Now with Week 6 wrapped up, here is the latest rundown on the 2026 freshmen running backs and where they are on the Year 1 Zero Metric. Keep in mind the following metrics are the goals for the full season:
- 20 rushes
- 100 Rushing Yards
- 5 Catches
- 30 Receiving Yards
- 2 TDs (Rushing and Receiving Combined)
The more metrics these RBs clear, the higher the odds will be for their success in college and as an NFL prospect. Let’s get started!
5/5 Tier
Trae’shawn Brown and Solomon Baggett have put in work in recent weeks of conference play to climb into this top tier. All these players deserved to be rostered in C2C formats before the end of the season. Wiggins and Baggett at the G6 levels have not fully broken out in meaningful ways but are well noticed by me for the upside they could offer with the metrics already all cleared.
4/5 Tier
Well hello to all the new faces in my next grouping. Walton, Latimer, & Cardae Mack all put on a show to climb up into this tier. We now await five of these names to get one or two catches to clear that portion without losing yards, while Lucas and Ene have a little more ahead of them. Top 5 I am in on now. Lucas and Ene I am watching.
3/5 Tier
Our third group still offers the two strong names at the top, with Crowell and KJ Edwards just needing some receiving work to climb. I am a fan of Tonga despite the low output this past week because he was getting the lead carries in a game where none of the RBs did well, partly because Bachmeier was the focus. I am not sure about the rest for their current setups and will monitor for changes in the back half of the season.
2/5 Tier
Brian Bonner is by far the most interesting name of this tier. I just need Washington to use his skill set more. Garrison has gotten some work. The others I will watch for now but am especially interested in Thompson in case Jaylin Carter leaves in 2027. Need Thompson to do some more, though, before calling him a stash.
1/5 Tier
Derrek Cooper is the one with the most hope of this group, as Legend Bey has not gotten a lot going so far. Eka I am watching in case he jumps Tonga and similar thoughts for Duke’s Tanelus as Thompson above if Sheppard leaves in 2027.
0/5 Tier
USC has a great scheme, but I am starting to worry about their guys. I want them to earn more reps quickly. I saw Hatton Jr. and Illinois’s Barnett get some recent touches, so they seem like a possibility to climb too. Here is to hoping for some good game scripts for people in this tier.
Also pour one out for Kory Amachree of Kansas and Ryan Estrada of Minnesota. Both were fun players I thought could do well but are out for the season. Keep them on IR stashes and hope they are big news in the spring, as I thought their talent could keep them as fun exceptions on the zero rule.
