2026 Fantasy Football: Week 1 Running Backs Sleepers and Streamers

Running backs can change quickly throughout the fantasy football season. That’s why finding the right streamers and sleepers can give you a huge advantage. The process is challenging, especially in NFL Week 1.

We’re not talking about the obvious RB1s here. These are the backs who may not get much attention on draft day but can become valuable starters, trade pieces, or even league-winning players later in the season.

There’s a difference between a streamer and a sleeper. A streamer is a player you can feel good about putting into your lineup because the matchup or situation is favorable. A sleeper is someone most fantasy managers probably aren’t thinking about because of uncertainty, competition, injuries, or simply a lack of confidence in the player.

Here are a few running backs I’m watching heading into Week 1.

Week 1 Running Back Streamers

Rhamondre Stevenson – New England Patriots

Stevenson could be walking into a much bigger workload if Henderson is unable to play in the Patriots’ season opener against Seattle.

Henderson hasn’t practiced since August 24 because of an ankle injury and was still sidelined during Monday’s practice. If he remains out, Stevenson should see a significant amount of work.

Getting somewhere around 20 touches isn’t out of the question, and while Seattle is a tough defense, Stevenson already showed he can produce against them. When these teams met in the Super Bowl in February, Stevenson finished with 17.3 fantasy points.

Seattle allowed just 3.8 yards per carry last season, which was the best mark in the NFL. However, they had a major weakness when it came to defending running backs through the air. The Seahawks allowed a league-high 97 receptions to running backs.

In the Super Bowl matchup, Stevenson caught all five of his targets for 40 yards and a touchdown. If you drafted Stevenson with the expectation that he could be a weekly starter, this is a matchup where I’d have no problem putting him in the lineup.

Kenneth Gainwell – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kenneth Gainwell was one of the biggest standouts for Tampa Bay during training camp, and his role could make him an interesting Week 1 streamer.

Gainwell is coming off the best season of his career in Pittsburgh, setting career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. His strength has always been his ability to contribute as a receiver, and now he steps into a similar role behind Bucky Irving in Tampa Bay.

The matchup against Cincinnati is another major reason to like him. The Bengals were one of the worst defenses in the league against running backs last season. Cincinnati allowed the most half-PPR fantasy points to running backs in 2025, which is exactly the type of matchup you want for a player like Gainwell.

The Bengals also struggled badly against the run, allowing 147.1 rushing yards per game, which ranked 32nd in the NFL. They allowed 5.21 yards per carry, ranking 31st. Cincinnati also gave up the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs at 23.7.

I don’t expect Gainwell to suddenly receive 15-20 carries, but he doesn’t necessarily need that kind of workload. If he gets several targets and can make an impact in the passing game, he has a legitimate chance to provide usable fantasy production in Week 1.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!

Week 1 Running Back Sleepers

Marshawn Lloyd – Green Bay Packers

Marshawn Lloyd is one of the biggest mystery boxes heading into Week 1.

He appears to be in position to open the season as Green Bay’s top running back with Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner’s Exempt List. It’s still unclear when Jacobs will return, which could give Lloyd an opportunity to finally show what he can do.

Lloyd was a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but injuries have prevented us from seeing much of him. Through his first two seasons, he has received just six carries. That makes him a difficult player to trust immediately.

If you drafted Lloyd as a starter, I understand wanting to see what you have. At the same time, there is obvious risk involved because we simply haven’t seen enough from him at the NFL level. The biggest issue has been health. Lloyd has dealt with multiple soft-tissue injuries, and although he is healthy right now, his injury history makes it difficult to assume he’ll hold up for an entire season.

Green Bay acquired Kaleb Johnson from Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick, but he was originally a third-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. He could quickly become the next man up if Lloyd struggles or gets hurt. For me, Lloyd is a player worth monitoring closely. He has the opportunity, but there are still plenty of questions about whether he can actually take advantage of it.

Tyler Allgeier – Arizona Cardinals

Tyler Allgeier could become an interesting Week 1 option if Jeremiyah Love isn’t ready to go.

Love is dealing with a high ankle sprain that could limit him early in the season and potentially keep him out of the opener altogether. If that happens, Allgeier becomes much more than just a backup. He has already proven that he can handle a significant NFL workload. As a rookie, Allgeier totaled 1,174 scrimmage yards, showing that he has the ability to produce when given an opportunity. Even while playing behind Bijan Robinson, Allgeier still managed to find the end zone eight times last season.If he gets goal-line work and enough touches to stay involved, he can become a weekly touchdown-dependent RB3/FLEX option.

If Love is ruled out for the opener, he becomes a legitimate low-end RB2 for Week 1.