The 2026 rookie running back NFL draft class has some depth, but it’s all about one player from a fantasy football perspective: Notre Dame’s Jeremyiah Love. Projected as a top-10 pick, he’s the apple of every fantasy manager’s eye, in redraft and dynasty.
A three-down runner with massive upside, Love will be the first overall pick in most rookie-only drafts. He’ll also be a candidate to be a first-rounder in redraft leagues, especially if he lands with the Tennessee Titans or Washington Commanders with a top-seven selection.
The rest of the notable backs in this class, including Love’s college teammate, Jadarian Price, Arkansas’s Mike Washington Jr., Washington’s Jonah Coleman and Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson are all talented but team-dependent in determining their fantasy appeal. So, while Price is my No. 2 back now, he could be usurped by one of the other runners if they end up with one of the few backfield-needy teams in the league, such as the Seattle Seahawks.
Here’s my look at the top 20 rookie running backs heading into the 2026 NFL draft.
2026 Fantasy Rookie Running Back Rankings
| Rk | Player | Pos | TM | Bye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiyah Love | RB | ND | 20 |
| 2 | Jadarian Price | RB | ND | 22 |
| 3 | Jonah Coleman | RB | WAS | 22 |
| 4 | Mike Washington Jr. | RB | ARK | 22 |
| 5 | Emmett Johnson | RB | NEB | 22 |
| 6 | Nicholas Singleton | RB | PSU | 22 |
| 7 | Kaytron Allen | RB | PSU | 23 |
| 8 | Seth McGowan | RB | KU | 24 |
| 9 | Demond Claiborne | RB | WFU | 22 |
| 10 | J'Mari Taylor | RB | UVA | 24 |
| 11 | Le'Veon Moss | RB | TAMU | 23 |
| 12 | Noah Whittington | RB | ORE | 24 |
| 13 | Roman Hemby | RB | IND | 23 |
| 14 | Jamarion Miller | RB | ALA | 22 |
| 15 | Robert Henry Jr. | RB | UTSA | 24 |
| 16 | Desmond Reid | RB | PIT | 21 |
| 17 | Jaydn Ott | RB | OKL | 23 |
| 18 | Kaelon Black | RB | IND | 24 |
| 19 | Adam Randall | RB | CLE | 21 |
| 20 | Rahsul Faison | RB | S.C. | 26 |
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NFL Draft Fantasy Rookie Running Back Rankings.
