Jeremiyah Love Is Dominating This Draft Class, and Every Other RB Should Be Nervous

Here is the hard truth about running backs in the 2026 NFL draft: there is basically one guy, and then everybody else is fighting for scraps. Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is so far ahead of the rest of this class that it is not even close, according to BackCAST projections, an analytical system that actually nails how college tape translates to the pros.

Last year, nine running backs cleared the 40% threshold on BackCAST. This year? Love is flying solo above that line. He is the only back in this entire class with that kind of projection. That tells you everything you need to know about the depth at the position.

What BackCAST Actually Measures

BackCAST projections are built on real college film correlations. If a back shows up with the right size and speed combo, if he is averaging real yards per carry, and if he is eating up a huge chunk of his team's offensive load, that guy typically translates. Those are the factors BackCAST locks in on. The system then projects how many extra yards above average a player will gain during his first five NFL seasons.

Think of it this way: a back with a plus-50% BackCAST projection is expected to produce 50% more yards than your standard drafted running back over that five-year window. It is a tool that separates the difference makers from the depth chart filler.

There Are Still Options Beyond Love

Do not panic if your team needs a back outside the first round. While the class is clearly tilted toward Love, there are still several backs who grade out positively on BackCAST and should carve out useful NFL roles. The projections also tell you something crucial about fit: whether a guy is going to be a receiving back who lines up in the slot or a downhill, power runner who thrives between the tackles.

The Seahawks have rebuilt hard under Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury, and if they look at running back depth during the draft, they will have real options. The class has depth below the elite tier, even if Love is leaving everyone else in the dust.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.