2026 Dynasty Values at Running Back
Welcome to my 2026 Dynasty Values at Running Back article!
We’re a week away from the NFL Draft, and now is the PERFECT time to make a few low-cost acquisitions in your Dynasty Fantasy Football leagues at Running Back that could pay dividends for you this season and potentially for the next couple of seasons.
Realistically speaking, we’re not talking former WWE Superstar EDGE level of hype around these guys; more like his former tag team partner, Christian. However, even then, Christian was a World Champion.
And just like Christian, these running backs have the potential to be champions for you!
- Stats provided by Fantasy Pros Data Suite, PFF, and Dynasty League Football.
- RB rankings based on RBs with 50 rushing attempts or more.
Player Name: Jordan Mason
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Age: 26
DLF SuperFlex ADP (March): RB54
2025 Position Finish in PPR PPG: RB46 (8.1 PPG)
Jordan Mason punches in the first TD for the #Vikings!pic.twitter.com/qdf6hTZfOx
— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) November 16, 2025
Player Overview:
In 2025, it was a tale of which running back was the only one on the field during each game that determined their value for fantasy managers. Simply put, from a fantasy points per game average, when one was out, the other one averaged double-digit fantasy points. When the other was out, the other one ALSO averaged double-digit fantasy points. The two running backs I’m talking about are Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones.
When comparing them head-to-head as pure runners, Mason had Jones beat in many statistical categories:
- Rushing Success Rate (58.3%); RB10 overall
- Missed Tackles Forced Per Attempt (0.19); RB11 overall
- TD Rate (3.8%); RB28 overall
- Yards After Contact Per Attempt (2.42); RB18 overall
Projected:
Assuming the Vikings don’t draft a high-value replacement, based on last year, Jordan Mason was and is the more efficient, younger, explosive, and most importantly, the cheaper option at running back in this Vikings’ running back room. While Aaron Jones has a leg up on him as a receiving back, the upgrade at Quarterback with the signing of Kyler Murray should make this offense look more balanced, allowing for more running lanes to open up, giving Mason more room to use that high breakaway percentage to his advantage. Not to mention, Aaron Jones is 31 years old, and the team only brought him back on a cheap deal. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
Get ahead of managers before the NFL Draft and acquire Mason in as many leagues as you can.
Player Name: Chris Rodriguez, Jr.
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Age: 25
DLF SuperFlex ADP (March): RB70
2025 Position Finish in PPR PPG: RB52 (7.1 PPG)
Chris Rodriguez Jr. gets loose for the big gain!
— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2025
Watch on ESPN
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/dBKeXjgPpl
Player Overview:
The former Kentucky Wildcat and Washington Commander signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason, and now the conversation, for me at least, has shifted towards whether or not the Jaguars got their guy to lead this backfield. Head Coach Liam Cohen has a rapport with Rodriguez from their time together at the University of Kentucky, where Cohen was Rodriguez’s offensive coordinator.
Enter Bayshul Tuten truthers.
So many people were on board the Tuten bandwagon in 2025, and were actually thinking Tuten was going to have a huge impact in taking away touches from Travie Etienne (Ay-Chan). 263 rushing attempts by Etienne to Tuten’s 83 rushing attempts, and the rest is history.
With Etienne now in New Orleans, Tuten truthers have come out of hiding and are once again talking about him being THE GUY to have in Jacksonville. However, when comparing efficiency and production last season between Rodriguez and Tuten, it’s not so clear which running back is THE GUY in Jacksonville:
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (2025)
- Missed Tackles Forced per Attempt: (0.18) RB15 overall
- Yards After Contact per Attempt: (3.04) RB3 overall
- TD Rate: (5.4%) RB9 overall
- Rushing Success Rate: (58%) RB4 overall
- Fantasy Points Per Game (PPR): 7.1
Bayshul Tuten (2025)
- Missed Tackles Forced per Attempt: (0.18) RB13 overall
- Yards After Contact per Attempt: (2.4) RB19 overall
- TD Rate: (6.0%) RB3 overall
- Rushing Success Rate: (57.8%) RB5 overall
- Fantasy Points Per Game (PPR): 6.0
Neither running back really excelled as far as receiving options, per PFF’s advanced receiving metrics.
Projected:
So, what are we doing here? Are we rolling with a second-year running back who was drafted by this coaching staff in 2025, or should we be rolling with a free agent running back who has the coaching connection from back in college?
The answer is simple.
The cheaper of the two.
Let the Tuten truthers scramble and overpay because of the hype his name is commanding on the “Dynasty Streets”.
Try to acquire the other Jaguars running back who has performed comparably to Tuten in 2025 and received a 2-year, $10 million contract from his old coach this offseason.
Player Name: Keaton Mitchell
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Age: 24
DLF SuperFlex ADP (March): RB67
2025 Position Finish in PPR PPG: RB74 (4.3 PPG)
Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell, now fully healthy from his knee injury, rips off an impressive 22-yard TD.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 7, 2025
pic.twitter.com/NrdATw2ea9 https://t.co/IBvuho8Iyv
Player Overview:
Newly signed running back for the Los Angeles Chargers, Keaton Mitchell, just signed a 2-year, $9.25 million contract. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has gone on record stating how impressed he has been with Mitchell’s “home-run speed” and rushing efficiency, and how his addition to the team could give them a “Thunder and Lightning” backfield with Mitchell and Omarion Hampton.
Projected:
In 13 games played in 2025, Mitchell averaged 6.8 yards per carry and was the RB1 in explosive run rate. It remains to be seen how much he’ll eat into Hampton’s workload, but with the sheer amount of rushing attempts that Quarterback Justin Herbert had last season likely shifting towards Keaton Mitchell’s involvement in Mike McDaniel’s offense, Mitchell could very likely be a serviceable FLEX play more often than not in 2026 and would CERTAINLY be a highly sought after running back if Hampton suffers an injury.