Breakout RB Candidates For 2026 Fantasy Football: Buy Bhayshul Tuten
John Supowitz highlights three running backs that are primed for breakout 2026 seasons in fantasy football.
We are seeing a rejuvenation of the running back position, especially its value in fantasy football. The workhorse running back, the player who anchors the offense, is making a comeback; if you are fortunate to have one of these players, they can help you to a fantasy championship.
The following three running backs have only scratched the surface of their abilities, and for 2026, they are on the verge of becoming breakout stars.
Join Our Newsletter
Trusted by 400,000+ fantasy football players. Get access to Fantasy Life's free award winning newsletter and tools, all in one step.
By registering or logging in, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Three Breakout Running Backs For 2026 Fantasy Football
Bhayshul Tuten | JAX
The Jaguars must have liked what they saw from Tuten last season, because they let their former first-round running back, Travis Etienne, sign with the Saints.
In a limited role, Tuten averaged 3.7 yards per carry and a 57.5% success rate on 83 carries.
Can the sophomore be an every-down back? Etienne had a heavy workload last season, with 296 touches in 17 games, averaging 17.4 touches per game. In Tuten’s final year at Virginia Tech, he had 206 touches in 11 games, averaging 18.7 touches per game, which comes out to 318 touches in a 17-game season.
With offensive coordinator Grant Udinski returning, we could expect the same style of offense, which loves to run the ball in the red zone. Despite not being the primary back, Tuten had 24 carries inside the 20 with 5 rushing touchdowns. Former primary back Etienne led the team with 56 carries, and we could assume Tuten takes over that volume, which leads to a boost in his fantasy football rankings given the touchdown upside.
Omarion Hampton | LAC
We only got a sneak peek of Hampton’s potential, as an injury limited him to nine games. He showed some flashes, including rushing for 128 yards on 12 carries in Week 4 against the Giants.
It will be great to see what he can do in a full season with his skill set. He has the sense to quickly find the gaps, which helped him average 2.7 yards before contact. He’s also great at breaking tackles; his 15 broken tackles were the eighth-most among running backs last season, and he was the only running back to have 9 broken tackles and play fewer than 10 games.
The offense has the potential to be exciting with Mike McDaniel as the offensive coordinator. He does a lot of interesting formations, especially with his running backs, and emphasizes gap-blocking schemes, which is why he loves running backs that can make quick cuts like Hampton.
Cam Skattebo | NYG
No rookie came into the league with more force than Skattebo last season. The 2025 third-rounder out of Arizona State made a name for himself with a powerful running style. In his final seven games last season, he averaged 2.2 yards before contact, then another 2.0 after contact. Skattebo looked like he was heading in a great direction until an ankle injury ended his season.
There is optimism that he will be ready for Week 1, and the Giants have all the confidence that he can be their workhorse because they did not select a running back in the draft or sign one in free agency.
There hasn’t been this much optimism for the upcoming Giants season in a long time. They went for the huge splash in their coaching selection by hiring longtime Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
The former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will take the same position in New York, and one of the staples of his offense is having a dual-threat running back. Skattebo finished with 22 receptions, averaging 8.6 yards per reception.
This new offensive style will benefit Skattebo and his dual-threat quarterback, Jaxson Dart, and there is potential for the Giants’ offense to become one of the league’s more lethal quarterback/running back duos.
Join Our Newsletter
Trusted by 400,000+ fantasy football players. Get access to Fantasy Life's free award winning newsletter and tools, all in one step.
By registering or logging in, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
