2026 Rankings: Top Tier RBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, I will be going over the top running backs from the 2026 rankings list. Each of these running backs have a unique skill set to bring to the offense while creating nightmares for defenses. Without further ado, let's dive into the analysis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["522704"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a94a0e929aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leading this list at #9 overall in 2026 rankings is [player_tooltip player_id='522704' first='Adrian' last='Symalla']. Symalla measures in at 5'10 185 pounds. Throughout the season, he accounted for 170 carries for 1242 yards and 12 touchdowns. He caught 10 receptions for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns too. Symalla has elite athletic ability due to elite acceleration, speed, change of direction, and very good balance. I'm impressed with his ability to accelerate, decelerate, back to acceleration. It's very smooth, and not a lot of players have that ability. He utilizes this skill in juking out defenders, and a nasty spin move. Adrian has very good vision, and uses that in tandem with good mental processing to identify the correct holes to rush through. After he gets past the line of scrimmage, he uses his home run speed to run past defenders. Symalla uses his physicality to get extra yardage too, whether that be his stiff arm or trucking through defenders. He's a natural receiver out of the backfield, being fluid. When his QB is in the scramble drill, Symalla will find a way to make himself, creating easy completions for his QB. I'm very excited to see more of what Symalla does this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["777383"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a94a0e92a02"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Frasier ended up at #21 for the overall rankings, and with good reason too. The junior measures in at 6'0 180 pounds. Throughout his sophomore season, he rushed 149 times for 822 yards and 13 touchdowns. Frasier is a bruising type of running back that will run right through the defense. He has very good athletic ability due to elite balance, very good speed, acceleration, and change of direction. When he starts to stumble, he regains his composure for a big gain. Frasier has good mental processing by identifying the correct holes to run through, thrashing the defense for a big gain. He hits the hole with tenacity. Frasier thrives using his physicality. He'll truck through defenders with ease. Frasier will drag multiple defenders with him as he gains extra yardage. Kid has a good stiff arm as well. After he breaks through the LOS, he uses his home run speed to zoom past defenders into the endzone. Frasier is a strong pass blocker as well. He'll give his QB extra time to throw the ball without pressure. Good low pad level and uses his physicality to control the defender. Frasier is great prospect who I am excited to see more of in his junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["777538"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a94a0e92a49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Arvada West running back who made this list and with good reason! [player_tooltip player_id='777538' first='Jaiden' last='Green'] landed at #37 on the 2026 rankings.  Green measures in at 6'0 180 pounds. Throughout the season, he had 125 carries for 926 yards and 6 touchdowns. Green is an elusive shifty back that thrives out in space. He has elite athletic ability due to elite speed, acceleration, change of direction, and very good balance. He is consistently using those burners to get past the 2^nd level of the defense, thrashing them for a big gain. Green shows good mental processing by identifying the correct holes to rush through. He'll use his elite change of direction to juke out defenders or make them slightly miss with his footwork. Defenders will slide off of him, or get juked out with his very clean cuts. Even though he isn't a power back, Green still has a good stiff arm to knock defenders away. Good catching out of the backfield as well. A play that stood out to me, was when he picked up a botched snap and turned into a positive gain. It's unusual to see a RB pick up a fumble and still gain positive yardage. I'm looking forward to seeing him continue breaking out on the scene with another big year in his belt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1297801"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66a94a0e92b08"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rounding the list off at #42 is [player_tooltip player_id='1297801' first='Ritchie' last='Bruno']. Bruno is a bruising power back who measures in at 6'0 185 pounds. Throughout the season, he had 224 carries for 1316 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bruno has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, acceleration, good change of direction and balance. Bruno shows good mental processing and good vision by identifying the correct holes to run through. Bruno also plays linebacker, which helps with extra knowledge of the gaps. After he gets through the line of scrimmage, Bruno utilizes his physicality to gain extra yardage. He'll put his shoulder down, trucking through defenders. Or he will utilize his nasty stiff arm to push them on the ground. Throughout his tape, I noticed it takes multiple defenders to bring him down. He will drag them with him to gain extra yardage. He thrives by being physical with the defense. He had an impressive sophomore season, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he builds upon this for his junior year!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->