The NFL Combine is in the books, with the top prospects showcasing their skills in Indianapolis. Now that it’s March, most people are crafting NCAA Tournament brackets that will bust after a 13-seed pulls off an upset. While the general public turns its attention to college basketball, NFL front offices are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft. General managers and armchair scouts alike are evaluating prospects. Running backs have seen a resurgence in value, as running the ball is back in style. This year’s class has one running back prospect that stands out, but who are some others worth watching? Who are the top five running backs in the 2026 NFL Draft?
2026 NFL Draft: Top Five Running Backs
1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Jeremiyah Love entered the 2025 season as the consensus RB1. Fast forward to today, and Love is still the unquestioned top back in this class. He has all the traits of a pure runner and proven production, rushing for 2,497 yards and 35 touchdowns over the past two seasons. His speed and acceleration make him an explosive play waiting to happen. Love also displays great power, being able to pick up yards after first contact. His vision is exceptional, and he has the patience needed to find an open gap. Love pairs his vision with great short-area quickness to evade defenders. He’s a capable pass catcher, although his production as a receiver is mostly limited to checkdowns. There are questions about handling a heavier workload, but Love should be a top-ten pick in April.
2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
It’s not often that the same school has the top two prospects at a position. That’s the case at running back, with Jadarian Price emerging as the second-best back behind his teammate. Price has legit breakaway speed, having the acceleration to pick up chunk plays when he has an open rushing lane. Even when he doesn’t have a clear gap, his vision and agility allow him to make defenders miss in confined spaces. Price has impressive contact balance to pick up yards after first contact. He does have questions regarding ball security and has struggled as a blocker. Price suffered an Achilles injury that caused him to miss all of 2022, although it didn’t keep him from being a productive back. He should be a second-round pick and can add immense value to a team’s backfield.
3. Jonah Coleman, Washington
Jonah Coleman is as physical a runner as this class has to offer. He excels working between the tackles and can fight for every yard after contact. His combination of instincts and agility allows him to create successful run plays without a clear rushing lane. He’s a capable pass blocker with excellent ball security. While there’s a lot to like about Coleman as a prospect, his limited top-end speed gives him a ceiling as an explosive runner. He isn’t a great pass catcher, with his production being mostly limited to screens. Coleman should be drafted in the third round and works best as a complementary power back at the next level. The Lions make sense for Coleman, as they need a replacement for David Montgomery.
Mar 1, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington running back Jonah Coleman (RB04) participates in the bench press drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
4. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State
Penn State fell well short of preseason expectations in 2025, but still has several prospects worth noting in this class. One of those aforementioned prospects is Nicholas Singleton, who is one of the most versatile running backs in this class. His speed and explosiveness are exceptional, enabling him to punish defenses in an open field. He can quickly change directions to move off his initial gap in zone schemes. Singleton is a quality pass catcher who can run more vertical routes downfield. His value isn’t just limited to offense, as he can also make plays on special teams. Singleton’s biggest downside is his lack of power, as he struggles to break tackles. He has the frame to be a power runner, but he has to improve his contact balance at the next level. Singleton projects as a fourth-round pick, with high upside as an every-down back.
5. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Emmett Johnson emerged as a top prospect at his position after a stellar 2025 campaign. His biggest strength is his vision, as he progresses through rushing lanes well and finds open grass. He is also an incredibly shifty runner who can play in both zone and gap schemes. Johnson has proven production as a pass catcher. While his top-end speed is good, it’s not elite. He struggles in pass protection and has a smaller frame for a running back. Johnson has limited contact balance and isn’t a great power runner. He should be drafted somewhere in the third round and can find a role in any offensive scheme.