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 first group of NFC running back rooms. Teams appear in ascending order.
#16 Washington Commanders
On the Roster: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Kaytron Allen, Jeremy McNichols, Jerome Ford, and Robert Henry, Jr.
About: The Commanders’ backfield wasn’t great in 2025. But, since most of the team wasn’t great, it was par for the course. The team parted ways with Brian Robinson, Jr., prior to Week 1, leaving Croskey-Merritt, McNichols, and Chris Rodriguez, Jr., to carry the load. It was decidedly mixed results.
This off-season, the team added veterans White and Ford on one-year deals and brought back McNichols. They still have Croskey-Merritt—a Seventh-Round draft pick—to lead the backfield, but it figures to be a committee. The team added Allen, an interesting prospect, in the draft. But it’s hard to see what the roles will be or how this group will shake out. It also seems unlikely that the team will keep five running backs, meaning at least one of the group that includes Croskey-Merritt, White, Ford, McNichols, and Allen is likely to be released. Either way, this backfield has volume but doesn’t really scare anyone. If pressed, I’m most interested in White, but Allen is a decent late-round rookie draft stash.
#15 Minnesota Vikings
On the Roster: Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, Zavier Scott, and Kejon Owens
About: The Vikings used an aging Jones and Mason to lead the backfield in 2025, gaining mixed results. After re-signing Jones, the team is running it back again in 2026. The Vikings did add a late-round prospect in Claiborne, but it figures to be Jones and Mason as a two-headed attack again, at least at the start. It’s not a terrible unit, but it’s somewhat uninspiring. Both backs finished in the RB4 range, while Jones dealt with injury issues.
I feel more confident in Minnesota’s duo than the group in Washington, though Croskey-Merritt and White both finished higher in fantasy than Minnesota back in 2025. It’s close between these two.
#14 Carolina Panthers
On the Roster: Chuba Hubbard, Jonathan Brooks, Trevor Etienne, A.J. Dillon, Anthony Tyus II, and Miles Davis
About: Despite having Miles Davis on the roster, I’m not expecting a lot of smooth jazz from the backfield for the Panthers. The group rises above the Vikings and Commanders, for me, thanks to Hubbard, who finished as RB38 in 2025. He was injured, then lost his job for a bit to Rico Dowdle, but finished with a flourish. He was a key driver for the team during the stretch run to the playoffs and in the Wild Card game, and they felt strongly enough about him to let Dowdle walk this offseason.
The problem for this group is that they didn’t add much. Dillon is a veteran who hasn’t contributed much of late. Brooks hasn’t been on the field in more than a year, and Etienne was a late-round selection who didn’t contribute as a rookie. There’s potential upside here, but if Hubbard misses time, things could be rough in this backfield.
#13 Seattle Seahawks
On the Roster: Zach Charbonnet, Jadarian Price, Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, Velus Jones, Jr., Kenny McIntosh, and Jacardia Wright
About: When you let the Super Bowl MVP walk, it’s always going to be a challenge. I like Charbonnet, who has been groomed to take over. He finished as the RB24 in 2025 and was a big part of the offense. He also tore his ACL in January in the playoffs, making him a long shot to play early in the season. The Seahawks spent a First-Round pick on Price, who figures to be a workhorse early. I like Price, and the Seahawks certainly have a big complementary group behind the top two, but this backfield will be a bit of a work-in-progress early in 2026.
#12 Dallas Cowboys
On the Roster: Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, Isreal Abanikanda, and Dominic Richardson
About: The Cowboys struck gold with Williams in 2025. As a free agent on a one-year deal, he finished as RB12 and was a steadying influence on the backfield. He re-signed this off-season, securing the lead back in Dallas. I have liked Williams since he was a Second-Round pick for the Denver Broncos. The problem for the Cowboys is a serious lack of depth behind him. Davis is a role player, while Blue and Mafah are late-round selections from the 2025 NFL Draft who have yet to prove anything. Williams is solid, but this team lacks depth.
#11 Green Bay Packers
On the Roster: Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong, Jr., Damien Martinez, and Jaden Nixon
About: You saw what I said about Dallas? Ditto for the Packers with Jacobs. He’s a great lead back who finished as the RB13 in 2025. But what happens if he misses time? The Packers actually got weaker when Wilson left for the Seahawks. Brooks is unproven, as is one-time Third Round selection Lloyd, who seemingly can’t stay healthy long enough to get on the field. I love Jacobs for fantasy and for NFL production, but this backfield has serious depth questions.
#10 New York Giants
On the Roster: Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, Eric Gray, Dante Miller, and Damon Bankston
About: The Giants have decent depth and some decent upside. So, why so low? Well, despite the backfield seeming like a potential strength, the Giants were players in the free agent market and looked at early running backs in the draft. They weren’t able to close a deal or make a decent pick, so they are rolling the group back. But if this coaching staff has questions, it’s fair for us to have questions, too.
Skattebo looked like a revelation when he was on the field, but he suffered an injury that ended his season early. Tracy is somewhat inconsistent, and Singletary is a veteran whose best days are likely in his rearview mirror. It’s not a bad backfield, but it’s not yet a great backfield. So, landing at tenth feels about right.
#9 San Francisco 49ers
On the Roster: Christian McCaffrey, Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo, Patrick Taylor, and Sincere McCormick
About: The 49ers are the final team on the first half of the list. With a player like McCaffrey, you’d be tempted to put them higher. McCaffrey was perhaps the best weapon out of the backfield in the league in 2025, finishing as RB1. He also had 311 carries and 102 receptions, giving him well over 400 touches for the season. That hasn’t been historically great for McCaffrey, adding a further challenge for a player who is now about to turn 30 years old.
Behind McCaffrey, the 49ers have a big group of prospects, none of whom have shown they can carry the load. Kyle Shanahan is the master of doing a lot with unexpected prospects, but this will be a tall task if McCaffrey misses significant time. The lack of quality depth holds this backfield back in the overall list.
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.
