RB projections.

Machine learning running back projections for 2026 fantasy football, built on ElasticNet models trained on 16 seasons (2010-2025) of NFL data with advanced metrics from Next Gen Stats and PFR.

#	Player	Tm	Age	Rush Yds	Rush TD	Rec	Rec Yds	Proj Pts
1	Bijan Robinson	ATL	24	1069	7.9	51	407	348.7
2	Jahmyr Gibbs	DET	24	1019	7.9	50	403	313.7
3	Christian McCaffrey	SFO	30	722	7.4	63	469	295.5
4	Jonathan Taylor	IND	27	1103	8.5	33	267	276.2
5	James Cook	BUF	27	1002	7.6	27	221	261.6
6	De'Von Achane	MIA	25	961	7.1	49	399	256.0
7	Jeremiyah Love	ARI	-	-	-	-	-	240.4
8	Ashton Jeanty	LVR	23	844	6.1	39	301	238.5
9	Saquon Barkley	PHI	29	943	6.5	30	229	233.1
10	Omarion Hampton	LAC	23	856	6.1	41	306	226.4
11	Chase Brown	CIN	26	816	6.2	45	358	222.7
12	Kenneth Walker III	KAN	26	827	5.9	31	232	211.4
13	Derrick Henry	BAL	32	1008	7.4	15	129	205.7
14	Josh Jacobs	GNB	28	864	6.9	27	207	201.2
15	Kyren Williams	LAR	26	888	7.1	28	228	199.8
16	Breece Hall	NYJ	25	842	5.8	36	280	194.0
17	Javonte Williams	DAL	26	820	6.6	33	270	191.8
18	Travis Etienne	NOR	27	738	5.4	33	271	188.0
19	Cam Skattebo	NYG	24	745	5.6	39	297	183.5
20	Bucky Irving	TAM	24	803	5.6	36	265	178.0
21	TreVeyon Henderson	NWE	24	766	6.1	30	229	170.0
22	Jadarian Price	SEA	-	-	-	-	-	169.2
23	D'Andre Swift	CHI	27	811	6.0	32	260	166.9
24	Quinshon Judkins	CLE	23	866	6.1	25	179	165.9
25	Jaylen Warren	PIT	28	777	5.9	32	244	151.7
26	David Montgomery	HOU	29	632	4.8	23	179	149.8
27	Bhayshul Tuten	JAX	23	438	3.5	18	141	143.8
28	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	27	406	3.5	29	210	140.1
29	Rhamondre Stevenson	NWE	28	698	5.4	29	226	135.9
30	Tony Pollard	TEN	29	824	5.6	27	198	129.7
31	RJ Harvey	DEN	25	499	4.2	35	272	129.6
32	Rico Dowdle	PIT	28	815	5.8	28	207	128.0
33	Emmett Johnson	KAN	-	-	-	-	-	123.0
34	Eli Heidenreich	PIT	-	-	-	-	-	122.9
35	J.K. Dobbins	DEN	28	840	5.6	20	145	119.6
36	Kyle Monangai	CHI	24	603	4.7	21	163	118.7
37	Kareem Hunt	KAN	31	548	4.2	18	136	116.8
38	Zonovan Knight	ARI	25	461	3.8	26	190	115.4
39	Kenneth Gainwell	TAM	27	554	4.9	44	336	111.2
40	Aaron Jones	MIN	32	591	3.7	30	232	110.0
41	Blake Corum	LAR	26	499	4.7	19	156	106.6
42	Rachaad White	WAS	27	587	4.4	32	236	99.3
43	Nick Chubb	HOU	31	511	3.5	14	105	98.6
44	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	WAS	25	696	5.0	15	121	95.2
45	Raheim Sanders	CLE	24	471	3.1	16	115	94.6
46	Adam Randall	BAL	-	-	-	-	-	93.8
47	Antonio Gibson	NWE	28	413	2.8	15	113	86.7
48	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	NYG	27	665	4.5	33	261	82.2
49	Jordan Mason	MIN	27	691	4.7	18	129	79.8
50	Tyjae Spears	TEN	25	500	3.5	40	301	79.3
51	Jonathon Brooks	CAR	-	-	-	-	-	77.3
52	Woody Marks	HOU	26	592	4.3	22	163	76.0
53	Alvin Kamara	NOR	31	624	4.1	38	268	74.0
54	Zach Charbonnet	SEA	25	690	5.7	25	191	73.3
55	Zavier Scott	MIN	27	258	1.5	18	126	71.7
56	Tyler Allgeier	ARI	26	556	4.4	18	135	70.9
57	Brian Robinson Jr.	SFO	27	477	3.3	15	110	66.3
58	Jonah Coleman	DEN	-	-	-	-	-	65.6
59	Mike Washington Jr.	LVR	-	-	-	-	-	61.7
60	Demond Claiborne	MIN	-	-	-	-	-	56.6
61	Nicholas Singleton	TEN	-	-	-	-	-	54.3
62	Trey Benson	ARI	24	646	3.9	37	289	49.0
63	Kaytron Allen	WAS	-	-	-	-	-	48.1
64	Jam Miller	NWE	-	-	-	-	-	47.2
65	Jawhar Jordan	HOU	27	754	4.4	22	154	44.8
66	Seth McGowan	IND	-	-	-	-	-	44.4
67	James Conner	ARI	31	542	3.6	29	207	43.7
68	Kimani Vidal	LAC	25	603	4.5	20	148	43.7
69	Michael Carter	TEN	27	423	3.3	34	250	43.3
70	Audric Estime	NOR	23	496	3.8	23	163	41.1
71	Emari Demercado	KAN	27	516	2.9	24	191	41.0
72	Isiah Pacheco	DET	27	404	3.4	24	172	40.5
73	Chris Rodriguez	JAX	26	586	4.3	12	90	40.0
74	Isaiah Davis	NYJ	24	446	2.9	26	194	39.9
75	Emanuel Wilson	SEA	27	479	3.7	18	135	39.8
76	Ray Davis	BUF	27	514	2.6	18	157	39.5
77	Sean Tucker	TAM	25	465	3.7	19	147	39.4
78	Devin Singletary	NYG	29	457	3.6	19	139	39.4
79	Devin Neal	NOR	23	352	3.4	25	175	39.3
80	Dylan Sampson	CLE	22	386	2.5	29	210	39.1
81	Keaton Mitchell	LAC	24	417	3.2	21	154	38.9
82	Kendre Miller	NOR	24	526	3.5	17	115	38.4
83	Jaleel McLaughlin	DEN	26	410	2.8	19	143	37.6
84	Brashard Smith	KAN	23	369	2.4	25	190	37.6
85	Jeremy McNichols	WSH	31	400	2.4	21	160	37.2
86	Jaydon Blue	DAL	22	516	3.6	13	88	36.9
87	Jaylen Wright	MIA	23	373	3.2	17	130	36.8
88	Tank Bigsby	PHI	25	455	2.9	14	109	36.4
89	Samaje Perine	CIN	31	359	3.0	18	126	36.2
90	Ty Johnson	BUF	29	262	2.6	22	170	36.1
91	Jaret Patterson	LAC	27	425	3.0	13	93	35.7
92	Malik Davis	DAL	28	410	3.0	12	94	35.0
93	Kaelon Black	SFO	-	-	-	-	-	34.9
94	Ollie Gordon	MIA	22	370	2.8	15	112	34.6
95	Chris Brooks	GNB	26	311	2.1	18	134	33.9
96	DJ Giddens	IND	23	289	2.1	12	86	31.2
97	Kaleb Johnson	PIT	23	335	2.0	11	78	30.7
98	Braelon Allen	NYJ	-	-	-	-	-	22.8

Proj Pts is our 2026 projection: the model blended daily with live market ADP, so the order reflects both. Rushing and receiving columns are the model's projected 2026 components. Dashes mark rookies and returning players priced from market data alone.

How we project running back performance

Our RB projection model uses ElasticNet regression focused on touch volume and receiving involvement. Rushing attempts per game and targets per game are the dominant features, as running backs who catch passes provide consistent PPR value. The model also considers yards per attempt efficiency and goal-line touchdown rates.

Running back is the most volatile fantasy position due to injury risk and committee usage. The model accounts for this through games played history and injury-aware features that prorate production to a full season.

Running Back projection FAQ

Who are the top fantasy running backs for 2026?

According to our machine learning model trained on 16 seasons (2010-2025) of NFL data, the top 2026 fantasy running backs are: 1. Bijan Robinson (ATL) with 348.7 projected fantasy points; 2. Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) with 313.7 projected fantasy points; 3. Christian McCaffrey (SFO) with 295.5 projected fantasy points; 4. Jonathan Taylor (IND) with 276.2 projected fantasy points; 5. James Cook (BUF) with 261.6 projected fantasy points.

When should I draft a running back in 2026 fantasy football?

Draft elite running backs in rounds 1–3. RB has the steepest drop-off in value of any position, making top-tier RBs the most valuable assets in fantasy drafts. Our VBD rankings consistently show RBs dominating the top 10 overall picks across most league formats.