2026 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings: Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price Headline a Top-Heavy RB Class

The 2026 NFL Draft running back rankings are top-heavy, but they feature one of the most complete backfield prospects we’ve evaluated in recent cycles. Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love headlines the group as a potential top-10 caliber talent, a 6-foot, 210-pound three-down back with verified track speed, elite contact balance, and true alignment versatility as a pass catcher. From a grading standpoint, Love is in the same tier as recent premier prospects such as Ashton Jeanty, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Bijan Robinson. He is on that level as a prospect, and some evaluators have him as the top overall player in the class.

Behind Love, there are a few backs with legitimate starter-level traits, beginning with his former Notre Dame teammate Jadarian Price. Price offers smooth vision, spatial awareness, and burst when healthy, flashing clear starter ability in a modern, committee-driven NFL. After Price, Jonah Coleman provides a contrasting profile — compact, physical, and zone-scheme ready — consistently generating hidden yardage through contact balance and toughness.

Again, this is not the deepest running back class in recent memory, but there are versatile pieces available on Day 2 and Day 3 who can contribute immediately in rotational roles with developmental starter upside. It’s a class built for today’s shared backfield structures, with elite value at the top and quality contributors behind it.

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2026 NFL Draft Running Back Rankings

1). Jeremiyah Love, 6’0”, 210 lbs, Notre Dame

Grade Tier: Near Elite

NFL Projection: Top 10 (1st Round)

Analysis: Elite acceleration, contact balance, and two-phase versatility anchor Love’s projection. He presses wide-zone concepts with patience before exploding through creases, and his re-acceleration allows routine gains to turn into chunk plays. Love creates in tight quarters, finishes through contact, and offers legitimate receiving value from multiple alignments. Continued growth in pass protection and sustained workload durability will determine his ceiling, but the overall profile is that of an immediate-impact RB1 with Pro Bowl upside.

2). Jadarian Price, 5’11”, 210 lbs, Notre Dame

Grade Tier: High-End Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 2nd–3rd Round

Analysis: Vision, tempo, and spatial processing define Price’s projection. He displays advanced patience in zone concepts, allowing blocks to develop before slicing through interior lanes with controlled footwork and balance. While he lacks elite sudden burst, he consistently maximizes available yardage and shows functional top speed in space. Durability will remain a key evaluation point, but when healthy, Price profiles as a high-floor early-down starter in a zone-heavy system.

3). Jonah Coleman, 5’9”, 229 lbs, Washington

Grade Tier: High-End Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 2nd–3rd Round

Analysis: Contact balance and physical temperament drive Coleman’s projection. He presses the line with disciplined tempo, absorbs first contact, and consistently falls forward to generate hidden yardage. His compact build and leg drive allow him to maintain efficiency through traffic, particularly in zone concepts. While he lacks elite breakaway speed and dynamic receiving upside, his toughness and reliability project as dependable early-down starter value at the next level.

4). Emmett Johnson, 5’11”, 200 lbs, Nebraska

Grade Tier: Mid-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 4th–5th Round

Analysis: Decisiveness and north-south tempo anchor Johnson’s projection. He presses defined tracks with urgency and accelerates downhill once lanes declare, showing solid vision and competitive finish. However, limited lateral fluidity and average contact balance cap his explosive-play ceiling. He projects as a dependable rotational back in gap-heavy schemes with early-down value.

5). Nick Singleton, 6’0”, 224 lbs, Penn State

Grade Tier: Low-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 4th–6th Round

Analysis: Rare size-speed traits define Singleton’s upside. He carries home-run acceleration and legitimate receiving value, stressing defenses vertically and horizontally. However, inconsistent vision, segmented processing, and an inability to consistently create around contact limit his reliability. If instincts stabilize, he carries RB1 upside — if not, he profiles as a dynamic committee weapon.

6). Le’Veon Moss, 5’11”, 210 lbs, Texas A&M

Grade Tier: Low-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 4th–6th Round

Analysis: Linear burst and downhill urgency drive Moss’s projection. He presses gaps decisively and finishes runs with strong pad level and contact balance. However, limited lateral elusiveness and durability concerns (back-to-back injury-shortened seasons) cloud his three-down outlook. He projects as a physical early-down rotational back with spot-start upside.

7). Mike Washington Jr., 6’0”, 228 lbs, Arkansas

Grade Tier: Low-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 4th–5th Round

Analysis: Frame density and straight-line power anchor Washington’s projection. He blends size with functional burst and can glide through interior lanes. However, inconsistent processing speed, limited twitch in tight quarters, and ball-security concerns limit his ceiling. He fits best as a rotational power back in a gap-heavy system.

8). Demond Claiborne, 5’10”, 195 lbs, Wake Forest

Grade Tier: Low-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 4th-5th Round

Analysis: Twitch and lateral agility drive Claiborne’s projection. He thrives pressing zone tracks and bursting through creases with sudden acceleration, offering legitimate change-of-pace value. However, ball security issues and limited power finishing cap his reliability. He profiles as a scheme-dependent rotational back with third-down upside.

9). Kaytron Allen, 5’11”, 220 lbs, Penn State

Grade Tier: Low-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 4th–6th Round

Analysis: Vision, contact balance, and disciplined tempo define Allen’s profile. He runs with a compact base and consistently falls forward, showing reliability in both zone and gap concepts. However, limited burst and lack of explosive speed reduce his big-play upside. He projects as a dependable early-down rotational option.

10). Kaelon Black, 5’9”, 208 lbs, Indiana

Grade Tier: Low-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 5th–7th Round

Analysis: Competitive temperament and contact balance anchor Black’s projection. He presses patiently, gets skinny through tight lanes, and consistently falls forward through contact. While he lacks top-end speed and explosive-play ability, his pass protection and early-down reliability give him immediate rotational value.

How We Grade the Running Back Position

Running backs are evaluated primarily on vision, contact balance, and three-down impact. Grades are driven by how consistently a back can create yardage independent of blocking structure, stay on schedule within the run concept, and contribute in both the run and pass game. In today’s NFL, backs must function within rotational systems while still offering the versatility to handle early downs, passing situations, and red-zone touches without tipping personnel tendencies.

Key factors include processing speed at the mesh point, tempo through the line of scrimmage, lateral agility, burst through contact, and finishing ability in space. We heavily weigh contact balance, pad level, ball security, pass protection reliability, and receiving value — including route detail and alignment flexibility. While timed speed and size matter, functional strength, spatial awareness, competitive toughness, and the ability to generate explosive plays without sacrificing efficiency carry the most weight in our evaluation.

Football Scout 365 Grade Scale

Elite

NFL Projection: Top 5–10 Picks (1st Round)

Franchise-altering talent with elite physical tools, advanced processing, and minimal weaknesses. Immediate high-impact starter with difference-making ability.

Near Elite

NFL Projection: Mid-to-Late 1st Round

High-level prospect with strong traits and football intelligence. Expected to become a major contributor early in their career with Pro Bowl upside.

High-End Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 2nd–3rd Round

Projects as a quality NFL starter with strong tools and functional traits. May require refinement, but offers consistent impact with development.

Mid-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 4th–5th Round

Dependable starter or high-end rotational player. Solid athletic profile with some limitations that cap ceiling or require scheme fit.

Low-Level Starter Potential

NFL Projection: 6th–7th Round

Developmental prospect with starter upside in defined roles. Inconsistencies in technique, processing, or durability limit long-term ceiling.

Backup Level

NFL Projection: Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA)

Depth player or rotational piece. Functional traits but limited upside for a long-term starting role.

Not NFL Level

NFL Projection: Unlikely to Make NFL Roster

Significant developmental needs across athleticism, technique, or processing. Long-shot to stick at the NFL level.