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2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings For Seasonal Leagues

By Michael Fabiano Sports Illustrated

Updated June 22, 2026 12:32 PM

Running backs used to be the lifeblood of fantasy football. In fact, I can remember drafts where almost every first-round pick was a back (I like to call them the good old days). But over the past decade, with fewer true featured backs (and more committees) and a greater reliance on the passing game, runners have seen their stock fall. In fact, more and more fantasy fans are putting their focus on wide receivers, especially in leagues that reward points for receptions.

That's not to suggest the position has lost all of its value because that's not true. Four of the five highest-scoring players last season were backs, and 12 of the top 20 were also runners. But once you get past the backs we know will have featured (or mostly featured) roles, the position can become a crapshoot. If you drafted Chuba Hubbard last year, you know what I mean.

The good news, if there's any to be shared, is that the focus on pass catchers has allowed there to be more good backs in the middle rounds. That has allowed for draft strategies like "Hero RB" or "Zero RB," which suggests waiting to pick backs or drafting just one in the first five rounds.

That said, here are my 2026 fantasy football running back rankings … now with auction values! I'll be updating these often throughout the summer, so keep checking back.

Note: Auction values are based on a $200 budget.

2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

Rk	Player	Team	Bye
1	Bijan Robinson	ATL	11
2	Jahmyr Gibbs	DET	6
3	Christian McCaffrey	SF	8
4	Jonathan Taylor	IND	13
5	James Cook	BUF	7
6	De'Von Achane	MIA	6
7	Ashton Jeanty	LV	13
8	Jeremiyah Love	ARI	14
9	Chase Brown	CIN	6
10	Omarion Hampton	LAC	7
11	Saquon Barkley	PHI	10
12	Derrick Henry	BAL	13
13	Kenneth Walker III	KC	5
14	Kyren Williams	LAR	11
15	Javonte Williams	DAL	14
16	Josh Jacobs	GB	11
17	Travis Etienne Jr.	NO	8
18	Breece Hall	NYJ	13
19	Quinshon Judkins	CLE	11
20	Cam Skattebo	NYG	8
21	Bucky Irving	TB	10
22	Jadarian Price	SEA	11
23	TreVeyon Henderson	NE	11
24	Bhayshul Tuten	JAC	7
25	David Montgomery	HOU	8
26	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	5
27	D'Andre Swift	CHI	10
28	Jaylen Warren	PIT	9
29	Tony Pollard	TEN	9
30	Rhamondre Stevenson	NE	11
31	RJ Harvey	DEN	10
32	Rachaad White	WAS	7
33	Rico Dowdle	PIT	9
34	J.K. Dobbins	DEN	10
35	Kenenth Gainwell	TB	10
36	Kyle Monangai	CHI	10
37	Blake Corum	LAR	11
38	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	WAS	7
39	Aaron Jones Sr.	MIN	6
40	Jordan Mason	MIN	6
41	Jonathan Brooks	CAR	5
42	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	NYG	8
43	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	JAC	7
44	Jonah Coleman	DEN	10
45	Keaton Mitchell	LAC	7
46	Isiah Pacheco	DET	6
47	Zach Charbonnet	SEA	11
48	Tyler Allgeier	ARI	14
49	Emmett Johnson	KC	5
50	Brian Robinson Jr.	ATL	11
51	Nicholas Singleton	TEN	9
52	Kaytron Allen	WAS	7
53	Woody Marks	HOU	8
54	Dylan Sampson	CLE	11
55	Braelon Allen	NYJ	13
56	Tank Bigsby	PHI	10
57	Tyjae Spears	TEN	9
58	Sean Tucker	TB	10
59	Kimani Vidal	LAC	7
60	Demond Claiborne	MIN	6
61	Ray Davis	BUF	7
62	Jordan James	SF	8
63	Jaylen Wright	MIA	6
64	Mike Washington Jr.	LV	13
65	Alvin Kamara	NO	8
66	James Conner	ARI	14
67	Jaydon Blue	DAL	14
68	George Holani	SEA	11
69	Chris Brooks	GB	11
70	Kaelon Black	SF	8
71	Justice Hill	BAL	13
72	Emanuel Wilson	SEA	11
73	Adam Randall	BAL	13
74	Kendre Miller	NO	8
75	Ollie Gordon II	MIA	6
76	Devin Neal	NO	8
77	LeQuint Allen Jr.	JAC	7
78	DJ Giddens	IND	13
79	MarShawn Lloyd	GB	11
80	Phil Mafah	DAL	14

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This article was originally published on www.si.com as 2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings For Seasonal Leagues.

This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 12:10 PM.

2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

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