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Veteran RBs Who Won the NFL Draft

These guys dodged competition entirely.

W
Whiproute
May 3, 2026

The NFL Draft came and went, and a handful of veteran running backs dodged all new competition.

Only one running back was drafted on Day 2 (Kaelon Black to the 49ers). That's as clean as it gets for veteran fantasy backs.

Quinshon Judkins

No new competition entering 2026. His main competition is Dylan Sampson since Jerome Ford left in free agency. The Browns used pick 9 on Spencer Fano, the best run blocker in the class, and added Zion Johnson, Elgton Jenkins, and Tytus Howard. A healthier Judkins behind a rebuilt line has way more upside.

Chase Brown

The Bengals drafted zero running backs. Brown's weekly finishes in games with Burrow were absurd: RB1, RB3, RB6, RB10, RB13, RB22. He averaged 21.4 PPR fantasy points per game with Burrow. There is no new threat to his workload.

Chuba Hubbard

Carolina didn't draft an RB in the first three rounds. Hubbard remains the lead back with Jonathon Brooks as a complementary piece. The volume floor is safe.

David Montgomery

The Texans didn't add a single RB in the entire draft. That tells you everything about their confidence in Montgomery. They also spent their 1st round pick on the offensive line. Expect heavy usage in 2026.

Tony Pollard

Jeremiyah Love was the consensus pick to the Titans at 4, but Arizona took him one pick earlier. The Titans only added a depth RB in Michael Carter this offseason. Pollard profiles as their RB1 entering his age-29 season. He averaged 107 total yards per game over his final 5 games.

– Alex

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