The dust has yet to settle from the 2025 fantasy football season, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t look ahead to 2026. After years of zero-RB builds, the running back position has seen a major resurgence in fantasy football over the last two years.
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Bijan Robinson took his game to the next level in 2025, despite the Atlanta Falcons’ offense’s struggles. In 16 games, Robinson racked up 272 carries for 1,445 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He also set career-highs in targets (100), receptions (76), receiving yards (810), and tied his high in receiving touchdowns (4). He did all this without the team’s top two right tackles and a downgrade at center.
71 overextends to help the TE and misses his angle on the LB, who has Bijan dead to rights in the backfield, and he STILL takes it 93 yards.
Freak.
2026 1.01 pic.twitter.com/KbWht0Xn8U
— Dan Fornek ↗️ (@fornekdf) January 1, 2026
Robinson was the RB2 in PPR points per game (22.7) while posting his second straight season with at least 20.0 PPR points per game. Atlanta may lose its backup (Tyler Allgeier) to free agency, and doesn’t have a clear replacement on the roster. There is a chance that 2026 could be the best season we see from Robinson, as long as he can continue to stay healthy.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Since entering the league in 2023, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has not finished with fewer than 16.0 PPR points per game. 2025 was his second straight season with at least 21.0 PPR points per game.
Gibbs’s rushing efficiency took a dip in 2025 (224 carries for 1,143 yards and 13 touchdowns) thanks to a less talented (and more injured) offensive line, but his work in the receiving game makes him one of the most valuable fantasy players. Gibbs logged career highs in every receiving category (89 targets, 74 receptions, 583 receiving yards, and four touchdowns) in his third season.
Detroit’s offensive line will return at least three starters, and the team is contemplating moving on from David Montgomery. That alone puts Gibbs in the same territory as Bijan Robinson as a fantasy asset.
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
2024 gave us a hint of what De’Von Achane could be as a full-time player in both real life and in fantasy. In 2025, that vision was fully realized.
Achane set career-highs as a rusher, logging 238 carries for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns while also maintaining his role as a receiving weapon for the Miami Dolphins (85 targets, 67 receptions, 488 receiving yards, and four touchdowns). Achane averaged a career-best 20.2 PPR points per game, his third straight season with at least 17.0 PPR points per contest.
Miami’s offensive line started to gel toward the end of the season, but there are legitimate questions about the Dolphins’ offense in 2026. The team is expected to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, which hurts Achane’s receiving ability. There could be even more change if Miami opts to fire head coach Mike McDaniel as well.
Still, Achane is a three-down weapon with the explosiveness to take any touch to the house. He should continue to ascend as a fantasy asset in 2026.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills
It was fair to question if the massive spike in touchdowns that James Cook had in 2024 (16 rushing and two receiving) was a blip on the radar or a sustainable thing after he scored just nine total touchdowns in his first two seasons. However, Cook showed in 2025 that his role in the offense had staying power.
Cook dominated touches for the Buffalo Bills in 2025, logging career highs in carries (307) and rushing yards (1,606) with 12 touchdowns. He also maintained a solid role as a receiver, catching 33 of 40 targets for 291 yards and two scores. His 18.8 PPR points per game were also a career-high.
MORE: Bills Predicted to Select 17-TD WR in First Round of 2026 NFL Draft to Give Josh Allen a New WR1
The Bills will remain a top-end offense as long as Josh Allen is under center, which allows Cook to lead the NFL in touchdowns at any given time. However, the team also has no problem using Ty Johnson on third downs and has Ray Davis in the wings as a running back.
Still, it is hard to argue that Cook doesn’t have a place as a top-five running back in fantasy given his volume on a run-first offense that scores plenty of touchdowns each season.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts’ running back Jonathan Taylor reminded us of his unbelievable talent in 2025. Taylor finished as the RB3 in PPR points per game (22.3) thanks to a combination of unbelievable rushing volume (309 carries for 1,559 yards and 18 touchdowns) and an uptick in the pass-catching department (53 targets, 44 receptions, 365 yards, and two touchdowns).
Taylor had five games with three touchdowns scored and six performances that had at least 29.5 PPR points per game. Unfortunately, the veteran running back struggled to close out the season thanks to a season-ending injury to Daniel Jones.
The quarterback position is far from settled heading into next year, but the team does return four of its five starting offensive linemen. The offense should once again revolve around Taylor’s explosive rushing ability, regardless of who the team has under center.
