At RotoViz, we like to look at NFL prospects’ collegiate production as a foundational data point in making predictions. The best predictor of whether a player will succeed in the NFL is whether they succeeded in college. But it would be a mistake to think that size and speed don’t matter. Indeed, for a long time, we’ve relied on Freak Scores to find wide receiver prospects who might be especially well-suited to scoring TDs at the NFL level. The combination of height, weight, and speed gives some WRs an edge around the goal line, and Freak Scores are able to capture that edge.
A few years ago, Matt Spencer showed how that same analysis can be applied to running backs. The freak athletes at the RB position — Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Saquon Barkley — are some of the most prolific touchdown scorers in the league, even relative to their draft position. Being big (in terms of both height and weight) and fast turns out to be an advantage at the position.
So how does the 2026 running back class stack up?
Get even more in-depth coverage of the upcoming rookies in the 2026 RotoViz Rookie Guide. Volume 1 is out now, and Volume 2 will be released shortly. With over 90 advanced player profiles and up-to-date rankings, the RotoViz Rookie Guide is the premier source for all things related to your 2026 rookie drafts.
