After examining the biggest discrepancies in my quarterback rankings versus consensus, the running back position is next.
Running Backs I like more
Kenneth Walker (DDD = RB8 vs ECR = RB12)
Walker adds elusiveness and explosion that’s been missing badly from Kansas City’s backfield. The Chiefs figure to treat him as a workhorse unlike the Seahawks, especially with Patrick Mahomes returning from ACL surgery. K9 goes from a Seattle offense that saw the fifth fewest light boxes last season to a Kansas City one that faced the seventh most. The Chiefs ranked ninth in yards before contact but 30th in yards after contact. Walker has easy double-digit touchdown upside, and Kansas City will utilize him with screens; he was on pace for 70 catches before 2024’s injury. The upgrade over Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco is massive.
Walker has question marks while never reaching 230 carries but so do all backs in this intriguing tier (also featuring Chase Brown, Omarion Hampton, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and De’Von Achane). Starting with at least one RB through the first two rounds is highly preferable in 2026, and Walker is a strong target.
Jonathon Brooks (DDD = RB29 vs ECR = RB38)
Brooks has just nine career NFL carries and is returning from his second ACL surgery, but all signs point to him finally being back to 100 percent. He likely would’ve been the second RB drafted in this year’s rookie class, and Chuba Hubbard looks like one of the league’s most replaceable starters. Brooks has three-down ability in a possibly ascending offense, and he’s easily my preferred target in his tier.
That said, this discrepancy is frankly more of a reflection on the consensus rankers simply being behind the market; Brooks is the RB27 in NFFC OC drafts over the last week, so I’m actually below Brooks’ soaring ADP.
Tank Bigbsy (DDD = RB44 vs ECR = RB52)
Bigsby entered summer looking like the league’s top pure backup for fantasy purposes, but there’s now talk of him even eating into Barkley’s workload while continuing to impress. The 23-year-old jumped off the tape during his limited touches after getting traded to Philadelphia last season, and few if any players offer Bigsby’s upside at his ADP. The Eagles project to have one of the league’s best offensive lines and an upgraded system under new OC Sean Mannion. Kevin Patullo was a real problem.
Bigsby has “league winning” fantasy potential should Barkley go down. I’ve been loading up in Best Ball.
Jaydon Blue (DDD = RB46 vs ECR = RB66)
Blue impressed during a brief audition in Week 18 last season before Dallas removed the rest of its starters. He’s carried over that momentum into an offseason in which he’s received nothing but praise from the Cowboys’ coaching staff. Blue recorded 14 touchdowns during his final year in college, and he offers an explosive element otherwise lacking in Dallas’ backfield. It’s a Cowboys’ offense that routinely finishes among the league leaders in plays, so it’s one of the friendliest fantasy environments.
Blue will be active as a receiver, and he’ll benefit from Klayton Adams’ system and defenses focusing on stopping two star wide receivers. Phil Mafah (whom I also have well ahead of ECR) would see plenty of work should Javonte Williams get injured, but Blue’s situation gives him big fantasy upside. Blue’s ADP was dirt cheap most of the summer, but it’s been climbing thanks to some training camp hype.
Running Back I like less
De’Von Achane (DDD = RB12 vs ECR = RB9)
Achane is one of the league’s most fun players to watch, but he’ll have to overcome a terrible situation to be worth his consensus rank. Miami is projected to be one of the NFL’s lowest scoring offenses led by Bobby Slowik and Patullo; there have been only two top-10 fantasy finishes from an RB on a bottom-five offense over the last five seasons.
The Dolphins have a bottom tier offensive line and will be moving from a quarterback with one of the league’s highest checkdown rates to a QB with one of the lowest. Malik Willis has averaged just 2.7 targets to running backs over six career starts. Meanwhile, Achane has averaged just 2.4 targets and 10.5 fantasy points in eight games without Tua Tagovailoa over the last two years.
Moreover, Achane has struggled mightily converting at the goal line over the last two seasons, and he was given only three carries inside the five last year. Achane is a smaller back who’s dealt with lingering injuries, and his consensus rank is especially curious given it’s 0.5 PPR.