2026 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Running Backs

It’s all about looking to the future. But at the same time, we are also living in the present. Balancing each of those dueling priorities can become very difficult in dynasty leagues. When we get to running backs, things become even more complicated. all it takes is one play to change everything. Whether it’s an injury, a great game, or a stretch of poor games, a player that was undrafted in redraft leagues can become an RB1 the following season. As we try to build for the future while winning in the present, let’s take a look at the 2026 fantasy football dynasty running back rankings.

Dynasty Running Back Notes

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

After a rookie season that played out with mixed results, although he was behind Travis Etienne, Tuten now steps into a starting role this season. At age-23, he has a bright future and limited resistance. Jacksonville did add Chris Rodriguez this off-season from the Washington Commanders, but I’m not sure we should consider him a threat. Rodriguez had just six receptions in 35 games this season, so he won’t pose a threat to Tuten’s role in the passing game. He did average 4.5 yards per carry, but he’s certainly not a three-down back. It’s unclear whether or not Rodriguez could handle a full workload, and it appears that Jacksonville brought him in to serve as a complement to Tuten.

It’s also important to take the long view on Tuten, but with LeQuint Allen’s injury, it appears Tuten will get all the work in the passing game he can handle. That’s a good measure, as he caught 10 passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns last season. As a rusher, Tuten only picked up 307 yards and five touchdowns, so it remains to be seen how he reacts to a much larger role. With a broken tackle rate of 19.3% and 75.6% of his yards coming after contact, the speedy Tuten should be set up for success. It’s possible, though, that it takes him another year to truly get there.

Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears

While D’Andre Swift still sits atop Chicago’s depth chart, there’s always room for one more. In Monangai’s case, it’s likely going to be delayed this season. As he enters year two, Monangai is still working through a training camp knee injury, but it doesn’t appear to be lingering long-term. He fell to the seventh round of last year’s draft; from a tool perspective, he might not stand out, but that’s selling him short. Monangai is athletic and simply knows how to run.

He played all 17 games as a rookie and gained 783 yards while scoring five touchdowns. Monangai averaged 4.6 yards per carry and had two games of at least 100 rushing yards. It was clear that when given the chance, Monangai is capable. We’ll likely see more flashes of that this season, but next season should truly be his time to shine. Averaging three yards after contact last season is a nice step in the right direction.

Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers

We’ve been waiting two years for this, so will it happen in 2026? While certainly a capable running back, Chubba Hubbard hasn’t shown enough to truly be an obstacle. Instead, he’s more like a supporting player and a placeholder to see what a healthy Brooks can do.

Despite entering his third NFL season, Brooks has just nine career carries. While the Panthers are still managing his workload, he’s now healthy and just 23-years old. More importantly, there’s also a reason why he was a second-round pick two years ago. I’d rather invest in Brooks than most rookies, so let’s see what he can do. The concern, though, is not to sell low after the first few weeks if he starts off slow.

For more great fantasy football rankings and analysis, make sure to check out the 2026 FantraxHQ Fantasy Football Draft Kit!

Dynasty Running Back Rankings