If the first round of 2026 fantasy football drafts is defined by the elite game breakers at the top, Round 2 may ultimately decide who wins championships. Last year, Jonathan Taylor fell to Round 2, and was the single-most influential player in advancing teams to the playoffs in both redraft and best Ball.
This year’s second round is shaping up to be a running back gold mine, with plenty of candidates for “The Next Jonathan Taylor.” The talent pool features proven workhorses like De’Von Achane, Saquon Barkley, Chase Brown, and Derrick Henry, alongside potential breakout stars like Kenneth Walker and Omarion Hampton.
But which running back is the right choice?
First, I wouldn’t call any of these backs true fades. I would be happy to land any of them within the Top-18 picks. However, especially if on the clock in Early Round 2, fantasy managers will still need to make difficult decisions. The margins between these runners are much smaller than many realize, and understanding those differences could be the key to maximizing value early in your draft.
This excerpt from The Wolf’s 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Guide dives into the strengths, risks, and outlooks of some of the most important players in fantasy football. Whether you’re chasing youth and ascending talent, or betting on veteran bell-cows who continue to defy Father Time, targeting the right Round 2 running back is critical to fantasy success.
Every back featured here projects for significant volume and legitimate three-down upside, making this one of the deepest and most impactful tiers in the entire player pool. The question isn’t whether you should leave your draft with one of these studs; it’s which one deserves to be at the top of your board.
Let’s break down Which Round 2 Running Backs you should Draft vs. Fade (at cost) in 2026 Fantasy Football.
This article is just a small excerpt from The Wolf’s 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Guide, featuring 200+ player breakdowns, top draft values, busts to avoid, Penny Stock sleepers, tier-based analysis, exclusive cheat sheets, and much more, designed to help you dominate your fantasy football draft. Click the banner above to learn more and secure your copy today.
ROUND 2 RUNNING BACKS TO TARGET OR FADE
Assuming James Cook (my 7th overall player) and Ashton Jeanty (my 10th overall) are gone…
TARGET – KENNETH WALKER III, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Wolf: 11th overall (+12 vs ECR)
Kenneth Walker may have been the single biggest fantasy riser of the entire NFL offseason after signing a three-year, $43.05 million deal with the Chiefs (including $28.7 million fully guaranteed). He currently falls to the mid-or-late second round, but I rank him as a first-rounder in 2026.
In his new home, Walker explodes into my Top-12 overall. Given his mid-to-late second-round price tag, Walker will likely become a 2026 Fantasy Football staple of mine. I view him as the 2026 version of Jonathan Taylor (2025) and Saquon Barkley (2024), the Round 2 RB who breaks fantasy.
Interestingly enough, ESPN’s Nate Taylor noted, “The Chiefs are hoping Walker’s impact is similar to what happened when Saquon Barkley joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.
“Walker will be asked to lift the Chiefs’ offense more than any running back before in the Mahomes era, which began in 2018…the Chiefs have never had a feature back capable of carrying the offense at times. The Chiefs signed Walker to be that player.”
This fit could not be more perfect. Quite literally, because of the Chiefs, NFL defenses have evolved to feature more two-high safeties to take away explosives and encourage teams to run.
In fact, throughout Mahomes’ era, Chiefs running backs have faced the lightest boxes in the league (35.9% of attempts).
Yet, by rolling out complete nobodies at RB for the better part of a decade, the Chiefs have never made teams pay.
Despite the favorable set up and a well-above average line, Kansas City ranks dead-last in explosive run rate since 2018. Kansas City was also the only team in the NFL last season not to have a running back average 4.0 yards per carry. Pacheco and Hunt combined for only one rushing attempt that gained more than 20 yards, which also ranked last. Over the last two seasons, the Chiefs have three total 20+ yard runs.
For comparison, Walker alone has 15 runs of 20+ yards over the past two seasons. In that span, the Chiefs have ranked dead last in missed tackles forced per carry (.09); Walker has forced more missed tackles per carry than any RB during that time (0.28 in 2025, 0.31 in 2024).
Since joining the NFL, more than 12% of Walker’s rushes have gone for at least 10 yards, including 15% of his carries in 2025. Only De’Von Achane (16.8%) and Blake Corum (15.9%) were more explosive than Walker on the ground.
Last season, Walker forced a missed tackle on 30.2% of his touches, the third-highest rate among running backs in the NFL who had a minimum of 150 touches, according to Next Gen Stats, and was fourth in percentage of runs that gained 10 or more yards.
When provided 1+ yard before contact, Walker is especially dangerous.
Per Jacob Gibbs: Over his four-year career, Walker ranks 4th in YPC (7.4) when provided 1+ yard before contact, trailing only De’Von Achane, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Derrick Henry in that span:
On this same list, out of 33 qualifiers, Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco rank 33rd and 32nd respectively.
Last year, Walker trailed only Achane in explosive run rate when provided 1+ yard. With a mauling interior line, the Chiefs should undoubtedly help provide that bit of space far more regularly:
In short, Walker can punish the light boxes and maximize the Chiefs’ impressive line play in ways Hunt and Pacheco never could. Walker can also transform how defenses must play the Chiefs. I expect multiple 50+ yard TD runs here, and for Walker’s 4.38 forty (97th percentile) & 97th size-adjusted speed score to be fully on display.
GM Brett Veach cited big plays and maximizing the Chiefs’ line play as the main attraction for Walker’s massive deal, noting: “When he squares his shoulders, he runs with power [and] runs with violence but also has some elusive qualities. When you combine a back like that, and you have as talented an inside three [offensive linemen] as you do, it would make sense to want to go out there and impose your will on other teams’ defensive lines.
“Certainly, we want to get more explosive in the run game,” Veach said. “It would take a lot of pressure off of Pat.”
Mahomes is also a huge fan. In fact, throughout the Seahawks’ playoff run, he was texting Veach, “Did you see that play?” ” “If we could get Walker in our offense…”
How could anyone not be impressed? Those final four games without Zach Charbonnet illuminated Walker’s true ceiling:
- 20 touches (4 rec), 133 YFS, 17.3 FPs (RB10)
- 22 touches (3 rec), 145 YFS, 3 TDs, 35.5 FPs (RB1)
- 23 touches (4 rec), 111 YFS, 1 TD, 21.1 FPs (RB1)
- 29 touches (2 rec), 161 YFS, 18.1 FPs (RB1)
Over those three playoff games, Walker produced 417 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.
In the Super Bowl, Walker kept evading the Patriots. He became the first player with more than 100 scrimmage yards in the first half of a Super Bowl since former Rams receiver Torry Holt did it in Super Bowl XXXIV, and ultimately won Super Bowl MVP – the first running back since Terrell Davis in 1998 to win the award.
Walker proved what he could do as the guy, and the Chiefs fully intend to feature him as such. Yet, where his upside could truly skyrocket is as a pass-catcher.
Though Walker might not leap to mind as an elite receiver, he has posted some solid metrics when used in the passing game. In fact, in 2024, he racked up 46 catches and 53 targets in just 11 games! He was on pace for 82 targets and 71 receptions.
Across his past three years, Walker has racked up 1.44, 1.33, and 1.30 YPRR. This is Top-6 RB type of output dating back to 2011, per the FantasyLife Podcast.
According to ESPN, “Even this early in the process, the Chiefs believe that Walker’s ability as a pass catcher might be an under-appreciated skill. In Wednesday practice, the Chiefs ran a sophisticated screen pass. When Walker caught the ball, his speed and vision in the open field led Smith and Humphrey to have the same reaction: “Wooooo!”
During the Mahomes Era (since 108), the Chiefs’ primary running backs, as a group, have averaged around 85 targets per game. Over that span, only once has a running back not averaged or paced for at least 50 targets. The lead RB has averaged just over 57 targets per season.
Throwing to the RB has always been a staple of the Andy Reid offense. It helped a nobody like Jerick McKinnon (71 targets) become a complete fantasy juggernaut!
In general, Walker has proven up to the task when given a Bell Cow workload. He has played 60%+ snaps in 26 games, and hit double-digits in 25 of those. He averages 17.5 PPR FPPG across that sample, too. Charbonnet proved too good to keep off the field and was a perfect complement, but Walker certainly is capable of the Bell Cow duties the Chiefs’ will likely ask of him given the financial commitment and coachspeak.
Based on early Training Camp, Walker’s involvement in the passing game will be a 2026 Staple:
Walker isn’t without some warts, though. He’s always been a bit boom-busty as a runner – 19% of Walker’s rushes went for zero or negative yards last season, the 15th highest rate in the league among RBs with at least 100 carries.
Across his four year career, Walker is 50th in rush success rate out of 56 qualifiers. He dances a bit too much in the hole, and doesn’t always take the easy run.
However, Chiefs’ OC Eric Bieniemy, who has a rich history of revitalizing run games, could really help improve this. Walker has already noted how hard Bieniemy stresses the little details, like footwork, getting uphill, and taking the small wins instead of always shooting for the home run.
“I think I can get a lot better, I just want to be a better player. The first night we met he (Bienemy) was talking about stuff that I did wrong on the field and talking about everything I need to be detailed at.”
Just last year under Bienemy, D’Andre Swift experienced a massive jump in his ability to gain positive yards over expectation. Swift went from 29% and dead last in 2024 all the way to 49%, first in the league, and has credited Bienemy and Johnson’s hard coaching as a major reason.
Even a slight improvement for Walker would be massive.
Beyond improving his boom-bust style, Walker has struggled with staying healthy in his career, and has rarely been a true featured RB. Last year marked the first time in his four-year career that Walker started every game. Over his first three seasons with the Seahawks, Walker had missed a combined 10 games with various injuries — a strained calf, a strained oblique and a sprained ankle.
In 2024, he missed five games, experiencing a version of all three injuries, before a left high ankle sprain ended his season in late December as the Seahawks tried to make a playoff run.
Due to a mixture of injuries and the timeshare with Charbonnet, Walker has never exceeded 228 carries in a single season. In his career, including the playoffs, Walker has carried the ball 20 or more times in a game 10 times. And before his 27-carry Super Bowl performance in February, he had not done so since Nov. 3, 2024.
Thus, both the Chiefs and fantasy owners are making a somewhat risky bet on Walker, but it’s one I expect to pay off huge. When he’s available, Walker will absolutely feast within this offense. He’s so explosive, has untapped receiving upside, and with Mahomes plus a high-end offensive line, this offense affords RBs more advantageous space than nearly any other. Walker is the Round 2 League-Winner of 2026.
TARGET – CHASE BROWN, CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Wolf: 12 overall (+2 vs ECR, +3 ADP)
Chase Brown’s price has now risen to mid-round 2… and it still remains too cheap. Between the three-down skill set, track record with Burrow, and a pristine role in a Top-3 offense, Brown truly should be a first-rounder in every draft.
Brown is inarguably a true RB1 any time he shares the field with Joe Burrow. He took over as the clear starter in Week 9 of 2024. In that span, he’s started 15 total games with Burrow. In those contests, Brown averages 20.9 PPR FPPG, which would’ve ranked as the RB5, just ahead of De’Von Achane.
In those 15 starts with Burrow, Brown has finished as a Top-12 RB a whopping 11 times (73%), while never posting below 13 PPR FPs. He’s topped 24 FPs in 6 of those starts, too!
Interestingly, Brown’s sheer volume wasn’t amazing, as he hit 20+ touches just six times on the year. Yet, in those games with Burrow, his expected FPs are over 20 FPs, which is CMC-level. That’s because of how high value those touches are, with a ton of work in the Red Zone and in the passing game.
We did see Brown’s snap share drop from the absurd 85% he had posted during his 2024 starts, but his 67% snap share still ranked RB9, and his 71.6% opportunity share was RB6. He was the RB4 in targets (88) and routes (375), plus the RB5 in receptions (69).
Additionally, on a team stacked with weapons, Brown also saw 42% of the red zone touches and 43% of the touches inside the 10. The usage is elite.
Samaje Perine was annoyingly involved and he returned this offseason. If the Early Preseason is any indication, Perine may be annoyingly involved once more:
Still, the Bengals made no other additions, so I expect Brown to remain a high-value, high-touch RB in Vegas’ fifth-highest projected offense.
Of course, the added risk of being so Burrow-dependent has to be stated, but Joe Flacco’s presence should raise the floor even here. Brown averaged 16.6 FPPG with Flacco, and was Top-12 in half of his six starts. He even tallied a 14 (!) target week in Chicago with Flacco under center!
Plus, Burrow is calling for even more Chase Brown in 2026:
“He does everything. He can protect. He trains as a receiver all off season and you wouldn’t know he was a running back.. You don’t have to take him off the field, you can build packages for him in different places.
““..obviously we’re going to try to get the ball in number one’s hands as many times as we can, but I think a close second is Chase Brown just because of how explosive he is and the things that he can do with the ball in his hand.”
Cum.
Thus, Brown is among my favorite Round 2 picks, and I am happy to take him in Round 1, whether he’s beefing up a stable in an RB-RB start or providing a high-end RB1 to a Round 1 Unicorn WR stab. He actually falls to the Top of Round 3 in ESPN – insane!
BUYING AT COST: DE’VON ACHANE, MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Wolf: 14 overall (-1 ADP, +4 vs ECR)
I’ve been a huge De’Von Achane fan his entire career, but was prepared to fade him in 2026 due to environmental concerns. I’ll still outline those below, but I am feeling far less worried after Preseason Week 1.
Achane is historically explosive, and that’s not hyperbole.
He just finished as the RB1 with 34 explosive touches. He and Derrick Henry were the only RBs with 20+ rushes of 15+ yards. Per FantasyPoints Advanced Rushing Data, among RBs with 60+ carries, Achane ranked 1st in Explosive run rate (10.1%), 1st in explosive yards (622), and 1st in percentage of yards from explosive runs (46.1%).
Despite ranking just 14th in total carries (238), Achane ranked 1st in 10+ yard runs (40), and 2nd in 20+ yard (13), 30+ yard (6), and 40+ yard (4) runs.
But this isn’t just a 1-year thing. Dating back to 2000, Achane ranks 4th all time in explosive touches through three seasons, on a list full of elite names:
Not only is he incredibly explosive, but Achane is a true Bell Cow too. He accounted for 45.1% of Miami’s touches (5th), 36.1% of their total yards (2nd), and 34.4% of their TDs (7th). Achane is an elite pass-catcher, ranking 2nd in target share in back-to-back years, while finishing 1st (78) and 6th (67) in receptions, plus 2nd (87) and 5th (85) in targets during that span.
Despite the heavy volume and a smaller stature, Achane has been incredibly durable. He has played in 33-of-34 games the past two years. The only game he missed was a meaningless Week 18 game last year. If the Dolphins’ season wasn’t toast, Achane likely would’ve been out there.
Achane’s incredible receiving usage and explosivity has led to remarkable consistency. Last season, Achane was Top-12 in 69% of his games and never dipped below the RB17 or 12.8 PPR FPs in Weekly Output.
This all sounds like a surefire Top-5 RB and Top-8 overall pick, no?
Had Achane been in the exact same situation, then yes. He would be a surefire first-rounder. However, perhaps no one experienced bigger “Environment Downgrades” than Achane this offseason for 3 main reasons.
1) Mike McDaniel is gone. We’ve gone on at length at how McDaniel has been among the most elite run game schemers in the game across multiple stops. Even if his offenses aren’t the highest in total play volume, he maximizes the efficiency with targets and run concepts that get his explosive playmakers in space. Losing his play design and bell-cow leaning tendencies hurts BIG time.
Dropping from McDaniel to Bobby Slowik is a MAJOR downgrade.
Granted, Slowik was being hailed as the Second Coming after his first season calling plays. CJ Stroud shocked as a rookie under Slowik, and the Texans leapt to 12th in yards and 13th in points after ranking 31st and 30th in those respective categories in 2022.
Unfortunately, Year 2 was a major step back for both Stroud and the Texans as a whole. They dropped to 22nd in yards and 19th in points, while Stroud looked dramatically worse. Slowik was unceremoniously let go, and he ultimately latched on with Miami as QB coach.
On the positive front, at least Slowik’s hire brings some continuity, even if it’s likely a steep decline from McDaniel. Additionally, Joe Mixon was the RB9 in FPPG (17.2) under Slowik in 2024 and averaged 21.2 opportunities per game. Through the first 13 games, Mixon was actually 2nd in FPPG (19.9) behind only Saquon Barkley.
2) Tua is gone: Tua Tagovailoa owns the highest RB target rate in the NFL over the past two years.
Obviously, Achane played a major role in that checkdown rate, but losing Tua definitely doesn’t help.
Even with McDaniel calling plays, Achane’s on-off splits with or without Tua are DRASTIC.
The drop in target and reception paces (89 tgt, 73 rec vs 42 tgts, 36 rec) is particularly drastic.
His season-long pace in these splits:
- With Tua: 324 touches (87 receptions, 103 targets), 1895 YFS, 15 TDs, 366 FPs, 21.55 FPPG
- Without Tua: 248 touches (36 receptions, 42 targets), 1168 YFS, 4 TDs, 178 FPs, 10.5 FPs
Quite literally, Achane’s production has more-than doubled with Tua on the field.
I actually am intrigued by new QB Malik Willis and think he’ll be a fun fantasy QB. Yet, we can’t completely ignore that he has posted a league-low 10.8% RB target rate over the last three seasons.
Indeed, it’s a tiny sample (94 attempts), and 86% of those throws were either designed or first-read targets, and those should definitely come Achane’s way with no other viable weapons in Miami.
But Malik Willis is also hyper-mobile, and we know this can often ding RB receiving production when QBs take off instead of checking-down.
3) God awful supporting cast. Outside of Achane, this Miami Weapon’s cabinet is the worst in the league. After trading Jaylen Waddle, their best vertical threat is Greg Dulcich, while their starting WRs project to be Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert. Good LORD.
I’m honestly surprised the Dolphins rank 4th lowest in Vegas’ implied points (19.03), because I’d rank them 2nd to even dead-last myself.
Regardless, who is going to stretch this field? Who will take pressure off Achane?
Sure, Achane will now get as much volume as he can handle, but it will be within one of the most disgusting offenses the league has showcased in quite some time.
Between the massive play-caller downgrade, to the likely QB downgrade, and then the overall dumpster fire offense, I think Achane is unfortunately going to take a step back in 2026 Fantasy. I could be wrong, and he may just be that good. His volume should remain elite too. I just can’t get over how atrocious this set-up is.
8/12 + 8/16 Update:
While the environmental concerns remain real (no Tua, no other threats), this volume nugget for Achane is highly encouraging. At least the new staff recognizes what they have, and are prepared to force-feed him.
Hafley was likely exaggerating, but he suggested “40-45 touches” would be the amount he’d like to get Achane each week.
We knew Achane would be the offensive centerpiece already, though. More encouraging is how competent the Dolphins, and especially Willis, looked to kick-off the preseason.
Malik Willis has gotten rave reviews all of Training Camp, and he showcased why during his 14 plays in Preseason Week 1. Willis went 4-of-5 for 43 yards, and kept the chains moving throughout his drives.
Achane was indeed the centerpiece. He touched the ball on 7 of the 14 plays, accruing 39 yards and 1 TD in the process. He was the only RB to touch the field with the starters.
With the Dolphins looking solid-enough, I have sent Achane screaming back up my 2026 Fantasy Football rankings to 14th overall, leapfrogging even Justin Jefferson. I still think he could fall-back from last year, but Achane is talented enough, and Willis is showcasing enough upside, that I think any regression won’t be nearly as steep as I had originally feared. I am no longer fading Achane.
SOFT FADE: OMARION HAMPTON, LA CHARGERS
The Wolf: 16 overall (+2 vs ECR, Even with ADP)
I am super high on the Mike McDaniel and Chargers marriage. While Justin Herbert and the entire offense will greatly benefit from McDaniel’s creativity, his influence will be most felt in the backfield.
Over the past 3 seasons, the Dolphins rank 2nd in Backfield Expected FPs (Volume) at 26.2, trailing only Kyle Shanahan, and finished fourth in points from RB runs, behind only Detroit (Gibbs), Baltimore (Henry + Lamar), and Atlanta (Bijan). They were third in points per RB run, behind the Lions and 49ers. This was with a mediocre line and overall offense – the Lions were 1st in total points, the 49ers fourth, the Dolphins 11th.
In total, Mike McDaniel-led offenses have ranked top-five in the percentage of total non-QB Fantasy points (PPR) that came from the RB position in each of the past three seasons:
- 2025 – 3rd
- 2024 – 5th
- 2023 – 1st
That 2023 season was particularly impressive, as both Mostert and Achane were Top-5 RBs in FPPG! This is the only time in the modern era (25+ years) this has ever happened, and only one other time did a backfield produce two RBs even in the Top-10 (2017 Saints).
Moreover, McDaniels loves giving his top-RB the rock at the GL. For the past three seasons, McDaniel’s offense has ranked Top-5 in percentage of offensive TDs his top-RB accounts for. Raheem Mostert’s 37% TD Share in 2023 (RB4), De’Von Achane 35% (RB3) and 32% (RB5). Mostert led the NFL in TDs in the 2023 season (18). I sneaky love betting Hampton +2500 to lead RBs in rushing TDs.
Achane obviously had influence, but McDaniel has also loved throwing to his RBs. His RB target share over the past three seasons: 24.7% (1st), 23.1% (1st), 22.8% (5th). McDaniel ranks 3rd in designed targets per game among active playcallers (4.29, tied with Liam Coen and behind only Matt LaFleur and Andy Reid).
All of this is to paint the elite fantasy environment Omarion Hampton will be playing inside for 2026. Can he smash and maximize the amazing opportunity ahead?
Considering Hampton drew “Terrell Davis” comparisons from McDaniel, who was groomed by the Shanahan’s, I like his chances.
Hampton’s injury-plagued rookie season left a lot to be desired, but still provided plenty of flashes.
Hampton had the second-most gains of 15+ yards among this rookie class, despite only playing in nine games (including two he was severely limited). His percentage of 15+ yard touches tied Derrick Henry as the RB8.
That’s especially noteworthy because McDaniel’s offenses rank 3rd in 10+ yard run rate (14.1%) since 1999.
Don’t forget, as a prospect, Hampton ripped off a blazing 4.46 forty despite weighing a sturdy 221 lbs, while also posting elite explosion metrics in the vertical and broad jumps:
He broke out as a sophomore for Drake Maye’s Tar Heels, posting a 253-1,504-15 rushing line (5.94 YPC) and adding 29-222-1 as a receiver over 13 games. Even with Maye gone and UNC crumbling, Hampton continued to thrive as a true workhorse, recording 281-1,660-15 on the ground (5.91 YPC) with 38-373-2 receiving. He has true every-down ability.
His 138.3 rushing YPG led all Power Conference RBs and ranked as the best season of any Power Conference RB in this stacked 2025 class, and placed Hampton in some elite company, per the GOAT Scott Barrett:
When he was available, Hampton showed just that and was trusted to shoulder the load. He had a 63% snap rate for the year, but before getting hurt in Week 5, Hampton was truly starting to ascend. In Weeks 3 and 4, Hampton was fresh off 80% and 88% snap shares and had ripped off 24.9 (RB4) and 27.5 (RB7) performances.
If you remove the Week 5 injury and his first two games back when Hampton was getting back to speed, he averaged 72% snaps and, more impressively, a 60% route rate in his healthy games. Only 11 RBs hit those thresholds for the 2025 season, and they finished as the RB1, RB2, RB2, RB4, RB5, RB7, RB9, RB11, RB12, RB14, and RB16. Not a bad floor if Hampton can maintain similar usage!
Then consider that the line was absolutely abysmal, truly the worst in the league. Stalwart LT RaShawn Slater is perhaps the best run-blocking tackle in the game, and he was lost before the season even began. Joe Alt also went down in Week 9, and the line dropped to the league-worst overnight.
With Alt and Slater back, as well as some interior beef (especially new center Tyler Biadasz and mauling Round 2 guard Jake Slaughter), this Chargers’ offensive line is expected to rank Top-10 in 2026 according to the composite OL rankings.
Ultimately, Hampton is an explosive three-down talent, playing for the best run-game schemer (especially at generating explosives), and running alongside a Top-12 Line and Top-7 QB?
The math is easy. Even though I am also super-high on Keaton Mitchell, Hampton is a smash in Round 2 who I can easily see leading the NFL in rushing TDs and finishing as a sure-fire Top-8 overall pick in 2027 Drafts.
OMARION HAMPTON TRAINING CAMP UPDATE:
A phrase you never want to hear to describe your star fantasy RB: “Hot Hand.”
We already know McDaniel facilitated a backfield that featured the RB3 and RB4 in FPPG (2023 Dolphins). I was banking on this being a committee, somewhat.
If Vidal, who really did impress as a starter last year, is also going to sneak in for some work, this could get ugly. But McDaniel is also known for BS comments and shenanigans, promising involvement from Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright while handing Achane one of the league’s most secure workloads (RB4 finish).
Still, Hampton is no Achane (yet). Moreover, Keaton and Vidal are far stiffer competition than Gordon and Wright. Mitchell is also the only one hand-picked by McDaniel (via a Wanted Poster, no less!)
As such, I bumped Hampton down a couple of spots, below De’Von Achane and just ahead of Derrick Henry, who both rose up the rankings based on some promising camp buzz.
Hampton is now my 16th overall player. Granted, McDaniel’s run-scheme creates limitless upside, and Hampton is a truly explosive talent, so I do not want to overreact. Still, the other RBs in this range have zero workload questions.
If anything, though, use this as a reminder to never take Hampton over Ken Walker or Chase Brown, who he routinely goes ahead of. If you prefer safety, Achane and Henry are absolutely higher-floor plays at RB in Round 2, who I now side with. But Hampton’s ceiling is admittedly higher than just about any RB in fantasy.
Hey! Don’t forget about the old guys…
SOFT FADE: SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Wolf: 17 overall (-3 ADP, -1 ECR)
Following a 2024 full of career-highs in rushing attempts (345), yards (2005), rushing TDs (13), and Half-PPR FPs (340), Barkley seemed due for a 2025 regression. This was especially true with the “Curse of 400” looming after he accrued 482 touches.
Unfortunately, alongside the whole Eagles’ offense, Barkley did indeed slide back, and probably more than most expected. With just 215.8 FPs (-125 from 2024!), Barkley dropped from RB1 to RB14. Both his rushing yards (2005 → 1140) and rushing TDs (13—>7) were nearly cut in half, while Barkley shouldered 65 fewer carries. He plummeted from the RB4 in FPs over Expectation to the RB66.
Barkley’s efficiency fell in just about every metric, too:
| Stat | 2024 | 2025 | Difference |
| YPC | 5.8 (RB2) | 4.1 (RB33) | -1.7 |
| Yards per Touch | 6.0 (RB4) | 4.5 (RB41) | -1.5 |
| Breakaway Runs | 25 (RB1) | 13 (RB9) | -12 |
| Explosive Yards | 835 (RB1) | 344 (RB10) | -491 |
| Yards after Contact | 780 (RB2) | 548 (RB13) | -232 |
Indeed, much of this stems from a far worse environment. 2025 OC Kevin Petullo was an absolute disaster.
The Eagles fell from 26.7 Points (#6) per game to 22.1 (#19), and from 366 yards (8th) to 311 yards per game (#24). The pie was both smaller and less tasty due to some horrific play calling. The offensive line wasn’t quite as dominant, as Eagles RBs averaged 1.45 (7th) yards *before* contact per carry in 2025 compared to 2.25 (1st) in 2024. They were still plenty solid, though.
Ultimately, Saquon still saw strong usage. He had 14 games with 70%+ of snaps, trailing only CMC and Taylor. He had 9 games with 20+ touches, which was down from 13 in 2024. Concerningly, Saquon averaged just 13.6 FPPG in these games in 2025, after posting a whopping 21.4 FPPG in 20+ touches games the year prior. Only Woody Marks and Bucky Irving averaged fewer points in 20+ touch games than Barkley.
In 2024, Barkley finished as a Top-5 RB in 41% of his games (7 total), including 5 games of 31+ FPs, while scoring as an RB1 a whopping 62% of the time. In 2025, he hit the Top-5 RBs just once, and was a Top-12 RB only 5 times (31%)
Despite the decline, I still believe in Barkley’s rebound potential, but I am approaching it cautiously. Largely, that’s because of Tank Bigsby.
Whether it was the line, the offense as a whole under Petullo, or some other factor that explains Barkley’s decline, it didn’t affect Bigsby at all. Indeed, the sample sizes were smaller, but he’s been one of the best tackle breakers that the position has to offer over the past two seasons.
Sure, a lot of those numbers are from 2024, but Bigsby’s time in Philly sure seemed to also indicate the 24-year-old bulldozer is a problem with the football in his hands.
Small-sample be damned: Bigsby averaged a whopping 5.9 yards per carry behind the same offensive line, within the same shitty Petullo offense, that held Saquon to 4.1! That was largely due to Bigsby’s impressive Explosive Run Rate when provided space (1 or more yard before contact):
In Early Training Camp, Bigsby has been rotating in far more than ever before. He reportedly got 50% of the carries with the first-team offense today, per @EliotShorrParks. “Bigsby had an eye-opening practice. He looks fast, he looks elusive and he got 50% of the carries today with the 1st-team offense.”
On the positive end, I am just blindly buying into new OC Sean Mannion.
Mannion was groomed under LaFleur in Green Bay, but spent time as a back-up QB for McVay’s Rams. As such, the Philly Inquirer believes the Eagles offense “is expected to have some Shanahan/McVay influences.” At minimum, the players seem to like Mannion. Left tackle Jordan Mailata gushed: “If I were to lock the three smartest people in the building in a room, Sean would be there by himself.” Mailata also referred to him as an “evil genius” and a “wizard.”
Mannion suggested his offense will feature more under-center work, more motion, and more play-action. All of those can be major efficiency unlocks. The team is “expected to install more zone-blocking concepts that originate from the Shanahan tree offensive philosophies.” When well-executed, this type of scheme can make mediocre RBs into beasts, and talented backs (like Saquon) into true fantasy Gods.
Sirianni believes running back Saquon Barkley will “be exceptional” in the new offensive system and is “picturing him breaking a big run off that.” If well-done, Barkley should absolutely find more space a year after the Eagles recorded era-lows in yards per rush (4.2), average yards before contact (1.52), total rush EPA (-24.81) and rush success rate (39.1).
Barkley has also been more involved as a pass-catcher in OTAs, including hauling in some deep TDs. Don’t forget, as a rookie, Barkley posted 121 targets, 91 receptions, 721 receiving yards & 4 TDs. Moreover, The Athletic speculates Mannion sees shades of ex-teammate Todd Gurley, who played together in 2017 & 2018. During those 29 games, Gurley averaged:
Yes, that’s a full-season pace of 386 touches (72 rec), 2300 YFS, 24 TDs, 26.6 FPPG. For context, Barkley averaged 22.2 FPPG during his league-winning 2024 season, and CMC is the only RB to beat Gurley’s average over the past 9 seasons.
Maybe I’m just forever chasing the high of those Todd Gurley years, but any semblance of some connective tissue back to that feeling… and I’ll chase it. Forever. Especially with a versatile back like Saquon, who’s capable of Gurley-esque numbers.
The environment should be solid if Mannion isn’t a disaster. Vegas has Philly projected for the 12th most total points (23.9). More importantly, the offensive line remains beastly, and I ranked them as the clear No.2 line in 2026 Offensive Line Composite grades. No source ranked them outside the Top-5, and they are in the green top-to-bottom, especially at the tackle spots.
After losing AJ Brown, the Eagles offense vacates a significant mouth. Yes, I fully buy into Devonta Smith’s ascension, and think he’ll command the largest portion. Saquon is fully capable of becoming a healthy mouth himself.
Thus, if Mannion can help this offense approach 2024 levels of efficiency, Barkley could find a nice middle ground between his record-setting season and last year’s disappointment. If Mannion turns out to be the next McVay Wunderkind, then maybe just maybe Barkley sniffs that Top-3 overall with a Gurley-inspired explosion. Bigsby’s presence could present a major thorn, though, so between last year’s decline in efficiency and the risk of more shared backfield work, Barkley has fallen below a few younger, more explosive talents.
I truly have minimal issues with Barkley, but I have him ranked 3 spots below where he goes, including behind Ken Walker and Chase Brown, who typically go after him. As such, I am not landing Barkley much, making him more of a fade than I anticipated.
BUYING AT COST: DERRICK HENRY, BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Wolf: 18 overall (+1 ADP)
The 32-year-old Henry remains a complete marvel. Every year, we’ll question if the Fantasy Grim Reaper will finally get him, and Henry will continue stiff-arming Father Time into the dirt forever, it seems.
The Henry + Ravens math has been incredibly easy: one of the run-heaviest teams adds the biggest steam roller in the league. Ultimately, Henry slightly fell off from his career-best 328 Half PPR FPs in 2024, but he still finished as the RB7 in PPR (285, 16.8 FPPG) and Half-PPR (270.5, 16.4). He’s been RB8 or better in 6 of his last 7 seasons, including Top-5 in FPPG for 5-of-7.
However, Henry’s consistency dropped a bit compared to 2024. Tractorcito was a Top-24 RB in 88% of his games in 2024, and Top-12 in 53%; he had just 1 game below 10 FPs.
In 2025, he fell to 41% Top-12 and 70% Top-24, with nearly 30% of his games outside the Top-24 RBs. He had 3 games under double-digit FPs, and had some stretches where he looked truly questionable.
Yet, by season’s end, Henry still ranked 2nd in rushing yards (1595) and 2nd in Rushing TDs (16), while averaging the 3rd-highest YPC in the league (5.2 YPC). He had his highest single-game FPs as a Raven too, with 45.8 FPs in championships, his third-highest single-week total of all time.
The advanced peripherals look solid, too. Henry trailed only De’Von Achane in explosive runs (21), and was one of only 2 RBs to hit 20+ explosive runs on the year. Henry achieved this despite facing the most average defenders in the box (7.0) of any RB, while ranking 2nd in “stacked front carry rate” at 23.8%. He still “has it” and seemingly always will until he decides to lace up the cleats.
Henry also accounted for a league-high 64% of his team’s touches inside the 10 yard line last year, up from 52% in 2024. Henry has effectively sliced nearly half of Lamar’s career red zone rushes & scores in half.
However, Henry was a bit Lamar-dependent. He posted a 9.0% explosive run rate in Lamar Jackson’s starts, which would’ve ranked 2nd in the league. However, without Lamar, he ranked just 32nd of 33 RBs with a 2.1% rate. Interestingly, he still averaged more FPPG without Lamar because his Week 17 explosion (45.8 FPs) came without Lamar.
Losing Todd Monken could sting more than people realize, as Monken leads every playcaller in the NFL by both adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A) in the pass game and YPC in the run game over the past five years. Yes, having Henry and Lamar helps raise any YPC, but even Gus Edwards posted a career best 810 yards & 13 TDs (RB19 in Half) under Monken.
Ideally, new OC Declan Doyle, a Ben Johnson protege, will live up to the hype. Zay Flowers calls Doyle a “genius,” while Lamar Jackson says he’s “mind-blowing.” We know Johnson consistently ranked in the Top-10 in backfield xFP, with high-rates of play-action and motion to keep defenses on their toes. In fact, Among 44 qualifying playcallers over the past five seasons, Johnson (29.4) and Sean Payton (23.6) ranks 2nd best by total backfield XFP/G (total volume or the average amount of fantasy points expected from the whole backfield’s usage, weighted heavily in favor of goal-line touches and backfield targets).
The offensive systems Doyle has previously coached within used their RBs often as pass-catchers, which seems to be playing out in early practices. The Ravens beat has noted that throws to RBs have appeared as a bigger part of the offense this summer, as “both Henry and fifth-round rookie Adam Randall were very active as receiving threats coming out of the backfield on screens.”
Henry has been a top-4 RB by per-route efficiency since 2021 (1.71 YPRR). Over the same span, he easily leads all RBs in YPT (8.40) and depth-adjusted yards per target over expectation (+2.42).
Fresh off a career-low in receptions (15) and receiving yards (150), more receiving usage could spike Henry’s fantasy upside to new heights, even in his age 32 season.
According to Early Camp Reports, getting Henry in space has been a fixture. The team also is reportedly locking him in for his usual massive workload:
The idea of Henry getting into space more often through perimeter runs and more passing-game usage is amazing. Even just slight bumps would be huge for one of the most dangerous RBs once he has a head of steam. Love that this creative run-schemer (3rd-best rushing attack in 2025) is scheming more unique looks for Henry.
Even if not, Henry is a freak of nature who seemingly can’t be stopped by Father Time. The Ravens project for the fifth most points per game (25.93), and the over/under is at 11.5 games. Since joining the Ravens, Henry has averaged 20.72 FPPG in wins versus 14.96 in losses, so a winning squad only helps him out.
Ultimately, betting on an aging, two-down RB is a bad process, and Henry should be a classic “get out a year early than a year late,” but he is also a Cyborg Human built to be the outlier of outliers. Since this RB crop is stacked, I don’t land a ton of Henry, as I go Ken Walker, Chase Brown, and Omarion Hampton clearly over Henry. But I am never upset if I land The Big Dog in the middle-to-end of Round 2 when those guys are scooped. If the receiving role looks legit in Training Camp, I may need to bump him into Round 1 as well.
Summary: Which Round 2 Running Backs to Draft and Fade in 2026 Fantasy?
Ultimately, I like all of these guys, but love a few more than the others. I am happy to land any of these six RBs in Round 2, as part of my desire to start RB-RB in the majority of my drafts (the Bell-Cow Breeding strategy is covered in my 2026 Draft Guide)
I rank these Round 2 RBs:
- Ken Walker (KC)
- Chase Brown (CIN)
- De’Von Achane (MIA)
- Omarion Hampton (LAC)
- Saquon Barkley (PHI)
- Derrick Henry (BAL)
Consequently, I am landing a lot of Walker and Chase Brown, who I have significantly above ADP. They represent my top-two targets. If I had to pick only one of these guys to have a Jonathan Taylor level of impact, it would be Walker, despite him carrying the highest injury risk.
Given that Saquon Barkley tops most Round 2 RB Lists, he’s the one I am fading the most. I still definitely mix some Saquon into my Best Ball drafts, and see a ton of upside if Sean Mannion pans out as well as the hype suggests. Still, between the advancing age, declining efficiency, and a potential greater role for Tank Bigsby, Barkley represents the greatest risk to me.
Hampton is a soft-fade, but only if Walker, Chase Brown, or Achane are on the board. The Mike McDaniel offense is an absolute gold mine for RBs, but I do think Keaton Mitchell will be heavily involved, and McDaniel even suggested Vidal will be a factor. We’ve seen McDaniel coach up two Top-5 RBs in FPPG within the same backfield (2023 Dolphins), so I’m not everly concerned, and Hampton probably has the highest-ceiling if everything pans out.
Ultimately, all of these RBs have a ton of upside, and remain phenomenal Round 2 Investments. The drop-off is quite steep after Henry, so if any of these six are available to you in Round 2, pounce (especially if it’s Ken Walker).
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