2026 NFL Draft Running Backs Rankings

Zak Drapeau
12 minutes ago
6 min read

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 3/12/2026

1. Jeremiyah Love

6'0" - 212 pounds

Notre Dame

Big Board Rank: 2

Pro Comparison: Christian McCaffrey

Jeremiyah Love is different from the other Top-End RB prospects before him like Jeanty and Robinson. While he is not a RB you can depend to get you 4-5 yards every carry, he may be the best "Home Run hitter" we've seen at the position in a VERY long time.

As athletic and agile as we've seen in a 215-pound RB, Love never stops driving his feet and has the ability to juke or hurdle any defender he goes 1-on-1 with. Love won't go in the first 5 picks because he's a Running Back but wherever he falls to will e getting a multiple-season 1,000 yard rusher with Elite big-play potential.

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2. Mike Washington Jr.

6'1" - 233 pounds

Arkansas

Big Board Rank: 45

Pro Comparison: Quinshon Judkins

Washington really impressed me at the Senior Bowl and then again at the Combine. His fluidity and speed at 233 pounds is awesome to watch. He doesn't have elite tackle-breaking ability but he has the size, frame, hands and toughness to be a bell cow RB in the league for a while.

While most have him as RB3 or 4 behind Price and Johnson, Wahsington is a clear RB2 to me for his ability to play 3 downs with the size and toughness to manage it for a season. He's not flashy but he's a strong runner that will be an every down threat for whatever team takes him.

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3. Jadarian Price

5'11" - 203 pounds

Notre Dame

Big Board Rank: 51

Pro Comparison: Raheem Mostert

Price has the speed and balance to be a home run hitter even if he's not the threat Love is. He also has very low milage with only 280 carries in his college career.

Price is most people's RB2 because of his big play ability but I have my concerns for his ability to play every down. An average pass blocker at best and no more than a decent pass catcher, Price's size could hurt him as well and could use with 10 more pounds to help with an NFL workload. If not, he will be as useful as any back who gets 200-250 touches a season.

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4. Jonah Coleman

5'8" - 220 pounds

Washington

Big Board Rank: 69

Pro Comparison: Blake Corum

The bowling ball of the class, every one has one and Coleman is that guy. Your stereotypical red zone RB, Coleman is quick for his size.

Good speed and strength for a RB, Coleman will be best in the NFL as an off-speed backup to carry the weight on short distances or feed into a play action offense. Coleman absolutely has the ability to be the center of an offense but without strong agility to rely on would be best as a Montgomery to a team's already-existent Gibbs metaphorically.

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5. Emmett Johnson

5'10" - 202 pounds

Nebraska

Big Board Rank: 78

Pro Comparison: MarShawn Lloyd

Johnson has a great blend of strong running and patience but the Senior Bowl and Combine really hurt him. Before February I had Johnson as my RB2 and around the #50 mark but have since docked him due to seemingly low-ceiling athleticism.

Johnson is riiiiiiight in the middle of these RBs for me without much downside and too much upside. He could be a good RB for a game or even break out a beautiful 60-hyard run every now and then but he could just as likely have 25 yards on 7 carries. He would need a good-to-great O-line to really excel and hit the second level where his running could take off.

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6. Seth McGowan

6'0" - 223 pounds

Kentucky

Big Board Rank: 81

Pro Comparison: Chris Rodriguez Jr.

An aggressive runner who showed good athleticism at the Combine, McGowan is a tough read. At Kentucky he would run through holes with reckless abandon but I'm not so sure that will do him as well in the league.

Physicality and toughness don't scream a home run hitter with great potential and neither does McGowan. What he does bring to the table is good running at a great size with only a few fumbles in his career.

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7. Nicholas Singleton

6'0" - 219 pounds

Penn State

Big Board Rank: 85

Pro Comparison: Jaydon Blue

One of the top runners before the season started, Singleton was part of the 1-2 punch in Penn State the last two years and was the speedy option of the two. Singleton is more of a huge play or no play kind of RB, with great speed and a decent size.

Singleton would be a lot higher on my list except for a broken foot at the Senior Bowl which should make his return to the field just in time for the 2026 NFL season. An easier injury to return from than an ACL Tear, Singleton is a reliable RB2 for any team any will probably come with only a 4th round price.

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8. Jadyn Ott

5'11" - 202 pounds

Oklahoma

Big Board Rank: 90 Pro Comparison: Jerome Ford

Jadyn Ott was one of the biggest winners of the Senior Bowl this year and showed that he is a very well-rounded back; tremendous upside as a receiver and a balanced, strong and fast runner.

Ott has serious doubts around his pass blocking and his frame that make him likely to not see the field too much until his 2nd season. His explosiveness should help him make the field and be productive for a few years, but likely only from his 2nd to maybe 5th or 6th in the league.

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9. Le'Veon Moss

5'11" - 203 pounds

Texas A&M

Big Board Rank: 109

Pro Comparison: Tank Bigsby

Moss is a good back with a storied background of being a 4-star recruit. Unfortunately, an injury history is what brings him this far down for me with a foot injury keeping him mostly out of 2025 and a Torn ACL and MCL for 2024.

When he was healthy he was one of the best f his class and blends toughness, vision and explosiveness. Now after his injury he's unlikely to have the same explosion but still has great instincts as a runner and will be serviceable in the NFL as long as he stays healthy.

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10. Kaytron Allen

5'11" - 216 pounds

Penn State

Big Board Rank: 122

Pro Comparison: Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Allen was the perfect compliment to Singleton at Penn State for switch of pace. At 216 (which is lighter than his game day weight), he has the size to run through the defense, not around him.

Somewhat one-dimensional, Allen was the dependable. "go get a few yards" back the team built around. Having over 750 carries in his college career definitely put some milage on him but he should still have a few more good years in the NFL esepecially if he's behind a good O-line.

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11. Roman Hemby

6'0" - 207 pounds

Indiana

Big Board Rank: 124

Pro Comparison: Rico Dowdle

Hemby suffers from the "Indiana-curse" you will see from a lot of prospects this year, meaning he was surrounded my a terrific team and behind a great O-line so how good will be be in the league?

Hemby is a scat-back that runs hard. From his time at Maryland, he was a good receiving back as well with strong hands. Able to do everything well but nothing elite, I could see Hemby having a great season at some point while being mid for the rest of his career.