RB projections.

Machine learning running back projections for 2026 fantasy football.

#	Player	Tm	Age	Rush Yds	Rush TD	Rec	Rec Yds	Proj Pts
1	Jahmyr Gibbs	DET	24	1019	7.9	50	403	360.8
2	Bijan Robinson	ATL	24	1068	7.9	51	407	328.3
3	Jonathan Taylor	IND	27	1102	8.5	33	267	315.9
4	Christian McCaffrey	SFO	30	721	7.4	63	469	293.8
5	James Cook	BUF	27	1000	7.6	27	220	272.2
6	Saquon Barkley	PHI	29	941	6.5	30	229	252.0
7	De'Von Achane	MIA	25	963	7.1	49	399	245.4
8	Derrick Henry	BAL	32	1003	7.3	15	128	238.6
9	Chase Brown	CIN	26	817	6.2	45	358	233.4
10	Kenneth Walker III	KAN	26	831	6.0	31	232	223.1
11	Jeremiyah Love	ARI	-	-	-	-	-	219.3
12	Ashton Jeanty	LVR	23	846	6.1	39	301	219.0
13	Omarion Hampton	LAC	23	852	6.1	41	306	217.1
14	Kyren Williams	LAR	26	887	7.1	28	228	207.1
15	Javonte Williams	DAL	26	820	6.6	33	270	202.7
16	Breece Hall	NYJ	25	841	5.8	36	280	197.2
17	Cam Skattebo	NYG	24	745	5.6	39	297	193.4
18	Travis Etienne	NOR	27	736	5.4	33	271	190.6
19	D'Andre Swift	CHI	27	811	6.0	32	259	186.0
20	Bucky Irving	TAM	24	798	5.6	36	265	181.5
21	David Montgomery	HOU	29	630	4.8	23	179	169.9
22	Quinshon Judkins	CLE	23	860	6.0	25	178	166.8
23	TreVeyon Henderson	NWE	24	765	6.1	30	229	156.9
24	Jadarian Price	SEA	-	-	-	-	-	154.9
25	Jaylen Warren	PIT	28	773	5.9	32	243	151.6
26	Bhayshul Tuten	JAX	23	444	3.5	18	141	151.2
27	Rhamondre Stevenson	NWE	28	697	5.4	29	226	150.9
28	Josh Jacobs	GNB	28	864	6.9	27	207	150.2
29	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	27	412	3.5	29	210	136.6
30	Tony Pollard	TEN	29	826	5.6	27	198	136.6
31	J.K. Dobbins	DEN	28	838	5.6	20	145	129.1
32	Jonathon Brooks	CAR	-	-	-	-	-	119.4
33	RJ Harvey	DEN	25	499	4.2	35	272	118.5
34	Rico Dowdle	PIT	28	815	5.8	28	208	116.5
35	Kenneth Gainwell	TAM	27	552	4.9	44	336	116.0
36	MarShawn Lloyd	GNB	-	-	-	-	-	107.9
37	Blake Corum	LAR	26	492	4.7	19	156	103.3
38	Kyle Monangai	CHI	24	602	4.7	21	163	100.5
39	Aaron Jones	MIN	32	591	3.7	30	232	96.2
40	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	WAS	25	695	5.0	15	121	94.8
41	Rachaad White	WAS	27	585	4.4	32	235	87.2
42	Woody Marks	HOU	26	590	4.3	22	163	78.5
43	Jordan Mason	MIN	27	683	4.6	18	128	77.9
44	Tyjae Spears	TEN	25	500	3.5	40	301	76.1
45	Chris Rodriguez	JAX	26	580	4.3	12	89	72.1
46	Tyler Allgeier	ARI	26	555	4.4	18	135	70.8
47	Mike Washington Jr.	LVR	-	-	-	-	-	66.0
48	Kaelon Black	SFO	-	-	-	-	-	59.2
49	Brian Robinson Jr.	SFO	27	477	3.3	15	110	56.5
50	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	NYG	27	667	4.5	33	261	55.3
51	Zach Charbonnet	SEA	25	691	5.7	25	191	53.5
52	Alvin Kamara	NOR	31	620	4.1	38	268	53.4
53	Jawhar Jordan	HOU	27	744	4.3	22	153	49.8
54	Kimani Vidal	LAC	25	597	4.5	20	147	48.8
55	Michael Carter	TEN	27	419	3.3	33	249	48.5
56	Kareem Hunt	KAN	31	547	4.2	18	136	46.9
57	Zonovan Knight	ARI	25	461	3.8	26	190	46.6
58	Emari Demercado	KAN	27	491	2.8	24	188	45.8
59	Isaiah Davis	NYJ	24	446	2.9	26	194	45.2
60	Emanuel Wilson	SEA	27	482	3.7	19	135	45.2
61	Devin Singletary	NYG	29	462	3.6	20	140	44.8
62	Ray Davis	BUF	27	511	2.6	18	157	44.7
63	Sean Tucker	TAM	25	463	3.7	19	147	44.7
64	Keaton Mitchell	LAC	24	417	3.2	21	154	44.1
65	Kendre Miller	NOR	24	525	3.5	17	115	43.7
66	Nick Chubb	HOU	31	510	3.5	14	105	43.2
67	Brashard Smith	KAN	23	372	2.4	25	190	42.9
68	Jaleel McLaughlin	DEN	26	410	2.8	19	143	42.9
69	Jaydon Blue	DAL	22	534	3.6	13	90	42.5
70	Raheim Sanders	CLE	24	471	3.1	16	115	42.4
71	Jaylen Wright	MIA	23	360	3.2	17	128	41.8
72	Tank Bigsby	PHI	25	456	2.9	14	109	41.8
73	Ty Johnson	BUF	29	267	2.6	22	170	41.5
74	Samaje Perine	CIN	31	362	3.0	18	126	41.5
75	Jaret Patterson	LAC	27	422	3.0	13	92	40.9
76	Antonio Gibson	NWE	28	413	2.8	15	113	40.9
77	Ollie Gordon	MIA	22	370	2.8	15	112	39.8
78	Chris Brooks	GNB	26	311	2.1	18	134	39.2
79	Zavier Scott	MIN	27	258	1.5	18	126	37.9
80	DJ Giddens	IND	23	286	2.1	12	85	36.4
81	Kaleb Johnson	PIT	23	335	2.0	11	78	36.0
82	Trey Benson	ARI	24	633	3.9	37	287	29.4
83	James Conner	ARI	31	553	3.6	29	208	29.4
84	Audric Estime	NOR	23	496	3.8	23	163	29.4
85	Isiah Pacheco	DET	27	401	3.4	24	172	29.4
86	Devin Neal	NOR	23	352	3.4	25	175	29.4
87	Dylan Sampson	CLE	22	393	2.5	29	211	29.4
88	Jeremy McNichols	WSH	31	400	2.4	21	160	29.4
89	Malik Davis	DAL	28	409	3.0	12	94	29.4
90	Braelon Allen	NYJ	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
91	Jonah Coleman	DEN	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
92	Emmett Johnson	KAN	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
93	Nicholas Singleton	TEN	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
94	Adam Randall	BAL	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
95	Kaytron Allen	WAS	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
96	Demond Claiborne	MIN	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
97	Eli Heidenreich	PIT	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
98	Seth McGowan	IND	-	-	-	-	-	29.4
99	Jam Miller	NWE	-	-	-	-	-	29.4

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. Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) with 360.8 projected fantasy points; 2. Bijan Robinson (ATL) with 328.3 projected fantasy points; 3. Jonathan Taylor (IND) with 315.9 projected fantasy points; 4. Christian McCaffrey (SFO) with 293.8 projected fantasy points; 5. James Cook (BUF) with 272.2 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.