Best RB Values for 2026 Fantasy Football Drafts | 4 Running Backs Experts Can’t Stop Drafting (Ep. 2064)

June 24, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Four Running Backs the Experts Can't Stop Drafting

David Montgomery is being drafted as RB24 in expert consensus rankings (ECR) and RB20 in best ball, but Derek Brown sees a back who could flirt with 300 touches in Houston. The argument is simple: Joe Mixon handled 281 touches in this same offense in 2024, finishing fifth in opportunity share and 13th in carries. Montgomery is not washed—he averaged 1.2 yards after contact per attempt last season in Detroit, beat Woody Marks on every per-touch efficiency metric, and is a better pass protector. Brown believes the Texans will ride Montgomery "into the ground" much like they did Mixon, giving him top-15 RB upside with a path to double-digit touchdowns as the goal-line back. Pat Fitzmaurice adds that Houston's strong defense should provide run-friendly game scripts, and Montgomery is a "really nice target in the fifth round" for managers who load up on wide receivers early.

The Bucky Irving Debate: Health vs. Talent

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Show Intro & Setup** - Chris Welsh introduces Pat Fitzmaurice and Derek Brown to discuss four running back values with ECRs of RB20 or later.
2 (03:04) **David Montgomery (RB20 Best Ball, RB24 ECR)** - Derek Brown's first value: Montgomery in Houston.
3 (05:33) **Pat's Take on Montgomery** - Pat agrees: Montgomery is a safe volume bet in the 5th round, especially for WR-heavy builds.
4 (06:54) **Bucky Irving (RB20 ECR, RB24 Best Ball)** - Pat's first value: a personal favorite despite expert skepticism.
5 (10:24) **Derek Brown's Counter on Bucky Irving** - Brown acknowledges the O-line bounce-back but flags durability concerns.
6 (13:33) **Tony Pollard (RB31 Best Ball & ECR)** - Derek Brown's second value: a clear RB2 being drafted as an RB3.
7 (16:10) **Pat's Take on Pollard** - Pat agrees Pollard is the clear lead back and notes his strong finish (three straight 100-yard games) once the passing game got going.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Derek Brown Pat Fitzmaurice

Show Notes

Which running backs should you be targeting as values in 2026 fantasy football drafts?

On this episode of the FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast, Chris Welsh is joined by Pat Fitzmaurice and Derek Brown to break down 4 running backs they can’t stop drafting this season!

If you’re building around wide receivers early, trying a Hero RB or Zero RB approach, or simply looking for the best mid-round running back values in 2026 fantasy football drafts, this episode is packed with actionable draft advice. The guys discuss which RBs offer the best combination of volume, touchdown upside, receiving value, and ADP-based profit potential — and why these four backs stand out as some of the best draft targets at cost.

Whether you’re prepping for redraft, best ball, or early fantasy football rankings season, this episode will help you identify the RB values that can make your roster work without spending premium draft capital at the position.

Timestamps: (May be off due to ads)

Intro - 0:00:00

David Montgomery - 0:02:29

Bucky Irving - 0:06:19

Draft Intel - 0:12:27

Tony Pollard - 0:13:13

D’Andre Swift - 0:16:52

Outro - 0:19:44

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