5 NFL RBs in Best Position for Breakout Season in 2026

The running back position is seeing something of a renaissance in the NFL.

For years, it's a position that has become more and more devalued. Running backs rarely get the big bucks—only four average $15 million a season in salary. The position was as likely to see no player drafted in Round 1 as a back be taken in the top-10.

But the winds may be shifting—at least a little. In the last NFL game we all watched, Kenneth Walker was named the MVP of Super Bowl LX. In this year's draft. Jeremiyah Love became the first back selected in the top-three since 2018. Love has the second biggest contract at running back in the league—and he hasn't played a down yet. Walker got over $14 million a year from the Chiefs in free agency.

Teams are willing to pay top talent top dollar. Chase the next breakout in the backfield.

You won't find Love listed here—like Ashton Jeanty in Las Vegas in 2025, Love walks into a situation in Arizona that is—not ideal. There will be dues to pay.

But what you will find here is five backs who have a real shot to be the next big thing carrying the rock.

Beginning with a guy who was just mentioned.

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/John Locher

When Ashton Jeanty entered the NFL in 2025, it was with no shortage of fanfare—after rushing for over 2,600 yards at Boise State in 2024, Jeanty was selected sixth overall by the Raiders. It was the highest a running back had ben selected since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018.

Jeanty didn't enjoy nearly the success Barkley did in his first season—playing on one of the NFL's worst offenses, Jeanty averaged just 3.7 yards per carry and a miserable 1.6 yards before contact per attempt.

That offense has been overhauled this offseason, whether it's at quarterback, along the offensive line or at the skill positions.

While speaking to reporters, new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said that he expects those improvements to help propel Jeanty to a far better second season in the NFL.

"We have to create some holes for him," Kubiak said, "and I think obviously when he gets a little bit of an opening, he can be special. And I think when you reflect back on last year, despite all that, I think he had a pretty good year. He showed a lot of promise, so I'm looking forward to him doing well this year as well."

Kubiak's zone-blocking scheme would appear to fit what Jeanty does well, and while last year was widely considered a disappointment, Jeanty still topped 1,300 total yards and scored 10 touchdowns.

In a better scheme with improved blocking in front of him, Jeanty should sail past 1,300 yards on the ground alone in 2026.

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Like Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton was a first-round pick in 2025, selected 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Chargers. Like Jeanty, Hampton failed to live up to that first-round billing. But it was for different reasons—the former North Carolina standout missed almost half his first season with an ankle injury.

Hampton will be playing for a new offensive coordinator in 2026 after the Chargers brought in Mike McDaniel, and while talking to reporters Hampton said he's looking forward to playing under the former Dolphins head coach.

"All the running backs like it a lot," Hampton said. "It's just figuring it out, the details of it. It's going to be super good for us. It's a lot different than we're used to so it's fun to learn new stuff and see how it goes. When he came here, I did my research and everything. I saw how long he's been doing this and how much success he's had with this offense. It's something not a lot of teams do so it's going to be exciting."

Over four seasons making the play calls in Miami, McDaniel's Dolphins teams amassed over 8,000 rushing yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry. With a healthy Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater at tackle and a revamped interior, an offensive line that was a weakness for the Bolts in 2025 could be a strength this season.

Add it all together, and all the ingredients are there for Hampton to not just break out but potentially lead the NFL in rushing.

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

TreVeyon Henderson had an up-and-down rookie season. On one hand, Henderson topped 1,100 total yards and averaged over five yards per carry. Per SI's Eva Geitheim, Henderson ranked fifth in the NFL among qualified running backs in EPA per attempt (plus-.03) and 10th in rushing yards over expected per carry, according to Next Gen Stats.

On the other hand, Henderson's struggles in pass protection and as a receiver out of the backfield led to the former Ohio State star spending most of the season playing second-fiddle to Rhamondre Stevenson in the New England backfield. He played just 46 percent of New England's offensive snaps.

While addressing the media, Henderson said working on those areas of his game has been a priority in the offseason.

"The biggest thing I want to continue to develop, blocking and just during this time running routes out of the backfield, catching the ball out of the backfield," Henderson said. "This is a time when we can really just continue to enhance those skills. Specifically those two skills, I definitely want to continue to develop."

Henderson is a capable NFL running back, but he's nowhere near the talent Henderson is—as a rookie, Henderson had 10 carries of at least 20 yards and four rushes of 40-plus yards. Only Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions had more.

As Henderson improves as a player, he's going earn a larger share of the backfield work in Beantown.

And if that larger share comes earlier rather than later, look out.

Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

For a time last year, it appeared that Cam Skattebo's breakout season was going to happen in 2025. Over a month-long span after assuming the starting role in the Big Apple, Skattebo averaged almost 100 total yards and a touchdown per game. The hard-charger from Arizona State quickly became a fan favorite. But then Skattebo dislocated his ankle, and just like that party time was over.

Skattebo is expected to be a full-go for Week 1, and new Giants head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that he expects Skattebo to be a wrecking ball again in his second season.

"I thought he was just what you saw, a downhill runner, a tone-setter type runner," Harbaugh said. "He's a tough tackle. That's what you look for. How many guys can make yards when they're not supposed to make yards on their own? It seems to me he was that kind of guy at Arizona State and the exact same guy that I saw on tape last year. You guys know better. You watched him up close and personal. He's a top-tier back, and he's planning on playing that way this year."

Skattebo should be a big part of the Giants offense in 2026—especially if wide receiver Malik Nabers isn't ready for Week 1. Big Blue has quietly assembled one of the better offensive lines in the game—a line that added first-round guard Francis Mauigoa this offseason.

Talent. Situation. Blocking. Skattebo has everything a breakout back needs.

Now he just needs to fire through the hole.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo

In case you haven't noticed, every back listed here is entering his second season.

Weird, huh?

Of the group, Bhayshul Tuten had the most modest rookie season—playing in a reserve role behind Travis Etienne Jr. in Jacksonville, Tuten carried the ball 83 times for 307 yards and five scores while averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. But while talking to reporters, Tuten said that he expects the experience gained last year to pay dividends in 2026.

"So, the whole entire offseason, chatting with coach, getting some tips and feedback, and then also doing a self-evaluation of myself for what I did right, and what I need to improve on," Tuten said. "And ultimately, it begins here. I think last year, I really couldn't play fast and free like I'm used to, because I'm thinking a lot and attacking a new playbook. But here, I got a year under the playbook, so I can go out there and be myself and be fast, and play how I know I can play."

Etienne is now in New Orleans, and the only real addition in the backfield was veteran Chris Rodriguez Jr., who has missed most of the offseason after foot surgery.

The door is open for Tuten to take hold of the lead role in Liam Coen's offense in Jacksonville. It's an offense that ranked just outside the top-10 in yards per game and sixth in points per game. And a role that Etienne turned into just under 1,400 total yards in 2025.

For Tuten, that would most assuredly constitute a breakout.