As we inch closer to the 2026 NFL season, now is the perfect time to rank the top 10 backup running backs in fantasy football. These are the running backs currently listed as either the No. 2 option or the clear 1B on their team’s depth chart, who possess the highest upside if they were forced into a starting role due to injury or opportunity.
This ranking isn’t based solely on how valuable these players are in their current backup roles. Instead, we’ll evaluate what their fantasy ceiling could be if they were suddenly handed the lead job. Some backs already have standalone flex value in committee situations, while others are true handcuffs who could become league-winning assets with one change on the depth chart.
For this list, each player’s backup status is based on the current Ourlads 2026 NFL depth chart entering training camp.
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TreVeyon Henderson | New England Patriots
Back-up value: high RB3 | Starter value: mid RB1
One of the best backup running backs to roster in dynasty right now is TreVeyon Henderson. The former second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft entered the league with plenty of hype, and while he didn’t fully break out as a rookie, he showed flashes of the upside that made him such an exciting player.
Whenever Henderson was given the opportunity to lead the backfield, he delivered. In the 3 games Rhamondre Stevenson missed last season, Henderson averaged 19 fantasy points per game, proving he has the talent to handle a featured workload. Outside of those starts, however, he topped 13 fantasy points just twice while serving as the Patriots RB2, limiting his week-to-week fantasy value.
Heading into 2026, Henderson has a legitimate chance to earn a larger role if he can continue improving in pass protection. He was the more explosive runner in New England’s backfield, forcing more missed tackles and producing more breakaway runs of 15 or more yards than Stevenson. If Stevenson continues to hold onto the starting role, Henderson projects as a boom-or-bust RB3 or flex option. But if Stevenson misses time again or Henderson simply earns more touches, he has the talent and athleticism to produce at an RB1 level. Among the league’s backup running backs, few possess a higher fantasy ceiling than Henderson.
Isiah Pacheco | Detroit Lions
Back-up value: low RB3 | Starter value: low RB1
Lions backup running back Isiah Pacheco comes in with plenty of upside as the favorite to take over the role previously held by David Montgomery. The biggest question is whether he’ll see the same workload that Montgomery received in Detroit’s offense. Over the last three seasons, Montgomery finished as the RB13, RB18, and RB27 while sharing the backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs. It’s probably more realistic to expect Pacheco’s role to resemble Montgomery’s 2025 season rather than the heavier workloads he handled in the previous two years.
Pacheco has always been a player who thrives on volume. Throughout his career, whenever he’s received at least 12 carries, he’s generally been productive. However, in the 27 career games where he had 11 or fewer carries, he surpassed 60 rushing yards only once. He’s a physical, downhill runner who unfortunately has dealt with injuries throughout his career, making his durability the biggest concern.
As Detroit’s backup, Pacheco should see somewhere in the range of 8-10 touches per game, making him someone best utilized during bye weeks. However, if anything were to happen to Jahmyr Gibbs, Pacheco’s fantasy value would skyrocket. History has shown that when he’s given a starter’s workload and is healthy, he can produce at a high level. He’s an excellent dynasty buy-low candidate because the fantasy community is understandably focused on Gibbs’ massive 2026 season, leaving Pacheco available at a discount.
Blake Corum | Los Angeles Rams
Back-up value: low RB3 | Starter value: high RB2
Blake Corum is one of the best backup running backs to roster in dynasty leagues right now. After a quiet rookie season, Corum earned a much larger role in the Rams’ backfield in 2025 and showed why the team invested in him. Over the second half of the season, he finished just 40 fantasy points behind Kyren Williams while producing at a top-24 running back pace. He also took a noticeable step forward in efficiency, ranking among the league leaders in breakaway runs while improving his yards per touch.
Kyren Williams is still the clear starter, but the Rams have every reason to keep him fresh for another playoff run. That should allow Corum to maintain a meaningful role throughout the season, especially after proving he can be an effective complement in one of the NFL’s top rushing attacks.
Corum’s fantasy value as a backup will likely depend on touchdowns, as he still isn’t heavily involved in the passing game. However, that’s exactly what makes him such an attractive dynasty target. If Williams were to miss time, Corum would immediately step into one of the league’s most productive rushing offenses and project as a weekly RB2 with RB1 upside based on volume alone.
Kyle Monangai | Chicago Bears
Back-up value: high RB3 | Starter value: mid RB2
Kyle Monangai is one of the more intriguing high-upside backup running backs to target in dynasty leagues. Despite entering the NFL as a seventh-round pick, he carved out a meaningful role behind D’Andre Swift in the Bears backfield. In 7 games where he received at least 10 carries, Monangai averaged over 10 fantasy points per game, showing he can produce when given volume. His biggest performance came in his lone start for an injured Swift, when he rushed for more than 100 yards and finished with 21 fantasy points.
While Swift remains the clear 1A in Chicago, Monangai should continue to serve as the 1B option in an offense that could lean more heavily on the running game under head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson has a history of utilizing multiple running backs, giving both players meaningful workloads throughout the season.
Monangai’s dynasty value may actually be higher than many other backup running backs because there is a legitimate chance he could earn a larger share of the workload—or even take over as the starter if he continues to impress. Even if that doesn’t happen, he has already shown he can produce as a flex value as the back up. If Swift were to miss time, Monangai would immediately become a solid weekly RB2 with the potential for even more in favorable matchups.
RJ Harvey | Denver Broncos
Back-up value: high RB3 | Starter value: mid RB2
RJ Harvey checks in as the RB2 in Denver behind J.K. Dobbins heading into the 2026 season. Harvey received an extended opportunity as the starter during his rookie year after Dobbins suffered an injury, but his production was heavily touchdown-dependent. He had just one game all season where he scored more than 10 fantasy points without finding the end zone. Across his 7 starts, Harvey averaged only 3.4 yards per carry and roughly 65 all-purpose yards per game. While his 12 total touchdowns were impressive, that level of scoring will be difficult to repeat, even if he were to reclaim the starting role.
The Broncos appear committed to Dobbins as the 1A in the backfield, leaving Harvey as the primary 1B option. That role should still provide occasional flex value in favorable matchups, much like it did last season when he finished as a high-end RB3 while serving as the backup.
If Dobbins were to miss time again, Harvey would likely step back into the starting role. However, fantasy managers should temper expectations. With Jonah Coleman now in the mix as the RB3, Denver may be less inclined to give Harvey the same workload he handled as a rookie, and it’s unlikely he matches last season’s touchdown production. Harvey remains one of the more difficult backup running backs to evaluate in dynasty. The opportunity is there if injuries strike, but his efficiency and reliance on touchdowns make him a riskier investment than many of the other premium handcuffs.
Mike Washington Jr. | Las Vegas Raiders
Back-up value: low RB4| Starter value: mid RB2
Next up is another high-upside dynasty stash in Mike Washington Jr. The rookie enters the season as the primary backup to star running back Ashton Jeanty. Washington was one of the more athletic running backs in the 2026 draft class, and while many were intrigued by his upside during the pre-draft process, he landed in a backup role behind one of the league’s brightest young stars.
It will be interesting to see how much work Washington earns behind Jeanty. Last season, Jeanty’s backup offered virtually no fantasy value, but head coach Klint Kubiak has a history of utilizing multiple running backs effectively. During his time in Seattle, Kubiak’s rushing attack consistently found ways to get more than one back involved, although this situation is unlikely to become a true committee given Jeanty’s talent and expected workload.
As long as Jeanty remains healthy, Washington projects as more of a dynasty bench stash than a player you can rely on in weekly lineups. His explosive athleticism and home-run ability make him particularly appealing in best ball formats, where he may only need a handful of touches to produce a big fantasy week.
The real appeal comes if Jeanty were to miss time. Washington has the physical tools and offensive environment to step into a featured role with minimal competition from the rest of the depth chart. In that scenario, he would immediately become one of the highest-upside backup running backs in dynasty, capable of producing RB2 numbers with the potential for even more in an offense built to maximize the running game.
Jordan Mason | Minnesota Vikings
Back-up value: low RB3 | Starter value: low RB2
Vikings running back Jordan Mason could push for a much larger role in Minnesota as the 2026 season unfolds. While veteran Aaron Jones is currently projected as the starter, expect the Vikings to utilize a split backfield. Mason struggled to provide consistent fantasy value when Jones was healthy last season, averaging just five fantasy points per game alongside him. That made him difficult to trust in weekly lineups, although a more productive Vikings offense in 2026 could give him occasional flex appeal even in a complementary role.
Where Mason becomes much more intriguing is if Jones were to miss time. In four games without Jones during stretches when Minnesota’s offense was playing at a high level, Mason averaged 14 fantasy points per game. That production showed he can handle a significant workload and be a reliable fantasy starter when given the opportunity.
Mason’s ceiling is somewhat capped because he isn’t heavily involved in the passing game, limiting his chances of becoming an elite fantasy option. However, he offers a solid weekly floor as a volume runner in an efficient offense. If Jones were to suffer another injury, Mason would immediately become a dependable RB2.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. | New York Giants
Back-up value: low RB4 | Starter value: mid RB2
Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. checks in as another solid backup option for dynasty managers. Tracy’s standalone value is fairly limited while Cam Skattebo is healthy, as he averaged just 5.5 fantasy points per game in the six contests they played together. However, his role could grow if the Giants move on from Devin Singletary’s workload and choose to manage Skattebo’s touches after his injury history. As things stand, Tracy projects as more of a depth piece than a player you can confidently start on a weekly basis.
The appeal comes if Skattebo were to miss time. Tracy proved last season that he can handle a featured workload, finishing as the RB17 over his final 8 starts. During that stretch, he rushed for at least 60 yards in 7 of those 8 games, providing a reliable weekly floor while showing he can carry an offense on the ground.
The Giants’ offense also has the potential to take a step forward in 2026, which would create more scoring opportunities for the running game. Combined with head coach John Harbaugh’s history of producing productive rushing attacks, Tracy would be in an ideal situation if he were forced into the starting lineup.
For dynasty managers looking for an inexpensive backup with proven production, Tracy is an excellent trade target. He may not offer much standalone value while Skattebo is healthy, but he has already shown he can produce as a weekly RB2 if given the opportunity, making him one of the better handcuffs to roster entering the 2026 season.
Jonathan Brooks | Carolina Panthers
Back-up value: high RB4 | Starter value: mid RB2
Another high-upside backup to target in dynasty leagues is Panthers running back Jonathan Brooks. Injuries have limited Brooks throughout his first two NFL seasons, preventing him from showing why he was once considered one of the top running back prospects in his draft class. However, the hype surrounding Brooks is beginning to build again, as he has reportedly impressed during training camp and is emerging as a potential breakout candidate for 2026.
Brooks is expected to open the season behind Chuba Hubbard, and Carolina will likely ease him back into action after his injury history. That could limit his early-season fantasy value, especially since the Panthers struggled to support two fantasy-relevant running backs last year. When Hubbard took a backseat to Rico Dowdle for stretches of the season, he averaged just 5.5 fantasy points per game with limited opportunities, illustrating how difficult it was for the backup to produce.
Whether Hubbard misses time or Brooks simply earns a larger role as the season progresses, he has the talent to take over as Carolina’s lead back. Even after multiple injuries, Brooks still possesses the three-down skill set that made him a first-round dynasty rookie pick, giving him the potential to handle a significant workload if the opportunity presents itself.
Brooks is the definition of a “slow-burn” dynasty asset. His value may not pay off immediately, but he is exactly the type of player worth targeting before the season begins. If he regains his pre-injury form and earns the starting job at any point in 2026, he has the upside to become one of the biggest breakout running backs in fantasy football.
Chris Rodriguez | Jacksonville Jaguars
Back-up value: high RB4 | Starter value: low RB2
Chris Rodriguez reunites with his college coach in Jaguars head coach Liam Coen. Rodriguez is currently listed as the backup to Bhayshul Tuten in the Jaguars backfield, although that depth chart could certainly change before the season begins. Rodriguez is an interesting backup because he is expected to share the workload with Tuten.
Rodriguez should have an opportunity to earn meaningful playing time even as the 1B in Jacksonville’s offense. The biggest question will be how the touches are divided, especially with LeQuint Allen Jr. expected to handle much of the passing-down work. As things stand, Rodriguez projects as more of a bye-week replacement unless he earns a consistent role near the goal line—where he has been very effective.
Rodriguez doesn’t have an extensive history of production, but when given volume, he has been reliable. In 11 career games with at least 11 carries, he has rushed for at least 50 yards in 9 of them. If something were to happen to Bhayshul Tuten, or if Rodriguez were to earn the starting role outright, he could provide a solid weekly fantasy floor thanks to his rushing workload.
He’s not someone I’d aggressively trade for. However, we’ve seen Jacksonville produce fantasy-relevant running backs over the past few seasons, and if Rodriguez earns a larger share of the workload, he could become a useful fantasy contributor.
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