Backfield Kombat!!! | 2026’s High-Stakes Training Camp Battles to Watch

by Edward DeLauter · Featured
2026 running back battles to watch

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Today, Ed DeLauter takes aim at some of the more dynamic position battles coming in 2026 training camps across the league. The results will go a long way to shifting ADPs for the remainder of the summer and should be monitored diligently. 

2026 Fantasy Football Training Camp Battles to Watch

Los Angeles Chargers Tight End | Oronde Gadsden II, Charlie Kolar, & David Njoku | “Your Souls Are Mine!”

The Chargers revamped their tight end room this offseason by first adding free agent Charlie Kolar on a three-year, $ 24.3 million deal, and then signing fantasy football darling David Njoku to a one-year, $3 million contract. Oronde Gadsden returns after a stellar rookie season in which he finished as TE14 in fantasy points from week six on.

While Gadsden is likely the player to monitor for fantasy purposes, his ceiling in fantasy will largely depend on how the Chargers utilize both Kolar and Njoku. The Chargers will likely use some form of rotation at the position; hopefully, training camp will provide insight into how many snaps Gadsden can expect this season.

Carolina Panthers Running Back | Chuba Hubbard & Jonathon Brooks | “Feel the Chill of Death!”

Chuba Hubbard was the de facto starter for the Panthers last season until he sustained a calf injury in week four. Thereafter, upon his return, he ceded most of the running back opportunities to Rico Dowdle due to Dowdle’s superior efficiency. With Dowdle now in Pittsburgh, Hubbard again finds himself, again, the de facto starting running back for the Panthers.

The Panthers appear to be poised to see what former second-round pick Jonathon Brooks has to offer, however. Now fully healthy after taking a full season to recover from a second ACL tear sustained as a rookie, Brooks should compete immediately with Hubbard for touches. Perhaps training camp will tell how soon Brooks may be able to leapfrog Hubbard on the depth chart. It seems not a matter of “if,” but “when.”

Cleveland Browns Quarterback: Deshaun Watson & Shedeur Sanders |“Don’t Make Me Laugh”

Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders are slated to square off in training camp to see who will quarterback the Browns’ offense in 2026. Sanders is coming off an atrocious rookie season in which he posted 4.6 air yards per attempt and a 70.7 True Passer Rating, with both metrics placing him 38th among qualified quarterbacks. Watson, on the other hand, hasn’t played a full season of football since the Browns acquired him and has failed to post an AY/A higher than 5.7 since he was acquired.

While neither quarterback is a player you are looking to draft, the success at the quarterback position is instrumental for the skill position players like Harold Fannin Jr. and K.C. Concepcion.

Atlanta Falcons Quarterback | Tua Tagovailoa & Michael Penix Jr. | “Toasty…”

The Falcons signed Tua Tagovailoa this offseason to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting quarterback position in Atlanta. Tua will have the upper hand in camp as Penix is still recovering from last season’s ACL tear. However, Tagovailoa is coming off the worst season of his career, posting an 89.9 True Passer Rating and an AY/A of only 5.8 yards, numbers that place him 30th or below all qualified quarterbacks. Penix has shown promise throughout his tenure with the Falcons. While he has been unable to stay healthy and complete a full season as a starter, Penix posted a seven adjusted YPA last season, placing 15th among all qualified quarterbacks. He also, unlike the “pop gun arm” of Tua, averages 8.3 Air Yards per Attempt, all the way up at ninth among qualified quarterbacks.

While both Tua and Penix remain off the redraft radar, who starts for the Falcons is highly relevant for Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. All of the Falcons’ skill players likely have more upside with Penix under center all season.

Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver: Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Caleb Douglas, & Chris Bell | “We are Many… You are One!”

The Dolphins receiver room is a rag-tag bunch of intriguing rookies and veterans that have flashed spurts of production. Holdover Malik Washington has the inside track to the WR1 spot and finished as a top-24 WR the last week of the 2025 season, scoring 11.8 points after hauling in a touchdown against the Patriots.

Free agent Jalen Tolbert saw over 900 air yards with the Cowboys in 2024 before being phased out of Dallas’ offense in 2025. Rookies Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell are also in play to see significant time at receiver. Bell is the more heralded prospect but is still recovering from a late-season ACL injury.

Las Vegas Raiders Wide Receiver: Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, & Jack Bech “Flawless Victory”

The Raiders’ primary receiver will be all-world tight end Brock Bowers; however, who the second option amongst the Raiders in targets this season is remains an open question. The team signed Jalen Nailor to a 3-year, $35.03 million contract this off-season. Nailor posted two consecutive 400-yard receiving seasons with the Vikings as the WR3 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Holdover Tre Tucker is coming off the best season of his career, where he posted 696 yards receiving, averaging a respectable 9.5 FPPG. Jack Bech had an underwhelming rookie season, seeing only 29 targets; however, he has an outside chance to take a second-year leap.

Washington Commanders Running Back: Rachaad White & Jacory Croskey-Merritt | “Finish Him!”

The Commanders signed Rachaad White this offseason to a meager $1.715 million deal, essentially the veteran minimum for a veteran at this stage of his career. While the Price was small, the narrative surrounding him and former college teammate Jayden Daniels is strong. Coming off a season in which he caught 40 passes, White likely has the inside track to passing down work in the Commanders’ backfield.

Last year’s preseason riser, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, will likely serve as the Commanders’ between-the-tackles grinder. Who the Commanders prioritize at running back with new offensive coordinator David Blough is anyone’s guess, and rookie Kaytron Allen could make his presence felt in short-yardage situations. Hopefully, training camp provides some insight into this battle.

Minnesota Vikings Running Back: Jordan Mason & Aaron Jones | “Johnny bought a car!”

Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones return from last season to share running back touches in the Vikings’ backfield. Last year, it was Jones who saw the bulk of running back opportunities with 59.9% out of the backfield. Now entering his age-31 season, Jones has to fight not only Mason for touches but also Father Time.

Mason, who some reporters are speculating is the back to own in the Vikings backfield, was more efficient than Jones on a yards per touch basis last season by more than a full yard. While rookie speedster Demond Claiborne also looms in the backfield, training camp will likely provide insight as to whether Jones or Mason is the back to roster in fantasy football.

Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back: Jaylen Warren & Rico Dowdle | “GET OVER HERE!”

The Steelers added Rico Dowdle to the backfield, signing the former Cowboy and Panther to a 2-year, $12.25 million contract. Unlike incumbent Jaylen Warren, Dowdle has strung together two consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He also has rapport with new head coach Mike McCarthy from his time on the Cowboys. It would be shocking if Dowdle were to take Warren’s job outright; however, training camp may provide some insight into the type of split we see in the Steelers’ backfield this season.

Seattle Seahawks Running Back: Jadarian Price, Emanuel Wilson, & George Holani | “Fatailty”

The Seahawks‘ selection of running back Jadarian Price in the first round of this year’s draft was likely influenced in part by the fact that Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the start of the season. With Charbonnet on the shelf, Price will compete with George Holani and Emanuel Wilson for early-season touches.

Holani is reportedly getting first-team reps thus far in practice. Wilson has posted nearly 500 yards rushing in two consecutive seasons with the Packers. Price will have to make a good impression early in camp to pay off at his current ADP with Charbonnet returning later on this season, likely splitting touches with Price upon his return.



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