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3 Rookie RBs to Target in 2026 Fantasy Drafts (and 1 to Avoid)
by Drew Hamilton
Every year, rookie running backs win leagues. Some earn the job outright, others capitalize on injuries and a few emerge down the stretch when fantasy championships are on the line. Regardless of how it happens, rookie backs routinely deliver league-winning value. Despite that history, the 2026 running back class is being met with skepticism, creating some intriguing values. The typical shiny-new-toy syndrome isn’t hitting this group, making many of these rookies cheaper than comparable prospects from recent classes. Here are the rookie running backs I’m targeting – and the one I’m avoiding – in 2026.
Rookie RB Not to Target
Jeremiyah Love (Arizona Cardinals) | Consensus ADP – 18.9
Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love entered the NFL as the third overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
This was a bad pick, not because of the player, but because of the contract implications ($$$). Love should see all the volume he can handle, but he’s already priced near his ceiling as the last RB1 off the board (think 2025, Ashton Jeanty). He’ll likely produce, but I’m looking for players who can beat their Average Draft Position (ADP), and Love isn’t one of them. If his cost rises any further as casual gamers enter the fray, I’m out.
Rookie RBs to Target
Jadarian Price (Seattle Seahawks) | Consensus ADP – 62.8
Former Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price entered the NFL as the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
I expected to include Price in the previous section, but then I saw his ADP. Normally, we’d see a first-round running back drafted by the reigning champions with an elite defense going much earlier than this. Instead, he’s being drafted alongside RB2 options like Bhayshul Tuten, RJ Harvey, and Rico Dowdle.
Running backs tied to good offenses tend to matter, and the upside case for Price would absolutely crush this ADP. I don’t think the ceiling outcome is the most likely, but we’re wrong about these projections all the time. The return of Zach Charbonnet is keeping his cost low as well, but his injury should make him little to no factor in 2026. I’m taking shots on Price while the cost stays reasonable.
As with Love, expect casual gamers to push his ADP higher as the season approaches. He’s a fade if he starts going as a back-end RB1.
Jonah Coleman (Denver Broncos) | Consensus ADP – 141.3
After starring at Washington following two seasons at Arizona, Jonah Coleman was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 108th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
J.K. Dobbins looks like the lead back in Denver, with R.J. Harvey handling passing-game work, but neither role feels locked in. Dobbins has never consistently held up to that kind of workload, and Harvey underwhelmed in a real opportunity in 2025. Coleman is the next man up for either role, depending on injury or performance.
He brings a stronger rushing profile than Harvey and enough receiving ability to step into passing-game work if needed. In a high-powered offense with two shaky vets ahead of him, that’s the kind of contingency upside I want.
Demond Claiborne (Minnesota Vikings) | Consensus ADP – 185.5
After a productive career at Wake Forest, Demond Claiborne entered the NFL as a sixth-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him with the 198th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Claiborne was an explosive college playmaker who earned trust in the passing game and the red zone. Aaron Jones is 31 and has already missed time in recent seasons, while Jordan Mason hasn’t shown much in Minnesota.
Claiborne can be added with one of your last picks in most drafts. There’s a clear path for Claiborne to work into meaningful touches if either veteran slips. At this price, you’re betting on talent and opportunity emerging, which is exactly the kind of upside play we want late in drafts.
Drew Hamilton is a contributor to Optimus Fantasy Football with a passion for fantasy football strategy, player evaluation, and finding value where others aren’t looking. Follow him on Bluesky at @legitffenterprise.bsky.social.
Every year, rookie running backs win leagues. Some earn the job outright, others capitalize on injuries and a few emerge down the stretch when fantasy championships are on the line. Regardless of how it happens, rookie backs routinely deliver league-winning value. Despite that history, the 2026 running back class is being met with skepticism, creating some intriguing values. The typical shiny-new-toy syndrome isn’t hitting this group, making many of these rookies cheaper than comparable prospects from recent classes. Here are the rookie running backs I’m targeting – and the one I’m avoiding – in 2026.
Rookie RB Not to Target
Jeremiyah Love (Arizona Cardinals) | Consensus ADP – 18.9
Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love entered the NFL as the third overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
This was a bad pick, not because of the player, but because of the contract implications ($$$). Love should see all the volume he can handle, but he’s already priced near his ceiling as the last RB1 off the board (think 2025, Ashton Jeanty). He’ll likely produce, but I’m looking for players who can beat their Average Draft Position (ADP), and Love isn’t one of them. If his cost rises any further as casual gamers enter the fray, I’m out.
Rookie RBs to Target
Jadarian Price (Seattle Seahawks) | Consensus ADP – 62.8
Former Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price entered the NFL as the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
I expected to include Price in the previous section, but then I saw his ADP. Normally, we’d see a first-round running back drafted by the reigning champions with an elite defense going much earlier than this. Instead, he’s being drafted alongside RB2 options like Bhayshul Tuten, RJ Harvey, and Rico Dowdle.
Running backs tied to good offenses tend to matter, and the upside case for Price would absolutely crush this ADP. I don’t think the ceiling outcome is the most likely, but we’re wrong about these projections all the time. The return of Zach Charbonnet is keeping his cost low as well, but his injury should make him little to no factor in 2026. I’m taking shots on Price while the cost stays reasonable.
As with Love, expect casual gamers to push his ADP higher as the season approaches. He’s a fade if he starts going as a back-end RB1.
Jonah Coleman (Denver Broncos) | Consensus ADP – 141.3
After starring at Washington following two seasons at Arizona, Jonah Coleman was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 108th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
J.K. Dobbins looks like the lead back in Denver, with R.J. Harvey handling passing-game work, but neither role feels locked in. Dobbins has never consistently held up to that kind of workload, and Harvey underwhelmed in a real opportunity in 2025. Coleman is the next man up for either role, depending on injury or performance.
He brings a stronger rushing profile than Harvey and enough receiving ability to step into passing-game work if needed. In a high-powered offense with two shaky vets ahead of him, that’s the kind of contingency upside I want.
Demond Claiborne (Minnesota Vikings) | Consensus ADP – 185.5
After a productive career at Wake Forest, Demond Claiborne entered the NFL as a sixth-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him with the 198th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Claiborne was an explosive college playmaker who earned trust in the passing game and the red zone. Aaron Jones is 31 and has already missed time in recent seasons, while Jordan Mason hasn’t shown much in Minnesota.
Claiborne can be added with one of your last picks in most drafts. There’s a clear path for Claiborne to work into meaningful touches if either veteran slips. At this price, you’re betting on talent and opportunity emerging, which is exactly the kind of upside play we want late in drafts.
Drew Hamilton is a contributor to Optimus Fantasy Football with a passion for fantasy football strategy, player evaluation, and finding value where others aren’t looking. Follow him on Bluesky at @legitffenterprise.bsky.social.
Every year, rookie running backs win leagues. Some earn the job outright, others capitalize on injuries and a few emerge down the stretch when fantasy championships are on the line. Regardless of how it happens, rookie backs routinely deliver league-winning value. Despite that history, the 2026 running back class is being met with skepticism, creating some intriguing values. The typical shiny-new-toy syndrome isn’t hitting this group, making many of these rookies cheaper than comparable prospects from recent classes. Here are the rookie running backs I’m targeting – and the one I’m avoiding – in 2026.
Rookie RB Not to Target
Jeremiyah Love (Arizona Cardinals) | Consensus ADP – 18.9
Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love entered the NFL as the third overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
This was a bad pick, not because of the player, but because of the contract implications ($$$). Love should see all the volume he can handle, but he’s already priced near his ceiling as the last RB1 off the board (think 2025, Ashton Jeanty). He’ll likely produce, but I’m looking for players who can beat their Average Draft Position (ADP), and Love isn’t one of them. If his cost rises any further as casual gamers enter the fray, I’m out.
Rookie RBs to Target
Jadarian Price (Seattle Seahawks) | Consensus ADP – 62.8
Former Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price entered the NFL as the 32nd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
I expected to include Price in the previous section, but then I saw his ADP. Normally, we’d see a first-round running back drafted by the reigning champions with an elite defense going much earlier than this. Instead, he’s being drafted alongside RB2 options like Bhayshul Tuten, RJ Harvey, and Rico Dowdle.
Running backs tied to good offenses tend to matter, and the upside case for Price would absolutely crush this ADP. I don’t think the ceiling outcome is the most likely, but we’re wrong about these projections all the time. The return of Zach Charbonnet is keeping his cost low as well, but his injury should make him little to no factor in 2026. I’m taking shots on Price while the cost stays reasonable.
As with Love, expect casual gamers to push his ADP higher as the season approaches. He’s a fade if he starts going as a back-end RB1.
Jonah Coleman (Denver Broncos) | Consensus ADP – 141.3
After starring at Washington following two seasons at Arizona, Jonah Coleman was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 108th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
J.K. Dobbins looks like the lead back in Denver, with R.J. Harvey handling passing-game work, but neither role feels locked in. Dobbins has never consistently held up to that kind of workload, and Harvey underwhelmed in a real opportunity in 2025. Coleman is the next man up for either role, depending on injury or performance.
He brings a stronger rushing profile than Harvey and enough receiving ability to step into passing-game work if needed. In a high-powered offense with two shaky vets ahead of him, that’s the kind of contingency upside I want.
Demond Claiborne (Minnesota Vikings) | Consensus ADP – 185.5
After a productive career at Wake Forest, Demond Claiborne entered the NFL as a sixth-round selection by the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him with the 198th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Claiborne was an explosive college playmaker who earned trust in the passing game and the red zone. Aaron Jones is 31 and has already missed time in recent seasons, while Jordan Mason hasn’t shown much in Minnesota.
Claiborne can be added with one of your last picks in most drafts. There’s a clear path for Claiborne to work into meaningful touches if either veteran slips. At this price, you’re betting on talent and opportunity emerging, which is exactly the kind of upside play we want late in drafts.
Drew Hamilton is a contributor to Optimus Fantasy Football with a passion for fantasy football strategy, player evaluation, and finding value where others aren’t looking. Follow him on Bluesky at @legitffenterprise.bsky.social.
