The NFL futures betting market grind never stops. As we continue to prepare for the 2026 National Football League season, we find ourselves staring at the player props “leaders” market. Today we’ll zoom in on the rushing stat leaders. First finding our best bets for the NFL rushing yards leader for the 2026 regular season. Then we’ll shift our focus to the NFL rushing touchdowns leader for the regular season. Without further to do, let’s dive into this edition of the 2026 NFL best bets: rushing leaders.
In 2025, the Buffalo Bills’ James Cook took the rushing title. He racked up 1,621 yards on the ground. Mr reliable, Derrick Henry, had 1,595 yards; Jonathan Taylor, after his hot start, ended the season with 1,585. The Falcons’ Bijan Robinson had 1,478 yards on the ground, and Miami’s De’Von Achane rounded out the top five rushing yards leaders with 1,350 yards rushing.
A few of the same names topped the board in the 2025 rushing touchdowns market. Jonathan Taylor’s hot start was enough to earn him the rushing touchdown leader crown with 18 trips to the end zone on the ground. Derrick Henry was also a close second place in this category with 16, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen checked in third with 14 touchdowns on the ground. The NFC North rivals Josh Jacobs and Jahmyr Gibbs tied for fourth with 13 rushing touchdowns apiece.
NFL Rushing Yards Leader Best Bets
Jahmyr Gibbs (+750)
Sonic and Knuckles are no more. Insert broken heart emoji here. Then, realize that this means Sonic, aka Jahmyr Gibbs, is truly the #1 here without a 1A. Yes, the team will use Isaiah Pacheco, but I fully expect Gibbs to take a massive step forward, from already being great without David Montgomery around. Gibbs has always made his runs count with elite efficiency. In 2024, the Lions star back averaged 5.4 yards per carry and racked up 1,412 yards. Without Montgomery there to steal some of that work, and assuming the Lions get back to the basics in 2026 and run their star behind an elite offensive line, watch out. Gibbs is one of, if not the best, backs in the game already. Don’t be shocked to see him put up close to 2,000 yards and steal the rushing title.
Kyren Williams (+3000)
A great running back on arguably the be
st team in the NFL, and you are giving us 30/1 odds? Sign me up. Kyren Williams is an elite running back, and if you get the chance to snag him in your fantasy football drafts this year, he’ll possibly be the steal of the draft! Williams has the full trust of offensive genius Sean McVay. That alone scores extra points in how much we can trust him. He’s consistent. Three straight years he’s put up over 1,100 yards; even when he only played in 12 games in 2023, he averaged five yards per carry. Last season he kept that efficiency up with 4.8 yards per carry and 1,252 yards on the ground.
Why do we underrate Kyren Williams every offseason?
2025: RB9
2024: RB7
2023: RB7pic.twitter.com/kunoicj4hm— FantasyPros (@FantasyPros) May 5, 2026
Talk about elite offensive lines? The Rams have one. And their defensive line is even better. The Rams are expected to win a lot of games this year, and that means a positive game script for Williams and McVay putting the ball in his trusted back’s hands to close out games behind an impressive offensive line.
Travis Etienne (+6000)
Travis Etienne is an interesting longshot, and at 60/1 I’m willing to pull the trigger on him. He’s changed teams this off-season, moving from Jacksonville to New Orleans. He’s also changed how his name is pronounced, asking for it to be (A-Chan) now. Either way, along with these changes, maybe he can step his game up and put his name in the ring as the rushing leader in 2026. He’ll be the main back for the Saints this season. Even if Alvin Kamara sticks around, he’ll play more of a support veteran role.
This Saints offense has a chance to be special, and the 27-year-old can still hit the hole hard. Guess who won the 2024 rushing title? Saquon Barkley. His play caller and offensive designer? Now-Saints head coach Kellen Moore. If Tyler Shough can run this offense effectively, Etienne could upset the apple cart and take home the rushing title.
NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader Best Bets
Kyren Williams (+1200)
Not only do I think Kyren Williams can win the rushing title, I think even more easily he can lead the league in rushing touchdowns. We’ve already talked above about his usage, the trust McVay has in him, and the team relying on him late. 33-year-old Devante Adams had 14 touchdowns last season, most of which came in the red zone. Is that going to keep up this year? It’ll be hard to repeat. But we know this offense will be scoring; we know they’ll be in the red zone a lot, and their defense will put them in good positions. Maybe they’ll turn to Williams in the red zone this year, and he’ll stack up touchdowns quickly.
Ken Walker III (+1600)
The Super Bowl MVP has a new home in Kansas City this season. There is a similar thought process to this as there is to the Williams bet. I just don’t believe this Chiefs offense is going to be as good as the Rams will. They will, however, get their chances. The Chiefs know how to move the ball, and they’ll be in the red zone plenty. Patrick Mahomes is coming off an injury, and they already didn’t like the sneak him. Travis Kelce is getting older, and while he’s still a threat, he’s not the threat he once was. This team has needed a workhorse for the red zone, and now they have him. If they put him to use, he can stack touchdowns quickly.
TreVeyon Henderson (+5000)
For longshots, why not look at a guy who has a ton of talent? The biggest issue is he’s not the team’s #1 running back. At least not yet. We saw it in the three-game stretch Rhamondre Stevenson was hurt in last year. Henderson had four touchdowns in two games on the ground. Even as the clear backup, Henderson still scored nine touchdowns on the ground in 2025. He should see an expanded role in 2026, and eventually, as Jahmyr Gibbs did. Henderson will take over this role because he’s simply too talented. Take advantage of his number while you can.
