Big Ten Running Back Preview

The Big Ten is loaded at running back.

Many of the league's best backfields feature multiple draftable options.

Oregon, USC, Iowa, Washington, Indiana and Michigan all have more than one RB who deserves fantasy consideration.

The BlueChip market is aggressively paying for projected workloads, but history tells us some of these committees won't play out exactly as expected.

Here's how the Big Ten RB pool breaks down for 2026, starting with the options the BlueChip community is drafting inside the top 200.

BlueChip Top-200 Big Ten Running Backs

11 ADP — Antwan Raymond (Rutgers)

Few backs in college football can match this combination of volume and production. In 2025, Raymond carried the ball 244 times for 1,241 yards and 13 TDs while adding 18 receptions for 225 yards and 2 scores. That's 1,466 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns. Rutgers returns one of the few true bell-cow backs in the Big Ten, which explains why he's the first RB off the board.

12 ADP — Darius Taylor (Minnesota)

The 2025 rushing line looks underwhelming at first glance: 143 carries for 670 yards and 4 TDs. Injuries limited him, but he still added 34 receptions for 245 yards and remained the focal point of Minnesota's offense when available. The talent has never been the question. Durability has. If Taylor finally puts together a full season, his ceiling is RB1 overall.

18 ADP — Jordan Marshall (Michigan)

Michigan may have found its next workhorse. Marshall rushed for 932 yards and 10 TDs on only 150 carries while sharing work with Justice Haynes. Haynes is gone, and most offseason reporting points to Marshall entering 2026 as the Wolverines' lead back. The workload should increase. The concern is how much five-star freshman Savion Hiter cuts into that ceiling.

32 ADP — Bo Jackson (Ohio State)

The Ohio State offense creates fantasy stars. Jackson took advantage of that environment as a true freshman, producing 1,090 rushing yards and 6 TDs while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The efficiency is impressive. The question is volume. Ohio State has enough talent to spread touches around and rest its stars. Jackson doesn't need 200 carries to pay off, but he will need more touchdowns.

45 ADP — Waymond Jordan (USC)

Jordan looked like one of the best backs in the country before an ankle injury cut his season short. In just six games, he rushed for 576 yards and 5 TDs while averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Jordan's return from injury is a big reason the market is willing to pay this price. The talent is obvious. The question is whether he separates from King Miller enough to justify this price. It's a little rich for me.

55 ADP — Jordan Davison (Oregon)

Fifteen rushing touchdowns tend to get a draft room's attention. Davison reached that number on only 113 carries as a true freshman, finishing with 667 rushing yards in one of the nation's best offenses. Oregon appears comfortable using him near the goal line, which drives a large part of his fantasy value. The concern is simple: Dierre Hill is too talented to disappear.

55 ADP — Wayne Knight (UCLA)

New UCLA coach Bob Chesney brought Knight with him from James Madison after a breakout 2025 season that included 1,373 rushing yards, 9 TDs, 40 receptions, and 397 receiving yards. I think 55 ADP is too aggressive. You're betting on a G6 star to immediately produce big numbers in the Big Ten. No thanks.

79 ADP — Carsen Hansen (Penn State)

Hansen followed Matt Campbell from Iowa State to Penn State after posting 952 rushing yards and 6 TDs in 2025. He closed the year with five consecutive 100-yard games and already has Power Conference production on his résumé. If he wins the starting job, this ADP will look like a bargain.

80 ADP — Kamari Moulton (Iowa)

Moulton quietly put together one of the better rushing seasons in the conference, finishing with 878 rushing yards and 5 TDs on 170 carries. While much of the offseason attention has focused on Iowa's portal addition (FCS rushing leader LJ Phillips), Moulton is the back who already proved he can produce against Big Ten defenses.

96 ADP — Caleb Komolafe (Northwestern)

Sometimes the market overcomplicates things. Komolafe handled 190 carries for 941 yards and 11 TDs, adding another score as a receiver. There simply aren't many backs available around pick 100 with this combination of volume and proven production. If the Wildcats' offense takes even a small step forward, Komolafe could easily outperform this ADP. I'm buying.

103 ADP — DeJuan Williams (Maryland)

PPR managers should probably be more interested than standard-league drafters. Williams finished 2025 with 128 carries for 501 yards and 3 TDs while adding 29 receptions for 227 yards and another score. Maryland's offense rarely produces a fantasy superstar at running back, but backs with receiving roles tend to outperform their ADP.

104 ADP — Turbo Richard (Indiana)

Indiana turned two running backs into 1,000-yard rushers last season. Richard arrives from Boston College hoping to become the next one after posting 749 rushing yards, 9 TDs, and 30 receptions in 2025. The three-down skill set is appealing. The committee talk is not.

127 ADP — Jayden Limar (Washington)

Limar transferred from Oregon looking for a larger role, but there's no guarantee he finds one. Washington enters 2026 with an unsettled backfield, and many projections expect Adam Washington to be part of the equation. Limar's recruiting pedigree and change of scenery make him intriguing, but unlike some of the backs in this range, we aren't even sure he starts.

130 ADP — Cam Edwards (Michigan State)

This might be my favorite value on the board. Edwards arrives from UConn after posting 1,240 rushing yards, 15 TDs, and 19 receptions in 2025. He was one of the most productive running backs available in the portal, yet he's being drafted outside the top 125 picks. The Spartans brought him in to carry the football… a lot.

135 ADP — Dierre Hill (Oregon)

After averaging 8.7 yards per carry and rushing for 656 yards as a true freshman, Hill enters 2026 as one of the most explosive backs in the conference. Oregon insiders consistently view Hill and Jordan Davison as co-stars, yet Davison costs 80 picks more. That's a gap I'm willing to exploit.

148 ADP — King Miller (USC)

Miller took advantage of Waymond Jordan's injury and finished with 972 rushing yards and 8 TDs, producing the better statistical season. A 100-pick ADP gap only makes sense if Miller is a true backup. USC doesn't seem to view him that way. Wheels up.

161 ADP — LJ Phillips (Iowa)

Not many players arrive in the Big Ten after leading the entire FCS in rushing. Phillips piled up 1,920 yards and 19 TDs at South Dakota while adding 28 receptions. Iowa brought him in to compete for the starting job, but he hasn't won it yet. Buyer beware.

Time 4 Action

I'm willing to pay up for Cam Edwards and Caleb Komolafe because the path to volume is obvious.

I'm willing to draft Dierre Hill and King Miller because the market appears to be discounting productive players in elite offenses.

When the market gives you a good player 80-100 picks after his teammate, don't be afraid to take the discount.

That's where leagues are won.

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