Fantasy Football: Omarion Hampton in Mike McDaniel's offense headlines RB breakout candidates for 2026
With fantasy football drafts ramping up and NFL training camps just over a month away, the time has come to narrow down which players could be this year's breakout stars.
It seems easy in hindsight, but identifying young talent on the verge of making a major leap is often what propels fantasy managers to championships.
Over the next week, I'll highlight my favorite breakout candidates at every key fantasy position. Today, we're taking a look at running backs.
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2026 Breakout Candidates: QB | RB | WR | TE
Running BacksOmarion Hampton, Chargers2026 Fantasy Projection | Carries | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs |
Omarion Hampton | 272 | 1,228 | 9 | 52 | 334 | 2 |
Hampton makes this list for a second straight season, after injuries derailed a promising rookie campaign. Even with the majority of the Chargers' offensive line banged up in 2025, he was still extremely effective and likely would have completed his breakout if he managed to stay healthy.
The first-rounder showed he can be a productive fantasy starter by finishing as the RB16 in per game scoring - averaging 13.3 points and delivering double-digit fantasy totals in six of his last seven appearances.
Despite being limited to just nine games, Hampton posted top-24 results in over half of his appearances, with three of those weeks landing him inside the top-12 at the position.
As the 23-year-old enters his second season, the environment around him in the Chargers' offense has improved exponentially. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has had a hand in some of the best rushing attacks in the league in recent seasons and now brings his playcalling to Los Angeles.
On top of that, the Chargers are getting their star tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back from season-ending injuries and reinforcements are on the way in the interior with center Tyler Biadasz, guard Cole Strange and second-round rookie guard Jake Slaughter. We can even add in fullback Alec Ingold and tight end Charlie Kolar as meaningful pieces that will help upgrade the team's blocking and allow McDaniel to implement his system immediately.
Coming from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, McDaniel can scheme up a rushing game with the best of them and he has all the pieces in place to get a monster year out of Hampton.
In the last three seasons alone, McDaniel was responsible for four fantasy RB1 campaigns with De'Von Achane accomplishing the feat three times and Raheem Mostert getting there once. If you're worried about the arrival of the lightning quick Keaton Mitchell - don't be. There is more than enough to go around in a McDaniel backfield and Mitchell has never been a high-volume player in the pros.
Hampton is locked in as a top-10 back heading into his sophomore season and is one of my favorite picks in Round 2.
Boone's redraft rank: RB9 (Low-end fantasy RB1 with league-winning upside)
Cam Skattebo, Giants2026 Fantasy Projection | Carries | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs |
Cam Skattebo | 239 | 1,026 | 7 | 45 | 341 | 2 |
Skattebo's rookie season will be remembered for the brutal way it ended, when he suffered a fractured tibia, dislocated ankle and ruptured deltoid ligament in October. It was a gruesome injury that halted a rising star from emerging in the Giants' backfield.
Prior to getting hurt, Skattebo suited up for eight games and in his final six healthy appearances he averaged the seventh-most fantasy points per contest among running backs in half-PPR scoring (17.4 fppg). The fourth-round pick also earned 22 touches per outing in his last four starts. On the season, the only running back to average more than 22 touches per contest was Christian McCaffrey.
There are no guarantees that the version of Skattebo we see in 2026 will be 100% restored to the same form he displayed as a rookie. However, he's already back on the practice field and appears on track to be ready for Week 1. As long as he can get back to full health - which I believe he will - the 24-year-old has a clear path to being a fantasy RB2 with an outside shot to turn into a top-12 fantasy starter.
Boone's redraft rank: RB15 (Mid-range fantasy RB2 with RB1 potential)
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TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots2026 Fantasy Projection | Carries | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs |
TreVeyon Henderson | 203 | 987 | 7 | 42 | 295 | 1 |
Henderson is a highly-debated fantasy asset, following a rookie season where the second-rounder often took a backseat to teammate Rhamondre Stevenson. However, we saw more than enough to have faith in Henderson becoming a weekly fantasy difference-maker in the near future.
From Week 8 on, with Stevenson missing three contests, Henderson showcased high-end fantasy potential as the RB12 during that stretch, including two games with at least 150 yards and two scores. While it might not seem like it, Henderson finished with 1,132 yards and 10 TDs, which made him the RB25 in fppg. Stevenson was the RB30. The 24-year-old also held the edge with 53.6 rushing yards per outing to Stevenson's 52.4, while averaging nearly a full yard more per attempt.
Though Henderson might not have the same elite fantasy ceiling as someone like Jahmyr Gibbs, you can easily envision the Patriots' backfield unfolding in a similar fashion to the Lions' RB room over the past three years. In Detroit, Gibbs siphoned snaps and touches away from David Montgomery, before becoming the unquestioned lead back. Henderson will do the same in New England, so enjoy drafting him at the Round 4-5 turn while you still can.
Boone's redraft rank: RB23 (Low-end fantasy RB2 with RB1 potential)
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars2026 Fantasy Projection | Carries | Rushing Yards | Rushing TDs | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs |
Bhayshul Tuten | 234 | 976 | 7 | 34 | 245 | 2 |
The departure of Travis Etienne Jr. opens the door for Tuten to earn a much larger role in Year 2, with his main competition being early-down grinder Chris Rodriguez Jr.
The 26-year-old Rodriguez (turns 27 in September) hasn't topped 500 rushing yards in any of his three NFL seasons and is already dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him in OTAs - costing him valuable reps with his new team. Meanwhile, Tuten continues to earn praise from people around the Jaguars' organization, including his head coach Liam Coen, who noted his year-over-year improvement.
As a rookie, Tuten flashed intriguing fantasy upside with his explosiveness and a nose for the end zone that led to seven touchdowns. In the end, he posted three top-24 weekly finishes despite being the clear No. 2 back in Jacksonville. If Tuten carves out at least 50% of the backfield work, he has the type of big-play ability and pass-catching skills that could turn him into a fantasy star in one of the league's most dangerous offenses.
Boone's redraft rank: RB24 (Low-end fantasy RB2 with RB1 potential)