Training camp is where fantasy football values change the fastest. Every practice gives us a better idea of who is climbing depth charts, earning more opportunities, and becoming targets in fantasy drafts.
Here’s the latest on some of the biggest running back battles around the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Bhayshul Tuten Is Taking Control
No running back has boosted his fantasy football stock more over the past week than Bhayshul Tuten.
After the Jaguars moved on from Travis Etienne, there was no clear RB1 entering camp. Tuten has taken full advantage of that opportunity. He’s consistently worked with the first-team offense, flashed the explosiveness that made him an intriguing prospect, and continues to receive positive reports from Jaguars camp.
Meanwhile, Chris Rodriguez Jr. is working his way back from a foot injury. Rodriguez returned to practice and could still carve out a role, but missing time has allowed Tuten to separate himself. Right now, it feels like this is Tuten’s backfield to lose.
Fantasy Football Outlook
Tuten is one of the fastest-rising players in Fantasy Football 2026 drafts. If he keeps stacking good practices, don’t be surprised if his ADP starts climbing in a hurry.
Philadelphia Eagles: Tank Bigsby Is Becoming a Sleeper
One of the more surprising stories from camp has come out of Philadelphia.
The Eagles reportedly want to manage Saquon Barkley’s workload more this season after the massive amount of touches he handled last year. That has created an opportunity for Tank Bigsby, who has reportedly split reps with the first-team offense and has been heavily involved throughout camp.
Nobody expects Barkley to lose his starting job. However, if Philadelphia follows through with reducing his workload, Bigsby could see enough touches to become one of the better late-round values in fantasy football.
Fantasy Football Outlook
Bigsby is firmly on the fantasy radar. Even if Barkley remains the clear lead back, extra work each week could make Bigsby one of the top handcuff options in 2026 fantasy football.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Rico Dowdle vs. Jaylen Warren Is Still Wide Open
The Steelers continue rotating Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren, and there still isn’t a clear favorite.
One interesting takeaway from practice came during the final two-minute drill. Dowdle was the running back on the field to close things out. It’s only one practice, but two-minute situations often give us a glimpse into which players coaches trust the most.
With padded practices now underway, we should get a much better feel for how this backfield is shaping up over the next week.
Fantasy Football Outlook
This battle remains too close to call. Dowdle’s two-minute work is encouraging, but fantasy managers should continue monitoring this competition before making any major draft decisions.
New England Patriots: Rhamondre Stevenson Still Has the Edge
There has been plenty of excitement surrounding rookie TreVeyon Henderson, but Rhamondre Stevenson still appears to be leading the Patriots backfield.
Reports from camp suggest Henderson is continuing to work through issues with vision and patience as a runner, something that was mentioned during the draft process. Stevenson has continued to receive the majority of the first-team work while Henderson develops.
Fantasy Football Outlook
Stevenson remains the safest fantasy option in this backfield. Henderson still has plenty of upside, but it may take some time before he’s ready for a larger workload.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucky Irving Continues to Lead
The Buccaneers’ backfield is beginning to look exactly how many fantasy managers hoped it would.
Bucky Irving has handled most of the rushing work during camp, while Kenneth Gainwell has primarily been used as a receiving back.
That’s a great sign for Irving’s fantasy outlook. Tampa Bay appears comfortable using him as the primary runner while Gainwell fills a complementary role on passing downs.
Fantasy Football Outlook
Early camp usage favors Irving. He’s handled most of the rushing attempts, while Gainwell has primarily worked in passing situations. We’ll get a better idea of how Tampa Bay plans to split the workload once preseason games begin, but Irving appears to have the early edge.
Other Running Back Battles We’re Watching
Not every backfield has provided meaningful updates yet.
The Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, and Washington Commanders haven’t had any major developments over the past few days. These situations should become much clearer once preseason games begin.
Final Thoughts
If you’re drafting today, Bhayshul Tuten is the biggest winner from this week’s training camp reports. Everything coming out of Jacksonville points toward him becoming the Jaguars’ lead running back.
The Eagles are also worth watching closely. If they truly plan to lighten Saquon Barkley’s workload, Tank Bigsby could become one of the best late-round values in fantasy football.
The Steelers remain one of the toughest backfields to project, while Rhamondre Stevenson continues to hold off TreVeyon Henderson in New England. In Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving is doing everything you’d want to see from a projected starting running back.
Training camp moves fast, and these backfields can change overnight. Right now, these are the running back situations fantasy managers should be watching most closely as Fantasy Football 2026 draft season heats up.
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