Episode 21 - Scouting Rookie RBs: Who’s Real in the 2026 Class?
Jeff kicks off Season 2 by welcoming his Footballguys colleague Dave Kluge, who shares his insights about the incoming rookie class, particularly the running backs, and what he looks for when scouting a player.
“If you've got at least one elite trait, that'll give you an opportunity to crack a rotation.”
The rookie scouting season is officially underway.
Jeff is joined by Footballguys analyst Dave Kluge for a wide-ranging conversation on scouting rookie running backs and navigating the 2026 dynasty rookie class. They discuss which traits actually translate to the NFL, key red flags every dynasty manager should be wary of, and how dynasty managers should approach a class that lacks elite depth beyond the top tier.
This episode focuses on process, not just rankings — helping dynasty managers think clearly about rookie RB evaluation.
Topics Include
How Dave Kluge scouts rookie RBs
Identifying elite vs replaceable traits
Why Jeremiah Love stands apart
Draft capital as the ultimate tiebreaker
RB value pockets in Rounds 2–3
When trading back makes sense
The NFL’s evolving offensive landscape
Timestamps
00:00 Rookie scouting season
01:00 Scouting process
03:40 Elite traits
05:40 Red flags
08:30 Class strength
11:00 Tier breaks
12:20 Trade strategy
13:45 Jeremiah Love
16:20 RB2 tier
19:30 Box score traps
21:00 Combine myths
23:30 Draft capital
27:45 Round 2–3 values
31:15 NFL trends
34:20 Player stories
37:00 Closing thoughts
Related Links & Tools
Sign up for the Footballguys Rookie Guide
Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
