The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2026 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When it comes to taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth. Today it’s the second group of NFC running back rooms. Teams appear in ascending order.
#8 Chicago Bears
On the Roster: D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, Roschon Johnson, Brittain Brown, Deion Hankins, and Coleman Bennett
About: I questioned the Bears’ backfield in 2025 with seemingly little depth behind Swift. But Monangai, a Seventh-Round pick, turned out to be a great compliment. The pair rushed for more than 1,800 yards and added 14 touchdowns for the playoff-bound Bears. Swift is the backfield leader, finishing as RB15 a year ago, but it’s a tandem effort. There’s not great depth behind them, with Johnson having proven little since being a Third-Round pick. But it’s hard to question the Bears running it back with this duo after how successful they were in 2025.
#7 Philadelphia Eagles
On the Roster: Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Dameon Pierce, and Carson Steele
About: In a down year, Barkley finished as RB14 in 2025. The year prior, he was the Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for more than 2,000 yards. Behind him, the team has a couple of capable backups in Bigsby and Pierce, with role players in Shipley and Steele. It’s a good unit that might even be a little underrated and a little low on this list. I think there’s still something of a fall off if Barkley misses time, so I have them here. But the Eagles’ backfield is solid.
#6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On the Roster: Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, Sean Tucker, and Josh Williams
About: The Buccaneers lost Rachaad White this offseason, but they brought back Tucker, the best RB3 in the NFL, and added Gainwell. All Gainwell did was finish as RB16 for the Steelers in 2025. That gives this backfield plenty of pop behind Irving, who was limited to 10 games in 2025 and still finished as RB34. I like this group, and I like their potential to produce two viable starters for fantasy.
#5 New Orleans Saints
On the Roster: Travis Etienne, Jr., Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, Audric Estime, Ty Chandler, and C.J. Donaldson
About: The Saints made a huge splash this offseason by signing Jacksonville Jaguars’ starter Etienne to a big-money free agent contract. Etienne finished as RB10 for the playoff-bound Jaguars in 2025. He gives Tyler Shough a weapon on the ground and in the air out of the backfield. He also pairs well with Kamara, a veteran who can still put up some decent numbers and now won’t be asked to carry a full-time load. The Saints’ backfield is also loaded with prospects in Neal, Miller, Estime, and Chandler, a few of whom can be kept, adding good depth to this unit. I like what Kellen Moore is building in New Orleans.
#4 Los Angeles Rams
On the Roster: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers, Jarquez Hunter, Jordan Waters, and Dean Connors
About: I struggled a little with where to place the Rams. I like the duo of Williams and Corum, and I like their ceiling, even if Corum is a little unproven. Some might have this group a little lower, but there’s a big ceiling here. Williams continues to be an underrated star in the backfield, finishing as RB9 last year. The Rams have their sights set on the Super Bowl, and this backfield should help them get there.
#3 Detroit Lions
On the Roster: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki, Jabari Small, and Kye Robichaux
About: The Lions have one of the best running backs in the league. Gibbs is a stud who finished as RB3 in 2025. He’s great and has a ceiling that could potentially take him higher than what we’ve already seen. But he lost his great running mate, David Montgomery, this offseason. The Lions added Pacheco as decent depth and a solid No. 2 option, but it’s a fall off from Montgomery. That, combined with some questions in depth beyond those two, has dropped the Lions’ backfield a touch from where it landed in 2025.
#2 Atlanta Falcons
On the Roster: Bijan Robinson, Brian Robinson, Jr., Tyler Goodson, Nathan Carter, and Cash Jones
About: Beyond creating some potentially funny draft moments, the Falcons did a nice job of providing solid depth by signing Brian Robinson. He’s been a lead back, and last year served as a great RB2 for Christian McCaffrey. Now, he’s a great RB2 for Bijan Robinson, who was RB2 in 2025 and figures to keep it up in 2026. There is spotty depth behind the top two, but for the ceiling and security, this is a top-notch backfield unit.
#1 Arizona Cardinals
On the Roster: Jeremiyah Love, Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, Trey Benson, Bam Knight, and Corey Kiner
About: In March, I didn’t have the Cardinals winning a position group ranking for running backs on my bucket list. In fact, it’s fair to say the 2025 season was something of a disaster after Conner and Benson were injured, forcing the team to patch it together for much of the season. That likely won’t happen again in 2026, as the team added Allgeier, a great veteran, in free agency, then took Love, the premier back in the draft, at the third overall pick. Suddenly, this group has an embarrassment of riches. They could trade one of their top four backs and still probably lead this list. The Cardinals’ backfield has a great ceiling and incredible depth. It’s the backfield that stands out most in the NFC.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
