3 Late-Round Running Backs to Draft (2026 Fantasy Football)

It’s the heart of best ball summer, but it’s also time to ramp up for season-long managed leagues. While many players are appealing in both formats, the following late-round running back targets were curated for half-PPR redraft fantasy football leagues, and the featured players have an average draft position (ADP) after 120.

Late-Round Fantasy Football Running Back Targets

Aaron Jones (RB – MIN) | ADP: 121 (RB40)

Aaron Jones doesn’t have an exciting ceiling, and his best fantasy football days are in his rearview mirror. Nevertheless, he’s a bargain who can outproduce his fantasy football ADP.

In a down year, Jones was tied for the RB33 in half-PPR points per game (8.7) among running backs who played at least eight games in 2025. Sadly, per Pro-Football-Reference, he missed five games, and his 4.2 yards per carry, 4.9 yards per target and 4.7 yards per touch were the lowest marks of his career.

Still, Jones is only a year removed from finishing as the RB20 in half-PPR points per game (12.7) among running backs who played at least eight games in 2024, his first year with the Vikings. Jones played all 17 games in 2024, rebounding from an injury-shortened campaign after missing six games in 2023.

The 31-year-old running back is the most appealing fantasy selection from Minnesota’s backfield in half-PPR and PPR formats, albeit with Jordan Mason being the more appealing option in standard-scoring formats.

Mason is a superior runner, but he provides little value in the passing attack, while Jones is still a passing-game contributor. According to the Fantasy Points Data Suite, Jones had the following receiving numbers in 2025 (among 78 running backs with at least 50 routes in the regular season):

• 45.7% route participation rate (tied for 14th)
• 12.1% target share (8th)
• 0.22 targets per route run (tied for 21st)
• 3.1 targets per game (tied for 17th)
• 28 receptions (33rd)
• 16.6 receiving yards per game (tied for 29th)
• 1.18 yards per route run (tied for 31st)

Jones also wasn’t entirely iced out in scoring territory. He handled 42.9% of Minnesota’s rush attempts inside the 5-yard line versus 53.8% for Jordan Mason.

Jones doesn’t have league-winning upside. Having said that, he’s a viable early-season RB2 or FLEX option. Jones is also an ideal target as an RB2 on Zero RB or Hero RB rosters. Gamers churn through the waiver wire or bank on injuries to starting running backs, providing value to their respective handcuffs.

Keaton Mitchell (RB – LAC) | ADP: 146 (RB47)

I’ve repeatedly gushed about Keaton Mitchell, starting back in January, when I tabbed him as a breakout candidate at running back. Next, I highlighted Mitchell as a player you should already believe in at the end of March. And, again, I called Mitchell a late-round sleeper to target in June.

Readers are encouraged to check out the linked pieces for more details about his explosiveness and eye-popping rushing efficiency. Rather than rehash those points here, I’d prefer to expand upon why he’s an appealing late-round option at running back in managed leagues.

First, Chargers new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel wanted Mitchell for his offense, going so far as to print “Wanted” posters for Mitchell and fullback Alec Ingold to put on the walls of general manager Joe Hortiz’s office. Second, Mitchell is similarly built and has similar dynamism to McDaniel’s former Dolphins starting running back De’Von Achane.

Mitchell isn’t a threat to overtake Omarion Hampton on Los Angeles’s depth chart, but Mitchell can shine in a complementary role. In addition, McDaniel has had offenses that have been fantasy-friendly for more than one running back, with the 2023 Dolphins standing out as a glaringly obvious example. Raheem Mostert and Achane both smashed.

Gamers should target Mitchell to see how he’s used early in the season. If McDaniel finds 8-10 touches for Mitchell instead of the 5.2 touches per game he had in 2025 in Baltimore, Mitchell can have standalone value as a FLEX option, bye week fill-in or RB2 with contingent upside if Hampton were injured. Having said that, if Mitchell is mired in a tiny role, touching the ball only 3–8 times a game through the first two weeks, gamers can dump him and move on.

Kaytron Allen (RB – WSH) | ADP: 200.3 (RB60)

Let me preface by saying I think Jonah Coleman will finish ahead of Kaytron Allen in the running back rankings at the end of 2026, and I previously highlighted him as a sleeper to target. Having said that, Coleman has an ADP of 155 as the RB50, so Allen is a deeper late-round sleeper.

Moreover, in leagues where gamers are active, passing on Coleman makes sense. He has stiffer competition to reach the field early in the season, as J.K. Dobbins is a better runner than Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White. Also, RJ Harvey was a more productive receiver than either of them in 2025. Dobbins has a lengthy injury history, and Harvey was inefficient as a runner.

Ultimately, Sean Payton could eventually view Coleman as his best do-it-all running back, and Coleman could fill either the early-down role for Dobbins if he got hurt or the passing role for Harvey if he were injured or unreliable as a pass-blocking option. Still, in active leagues, a slow start for Coleman could result in him getting cast loose to the waiver wire or make him a trade target.

Meanwhile, the Week 1 reveal for Washington’s backfield usage could make Allen the cover image for waiver wire articles entering Week 2.

Among 59 FBS running backs with at least 100 rush attempts in 2025 in this year’s draft class, Allen was second in Pro Football Focus’s (PFF) run grade, fifth in rushing yards (1,303), eighth in yards per carry (6.2), tied for second in rushing touchdowns (15), 12th in yards after contact per attempt (3.77), tied for fifth in missed tackles forced (57) and ninth in elusiveness rating.

Allen’s rushing production is all the more impressive when considering the competition from teammate Nicholas Singleton.

Allen is unlikely to add fantasy value as a receiver. He had his worst season as a receiver in his final collegiate season, with only 23 targets, 18 receptions and 68 scoreless receiving yards in 12 games on 142 routes.

Allen had fewer than 200 receiving yards in all four of his college seasons, tallying only 490 and 0.74 yards per route run on 661 career routes. Regardless, if Allen is Washington’s preferred early-down and goal-line running back, he can be a fantasy asset.

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