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	403.4
2	Kenneth Walker III	KAN	26	831	6.0	31	232	350.8
3	Bijan Robinson	ATL	24	1068	7.9	51	407	350.2
4	Christian McCaffrey	SFO	30	721	7.4	63	469	348.6
5	Jonathan Taylor	IND	27	1102	8.5	33	267	309.0
6	James Cook	BUF	27	1000	7.6	27	220	303.3
7	Kyren Williams	LAR	26	887	7.1	28	228	294.8
8	Javonte Williams	DAL	26	820	6.6	33	270	294.0
9	D'Andre Swift	CHI	27	811	6.0	32	259	292.8
10	Bucky Irving	TAM	24	798	5.6	36	265	291.5
11	Derrick Henry	BAL	32	1003	7.3	15	128	271.1
12	Jaylen Warren	PIT	28	773	5.9	32	243	263.5
13	Chuba Hubbard	CAR	27	412	3.5	29	210	260.2
14	Ashton Jeanty	LVR	23	846	6.1	39	301	257.9
15	Tony Pollard	TEN	29	826	5.6	27	198	229.8
16	Chase Brown	CIN	26	817	6.2	45	358	215.4
17	Rhamondre Stevenson	NWE	28	697	5.4	29	226	208.2
18	Bhayshul Tuten	JAX	23	444	3.5	18	141	205.8
19	Quinshon Judkins	CLE	23	860	6.0	25	178	186.0
20	Cam Skattebo	NYG	24	745	5.6	39	297	171.3
21	Aaron Jones	MIN	32	591	3.7	30	232	169.5
22	Jadarian Price	SEA	-	-	-	-	-	169.2
23	Breece Hall	NYJ	25	841	5.8	36	280	166.5
24	Blake Corum	LAR	26	492	4.7	19	156	163.3
25	Alvin Kamara	NOR	31	620	4.1	38	268	162.8
26	Omarion Hampton	LAC	23	852	6.1	41	306	161.3
27	Tyler Allgeier	ARI	26	555	4.4	18	135	154.8
28	Saquon Barkley	PHI	29	941	6.5	30	229	148.4
29	Rachaad White	WAS	27	585	4.4	32	235	148.1
30	Emanuel Wilson	SEA	27	482	3.7	19	135	146.7
31	Woody Marks	HOU	26	590	4.3	22	163	145.4
32	J.K. Dobbins	DEN	28	838	5.6	20	145	138.0
33	Rico Dowdle	PIT	28	815	5.8	28	208	137.7
34	Travis Etienne	NOR	27	736	5.4	33	271	126.3
35	Emmett Johnson	KAN	-	-	-	-	-	123.0
36	Eli Heidenreich	PIT	-	-	-	-	-	122.9
37	Ollie Gordon	MIA	22	370	2.8	15	112	122.4
38	Josh Jacobs	GNB	28	864	6.9	27	207	121.9
39	David Montgomery	HOU	29	630	4.8	23	179	119.0
40	Kyle Monangai	CHI	24	602	4.7	21	163	113.2
41	Kimani Vidal	LAC	25	597	4.5	20	147	108.6
42	Chris Rodriguez	JAX	26	580	4.3	12	89	105.5
43	Keaton Mitchell	LAC	24	417	3.2	21	154	101.4
44	Devin Singletary	NYG	29	462	3.6	20	140	98.1
45	Kendre Miller	NOR	24	525	3.5	17	115	94.1
46	Samaje Perine	CIN	31	362	3.0	18	126	88.3
47	Dylan Sampson	CLE	22	393	2.5	29	211	87.8
48	Jordan Mason	MIN	27	683	4.6	18	128	87.8
49	Zach Charbonnet	SEA	25	691	5.7	25	191	83.6
50	Tyjae Spears	TEN	25	500	3.5	40	301	83.3
51	Ty Johnson	BUF	29	267	2.6	22	170	81.4
52	TreVeyon Henderson	NWE	24	765	6.1	30	229	79.2
53	Michael Carter	TEN	27	419	3.3	33	249	66.5
54	Jonah Coleman	DEN	-	-	-	-	-	65.6
55	Mike Washington Jr.	LVR	-	-	-	-	-	61.7
56	Kenneth Gainwell	TAM	27	552	4.9	44	336	57.4
57	Nicholas Singleton	TEN	-	-	-	-	-	54.3
58	Sean Tucker	TAM	25	463	3.7	19	147	47.1
59	Kareem Hunt	KAN	31	547	4.2	18	136	46.9
60	Zonovan Knight	ARI	25	461	3.8	26	190	46.6
61	Audric Estime	NOR	23	496	3.8	23	163	46.3
62	Jaleel McLaughlin	CLE	26	410	2.8	19	143	46.2
63	Devin Neal	WAS	23	352	3.4	25	175	44.6
64	Seth McGowan	IND	-	-	-	-	-	44.4
65	Kaytron Allen	MIA	-	-	-	-	-	43.7
66	Nick Chubb	HOU	31	510	3.5	14	105	43.2
67	Isaiah Davis	NYJ	24	446	2.9	26	194	42.9
68	Jam Miller	ATL	-	-	-	-	-	42.5
69	Kaleb Johnson	GNB	23	335	2.0	11	78	42.4
70	Jaret Patterson	DEN	27	422	3.0	13	92	40.9
71	Antonio Gibson	NWE	28	413	2.8	15	113	40.9
72	Emari Demercado	HOU	27	491	2.8	24	188	40.5
73	Jawhar Jordan	HOU	27	744	4.3	22	153	38.1
74	Kaelon Black	SFO	-	-	-	-	-	34.9
75	Jaylen Wright	MIA	23	360	3.2	17	128	29.7
76	DJ Giddens	IND	23	286	2.1	12	85	27.7
77	Ray Davis	BUF	27	511	2.6	18	157	27.1
78	Jaydon Blue	PHI	22	534	3.6	13	90	20.2
79	De'Von Achane	MIA	25	963	7.1	49	399	0.0
80	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	NYG	27	667	4.5	33	261	0.0
81	Trey Benson	ARI	24	633	3.9	37	287	0.0
82	RJ Harvey	DEN	25	499	4.2	35	272	0.0
83	James Conner	ARI	31	553	3.6	29	208	0.0
84	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	WAS	25	695	5.0	15	121	0.0
85	Isiah Pacheco	DET	27	401	3.4	24	172	0.0
86	Brashard Smith	KAN	23	372	2.4	25	190	0.0
87	Jeremy McNichols	WAS	31	400	2.4	21	160	0.0
88	Raheim Sanders	CLE	24	471	3.1	16	115	0.0
89	Brian Robinson Jr.	ATL	27	477	3.3	15	110	0.0
90	Tank Bigsby	PHI	25	456	2.9	14	109	0.0
91	Malik Davis	DAL	28	409	3.0	12	94	0.0
92	Chris Brooks	GNB	26	311	2.1	18	134	0.0
93	Zavier Scott	CHI	27	258	1.5	18	126	0.0
94	Jeremiyah Love	ARI	-	-	-	-	-	0.0
95	Adam Randall	BAL	-	-	-	-	-	0.0
96	Demond Claiborne	MIN	-	-	-	-	-	0.0

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 403.4 projected fantasy points; 2. Kenneth Walker III (KAN) with 350.8 projected fantasy points; 3. Bijan Robinson (ATL) with 350.2 projected fantasy points; 4. Christian McCaffrey (SFO) with 348.6 projected fantasy points; 5. Jonathan Taylor (IND) with 309.0 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.