RELATED: See Overrated Running Backs here.
Some running backs get too much credit. Others don't get enough. Finding those underrated talents is what pushes fantasy rosters into championship contenders.
We asked the Footballguys staff which NFL running back they think is the most underrated. Here's what they said.
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Underrated Running Backs With 2 Votes
Kenny Gainwell, Tampa Bay
Darin Tietgen: Kenny Gainwell proved he could be a solid 1B type of back last year, getting 9-10 carries a game and being heavily involved in the pass game. Rachaad White proved this offense can support a back like Gainwell, and we now have historical data that shows Gainwell can handle the job. He could catch a ton of balls.
Jeff Haseley: Kenny Gainwell represents an excellent RB3 or RB4 target who carries standalone flex value with league-winning upside. Taking his proven pass-catching talents to Tampa Bay, he is set to step into a receiving role that immediately gives him a safe weekly floor in PPR formats. Fantasy managers are drafting him as a bench piece, but his elite receiving profile and clear path to touches make him a potential draft-day steal. Gainwell has the makeup of a Tiki Barber-like player. If Tampa Bay unleashes him in all facets, look out.
Jordan Mason, Minnesota
Hutchinson Brown: Jordan Mason is usually still available in the double-digit rounds, but very well could end up being the lead back for the Minnesota Vikings for the 2026 season. In 2025, Aaron Jones Sr. posted the lowest yards-per-carry of his career, had some of the fewest explosive runs in his career, and struggled to stay on the field. Approaching age 32 in his ninth season, it seems to be slowing down for him. Mason has proven to be a solid back and has a great chance to be the lead back of this roster.
Bob Harris: By all accounts, Jordan Mason has been putting on a show at Vikings training camp. He's been one of their most consistent performers throughout August, and some think he could be in for a big season behind Minnesota's vaunted offensive line. And while he's listed as a co-starter with Aaron Jones Sr.. on the Vikings' unofficial depth chart released Wednesday, more than one observer has suggested he'll have the RB1 title entirely to himself. If so, the possible role change is happening before ADP catches up. Mason is currently being drafted as RB39 in Round 10.
David Montgomery, Houston
Jeff Tefertiller: David Montgomery is a proven back, brought in to lead the Texans' running game. While Woody Marks is a good player, Montgomery will be a strong fantasy starter most weeks. I do not buy into the recent fantasy steam of a 50/50 split. The injury to Higgins - and the lack of depth at receiver, even after the acquisition of Boutte - will necessitate a stronger reliance on the running game. His ADP is RB20, and as a late-fourth-round pick, he offers fantasy managers an anchor if drafting receivers early.
Matt Waldman: The Houston Texans have an upgraded line on paper, a top defense, and a linebacker for a head coach. They want to run the ball and give C.J. Stroud as much time in the pocket as possible to pick apart opponents. David Montgomery is a versatile back with everything but breakaway speed. They are going to ride "Knuckles", aka Sloquan Barkley, for 280-plus touches this year in a division that looks like an emerging group on paper, but will be vulnerable to smash-mouth football.
Chris Rodriguez Jr., Jacksonville
Dave Kluge: Chris Rodriguez Jr. might be limited as a receiver and doesn't have long speed to rip off chunk plays, but he's a "glass eater," per Liam Coen. Rodriguez was top five in yards after contact per attempt, broken tackle rate, and success rate last year. Coen, his college coach, made him a priority free-agent signing. Rodriguez is going cheap in drafts and has a legitimate chance to secure the Jaguars' goal-line role, where he can easily return value as a late-round pick.
Jeff Blaylock: Liam Coen wanted the Jaguars to sign Chris Rodriguez Jr., whom he coached in college, as a free agent. Rodriguez was second only to De'Von Achane in yards after contact per attempt among qualified running backs last season. He and Bhayshul Tuten have largely split the first-team work 50/50 in camp, and Rodriguez will be the one featured near the goal line. Yet, Rodriguez is being drafted six rounds behind Tuten. Don't be surprised if the 50/50 split tips toward Rodriguez as we get deeper into the season.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England
Jeff Bell: Plenty has been made of TreVeyon Henderson's average draft position and continued struggles in training camp. Rhamondre Stevenson's ADP has not budged. Last season, Stevenson was the RB5 during the heart of the fantasy playoffs, weeks 13 through 18. The chance to take the lead back on an explosive offense outside the Top 24 backs should be an automatic selection.
Meng Song: Just because Bill Belichick is gone doesn't mean that Josh McDaniels is going to stop using a committee backfield. Last year, Rhamondre Stevenson ranked 10th among running backs in route participation, 10th in yards per route run, 3rd in yards per touch, and he led all running backs in yards per reception. And while many fantasy managers view TreVeyon Henderson as the more explosive playmaker, it might shock them to know that the rookie had 10 runs of 15-plus yards in 2025, while Stevenson had 9 such runs. Stevenson is the less-sexy name, but it wouldn't shock me if you told me come January that he again outscored Henderson in fantasy in 2026.
Kyren Williams, LA Rams
Andy Hicks: Despite the improvement of Blake Corum, Kyren Williams is a good bet to have a fourth strong season in a row. He has finished top 10 in each of those last three years with double-digit touchdown seasons and strong yardage figures in every year. He is a key focal point of the Sean McVay offense and another strong year awaits. Corum does not have a continuous upward curve. He averages half a reception a game, and Williams eats goal-line carries.
Gary Davenport: There appears to be a growing belief that Blake Corum is going to further eat into Kyren Williams' workload—and his fantasy value. But Williams has three straight seasons with over 1,100 rushing yards, double-digit touchdowns, and top-10 PPR numbers among running backs. Williams' touches were indeed down from 350 in 2024 to 295 a year ago, but his efficiency numbers were also far higher. A more efficient Williams can be every bit as dangerous in the Rams offense as he was as a workhorse.
Underrated Running Backs With 1 Vote
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington
Phil Alexander: Jacory Croskey-Merritt is coming off a historic season for a seventh-round rookie running back. He currently sits atop Washington's depth chart, and while Rachaad White will likely handle obvious passing downs, Croskey-Merritt looks like he'll get first crack at early downs and goal-line work. Jayden Daniels' return will lift the entire offense, yet Croskey-Merritt is being drafted at RB41 after producing top-30 numbers in a much worse situation last year. If he holds onto the lead role, he's capable of topping 1,000 yards with double-digit touchdowns from an ADP outside of pick 100.
Ray Davis, Buffalo
Ben Cummins: Ray Davis is a very good player who has produced everywhere he's been. He was a good pick at cost last year since his high contingent upside competes with any other RB in the league. It didn't materialize as James Cook III stayed healthy. But the bet remains the same, and Davis is even cheaper in drafts this year. He's free. Prioritize him as a bench stash so you don't have to use most of your auction budget or high waiver priority to land him if Cook goes down.
Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh
Chad Parsons: Rico Dowdle is an underrated option as he lives in an ambiguous backfield (Pittsburgh) where the market is undecided on their collective preference. Both Dowdle and Jaylen Warren are in the RB30 cost range, but their profiles are divergent. Dowdle was a surprise producer in Dallas, seizing the lead job. He was the hot hand for Carolina last season. Jaylen Warren has never gotten over the hump of being a committee back. Dowdle can easily be Aaron Rodgers' preferred receiving option and the 1A back. The most upside is present with Dowdle for the backfield.
Josh Jacobs, Green Bay
Maurile Tremblay: Josh Jacobs' 2025 dip was due to poor blocking rather than poor running. Green Bay's entire run game fell from sixth to 24th in yards per carry; every back in the room lost nearly a yard per attempt; and Jacobs generated 77 percent of his yardage after contact while playing on a dinged knee. He's still a true three-down back with little competition for carries, including at the goal line. The market is discounting him as if a suspension had already been announced, even though no charges have been filed and his attorneys expect none.
Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland
Will Grant: The Browns are in for a rough season, but I'd be very happy having Quinshon Judkins as my RB2 for my fantasy squad. With Deshaun Watson named the Week 1 starter now, he's going to draw some attention away from the running game, and Judkins is a good fit for an offense with open spaces. If he can stay healthy this year, Judkins is going to finish in the top 15 for fantasy running backs, well ahead of his current ADP.
Woody Marks, Houston
David Zacharias: My esteemed colleague Matt Waldman presents a convincing case for the Texans' run game. Now all you have to believe is that Woody Marks' demonstrated preseason utilization and positive coachspeak portend closer to a 50-50 split of touches with David Montgomery (with Marks getting the dominant share of the RB receptions) than is currently reflected in their highly disparate ADPs.
Isiah Pacheco, Detroit
Sean Settle: Detroit signed Isiah Pacheco to complement Jahmyr Gibbs after trading away David Montgomery, and while Gibbs is unquestionably the bell cow, the Lions didn't add anyone else at the position, leaving Pacheco as the clear backup with legitimate goal-line and short-yardage upside. He's currently going undrafted or in the very late rounds despite landing in one of the league's most efficient, high-scoring offensive systems. Any missed time from Gibbs, who has his own injury history, instantly makes Pacheco a startable fantasy asset in a great offense.
Jadarian Price, Seattle
Craig Lakins: Jadarian Price should be taken earlier than his current ADP. Given that the defending Super Bowl champions who lost their lead running back in free agency used a first-round draft pick on him, he's entering the perfect situation. The offense still runs through Jaxon Smith-Njigba, so defenses can't stack the box too heavily. Even after missing time in training camp, he stepped right back into the starting role. I'd be comfortable taking him early in the 5th round.
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh
Jason Wood: Jaylen Warren was a top-20 fantasy back in all scoring formats last year, yet he's being treated like a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option this draft season. Meanwhile, Kenny Gainwell, who also finished in the top-20, left for Tampa Bay, vacating 73 receptions. Rico Dowdle replaces Gainwell, which means Warren should see significantly heavier usage in passing situations on top of his regular role between the tackles.
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