Fantasy Football Roundtable: Here are the running backs our Yahoo analysts believe are primed for breakouts in 2026

Running back is considered the most crucial position in fantasy football, with elite backs often going early in drafts while late-round options can provide significant value. Yahoo analysts are highlighting potential breakout candidates for 2026. Chris Allen believes Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a prime candidate to break out, citing his strong rushing success rate (49.5%) and yards after contact per attempt (3.88) on early downs.

He also has been productive in short-yardage and red-zone situations. Analyst Hayden Winks moves Rodriguez to RB36 in his draft strategy. LeQuint Allen Jr. is Jacksonville's starting running back, with Rodriguez as an early-down/goal-line option. Analyst Jonah Coleman sees Broncos RB3 Jonah Coleman as a breakout candidate due to his reliable rushing performance, passing game ability, and trust from head coach Sean Payton.

Analyst Josh Norris ranks Cam Skattebo as the Giants' unquestioned lead back, projecting him as a fantasy RB2 with a chance to become a top-12 starter if he avoids injuries.