Off the top, important to note this wasn’t the greatest rookie RB class. In fact, it’s a pretty weak class. Two were taken round 1, a third taken in round 3 and every other RB drafted was a day 3 pick. History says that 1 in 5 of day 3 RBs will have a top 25 finish at some point in their career so be careful not to fall in love with a prospect so much you over draft.
Below are my pre draft evaluations of all RBs that got drafted along with my post-draft thoughts on their landing spots
Round.Pick 1.03 Cardinals - JEREMIYAH LOVE - ND - 6’0” 214 4.36/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
True 3 down back. Good vision & elite athleticism to avoid contact. Highlight reel of combo moves like spin & hurdles. Lean frame not a power back so not a pile mover. Terrific pass blocker & catcher. Ball seems to absorb into hands in stride. Several slot snaps. Elite acceleration to find openings quickly & break away for long runs.
Pro Comp = Bijan Robinson
POST DRAFT ANALYSIS
While Love has a 3 down skill set, not even Bijan gets 100% of backfield touches. Last year he accounted for 78% of snaps. He shared the majority of snaps with TYLER ALLGEIER who had 29% of the snaps himself (some instances both RBs were on the field at the same time) in the Atlanta backfield. Allgeier is now in Arizona, proving my pre-draft comp is not without a sense of irony. The good news is a player like Love doesn’t need a bell cow workload to be fantasy relevant. I would temper expectations for the first month. The Cards also brought back JAMES CONNER so RBBC is likely to start the season.
Make no mistake about it, even with a fairly crowded backfield, Love is by far the most talented of the bunch. I would expect Love to build up to a snap share that gets into the 75%-80% range as the season goes on and will push for top 12 numbers rather quickly, especially in PPR leagues. His price tag will be high and possibly be a let down early on but if you take the Love plunge, be patient over the first month or so. He is a league winning talent.
Round.Pick 1.32 Seahawks - JADARIAN PRICE - ND - 5’11” 203 4.49/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Stocky frame. Good contact balance & tough to bring down on 1st contact. Built for between the tackles work but underrated burst & speed to get to the edge. Special Teams / Kick off exp. Lacks reps & pass pro exp so profiles early down back to start but upside as featured runner
Pro Comp = Lamar Miller
POST DRAFT TAKE
Arguably the best landing spot for any running back, Price gets a chance to immediately replace Super Bowl MVP KENNETH WALKER who joined the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason. Holdover ZACH CHARBONNET is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January which means he is not likely to be ready week 1. The Seahawks will run a split time backfield but with only GEORGE HOLANI and EMMANUEL WILSON for competition, Price is set up for an immediate impact role for fantasy.
Price enthusiasts might scoff at the Miller comparison because as a name he’s rather vanilla. But while Miller wasn’t flashy, he was incredibly productive amassing between 1100-1300 total yards and 6-10 TDs in every season from year 3 to year 7 when an injury ended his career. Considering the nature of this tandem style run game, Price has a capped ceiling but should maintain a stable floor as a RB2 for this season & the season’s to come.
Round.Pick 3.90 49ers - KAELON BLACK - IN - 5’9” 208 4.43/40 time
PRE DRAFT EVALUATION
Blue collar pile mover. An always falls forward kind of guy. Compact frame makes him hard to take down at first contact. Decent agility but likes to get downhill fast. Runs hard with good speed. At 25 years of age, that may push him down drafts. A committee back with limited passing game work.
Pro Comp = Mark Ingram
POST DRAFT TAKE
The 3rd running back off the board didn’t come until the 3rd round, which speaks volumes to be about the depth of this RB class. By contrast, the 2025 draft saw 6 RBs taken before pick 89 where this year saw just 2. At pick 90, The 49ers surprised many (including me) choosing Black. Don’t get me wrong, I like him a lot. He’s got an old school type of style to him. What I don’t like is the landing spot behind CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY.
In 2024, everyone was sure ISSAC GUERRENDO was the CMC backup to roster drafted pick 129.
In 2025, everyone was sure JORDAN JAMES was the CMC backup to roster at pick 147 (in a deep RB class).
Not only does Kaelon Black join a crowded backfield competing with both IG & James, he has little to no value with CMC as the featured runner. Even if CMC were to miss time, he profiles as a part time / TD dependent RB.
Round.Pick 4.108 Broncos - JONAH COLEMAN - WA - 5’8” 220 4.50/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Powerful runner with a thickly built lower body & adept at hitting holes. Underrated agility. Able pass catcher but needs pass pro improvement. Lacks elite speed teams look for at the next level. Profiles as early down runner in a tandem
Pro Comp = Tyler Allgeier
POST-DRAFT TAKE
Coleman certainly has his enthusiasts with many thinking he deserved day 2 or even day 1 draft capital. Personally, I didn’t see a difference maker & not surprised that he slipped into the 4th round. He certainly has an NFL skillset but better suited as part of a time share. The Broncos are a good fit for Coleman as Sean Payton has a history of timeshare backfields. The 2025 2nd round pick RJ HARVEY & veteran JK DOBBINS are at the top of the depth chart for now but JKD is only on a low cost 1 year deal.
Coleman is ideally suited to play the “JKD” role in this Broncos offense and looks like the future for that spot playing in a 2 man tandem with Harvey. However, without injuries hitting the Broncos backfield, short term his fantasy value will be limited as he will fight for touches in 2026. He’s more of a flier in later rounds a depth/wait & see player.
Round.Pick 4.122 Raiders - MIKE WASHINGTON - AR - 6’2” 223 4.33/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Big, powerful downhill runner. Good pass catcher. Athletic testing at the combine was off the charts. Not a creative open field runner but good at finding the hole and accelerating through it. Wasn’t a workhorse but built like one. Willing pass protector but needs development. Ball security is a concern.
Pro Comp = David Johnson
POST-DRAFT TAKE
I’ll start by saying I loved watching his highlight reel. Washington shows off dominant finishing ability & I immediately had him on my sleeper watch list. That was before his insane combine workout that had analysts drooling. Running a 4.33 at his size is a little insane. Unfortunately his lack of creativity kept teams from considering him as a lead runner, watching him fall into the 4th round. Landing with the Raiders is intriguing though. ASHTON JEANTY is the starter but head coach Klint Kubiak runs a system that caters to a multi-backfield like we saw last year with Kenneth Walker & Zach Charbonnet.
Washington could push to be Raiders RB2 rather quickly but expect touches limited to single digits behind Jeanty, at least to start. His home run ability makes him worthy of a late stash but would temper expectations.
Round.Pick 5.161 Chiefs - EMMETT JOHNSON - NE - 5’10” 202 4.56
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Agile & Shifty runner. Sometimes too shifty instead of hitting the hole. Plays tougher than his size, can play though contact. Lateral agility overcomes lack of top end speed. Good pass catcher but needs pass pro development. Not the best workout at the combine had me lowering expectations. Profiles as a complementary or backup RB although was productive workhorse with 297 carries for over 1800 yards & 15 touchdowns in his senior year
Pro Comp = Rachaad White
POST-DRAFT TAKE
EJ lands in a very interesting spot for fantasy. There has been a history of the pass catching part time runners having success like DARREL WILLIAMS and JERICK MCKINNON. Many tabbed BRASHARD SMITH as a sleeper pick to fill that role last year but he was uninspiring in his rookie season. EJ is a better talent.
In KC, KENNETH WALKER is the clear lead back in this offense but as we saw last year, K9 works well in a time share. I don’t think Johnson’s ability lends toward becoming a NFL lead RB but does have the ability to shoulder the load if called upon and at least push for split time duties. He wasn’t my favorite prospect, but the landing spot lends itself to the potential to be a RB3 in PPR formats.
Round.Pick 5.165 Titans - NICHOLAS SINGLETON - PSU - 6’0” 220 4.35/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Powerful 1 cut runner with finishing speed. Tough to tackle won’t catch from behind. Great hands as a receiver. Lack of creativity behind the line & lateral agility but with a hole is dangerous. Return game skillset. Better ‘24 than ‘25 is a concern. His profile is better than his production last year, where he was outproduced 2 to 1 by backfield running mate Kaytron Allen
Pro Comp = Trey Benson
POST-DRAFT TAKE
One of the best landing spots, Singleton ends up in Tennessee where the competition is wide open. TONY POLLARD is a solid runner, turning in his 5th consecutive 1000 scrimmage yard season. But at 29, decline is likely coming which means the team has to start thinking of the future in the backfield. TAJAE SPEARS is still in the mix but as much as he has shown potential, hasn’t panned out as a consistent option.
Singleton dealt with a lot of injuries in college & for a back that relies on speed for success could be the reason for his surprising decline. If Singleton gets back to the junior version of himself, could end up a real surprise and take over as the lead runner by the season’s end. Considering he fell all the way to the 5th round, the odds are long that he will be a hit. For now, he’s nothing more than a stash & see in deeper leagues but the Titans RB training camp battle will be one to watch.
Round.Pick 5.174 ADAM RANDALL - CLEM - 6’3” 235 4.50/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Big, imposing figure with receiving skillset. Impressive speed for size. Best between the tackles. Nose for end zone (13 TDs LY) Not a creative runner but more downhill. Converted WR last year so he is still learning the position. Has return game experience as well. Poor pass blocker & drop rate was an issue.
Pro Comp = Ollie Gordon
POST-DRAFT TAKE
While my pro comp is Ollie Gordon, I saw shades of DERRICK HENRY in his game. Needless to say, I love the landing spot in Baltimore to learn from the King himself. With KEATON MITCHELL now with the Chargers, there’s not much competition to be the Henry backup. JUSTICE HILL still has a role but it is more of a change of pace passing down back. Randall’s transition to running back was impressive last year where he amassed near 1100 yards and 13 touchdowns.
While he still has a ways to go, he shows traits that resemble Henry’s style, which bodes well for his chances in this offense. For 2026, this is still Henry’s backfield so Randall’s best case is handcuff/backup & a TD dependent play unless the King is sidelined.
Round.Pick 6.187 Commanders - KAYTRON ALLEN - PSU - 5’11” 220 4.55/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Good size & follows blockers well. Nose for the end zone. Not a creative runner. Won’t break though many tackles or breakaway. Lacks pass catch/pro skillset & speed desired for NFL backs. Highly productive (2x Singleton in same backfield) Profiles as a North-South tandem back that could be a volume back in the right situation.
Pro Comp = Sean Tucker
POST-DRAFT TAKE
The landing spot is a good one for Allen, aka “Fatman” as the team doesn’t have a runaway lead back. Expectations are that RACHAAD WHITE and last year’s 7th round rookie surprise JACORY (BILL) CROSKEY-MERRITT will be the team’s 1-2 punch. Allen has a skillset that translates to the NFL but in a limited capacity. He’s not much of a pass catcher, lacks desired speed & elusiveness. But like Sean Tucker, given the volume can produce.
As much as Allen has truthers buzzing about the landing spot, his limitations as a runner are why he fell to the 6th round. Odds are long he will be an impact player but because White & Bill are not blistering talents, he has a chance to crack into the rotation. For now, consider Allen a late round dart throw but Commanders RB camp battle will be one to watch.
Round.Pick 6.198 Vikings - DEMOND CLAIBORNE - WF - 5’10” 188 4.37/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Top end speed & plus agility. Decisive runner with good vision. Plays tough for his size. Lacks size to be a workhorse but has feature back skills. Size might be why he struggled with ball security. Decent route runner but bad hands & lacks size for pass protection means not a good fit for passing downs. Profiles more of a big play runner as part of RBBC & special teams return man.
Pro Comp = Jaydon Blue
POST-DRAFT TAKE
There’s no denying his speed but size is a real concern. The landing spot is decent. The 31 year old AARON JONES returns for one more season and JORDAN MASON is expected to have a large snap share. Claiborne could mix in as a big play threat but with Jones & Mason ahead of him, playing time will be limited. I suspect he will have to make his mark as a special teamer in order to get on the 53 man roster. That said, I think his potential is limited unless we see signs of wear from Aaron Jones.
As a 6th round pick, his roster spot is not a guarantee. Claiborne is more of a waiver wire watch for 2026, assuming he makes the team.
Round.Pick 7.230 Steelers - ELI HEIDENREICH - NAVY - 6’0” 198 4.44/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Versatile weapon, more pass catcher than runner but can play all over the formation. Nifty footwork as a route runner. Able run blocker not much of a pass blocker. Good athlete so imagine there’s a place for him but how to use him will be tough as a pro.
Pro Comp = Kyle Juszczyk / Danny Woodhead
POST-DRAFT TAKE
Heidenreich was a draft weekend darling eventually landing with the Steelers, much to the delight of the home Pittsburgh crowd. He is built like a pro player but how he will be used remains to be seen. A unique prospect, he is listed as a running back but most of his production came as a receiver. One would think that makes him a passing down RB but he’s not much of a pass blocker. Considering JAYLEN WARREN is a pass blocking demon, the passing down role is all but locked up. RICO DOWDLE & KALEB JOHNSON will vie for early down duties in what looks like a RBBC in Pittsburgh.
I don’t see a path for Heidenreich to be a consistent fantasy producer but more of a special teamer & sporadic offensive weapon. Someone will likely take a flier on him but I struggle to see how his game will translate to the fantasy football landscape.
Round.Pick 7.237 Colts - SETH MCGOWAN - KY - 6’0” 223 4.49/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Decisive at point of attack. Nice burst at the line. Runs tough & not afraid of contact. Tough to bring down. Nose for the end zone. Lacks elite speed & elusiveness. Would work well with a pass down complement. Overcoming felony past would be a great redemption story
Pro Comp = Brian Robinson
POST-DRAFT TAKE
I have an affinity for the old school, smash mouth kind of players & McGowan has that kind of game. He lands in Indy where he will compete as the JONATHAN TAYLOR handcuff. He has the skills to do just that and potentially push for a change of pace / short yardage role. His slip in the draft is not surprising. Not only does he lack elite traits or a feature back skillset, but there’s an off field stigma.
Still working to prove his past is just that, McGowan has an uphill climb to make the roster. He isn’t likely to be more than a JT handcuff so more of a waiver watch for this year, assuming he makes the roster.
Round.Pick 7.245 Patriots - JAM MILLER - ALA - 5’10 210 4.42/40 time
PRE-DRAFT EVALUATION
Tough runner with size & speed for next level. Good vision. Doesn’t shy from contact. Built for between tackles but has speed to bounce outside. Production was lacking which is a concern why his traits didn’t match performance. A good combine put him on the radar.
Pro Comp = Zack Moss
POST-DRAFT TAKE
I liked what I saw from the combine but this didn’t translate to the field, where he barely had 600 yards for the Crimson Tide last year. He has a decent skillset but will have an uphill battle to even make the team. RHAMONDRE STEVENSON and TREVEYON HENDERSON are going to dominate touches for the Patriots. The best Miller can expect is to be the RB3, assuming he can make the roster.
An intriguing prospect, he shouldn’t be much more than a waiver wire watch for 2026.
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