Running Back
Running Back (RB) First Round Draft Trends
This page tracks every running back selected in Round 1 of the NFL Draft from 2021 through 2025, with pick-by-pick scoring under both the Huddle Report and FantasyPros systems. Use the year toggles to isolate individual draft classes or compare RB selection patterns across all five years.
Understanding how many running backs go in Round 1 each year — and where in the round they cluster — is one of the most effective ways to improve mock draft accuracy. Position-specific trends help you decide whether to project a running back at a given slot or anticipate a position run that could push RBs into a different range than expected.
Build your 2026 mock draft with these historical RB trends in mind, then check the accuracy leaderboard after draft night to see how your running back picks scored.
Teams Likely to Draft a Running Back in 2026
Based on current team needs, the following teams have running back as a top-3 positional need heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. As an offensive position, running backs are part of the offensive side of the ball — see the offense vs defense analysis for how each side has trended from 2021–2025:
- Tennessee Titans — Pick #4
- Washington Commanders — Pick #7
- Tennessee Titans — Pick #31
- Seattle Seahawks — Pick #32
Related Analysis
- Offense vs Defense — how side-of-ball distribution shapes Round 1 each year
- Accuracy by Pick Range — where in the round predictions are hardest
- Position Runs — consecutive same-position picks that shift RB draft slots
- 1st Round Misses — projected Round 1 players who fell to Day 2
- Consensus Big Board — 86.3% of top-32 ranked prospects go in Round 1