A staff-compiled ranking of the top 10 running backs in the NFL entering the 2026 season, with Bijan Robinson first and Jahmyr Gibbs second.

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

1 checkable claim in this take

Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.

• Top Player ListsAug 19, 2026

  “Here is our full list of the top 10 running backs entering the regular season. 10. Kenneth Walker III ... 1. Bijan Robinson”

  Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.

  Think this is wrong?

More top player lists

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

• Jason CabindaTop Player ListsHit · 100
  Cabinda named the Ravens as the AFC team that has closed the gap on the Chiefs, gave a top-five list of players who play with a fullback mentality, predicted Penei Sewell will be a perennial Pro Bowler, and picked Michael Penix Jr. to break out in Atlanta.
• Nick WrightTop Player ListsMiss · 0
  Nick trusts Josh Allen over the Broncos defense, picks the Bills to win outright in Denver (Bills +1.5 as his lock), picks the Patriots to beat the Texans by more than three, likes the 49ers to keep it close but not win, and predicts the Rams blow out the Bears roughly 42-28 with Stafford throwing about five TDs.
• Mike MayockTop Player ListsHit · 95
  Mayock says Philadelphia and Baltimore are the two most talented teams in the league, predicts Ravens DT Travis Jones has a breakout year and that Baltimore scores 30-plus points a game, believes Washington is not a one-year aberration with Jayden Daniels becoming a franchise quarterback, and ranks quarterbacks into tiers. He also thinks Aaron Rodgers will land in his 'solid' third tier and help Pittsburgh have a solid year.
• Jeremy FowlerTop Player ListsClose · 60
  Fowler's polls of anonymous NFL executives, coaches and scouts produced a top 10 wide receiver list led by Ja'Marr Chase and a top 10 quarterback list led by Patrick Mahomes.
• Rich EisenTop Player ListsClose · 40
  Rich Eisen counted down his top five quarterbacks in a better situation now than last year: Caleb Williams first, followed by Jayden Daniels, Justin Fields, Drake Maye and Dak Prescott, with Justin Herbert added as a bonus.
• Daniel JeremiahTop Player ListsClose · 69
  Jeremiah's top-150 draft board, as read out on the show, ranks Travis Hunter first, Abdul Carter second and Ashton Jeanty third, with Cam Ward eighth and Shedeur Sanders 20th.