Fantasy Football 2026 Sleeper RBs to Target in Updated Flex Rankings

Some might call them procrastinators, while others know they're strategy geniuses. We're talking, of course, about fantasy managers who hold their drafts on or after Labor Day weekend.

There are far more pitfalls to having your draft too early than too late. Players might not make the 53-man roster, get injured in preseason games or even be placed on the commissioner's exempt list for an indeterminate amount of time.

If you're about to select your team, here are updated flex rankings . Below you'll find analysis of sleeper running backs specifically who can make sure you have a bench that can carry you to the championship.

Rankings via FantasyPros and assume PPR scoring. FantasyPros' definition of sleepers is players who "have a strong chance to exceed expectations to become surprise difference-makers for fantasy managers."

<strong>Kaleb Johnson, RB, Green Bay Packers</strong>

A couple weeks ago, when it was first announced that Packers starter Josh Jacobs would be on the commissioner's exempt list for an indeterminate amount of time, savvy fantasy managers made sure to draft MarShawn Lloyd, who looks to get the bulk of the carries in the Packers backfield as long as Jacobs is unable to play.

Lloyd is no longer a sleeper—but Kaleb Johnson is, and he's worth adding to your bench in case Lloyd is injured or the Packers go to more of a committee approach. Remember that Lloyd has still only played 10 regular season snaps as he has dealt with being injured.

The Packers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a sixth-round pick. The 2025 third-round pick led the Big Ten in rushing yards in 2024, but he was never able to translate that production to an NFL field with the Steelers.

Johnson has an average draft position (ADP) of RB62. But that means that in a 12-person league, he's likely to be on someone's bench, so draft him now while you can.

How you value Brian Robinson Jr. in your draft depends on what you thought about Tyler Allgeier's role as essentially a handcuff option for Bijan Robinson in Atlanta the last three seasons. Robinson Jr. plays a similar game to Allgeier's, with high-upside red-zone potential. Robinson looks to be a good handcuff option for, uh, Robinson.

Bijan Robinson enters the 2026 season as an elite fantasy running back, going in the top of the first round in most drafts. However, Atlanta often used Tyler Allgeier last year as the second part of a two-headed running back pairing, rushing 143 times for 8 touchdowns in 2025 as the backup. Allgeier's physical running style made him an ideal choice near the goal line and red zone, with the Falcons going with an almost 50/50 split for carries between the two in 2025.

However, after Allgeier signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency this year, the Falcons swooped in and signed Brian Robinson Jr. to pair with Bijan Robinson for 2026. Brian Robinson Jr.'s physical running style lends itself to a similar pairing with Bijan, and with the Falcons going into the season with only the two running backs on the active roster, it seems likely Robinson Jr. will see goal-line touches that may siphon some away from Bijan Robinson.

Add in the fact that Atlanta continues to look for answers at the quarterback position, with the decision between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa coming down to the wire, and leaning on the running game seems like an obvious answer for new head coach Kevin Stefanski. Pairing the Robinsons (or at least picking up Robinson Jr. as a touchdown vulture) feels like a good bet before the season starts.

<strong>Kaelon Black, RB, San Francisco 49ers</strong>

If there are two things you can count on with the San Francisco 49ers, they are a heavy emphasis on the running game and the knowledge that injuries are coming. (We could make an electrical substation joke, but that seems too easy.)

Christian McCaffrey is the no-doubt RB1 for the 49ers, but despite his continued prolific stats, he turned 30 years old in June and has an extensive injury history. The 49ers are also already feeling the injury bug at other skill positions on the roster, with wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk on injured reserve (with Kirk designated for return this season), Mike Evans and rookie De'Zhuan Stribling questionable at the start of the season, and tight end George Kittle recovering from a torn achilles tendon last year.

Although Black is a third-round rookie, he has reportedly taken over the backup role for the 49ers, excelling in training camp and the preseason. Expect head coach Kyle Shanahan to lean on the running game early on in the season and find ways to get Black into games to spell McCaffrey. Should McCaffrey miss any time, Black's workload is sure to receive a massive jump.

It may be worth picking up Black as a handcuff to McCaffrey or stashing him on your bench in case the substation strikes again.