The incoming class of 2026 does not compare favorably to the group of 2025. Outside of Jeremiyah Love, there are plenty of question marks. This does not mean that there are no high-quality traffic jams in this group; it just means it’s weaker than the incoming wide receiver talent. That said, dynasty managers are always looking for the next difference maker at the position.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at my top 10 new running backs for dynasty purposes.
PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty fantasy football rankings and resources. Us Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts and more. Check it out.
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
The clear 1.01 in dynasty rookie drafts — not just among running backs — but in this 2026 rookie class as a whole. Jeremiyah Love is a future bell cow, the kind of prospect that makes fantasy managers salivate. He is a former high school track champion and possesses a dangerous mix of size and speed. He put all of those skills on full display at Notre Dame, rushing for 2,497 yards and 35 TDs over the past two seasons with the Fighting Irish.
Jeremiyah Love makes it look way too easy to hinder players 😤 pic.twitter.com/UptYQmCoZx
— Clumsy Hub (@FumbleHub) February 14, 2026
The Doak Walker Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist will be the first back off the board in the NFL draft, with several prospects potentially interested in the top 20 selections. If given a great landing spot with minimal competition for touches, Love has mid-RB1 ability from the jump.
2. Jonah Coleman, Washington
After Love, it’s wide open as to who the RB2 is in this class. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound Jonah Coleman is a good candidate to be next in line. He reminds me of a heavier version of Maurice Jones-Drew. He runs with excellent contact balance, is difficult to bring down and is not afraid to run through defenders.
Over the past two seasons in Washington, Coleman has amassed more than 1,800 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and 27 total TDs. He profiles as a three-down back, so if he tests well at the NFL Combine, Coleman could increase his stock and climb boards to become a Day 2 selection.
3. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Emmett Johnson is well suited for today’s NFL and possesses a nice combination of rushing elusiveness and pass catching. At Nebraska, Johnson showed nice progress as a ball carrier, increasing both his workload and yards per carry each season. In 2025, Johnson finished fourth in the nation with over 1,400 rushing yards while finding the end zone 12 times.
Johnson is especially attractive in full PPR formats after hauling in 85 catches last season. He only weighs 200 pounds, so he may need to add some weight if he wants to see a significant workload at the next level. But if he earns Day 2 draft capital, Johnson could be an intriguing RB3 or flex option for fantasy managers as a rookie.
4. Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Who remembers when Penn State fans confidently declared before the 2025 season that Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen were a better RB duo than Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price?
We’re now a few months away from the 2025 NFL draft, where there’s a good chance Love and… pic.twitter.com/KTRKlmXsSA
— J5 Sports (@J5_Sports1) February 5, 2026
23-year-old Kaytron Allen enters the NFL as Penn State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 yards. Pretty impressive considering the names that came through that program, right? Allen increased his rushing output each season and finished his Nittany Lions career with 1,303 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.
Allen is a powerful runner who shows nifty footwork and toughness between the tackles. He won’t easily be confused with a true receiver, but he did catch 70 passes during his collegiate career. Allen could be a viable flex option if he earns consistent work in the 20s and double figures per game.
5. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Although he wasn’t as productive on the ground as teammate Kaytron Allen, Nicholas Singleton still left Penn State as the all-time leader in touchdowns and scrimmage yards. Built like a tank at 6-foot-4 and 224 pounds, Singleton has everything you look for in a professional ball carrier. He is strong and fast and has an extra gear as soon as he enters the open field.
He was up and down in his four years with the Nittany Lions, coming off his worst season yet: just 123 carries for 549 yards. However, he scored thirteen times and showed a real talent for finding the end zone. The talent is there, but Singleton also broke his foot during a Senior Bowl practice, so he won’t get a chance to impress teams at the NFL Combine. Singleton is the wildcard of this group of backs. The outcomes can vary greatly depending on where he ends up.
6. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
He played second fiddle to Love at Notre Dame, but Jadarian Price has high regard for his playing. At 210 pounds, Price is built like an NFL back, with a nice blend of vision, physicality and quick skill. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry (YPC) in three seasons with the Fighting Irish, driving in 21 rushing touchdowns during that span.
Price isn’t much of a weapon in the passing game: he had just 15 receptions in 41 games. However, he does provide utility on special teams, evidenced by three returns on just 22 kickoffs. He could start as a special teams contributor while sprinkled into the run game. Price has the goods; Now let’s see if he ends up in a spot where he can play an early down or red zone role.
7. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas
The big-framed back is a quick riser in this class after turning heads at the Senior Bowl. At 6-foot-1 and 228 pounds, Mike Washington Jr. clocked in at 6-foot-1. the fastest speed (21.21 MPH) of any back in Mobile, AL, wowing scouts in the process. He goes downhill quickly and has surprising agility on his cuts.
Mike Washington Jr. will make an OC very happy 😁
pic.twitter.com/onrA1C4KFB— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) February 13, 2026
The fifth-year senior enters the league after a breakout final season with the Razorbacks: 167 carries for 1,070 yards (6.4 YPC) and eight touchdowns. He also had 28 catches for 226 yards and another score through the air. Washington could be a crafty workhorse at the next level if he lands in a one-cut system and gets decent draft capital.
8. Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest
With nearly 2,000 rushing yards, 51 receptions and 23 trips to the end zone over the past two seasons, Demond Claiborne could be a nice change in the pros. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, he possesses above-average contact balance and patience as a runner. Claiborne doesn’t do anything at the elite level, but do do everything right.
Claiborne will likely have an immediate impact on special teams. He averaged 26.3 yards per kickoff return and scored twice on just 22 attempts at Wake Forest. He will probably disappear from the board in round 4 or 5; keep an eye on him to see if he ends up on a team that needs an explosive option behind the ball carrier.
9. J’Mari Taylor, Virginia
J’Mari Taylor (RB) Remarkable Rise in College Football
☆ North Carolina Central 2023 Walk-on
☆2024 scholarship awarded, 1,000 rusher
☆ MVP Orange Blossom Classic, 3 TDs
☆ Transfer to Virginia
☆ Senior Bowl Invitation
☆ NFL Combine Invitation pic.twitter.com/aSOlj59y3V— HBCU Premier Sports and more (@HBCUSports1) February 12, 2026
After rushing for 1,146 yards and 15 touchdowns at North Carolina Central in 2024, J’Mari Taylor transferred to Virginia and led the ACC in rushing during the regular season. In his lone season with the Cavaliers, Taylor rushed for over 1,000 yards, averaged a 4.8 YPC and found the end zone 14 times.
Taylor can also be a weapon as a receiver in the backfield, as he posted 43 catches for 253 yards in 2025. At 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds, he profiles as a complementary back in the pros. Due to his age he is going on day 3 (he will be 24 in March), but deserves monitoring in case he is given a suitable destination.
10. Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M
He had limited production during his time at Texas A&M, but you can see shades of a potential stud in Le’Veon Moss. He finished his Aggies career with just 1,767 rushing yards, but he averaged a 5.5 YPC and hit paydirt 22 times.
Injuries are a major concern for Moss. Unfortunately, his senior season was cut short after he suffered a serious ankle injury in October and missed most of the year. That came after he tore his ACL and MCL in 2024. Two significant lower-body injuries could impact his draft pick, especially since he only played in 32 games in four seasons. But if he can stick with a team and stay healthy, there is a path for him to see the field thanks to his punishing rushing style.
For more articles from PlayerProfiler, check out the fantasy homepage – NFL fantasy | PlayerProfiler – Fantasy Football News and Media
Wolf Trelles-Heard is a fantasy football contributor for PlayerProfiler. Find him at X on @DynastyFFWolf
#Dynasty #Rookie #Running #Backs #Top #PlayerProfiler