Running Back Sleepers to Target in 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts

Brett (@FadeThatMan) offers up a list of running backs that could exceed expectations in 2026.

Brett Ford
Rankings 2026 Yesterday

What does a sleeper running back look like in 2026? A lot of fantasy football managers will take a look at draft boards and throw darts at names that they like or whichever ball-carrier has the biggest quads (remember AJ Dillon?). But that’s not what makes a true fantasy sleeper, and not what I’m looking for in the later rounds of my drafts.

A true running back sleeper is – at least at the beginning of the preseason – a member of an ambiguous backfield where there’s some question about their role and the roles of their teammates at the position. They have at least a puncher’s chance at a role within the passing game. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are labeled as the third-down back, but they at least have to be able to catch the ball a little bit (and have the trust of their coaching staff and quarterback). Sleepers are typically either explosive-play guys who break off yardage in big chunks or goal line vultures who excel at finding the end zone and could expand on that role if they earn more volume. Their draft price doesn’t reflect the potential production that they’re capable of, managers aren’t paying for the ceiling (yet). And lastly, there’s a potential for their role to grow either due to injury of a teammate or performance-based changes in volume.

I’ve identified four dudes that I truly believe fit most of those requirements and are poised to exceed expectations in 2026. Grab them in your drafts before it’s too late, and you’re left with the scrap heap in the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield.

Sorry, Trey Benson isn’t on the list this season.

David Montgomery, HOU

ADP: 49.0, RB21

How do you consider a running back being taken in the first five rounds to be a sleeper? Well, you take a look at what Montgomery’s ceiling is and you might double-take. Seems like people have written him off as a change-of-pace, large, plodding running back who only handles the goal line touches, like some kind of football-playing ogre. Well, “Ogres have layers.”

Montgomery had a solid season in Detroit in 2025, despite playing behind arguably the best, most dynamic running back in the league in Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery finished with 4.5 yards per carry and 3.17 yards after contact per carry and finished with excellent PFF grades in the passing game, pulling in 24 receptions for 192 yards (201 YAC, almost exclusively screens and dump-offs), catching all but two of his targets in 2025.

On his new squad, team context is outstanding. The Texans defense is going to be a juggernaut again this season and should leave the offense in several rushing-positive game scripts, meaning extra work for the run game as they grind out the clock each week. And if he does manage to be a true three-down running back and get involved in the passing game (which he’s proven effective in previously), it adds even more fuel to the fantasy fire.

This situation feels reminiscent of a couple of years back when the Texans inserted a veteran running back that the fantasy community was down on into a bell cow-like role. Remember when Houston brought in Joe Mixon and turned him into an every-down back and a top-12 fantasy RB? We could see it happen again with Montgomery.

 

Jonathon Brooks, CAR

ADP: 102.7, RB36

Jonathon Brooks already has the blueprint for a breakout sitting right in front of him. In 2025, he saw teammate Rico Dowdle do exactly what he aims to do this season.  Dowdle put on a handful of outstanding performances against middling to bad rushing defenses, but it was enough to propel him past Chuba Hubbard as he recovered from a midseason injury and eventually lost his starting gig. There’s a chance that Hubbard is supplanted again this season, this time by a running back that head coach Dave Canales hand-selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Carolina offense is going to be heavily reliant on the running game again in 2026 after finishing with the fifth-lowest Pass Rate over Expectation (PROE) in 2025. Brooks could end up being on the strong side of a 60-40 split in a backfield that leans heavily on the rushing game behind an offensive line that ranks within the top 10 in most metrics and a quarterback who isn’t too proud to dump passes to the running back in the flats.

Don’t get me wrong, the drumbeat is growing louder. By the time your league drafts, Brooks might be going closer to pick 60 than pick 100. Honestly, I’m still okay with using a sixth or seventh round pick to acquire him as an RB3 or flex play if I need to. I have that much confidence in his talent.

He could very well be this year’s Javonte Williams.

 

Keaton Mitchell, LAC

ADP: 146.0, RB47

Keaton Mitchell turned heads during his brief time in Baltimore, showing a burst of speed and explosiveness that complemented Derrick Henry in a really fun way. To the surprise of many outside the organization, the Ravens neglected to re-sign Mitchell and the Chargers swooped in to grab him this offseason. According to sources, Mike McDaniel went so far as to place wanted posters, advocating for the organization to sign Mitchell for 2026. And it makes sense. Mitchell is a speedster that offsets Omarion Hampton‘s jackhammer-style running up the middle with lightning-fast moves on the outside.

Part of why I’m so bullish on Mitchell is because I believe he has a legitimate chance to steal carries from Hampton if he proves to be more efficient with the ball. What do we truly know about Hampton after only seeing him in nine games during his rookie campaign? He averaged 4.4 yards per carry but scored just four touchdowns and finished with 100 or more rushing yards just once. A lot of people around the industry (some of our best analysts included) are projecting a massive leap for Hampton this season. But what if he’s just mediocre? Mitchell seems like the next in line to step into arguably the best situation and setup in all of fantasy football: a volume running back in Mike McDaniel’s offense.

There is the wrinkle of Kimani Vidal‘s existence within this offense that could put a damper on Mitchell’s potential breakout. With the way that McDaniel pined and lobbied for the signing of Mitchell, and the way he’s previously utilized speed backs like De’Von Achane in Miami, the speedy running back could be in line for more of a role than Vidal in McDaniel’s eyes.

On the surface, it looks like Mitchell could end up as the “Luigi” to Hampton’s “Mario” (and Vidal’s “Toad”), serving as more of a change-of-pace sidekick. But if Hampton isn’t all he’s chalked up to be (or suffers another injury this season and misses time), we immediately have a Luigi’s Mansion situation on our hands, where the supposed backup is thrust into a starring role.

 

George Holani, SEA

ADP: 215.0, RB67

George Holani probably won’t get drafted in most leagues, but he could legitimately lead the Seahawks in running back snap percentage for the first few weeks of the season. He’s a really good running back; we just haven’t seen him because the team has had better ones in front of him. Until now. Holani will be competing with Emanuel Wilson – a career backup, just like Holani, that is joining a new team and has to learn the playbook, etc. – and a rookie drafted as much for positional need as he was for talent in Jadarian Price.

Holani has been excellent as a third-down back for the Seahawks in recent seasons, but could surprise as a rusher if he’s given the opportunity. His vision and presence on the field as a rusher are evident in a lot of his tape, even the plays that don’t gain much. He’s the type of runner who could serve as a stopgap until Charbonnet returns from injury or Price gets up to speed, or both.

 

 

 

Photo by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X; @justinparadis.bsky.social on BlueSky)