Final 2026 NFL Draft RB rankings: Jeremiyah Love makes one thing clear

As NFL Mocks continues its final position rankings ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, we turn to the running backs. This class is headlined by the top overall player on my board, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love. After him, there is a clear drop-off, with no other back earning a true first- or second-round grade.

1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

A running back with elite NFL potential, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love should quickly establish himself as one of the top backs in the league. This is due to his rare combination of speed, size, and strength. That blend helped him become the first running back in Irish history to win the Doak Walker Award while also breaking off 39 runs of 15-plus yards last season. About the only concern with him is that he has dealt with minor injuries during his time at Notre Dame.

2. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas

A player who burst onto the scene this year, Arkansas’s Mike Washington Jr. rushed for over 1,000 yards in his lone season with the Razorbacks and was a true home-run threat. He then posted the fastest time among running backs at the NFL Combine despite being one of the bigger backs, measuring in at 6-foot-1, 223 pounds. The biggest concern with him is his tendency to put the ball on the ground, as he has seven fumbles over the past two seasons.

3. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

The other Notre Dame running back who will be drafted this year is Jadarian Price, a dynamic runner and a real threat as a kick returner. Offensively, he shows impressive quickness and the ability to cut on a dime, though his 4.49 40-yard dash may raise some questions about his true top-end speed. On special teams, he led the FBS with a 37.5 kickoff return average and is the first player in program history to have multiple 100-yard kick return touchdowns. One thing that could concern scouts is his limited workload, as he has averaged fewer than 10 touches per game over the past two seasons.

4. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska 

The most productive back in the 2026 NFL Draft is Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, who rushed for 1,451 yards, the second-most in school history, and led the nation in scrimmage yards per game (151.8). As a runner, he shows impressive contact balance, which helped him break 68 tackles this season. He is also a proven receiver out of the backfield, leading Nebraska in receptions with 46 catches. What could cause him to slide down the board, though, is his lack of elite speed, evident in his 4.56 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which was the slowest among running backs.

5. Kaytron Allen, Penn State

Penn State’s Kaytron Allen is a physical runner who thrives in short-yardage situations and late in games. He also shows good quickness for a bigger back and can hit the hole quickly, but he lacks elite long-speed to break away at the next level. In the NFL, he will likely fit into a backfield-by-committee role where he is used to pick up tough yards and close out games.

Overall rank

1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (first round)

2. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas (third round)

3. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame (third round)

4. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska (third round)

5. Kaytron Allen, Penn State (third round)

6. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State (fourth round)

7. Jonah Coleman, Washington (fifth round)

8. Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest (sixth round)

9. Robert Henry Jr., UTSA (sixth round)

10. Roman Hemby, Indiana (sixth round)

11. Noah Whittington, Oregon (seventh round)

12. Le'Veon Moss, Texas A&M (seventh round)

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