksonville, in what could be a legitimate committee. I would’ve take him until the double-digit rounds, but his ADP is well after that so there’s plenty of value to be had.

Zero-RB/Hero-RB Options:

Let’s say running backs have gone flying off the board early in your draft. Don’t panic! Stock up on the best players available, ensuring you also get a stud quarterback and tight end, then take these running backs that should be available after the eighth round:

-Jordan Mason will be in a true committee with Aaron Jones, but Jones is well past 30 and rather injury prone. This whole offense should also take a step forward with Kyler Murray making Vikings runners more valuable than in the past. Mason could easily emerge as a solid RB2 with RB1 upside if he can get the full load.

-Kyle Monangai is battling a knee injury which is causing his ADP to fall. So yes, this is a risk. But if he can get healthy within the first couple of weeks (and he should), we’ve seen that he’s a viable starting option in a high-powered Bears offense. Plus, if D’Andre Swift goes down, something that’s been known to happen, Monangai could be a league winner.

-Rachaad White has the talent to see off his mediocre running back competition and earn the bulk of the carries in Washington. Even if that doesn’t pan out though, he’s likely the receiving back and is available so late that you’re barely risking anything by taking him.

The Late Rounds:

I’m going to cover these players in a separate article, so look out for that coming soon on Razzball.

As always, if you have any questions, hit me up in the comments below or message me on my socials @hashtagwasley. You should also check out my rankings here, to ensure you’re making the right picks every round.