2026 NFL Draft RB breakdown: Jeremiyah Love leads, Emmett Johnson offers value

The 2026 NFL Draft running back class may be one of the weaker groups in recent drafts, but there is still talent worth noting. Leading the pack is Jeremiyah Love, one of the top five players overall and someone a team could truly build around. While no other back carries a first-round grade or ranks in the top 50 on my board, there are players who could provide excellent value, starting with Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson.

Top Player: Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

There is a clear gap at the top of this position group, and Love sits alone. He is a true difference-maker with rare explosiveness, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and ranking third nationally with 39 explosive runs per PFF. Love is not just a big-play runner. He brings real power, consistently finishing through contact and running over defenders when given the chance. That blend of burst, strength, and vision led to 1,372 rushing yards and the Doak Walker Award this season. Barring something unexpected, Love should come off the board early, with top-15 draft capital locked in and a legitimate shot at cracking the top 10.

Guy I Would Stand on the Table For: Emmett Johnson, Nebraska

One of my favorite players in the entire 2026 NFL Draft is Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson. What makes him so appealing is how complete his game is. As a runner, he has exceptional vision, consistently finding even the narrowest lanes and setting up his blocks perfectly. He also excels in contact balance, forcing 68 missed tackles this season according to PFF. Johnson isn’t just a runner, he’s a reliable receiving threat, catching 46 passes, the second-highest total ever for a Nebraska running back. He projects perfectly for a team that wants a back who can contribute in both the running and passing game.

Biggest Risk: Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M

Texas A&M’s Le’Veon Moss comes with significant medical red flags. This past season he missed eight games with an ankle injury, and in 2024 his year was cut short by a knee injury. The concerns do not stop there. His on-field profile also carries risk, especially in the passing game where his production has been minimal. He has never topped 11 receptions in a season and has dropped 17 percent of the targets thrown his way according to PFF. Pass protection is another major issue, as he earned just a 25.5 PFF pass-blocking grade and can be overwhelmed by blitzing linebackers. The upside is clear, though. Moss is a physical, downhill runner with a strong feel near the goal line, rushing for 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Sleeper: Roman Hemby, Indiana

A late-round prospect who could have a similar impact to what 2025 seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai had this season with the Chicago Bears is Indiana’s Roman Hemby, and the skill sets line up. Both are physical runners who rely on contact balance to create extra yards, with Hemby breaking 37 tackles this season. He also brings real value as a receiver, standing out in the 2026 running back class by catching 15 of the 16 targets thrown his way this year and totaling just three drops for his entire career. Hemby profiles as the type of tough, reliable back who can outperform his draft slot and stick on an NFL roster.

Had a Disappointing Season: Nicholas Singleton, Penn State

Going into the 2025 season, Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton was a preseason ESPN All-American and carried a second-round grade on my board, but his season quickly went in the wrong direction. He rushed for just 549 yards, more than 500 fewer than the year before, and averaged only ten carries per game. The big-play element that once defined his game nearly vanished, as he had only three runs over 15 yards this season after breaking off 18 in 2024. Even more concerning were the questions that emerged about how natural he is as a runner, particularly his vision and overall feel as a ball carrier. Between the steep drop in production and the growing concerns about his NFL traits, Singleton now carries a fourth-round grade on my board.

Non-Power 4 Standout: Robert Henry Jr., UTSA

One of the more overlooked running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft is UTSA’s Robert Henry Jr., who sits with an undrafted free agent grade on NFL Mock Draft Database’s consensus board, but that is far too low. He carries a fifth-round grade on my board because the traits show up. He has real quickness and legitimate home-run ability, consistently breaking off chunk runs. This past season he logged 16 runs of 15-plus yards, and his 61 percent PFF breakaway rate is among the best in the class. This production is not just against weak competition either, as he went for 177 rushing yards against Texas A&M. Henry is exactly the type of late-round back who gets overlooked and then ends up carving out a real NFL role.