Jahmyr Gibbs, James Cook and more

The running back position will be back soon, baby. After years of competition getting tougher, the run game is making a resurgence. Add to that the fact that most running backs are now pass-catching threats out of the backfield, and there has been an increase in scoring at the position. Last season, 15 different running backs eclipsed 200 fantasy points in a 0.5-PPR rating. Ten years ago that figure was just five.

Four different players eclipsed 325 half PPR points at the position, and having a true stud running back remains one of the biggest possible advantages in fantasy football. Let’s take a look at the current top 12 options in our fantasy football rankings.

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Running back 2026 fantasy football rankings

Level 1 – The Slam-Dunks

1. Jahmyr Gibbs
2. Sesame Robinson
3. Christian McCaffrey

These are the do-it-all superstars who define the modern NFL running back. Gibbs and Robinson are in a dogfight for the top spot in our rankings. Ian Hartitz, Dwain McFarland and Matthew Freedman give Gibbs the edge, while Kendall Valenzuela favors Robinson.

You can’t really go wrong with it either. Both guys had a target share of at least 18% last season, and they also averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry. They’re also both in the prime of their careers, and if anything, they should be even better next season. The Lions and Falcons both jettisoned their RB2s this season (David Montgomery and Tyler Allgeier), allowing Gibbs and Robinson to shoulder an even bigger workload in 2026-27. The only question is whether or not they can stay healthy.

Speaking of health, that is the big question mark with McCaffrey. When he’s on the field, he’s part of the same conversation as Gibbs and Robinson. However, McCaffrey will be the dreaded 30-year-old this season, finishing a season with a whopping 413 touches. That gives him a lot more risk than the other two players at this level, and personally I wouldn’t blame you for dropping him to level two.

Level 2 – Almost perfect

4. James Cook
5. Jonathan Taylor
6. Kenneth Walker
7. De’Von Achane
8. Ashton Jeanty

This next level of players all have the potential to perform as Tier One studs. However, they also each have at least one red flag keeping them out of the top tier.

Let’s start with Cook. He’s probably the safest option of the bunch, which is why he’s at the top of this tier. Last season he led the league in rushing yards and rushing yards per game, and later took on a bigger role as a receiver as well. His target share increased from just 6% in the first nine weeks to 9% starting in week 10. That’s not a huge increase, but it was a solid development for his fantasy world. The big problem with Cook is that he shares a backfield with Josh Allen, who is always a threat to steal a score or two around the goal line. Cook had just 40% of the Bills’ carries inside the five-yard line last season, which is far from ideal for a fantasy stud.

Taylor’s biggest red flag is that he simply isn’t catching passes. It’s not that he can’t catch; He had an 83.6% catch rate last season, but he isn’t used nearly the same way as the best running backs in fantasy. He does the vast majority of his damage on the ground, and he is undoubtedly one of the best in the business in that area.

Walker has long been one of the most talented RBs in football, ranking No. 1 in PFF’s position rankings last season. He’s held back by having to share the rock with Zach Charbonnet in Seattle, and that shouldn’t be an issue in Kansas City. Unfortunately, the Chiefs had one of the worst rushing attacks in football last season, ranking 25th in ESPN’s Run Block Win Rate. The Seahawks ranked eighth in that metric, so even if Walker were to get a higher percentage of his team’s touches, he could find sledding much more difficult.

Achane is an elite talent at the position, especially as a receiver. His place at level two has more to do with his team than himself. The Dolphins are expected to be more or less a disaster next season, so scoring opportunities could be difficult. He should still see plenty of volume, but it’s tough to be a top RB with the potential for double-digit scoring.

Jeanty was a top pick in last year’s draft, but he’s had a disappointing rookie campaign. Most of that stems from the Raiders’ dismal offensive line, with Jeanty averaging just 1.6 yards before contact per attempt. That was one of the worst numbers in the league among big running backs, so hopefully the Raiders’ revamped offensive line will open things up a bit more for him next season.

Level 3 – The best of the rest

9. Saquon Barkley
10. Omarion Hampton
11. Dirk Hendrik
12. Chase Brown
13. Jeremiyah Love

The third level at this position technically extends much further than this, but I’d say the guys at the top have significantly more upside. That includes the five mentioned above, but also guys like Josh Jacobs, Breece Hall and Bucky Irving.

Barkley was a slam-dunk Tier One option last year, but he took a huge step back. The Eagles’ offensive line was significantly worse, and Barkley didn’t have the same explosiveness after a huge workload in 2024-25. If the Eagles can get out of the slump that plagued their entire offense last year, Barkley could be primed for a big rebound.

Hampton was a first-round pick for the Chargers last season, but injuries limited him to 10 games. He couldn’t serve as a bell cow for most of them, but when he did, the results were promising. With better health next season, he could be ready to compete in the top flight in this position.

Dead. Taxes. Dirk Hendrik. The big dog put in another quality campaign last season, finishing seventh at the position in 0.5-PPR points. Eventually, Father Time will catch up, but there’s no guarantee it will be next season. Playing with Lamar Jackson certainly can’t hurt.

Brown has been among the best RBs in fantasy in the second half of each of the past two seasons. He gets a lot of volume in an excellent attack; Could this be the year he puts together a full season? Getting a healthy Joe Burrow under center would certainly make things easier.

Finally, Love is the shiny new toy at the RB position. Unfortunately, he ended up on the team expected to have the worst record in the league. The Cardinals also struggle at running back, and while Love should handle the majority of the opportunities, he may not be a true clock cow. He’s a more attractive addition to the dynasty than a redraft, but perhaps his talent will win out in year one.

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