2026 Fantasy Football RB Rankings: The EARLY Draft Strategy Everyone Is Missing!

On this episode of the The Pat Mayo Experience, Pat Mayo is joined by Ian Hartitz to break down their way-too-early 2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings — and why early drafts are suddenly being dominated by RBs.
 

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With names like:

Christian McCaffrey

Bijan Robinson

Jahmyr Gibbs

Jonathan Taylor

Saquon Barkley

…flying off the board in early Best Ball drafts, the guys dive into:
 

✅ The RB tier drop that changes your draft strategy

✅ Why volume RBs are crushing WRs in half-PPR formats

✅ Chase Brown’s shocking Top-5 fantasy case

✅ James Cook regression concerns

✅ Is CMC still worth a Top-3 pick after 400+ touches?

✅ The risky RB archetype you should avoid in 2026

✅ Why mid-round RBs might disappear faster than ever

If you’re drafting early Best Ball teams — or just want a leg up before rankings shift after free agency — this is the 2026 RB strategy breakdown you need before your next fantasy football draft.

GET IAN’S RANKINGS & 20% off Fantasy Life Premium Packages use code "Ian”: https://www.fantasylife.com/pricing

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Show Index

00:00 Intro

2:00 Running Back Draft Strategy and Early Draft Results

5:30 RB Rankings Tier 1

14:45 RB Rankings Tier 2

30:15 RB Rankings Tier 3

51:15 Bucky Irving

 

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