RB Draft Targets
New addresses, new opportunities. Here are five running backs whose 2026 outlook got a serious boost thanks to where they're now playing.
#5: Kenny Gainwell (TB)
Gainwell left Pittsburgh for a two-year deal in Tampa, and camp buzz suggests his new role plays right to his strengths.
Signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Buccaneers, and he is largely viewed as the most versatile back playing “behind” Bucky Irving.
Pewter Report's Adam Slivon recently said Gainwell "has emerged as a dynamic receiving back" in camp, someone OC Zac Robinson trusts to turn short plays into chunk gains
Comes off a career year in Pittsburgh with 73 catches (4th among RBs) and an elite 16.3% target share (5th at the position) that fueled an RB19 finish in points per game
He may not touch the ball 20 times a game in Tampa, but in an offense that trusts him through the air, that PPR floor could be enough on its own.
#4: Rico Dowdle (PIT)
Dowdle heads to Pittsburgh on a two-year, $12.25 million deal, and the fit with new OC direction looks tailor-made for his game.
FOX Sports' Ralph Vacchiano believes Dowdle "should end up as the workhorse in the Steelers' backfield," over Jaylen Warren, with coach Mike McCarthy banking on him to anchor a run-heavy attack
Enters 2026 coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a career-high 12.7 fantasy points per game in 2025
He's reuniting with McCarthy, the same coach who got him to 1,000 rushing yards back in Dallas in 2024, and he’s expected to handle the bulk of early-down work
Efficiency plus a scheme built for downhill running is a strong combination… and if Pittsburgh leans as run-heavy as reported, Dowdle's early-down role could be one of the safer bets on this list.
#3: David Montgomery (HOU)
Traded from Detroit to Houston, Montgomery steps into a backfield that may have cleared its path for him.
Acquired from the Lions in a blockbuster trade and viewed as the presumed RB1 in Houston after the team identified a need there
The Texans upgraded their offensive line by adding first-round guard Keylan Rutledge and all-pro guard Wyatt Teller to a run game that ranked just 22nd last season
The Texans’ 2026 RB strength of schedule jumps from 6th-hardest to a middle-of-the-pack difficulty, a real scheduling upgrade for the ground attack
The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Alexander notes the touches between Montgomery and Woody Marks might not be a perfect split but will be close… still, for now, Montgomery is the starter in a much-improved offensive environment.
#2: Travis Etienne (NO)
Etienne signed a hefty RB contract to lead a Saints backfield that just got a major boost.
Signed a four-year, $52 million deal ($13M/year) with New Orleans… the highest total contract value ever given to an RB
Coming off a career season: 1,399-yards, 13-touchdowns (RB11 overall), he'll run behind an offensive line bolstered by free-agent guard David Edwards
The Saints' 2026 strength of schedule projects as the easiest in the league for running backs, giving Etienne a nice boost while he acclimates to the situation
The backfield picture just got even clearer: Alvin Kamara is expected to miss at least a month with an MCL injury sustained in a summer scrimmage, likely sidelining him for the opener and possibly Week 2. That hands Etienne something close to a workhorse role right out of the gate, layering short-term volume on top of his already favorable long-term outlook.
#1: Kenneth Walker (KC)
Walker left Seattle for a three-year, $45 million deal in Kansas City, and everything about the fit points to a true workhorse role.
The Athletic's Jesse Newell reports the Chiefs view Walker as a potential three-down back… the roster simply doesn't have another proven passing-down option behind him
Led the NFL in juke rate (31.7%) last season and joins a Chiefs offense that ranked 31st in explosive (15+ yard) runs, a gap his big-play ability is built to fill
Largely expected to be the workhorse after the Chiefs paid him so handsomely, and his touch count is expected to rise as Patrick Mahomes works back from a torn ACL/LCL and scrambles less
Between the contract, the clear depth chart, and a coaching staff with no real alternative at passing downs, Walker's path to a true every-down role looks about as clean as it gets on this list.
That’s the list. 5 RBs in brand new situations that could help boost their fantasy value all season long.
-Joe