NFL training camps open up this week, which means the fantasy football season is fast approaching. While most teams know who will be the starting RB come Week 1, others will be figuring that out in heated competitions. Yahoo analyst Justin Boone poses the biggest RB questions for fantasy going into training camps.
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Wide Receiver (coming Monday)
Tight End (coming Friday)
Who starts for the Jaguars?
The competition to be Jacksonville’s starting running back doesn’t even feel like it’s begun yet, since Chris Rodriguez Jr. missed OTAs after undergoing foot surgery earlier in the offseason. However, that also may have cleared the runway for Bhayshul Tuten to showcase his development entering his second year.
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Head coach Liam Coen certainly likes what he’s seeing from Tuten, which he expressed in a recent interview with Peter Schrager:
“Tuten I thought had a really good spring. You know, Year 1 coming from Virginia Tech, and really was North Carolina Central to Virginia Tech. So, he had a little bit of a learning curve too, with the protections and a lot of the things that come with playing running back as a rookie,” Coen said.
“Now it’s more so, he was so conscientious about ball security last year and doing right. Okay, now Tuten, you got it. You understand it more. Now just go be you. Go do what got you here. Go be special, that’s who you are. We’re definitely expecting Tuten to have a big year for us.”
Rodriguez will make his case for the starting job once he gets back on the field during training camp, but his limited pass-catching skills will always keep him in an early-down role at best. LeQuint Allen Jr. is in a similar situation, only it’s his receiving work that’s far more effective than his ability as a runner. That’s why Tuten, who flashed explosiveness and a nose for the end zone (seven touchdowns as a rookie) remains the most enticing fantasy pick in this backfield. He’s one of my favorite breakout running backs to target this year.
Who starts for the Seahawks?
The Seahawks allowed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to leave in free agency and their No. 2 back, Zach Charbonnet, is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. With Charbonnet not likely to return until the second half of the season, that leaves the door wide open for someone else to emerge in Seattle.
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The obvious answer is first-round rookie Jadarian Price, but many people covering the team continue to insist it will be a committee that also features George Holani and Emanuel Wilson. Holani fared well when stepping in as the change-of-pace option during Charbonnet’s absence last year and Wilson had strong relief appearances for the Packers before signing with the Seahawks in free agency.
However, the investment in Price gives him a leg up on the competition against Holani and Wilson, who profile as quality depth pieces. While all three players will likely see touches early in the season, the only question in my mind is how big Price’s lead-back role will be in Week 1.
The Seahawks finished top-10 in almost every significant rushing statistic last season, in part thanks to having the fourth-most rushing attempts on the year. Even with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak leaving for Las Vegas, the team’s approach will remain the same — trying to control games on the ground alongside a strong defense.
Even if Price shares the load with Holani and Wilson, he’s still a value at his current ADP as the RB26 in the sixth round. Don’t be surprised if a few training camp/preseason highlights push his stock up a round or two over the next month.
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Who starts for the Steelers?
Pittsburgh might end up being the most difficult backfield to decipher this summer, with incumbent Jaylen Warren battling newcomer Rico Dowdle for top spot.
At this point, it seems unlikely Warren will ever get an opportunity to be a higher-volume option, since the team continues to find overqualified running mates for him to share the workload with. Last year, it was Kenny Gainwell turning this into a frustrating fantasy tandem. With Gainwell gone, Dowdle arrives as an even bigger threat to Warren’s touches.
That’s because Dowdle has made a name for himself over the last two seasons, rising up depth charts and capturing the starting job. That resulted in back-to-back 1,300-yard campaigns between Dallas and Carolina, including fantasy finishes of RB26 in 2024 and RB20 in 2025. However, the highlights were even better, with Dowdle posting a pair of 200-yard games for the Panthers last year.
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It’s also worth noting, Dowdle has shared history with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, dating back to their time with the Cowboys. Whether that’s enough to push him ahead of Warren remains to be seen.
The most likely outcome is another split backfield where both Warren and Dowdle have their fantasy ceilings capped as RB3/flex options. But if someone can pull ahead, there is value here given their reasonable ADPs as the RB27 and RB31.
Who starts for the Commanders?
The Commanders backfield looks a lot different entering this season, with veteran Rachaad White and sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen joining last year’s seventh-round pick, Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
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It took a while for JCM to get going as a rookie, but he finished the season strong by topping 95 scrimmage yards twice during the fantasy playoffs and scoring four touchdowns during that span. It was good enough to make him the RB10 in fppg during the most important time on the fantasy calendar.
Now, the coaching staff has made it clear that he needs to prove himself in the passing game if he wants to be the lead back in Washington. White excels in that area, which will certainly earn him a role in the offense. Meanwhile, Allen fits the power-back mold that Chris Rodriguez Jr. occupied in this committee in 2025.
As it stands, Croskey-Merritt is the most exciting option with the highest ceiling after flashing last year. White has the safest role as a proven pass-catcher and short-term replacement starter, but he’s struggled to produce as a lead back for long stretches. At worst, he should offer RB3/flex value given his receiving skills. Allen is the long-shot dart throw in the late rounds, one who could turn into a TD-or-bust RB3 if JCM falters.
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However, this competition seems completely up in the air entering training camp and the ADPs of all three backs reflect the uncertainty. Last season, the Cowboys backfield featured similar ADPs with all their backs going off the board outside of the top 100 picks, as well. Personally, I regret not capitalizing more on that value, even if it meant drafting two teammates in the late rounds in hopes of hitting on the right one — which for Dallas was Javonte Williams. Don’t make the same mistake this season.
The odds of turning your picks in Round 10 or later into meaningful fantasy starters are already slim, so don’t hesitate to use a couple of those selections to stash Commanders RBs in an effort to land their 2026 starter. Drafting Croskey-Merritt and White back-to-back in the late rounds is something I’ve done on several rosters.
Which camp battles will produce new No. 2 RBs?
Lead-back battles aren’t the only training camp competitions fantasy managers should have a close eye on. There’s plenty of value to be unearthed by figuring out who will be the immediate backups and position themselves to replace an injured starter during the season (or perhaps even offer weekly flex production in a complementary role).
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Several teams will be sorting out those spots in the coming weeks, including the Ravens, Cowboys, Lions, Packers, Colts, Chiefs, Dolphins, Jets and 49ers.
In Baltimore, Justice Hill is the incumbent veteran and reliable pass-catching option, but 6-foot-3, 232-pound rookie Adam Randall has the build to be a more direct replacement if Derrick Henry misses any time.
In Dallas, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah and Malik Davis are vying for the coveted spot behind Javonte Williams. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised Blue for responding to their exit interview discussions following his disappointing debut campaign and beat writers have identified the sophomore back as someone who’s shown up in much better form.
In Detroit, Isiah Pacheco was believed to be the new backup behind Jahmyr Gibbs, but The Athletic recently suggested Sione Vaki is a potential threat to move into that spot with a strong summer.
In Green Bay, Josh Jacobs’ off-field issues have put even more importance on identifying who the next man up would be, with oft-injured MarShawn Lloyd being the more exciting option over Chris Brooks.
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In Indianapolis, the Colts are in the midst of a true battle between sophomore DJ Giddens, who struggled in his first season, and rookie Seth McGowan. With Jonathan Taylor reportedly looking for a contract extension, this will be a situation to monitor closely.
In Kansas City, there is a ton of excitement about the arrival of Kenneth Walker III, but let’s not forget about his injury history. If Walker were to miss time again, the Chiefs will either turn to rookie Emmett Johnson or veteran backup Emari Demercado.
In Miami, Jaylen Wright held the No. 2 slot last season behind De’Von Achane, but all indications point to the bigger Ollie Gordon II making a strong push to usurp him on the depth chart.
In New York, Breece Hall signed a new deal to stay with the Jets. Now, we need to find out who will be his main backup with Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis going head-to-head for that role.
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In San Francisco, we might see the most important battle of all given Christian McCaffrey’s age and massive 2025 workload. Jordan James and rookie Kaelon Black are the top contenders to become Kyle Shanahan’s starter if CMC breaks down.
Which starters coming off season-ending injuries are healthy?
Chasing value in potential fantasy stars being drafted lower than usual due to injury discounts can be a very dangerous game to play. Fortunately, it seems like we have a couple sophomore backs making great strides in their recoveries.
Cam Skattebo’s rookie season ended with the kind of injury you never want to see a replay of, which included a fractured tibia and dislocated ankle in October. He was back on the field in limited fashion during OTAs and is expected to be available in Week 1, as long as he doesn’t hurt himself while backflipping his way through the offseason.
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Prior to getting hurt, Skattebo averaged the seventh-most fantasy points per contest among running backs in half-PPR scoring (17.4 fppg) over his final six healthy outings. That makes him an intriguing fantasy RB2, assuming his physical running style doesn’t put him on the trainer’s table again.
Quinshon Judkins is the other second-year back fighting to get healthy for Week 1. Though his fractured fibula and dislocated ankle occurred in Week 16, Judkins appears to be ahead of Skattebo in his rehab.
Though the Browns are often an afterthought for fantasy, the arrival of head coach Todd Monken should make this unit a little more interesting in 2026 and a healthy Judkins could be a driving force. The 22-year-old finished as the RB22 in fantasy points per game (11.2 fppg) despite dealing with injuries and playing in a subpar Cleveland offense that lacked quality quarterback play most of the year. However, in the five games before he suffered his first injury (shoulder), the second-rounder was the RB14 (14.6 fppg).
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Much like Skattebo, Judkins is a second-year breakout candidate and possible star who is being undervalued solely due to his injury.
Will Jonathon Brooks push to start in Carolina?
Brooks is trying to write an incredible comeback story by overcoming a pair of ACL tears in 2023 and 2024 that have delayed his launch in the NFL.
Fantasy managers are always trying to find the next breakout or sleeper, especially at running back, which has helped fuel the excitement over Brooks this offseason.
However, let’s make sure to keep our expectations in check for the 23-year-old back as his ADP continues to rise — now pushing into the ninth round as the RB37.
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Recapturing his pre-injury form is far from guaranteed and it should be considered a win if he’s just able to secure a consistent role alongside Chuba Hubbard. A scenario where he passes Hubbard and emerges as a clear lead back — though not impossible — would be worthy of a Hollywood script.
We’re all rooting for Brooks and I’m happy to target him at his current ADP, but I fear we’ll see that move even higher as hype builds over the summer. For now, he should be treated as a high-upside stash and potential RB3/flex option, with a best-case scenario resulting in fantasy RB2 numbers if he earns the starting job at some point.
Which RBs are candidates to be cut?
Arizona has amassed quite the collection of running backs, adding first-round star Jeremiyah Love and veteran backup Tyler Allgeier to a group that already included James Conner and Trey Benson.
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It seems nearly impossible that all those backs will remain on the roster heading into Week 1 and whoever ends up as the odd man out between Conner and Benson will be highly coveted by other teams. Just imagine someone like Conner joining the Lions backfield in the role formerly occupied by David Montgomery.
We also have younger backs who have struggled to carve out touches in their current backfields and might need a change of scenery. Am I the only one thinking about Kaleb Johnson after that description? Fantasy managers should hope the 22-year-old (turns 23 in August) gets traded or cut, leading to a fresh start in a new offense.
Getting ahead of those potential moves can prevent you from being blindsided when released players sign with new clubs and complicate the fantasy outlooks for that RB depth chart.
