RB Sleepers For Fantasy Football 2026: Kaelon Black Is Ready to Roll

With the running back position as volatile as it gets, there are gems to be found late in your 2026 fantasy football drafts. One successful stash can be the difference between making the playoffs or crashing and burning, making it vital you target these three RBs who can elevate your roster once wear and tear rears its ugly head.

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RB Sleepers For Fantasy Football 2026

Kaelon Black | RB | SF

Not too long ago, Christian McCaffrey brought down every roster that drafted him, failing to overcome an Achilles injury which led to him missing a majority of the 2024 season. That season burned into our brains, making us wary of drafting him even though he has shown he is fully healthy and ready to lead the San Francisco 49ers backfield.

With that said, McCaffrey is 30 years old, and his recent history of injuries is a cause for concern. Enter Kaelon Black, the 49ers backup rookie running back who has been able to take full advantage of his small workload in the preseason, averaging 7.0 yards per carry against the Las Vegas Raiders in his most recent outing.

Should McCaffrey miss any time, Black would receive a massive boost to his workload, turning him into a surefire starter. With opposing defenses having to stretch out their second level in order to blanket the 49ers star-studded cast of pass catchers, Black would have more space in the middle to exploit. Even if you don’t draft McCaffrey in the first round, Black’s upside in the later rounds is more than worth a stash on the bench.

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Isiah Pacheco | RB | DET

After trading David Montgomery away to the Houston Texans, the Detroit Lions were quick to find his replacement, signing Isiah Pacheco to a one-year deal. Before hitting IR with a back injury, the 27-year-old was set for a complementary role in a high-powered offense that is expected to reside near the top of the board in Off DVOA. The contingent upside was looking very real before the injury — if anything were to happen to Jahmyr Gibbs, Pacheco would inherit a lucrative role. 

The veteran will need to work his way back after at least four weeks on the shelf, meaning he's dirt cheap in drafts and an easy IR stash in leagues that allow it. Pacheco will need to round back into form after struggling a bit last year, ranking well below league average in Yards Over Expected per Attempt. His lack of usage through the air also handicaps his ceiling, averaging just 5.3 receiving yards per game in his 2025 campaign.

Still, should Jahmyr Gibbs go down with an injury, Pacheco will firmly be in the mix as an RB1 with no one else on the roster threatening to chip away at his workload. The injury has made the price even lower, and the IR stash is better than burning a roster spot on the handcuff. 

Ray Davis | RB | BUF

After leaping over Ty Johnson on the depth chart, Ray Davis has turned into one of the more valuable handcuffs in fantasy. While James Cook still forces Davis to reside on the sideline, the Bills RB is just one injury away from taking the reins as the lead back in one of the more explosive offenses in the league.

Even with Josh Allen poaching carries near the goal line, the Bills' high volume of trips to the red zone will keep Davis afloat, making him a starter you can lean should Cook suffer an injury. When given the opportunity, Davis was efficient with his carries last season, averaging nearly 5 yards per attempt while generating 8.6 yards per reception.