8 RB Sleepers for Fantasy Football in 2026

A “Sleeper” in Fantasy Football is a player whose market value is much lower than their production ends up being. Example: Nick Skrip was being drafted as the RB50 but finished as the RB30. Identifying sleepers is easier said than done, especially at the wide receiver position, which is the deepest of all the positions in Fantasy Football.

I have eight Sleepers at the running back position in 2026 that you should target in your Fantasy Football drafts this year. Where these guys are currently being valued is much lower than what their production will be at the position this season.

8 RB Sleepers for Fantasy Football in 2026

1. Bucky Irving (Buccaneers)

Bucky Irving is now falling far enough in drafts to be labeled as a “sleeper”, based on current ADP. Bucky underwent offseason shoulder surgery for an injury that impacted him in Week 4 of 2025 and led to him missing time. As a rookie in 2024, Irving rushed for 1,121 yards (5.4 yards per carry), caught 47 balls for 392 yards, scored eight touchdowns, and averaged 14.4 Fantasy PPG. Irving was a Top-10 back in all of yards per touch, yards per route run, evaded tackles, and breakaway runs via Playerprofiler that season.

2025 was a frustrating year for Irving, but he still managed to score 16+ Fantasy Points in 4/10 of his appearances. The rookie season should not be ignored, especially with the flat production he was able to produce along with the key efficiency metrics. Kenneth Gainwell replaces Rachaad White, which I see as more of a lateral move than an upgrade. As long as Irving is healthy, this is his backfield to be the lead back in, and he can bounce back in 2026.

2. Chuba Hubbard (Panthers)

Chuba Hubbard was a Fantasy Football bust in 2025, despite opening up the first two weeks hot. Hubbard saw major production regression, lost tons of work to Rico Dowdle, and simply was a near fantasy-irrelevant asset with his 8.4 Fantasy PPG. In 2024, Hubbard rushed 250 times for 1,195 yards, caught 43 balls for 171 yards, scored 11 touchdowns, and averaged 16.1 Fantasy PPG through 15 games. Night and day difference from 2024 to 2025.

Hubbard did end on a positive note in 2025 with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the Panthers’ NFL Playoff loss. Rico Dowdle is now a Steeler, with Jonathon Brooks looking to return to action. I was a big fan of Brooks as a prospect, but the repeated injuries raise some question marks. Hubbard is a guy we have seen produce at a high level, which translated to Fantasy Football as a dual-threat running back, and should take on that RB1 role yet again for 2026 in a growing Panthers offense—another strong bounce-back candidate.

3. Rico Dowdle (Steelers)

Rico Dowdle is coming off back-to-back 1,000+ rushing-yard seasons. 1,076 with the Panthers in 2025 after 1,079 with the Cowboys the year before. Both seasons had 39 receptions as well, with 12.7/12.4 Fantasy PPG. Dowdle finished weeks with 206 (Week 5), 183 (Week 6), and 130 (Week 9) rushing yards last season, which truly shows his upside.

Dowdle signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Steelers this offseason, which reunites him with his former Cowboys Head Coach, Mike McCarthy. He was obviously utilized and productive with McCarthy, which is your first green flag. Jaylen Warren will operate in what should be a committee with Dowdle, but I am projecting Dowdle to get the bulk of the rushing work, with Warren being the pass-catcher. Two seasons in a row with solid production simply has become meaningless when looking at Dowdle’s ADP.

4. Rachaad White (Commanders)

Rachaad White is coming off a down Fantasy Football season, when looking at his PPG total. White, through four seasons, has ranged from 40-64 receptions each year, which shows the consistency in what he is best at. In 2023, when operating as the Buccaneers’ lead back, White rushed for 990 yards, caught 64 balls for 549 yards, scored nine touchdowns, and averaged 15.8 Fantasy PPG. This offseason, Rachaad White signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Commanders.

I am projecting White to lead the Commanders’ backfield in total touches, as a dual-threat running back who we have seen operate in the past as a workhorse. I do believe at least one other back will factor in weekly with White, but if he is getting 15+ touches a week, that should translate well for PPR leagues. The competition for work in the backfield is very weak, and White is clearly the guy who will play the “Austin Ekeler role” that Washington wanted to establish, but could not consistently.

5. Jordan Mason (Vikings)

Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones are both on contract years for 2026, with recent camp rumblings believing Mason will be the 1A in this backfield. Mason has rushed for over 750 yards in back-to-back seasons, and his yards per carry have ranged from 4.8-6.0 through four seasons. Back in 2024, Mason was a Top-10 running back in breakaway runs via Playerprofiler, and also finished as a Top-five back in 20+ rushing yard plays despite playing in just 12 games. So we have seen plenty of explosiveness and efficiency.

We saw six weeks of double-digit Fantasy Points in 2025, but we should see much better Fantasy days in a more efficient offense in 2026. Kyler Murray is a huge upgrade over JJ McCarthy, so the passing game operating more effectively will mean better opportunities for the run game to be more productive. Aaron Jones has always been talented, but is nearing that age cliff at 31, so while he will factor in, Mason will dominate more touches this season.

6. Alvin Kamara (Saints)

Alvin Kamara is 31 years old, has missed time in each of his last three seasons, and now the Saints have signed Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $47 million contract. People will forget that Kamara has four seasons of 81+ receptions, six with 68+ catches, five seasons with over 500 rushing yards, two seasons with 18+ total touchdowns, seven seasons with 17+ Fantasy PPG, and three with 19+ Fantasy PPG.

Kamara has plummeted in the ADP for the position, as if he were never a Fantasy asset. Etienne should operate as the lead back, but I would project Kamara to work in with him and create a near-committee. This could be a great 1-2 punch, with Etienne operating as the rushing back and Kamara as the receiving back. Kamara would therefore have PPR upside with the handcuff role as well if anything were to ever happen to Etienne. This Saints offense has been taking big steps forward, and Kamara is still part of it.

7. Nicholas Singleton (Titans)

The Titans selected Nicholas Singleton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Singleton was highly productive as a prospect, producing 3,461 rushing yards, 102 receptions for 987 receiving yards, and 54 total touchdowns while operating in a committee with Kaytron Allen for four seasons. Singleton is an explosive dual-threat running back who currently sits as the RB3 behind Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.

The Titans continued to build this offseason through major coaching hires and holes filled at various positions. The Pollard-Spears combo is extremely average, and if they are not getting enough spark out of the backfield to complement Cam Ward and the passing game, do not be shocked if we see Singleton sooner rather than later. Singleton feels like a guy everyone is going to sprint to the waivers for either halfway or towards the end of this coming season. We can be two steps ahead here and note that. His dual-threat abilities and explosiveness can make Singleton a true Fantasy Football factor if he gets an opportunity.

8. Kaytron Allen (Commanders)

Yes, I already mentioned Rachaad White from the Commanders as a sleeper, but I will also add Kaytron Allen as well. Allen is Penn State’s all-time leading rusher with 4,180 yards, and he did this with Nick Singleton. Allen also caught 70 career passes for 490 yards and totaled 43 touchdowns. Allen has solid size and balance through contact, has great vision and patience, and runs physically. Allen’s consistency in production was extremely appealing to me as a prospect.

While I do believe White is the lead back in total touches, I am projecting Allen to be the early-down back. Jacory Croskey-Merritt fell into work due to a lack of competition, which ultimately resulted in him losing his job for a stretch to Chris Rodriguez (now a Jaguar) last season. I rate Allen as a much better rusher of the football and a superior prospect. I see a world where Allen is consistently getting early down and short-yardage work, with the potential upside being attached to the red zone.