NFL breakout series: Chargers' Hampton leads three RBs set to soar in 2026

The best example from last year was Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams, who cracked 1,000 yards for the first time and finished eighth at the position with 11 touchdowns on the ground.

Here are our top three tailbacks poised to follow in his footsteps, take on a workhorse role, and enter RB1 territory in the upcoming campaign.

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Stacy Revere / Staff

The 2025 first-rounder took a few games to get going in his rookie year before the lights came on.

Glimpses of his potential were evident against the Broncos in Week 3, when he finished with 70 rushing yards, scored his first career touchdown, and put up 59 receiving yards.

But it was the following game against the Giants that he really showcased his talent, with his second touchdown and 128 yards on the ground at a clip of 10.7 yards per carry.

Then, disaster struck when Hampton fractured his ankle in Week 6 vs. the Commanders, and he was placed on IR.

The North Carolina product didn't return until December and played only four more regular-season games, barely enough time to pick up where he left off.

While we never got to see Hampton in full flow for long, the evidence was sufficient to confidently project that he has the tools to succeed in the pros.

He forced a missed tackle on 26% of his rush attempts, ranking third among all running backs with at least 100 carries.

He gained 3.35 yards after contact per rushing attempt, the 11th-best mark at his position.

And despite playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the 2025 season, he ended the season with a rushing average of 4.4 yards per attempt.

Heading into 2026, the Chargers will welcome two Pro Bowl offensive tackles back from injury in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, and free-agent addition Tyler Biadasz is an upgrade at center.

Then there's the addition of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose track record includes the emergence of De'Von Achane in Miami.

Hampton is a different kind of player than Achane, but as a downhill running back with a mouthwatering combination of size and speed, he has the skillset to become a top-10 running back in the NFL.

And, as the unquestioned lead back in a potent offense led by talented quarterback Justin Herbert, he should thrive.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

Thearon W. Henderson / Stringer

Jacksonville let Travis Etienne depart for New Orleans this offseason, opening the door for Tuten to take on a much bigger workload in year two.

Tuten averaged only 3.7 yards per carry last year, but volume is king at running back, and we know he has the upside to hold down the role long-term.

At 5'9" and 206 pounds, he's not the biggest back, but that didn't hold him back at Virginia Tech, where he led the team in his final year with 1,159 rushing yards at an average of 6.3 yards per carry.

He has track speed, and after forcing 18 missed tackles on only 83 carries in his rookie season, he showed he has the elusiveness and toughness to hang in the pros.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. signed in free agency and figures to compete for a role, but a foot injury and subsequent surgery have kept him out so far, allowing Tuten to take the early lead.

And when it comes to staying on the field in passing situations, Tuten has the advantage there too, as Rodriguez has only six receptions in his three-year NFL career.

Given the high praise he's received from head coach Liam Coen, if Tuten can win the early-down rushing work and lock down red-zone touches, he has a route to becoming a low-end RB1.

Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

Skattebo's rookie campaign was cut short, first with an ankle injury, then with a season-ending fibula fracture and a torn deltoid.

The severity of the injury led many to question whether the Giants would add another running back this offseason, but they held off, sending a message of confidence in Skattebo.

After resuming team drills at the Giants' mandatory minicamp in June, Skattebo appears to have made a speedy recovery, and if he can pick up where he left off, he has the talent to excel.

A hard-nosed runner, he forced a missed tackle on 22% of his attempts, which ranked ninth among all running backs.

And averaging 4.1 yards per carry in his rookie year was no easy feat considering the Giants' offensive line was better in pass protection than at run blocking.

As a receiver, his rapport with quarterback Jaxson Dart was evident, hauling in 24 of his 32 targets for 207 yards and two touchdowns in only eight games.

Going forward, John Harbaugh's arrival as head coach brings a new offensive identity, with Matt Nagy installed as coordinator after his stint in Kansas City.

According to Dart, Skattebo is in line for a heavy role in the revamped offense.

The offensive line in front of him improved too, with first-round rookie Francis Mauigoa brought in, Jermaine Eluemunor re-signed, and an elite offensive tackle looking forward to a healthier year.

Any way you cut it, the stars have aligned, and Skattebo looks set to profit.