RB1 's win championships

By Martin Richardson

After a comprehensive look at those value RB who can make a difference in the FLEX and RB2 slots, we now move on to look at the big boys who will be gone off the board by the end of the third round. These are the guys who you will scramble for after an elite WR pick up, or even if you want to double down and lock in your RB room early.
Championship difference makers incoming…

20. CHUBA HUBBARD

For part two I’m starting with someone who was part of a team that surprised a few people in 2025. The Panthers and Chuba Hubbard are an odd pair. He had a good deal handed to him, but then there was Rico Dowdle who took touches away from Hubbard. Now, there is Jonathon Brooks who has knees made of jelly, so perhaps Hubbard takes a bigger role in the offense as Brooks gets his sea legs back after two horrific injuries. Hubbard could be very much a boom or bust candidate in my opinion.

19. Bucky irving

I don’t know what to expect of someone like Irving heading into 2026. His 2024 tape showed that he has massive upside in 2025. But big injuries, mental health concerns and inconsistent reports on said injuries this offseason, as well as picking up Kennth Gainwell as a running mate, all have me worried that there could be some limited numbers and games for the Bucs running back. If he gets back to full fitness before week 1, I expect him to be used like he was in 2024. But when the new back up in Gainwell was actually more productive than all the RB on the Bucs combined last season, it’s certainly one to watch over the offseason. And in all this discourse we’ve not even discussed the red zone threat of Sean Tucker. Like his NFC counterpart Hubbard, is Bucky a boom or bust candidate in 2026?

18. Travis Etienne jr

Carrying on with the NFC South, let’s now head to the Saints. I got this very wrong last year. I didn’t think Etienne would have a place on the roster of the Jags in 2025 given how he played the year before, but boy was I wrong. He had a solid year and now he moves on to the Saints to be the heir apparent to Alvin Kamara. Unlike some teams, I don’t see this being a committee down in New Orleans, in fact I think Kamara is a likely cut candidate, paving the way for Etienne to be a great pick up in fantasy drafts. One thing to keep an eye on is if interest in Etienne increases due to a recent injury to Alvin Kamara who will miss at least a month.

17. Breece Hall

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New deal, new faces, new New York Jets? Let’s wait and see on that one. But one thing is for sure, Hall will be the primary factor on the Jets offense heading into 2026. He is always productive and always gives solid fantasy numbers. If he is finally happy in New York after all the bravado about leaving and wanting to know his worth etc., then maybe we see an even better version of Hall heading into 2026. However, in all this the news coming out of an injury that will keep Hall out of preseason and maybe into week 1 is a little cause for concern for anyone looking to draft him as a fringe RB1 or starting RB2. 

16. javonte williams

There is no doubt at all that Williams surpassed expectations last year and became the back that everyone hoped he would become down in Denver. But it was the Cowboys who benefitted from Williams’ career year, and I think we can expect similar things again in 2026. The hype train is surrounding the Cowboys, and the dependable Williams is someone who can be relied on for fantasy points. As a floor, he is a fringe RB1 for fantasy players who may well find value if they’ve locked in a WR and TE early.

15. kyren williams

Here we have a committee back conundrum. Blake Corum flashed last year when given the chance and there is a chance that his opportunities increase in 2026. Having said that, Williams is a top back and is so productive in the McVay offense and 13 total touchdowns shows that. The fact that consensus rankings has him in the teens means that he has solid RB1 numbers and I can’t see it changing too much in 2026. Just maybe double down with a late round pick up of Blake Corum just in case something happens to Williams and you know how the Rams offense works.

14. Josh Jacobs

What a pickup by the Packers Jacobs has been. With 30 touchdowns in 2 seasons, Jacobs has been a top fantasy back for anyone who has selected him in their draft. He has over 1000+ yards in both of those seasons as well, so he has value in points for yardage even if he doesn’t get into the end zone. I can’t see this changing in 2026, providing he avoids a suspension. With the Packers losing receivers in trades or free agency and not replacing them, it would make sense to assume Jacobs’ volume will be similar in 2026. The Packers love to the run the ball and all signs are pointing to that being the case this season as well. You would do worse than picking Jacobs for your team.

13. Jeremiyah Love

I’m not going to make any puns about his name, I’ll save those for the regular season. I’ll say now, I was not a huge fan of the pick in the draft, as I think the Cardinals have many more issues than at RB (thoughts and prayers to Tyler Allgeier). I am also not a fan of playing him in preseason and seeing him get injured.

But here we are. A bad QB room, a mediocre O-line, and an elite TE make for interesting headlines on the offensive side of the ball. Now we have a generation talent (trope alert) in the backfield for a team that will no doubt be average in 2026. Will we have another year 1 of Ashton Jeanty on our hands here, or is he truly as special as his college days suggest?

12. Omarion Hampton

We have another major trope alert for the running backs of 2026: Hampton is about to benefit from that second-year bump. He was very good in his first year, displacing Najee Harris (now on the Giants) out of necessity and it was clear that Hampton was the future for the Chargers until he took an injury in week 5. Now, in year 2, he has the chance to excel in an offense led by Mike McDaniel, who managed to turn veteran Raheem Mostert into a top back not so long ago. Hampton has plenty of upside in both running and catching the ball. Keep an eye out how McDaniel runs that backfield with the likes of Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal.

11. chase brown

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I feel as though using the words solid and dependable are doing Chase Brown a disservice here, but for fantasy players, he was exactly that in 2025. With Burrow looking like he means business this offseason and with no dramas around Chase and Higgins, that offensive unit looks like it is ready to push on and be the elite unit that was hinted at in previous years. Brown is one of those less than sexy fantasy names, but he has all the potential to end up a more than solid RB1 in fantasy leagues with top 5 potential.

10. Derrick Henry

Every year, Henry seems to be a little lower in fantasy ranking, yet every year he puts up elite numbers that make him so fantasy important. I think that going into 2026, he will still be the main points scorer for the Ravens, but the fact that there is a new HC, different pieces on the offense in two new wide receivers to relieve the pressure of Zay Flowers, will there be a little decline in the numbers of Henry until he reaches the endzone. I feel bad even writing that. Decline?! The man is a machine and looks like it in every training camp video that has been released.

9. Ashton Jeanty

After the hype of last year, there will naturally be some drop off for Jeanty. But that is negated by fact that he actually has an OC who can create plays to engineer success from someone as talented as Jeanty. Regardless of who plays under centre, Cousins or Mendoza, both will lean on the behemoth back to give them the best chance of winning. Even in a ‘bad year’ he had over 1300 yards and was one of the top targets in Las Vegas which surprised me. So if he can add those touchdowns to a clearly talented play system, he could be a great RB1 for fantasy players.

8. kenneth Walker IIi

Why do I feel as though this will come back to haunt me in 2027. Kenneth Walker as the 8th best RB in 2026 seems right. With a returning Mahomes, a perennial back up now in Justin Fields, an ageing Travis Kelce and no real elite WR prospect other than jailbird Rashee Rice, Walker could be in line for a big year. What you saw last year in Seattle was the RB by committee approach which made fantasy players so frustrated. But not in Kansas. He’s the top dog here and should get the lions share of the action. This could be a steal in the mid to late second round.

7. Saquon barkley

I may not be on the Eagles hype train, as I do think at some point the wheels will fall off. Maybe that happens this year, but one thing is for sure, Barkley is someone they will look at to be the talisman on that offense. The loss of AJ Brown felt inevitable, and it will be interesting to see how both Smith and Lemon take to their respective roles. Which makes me think that the workload of someone like Barkley will increase slightly, which is great news for fantasy players heading into 2026. Fantasy talking heads are already saying that this new offense looks very Barkley friendly, which excites me when all know how good he can be. He is a fantasy championship difference maker and should be picked up in round 1.

6. james cook iii

Cook was leaps and bounds ahead of any Bills player in Redzone targets and team targets last year and I can’t see that changing in 2026, even with the arrival of veteran WR DJ Moore. He works so well with Josh Allen in this offense and the fit is perfect. Cook represents that fantasy RB who could slide into the second round due to people gambling on the likes of Brock Bowers early, but should that happen, if you pick Cook up, he will be your RB1 and deliver some big points most weeks.

5. Christian McCaffrey

Last year, everyone at the 49ers got injured, apart from CMC. That power station kept its gaze away from the elite RB like the Eye of Sauron searching for a hobbit. Will he stay healthy this year as well? Offerings to the substation have already started with injuries to Ricky Pearsall and others picking up minor knocks in training camp. Additions in the WR room suggest they could spread the game out more evenly, but even so, its CMC, he’s bound to push through for big chunk yards and touchdowns for the 49ers as he always does.

4. de'von achane

New head coach. New contract. Things are looking good for the running back down in Miami. Especially with an average looking wide receiver room, Achane’s volume will naturally increase. With new OC Bobby Slowik at the helm now, I can see Achane throwing up big numbers in both the ground and the air. It wouldn’t surprise me that in 2027 we are looking someone like Achane to break into the top 3 fantasy football contributors, such is his fantasy ceiling. Some people have Achane slumping due to the situation down in Miami, but for fantasy numbers this can only be a good thing.

3. jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor went from a second round pick up in 2025 to one of the biggest fantasy football contributors by the end of the season. Those big games against the likes of the Falcons probably secured your playoff or even championship fantasy runs. Now, in 2026, his situation is very much the same, if not higher. Yes, Daniel Jones’ injury is one to watch, but that probably means Taylor gets more of the ball to ensure they make the most of those offensive plays. They also traded away star WR Michael Pittman Jr to the Steelers and didn’t replace him, so Taylor’s contributions may increase even more.

2. Bijan robinson

So, I have the second pick in my fantasy league and as a Bucs fan picking Bijan isn’t sitting well with me. I’m hoping the no.1 pick does me a solid and solves this conundrum for me. Why am I rambling here, well, the reason is that if anyone else was thinking of picking Bijan second in their draft, I would tell them to. Robinson takes on those massive numbers that fantasy players so often require but only finished with 11 touchdowns. Losing Tyler Allgeier is going to help Robinson massively, as Brian Robinson Jr probably isn’t going to replicate the 8 touchdowns Allgeier got in 2025. The Falcons have all the makings of a solid team and with a slate that will feature 6 games of NFC South opposition, it may be worth taking Robinson with your first pick of the draft as you just know he will amass some big points against those mediocre divisional rivals.

1. jamhyr gibbs

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This is a no brainer for me. He will be the most sought-after fantasy player this summer, no doubts at all. The buzz around Gibbs will simply get higher and higher now that running back mate David Mongomery is out the door. Sure, they picked up Isiah Pacheco, but he won’t be used the same way Monty was, so expect that increase in all aspects of Gibbs’ game come September. He averaged over 20 touches per game and that is just outrageous and will no doubt be the same with his bumper new deal that was signed this offseason. I am desperate to have him on my fantasy roster this season, as I am sure everyone else is who picks at 1.01 or 1.02 this year.

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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