Bhayshul Tuten — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Tuten began his college career at North Carolina A&T, where he needed a year to find his running back rhythm. After a quiet freshman season (37 carries, 215 yards, 3 TDs, and 10 catches for 230 yards), he broke out in 2022 with 1,705 combined yards, 17 touchdowns, and 31 receptions on 239 touches, averaging 6.6 yards per carry and 11.0 per catch.

He transferred to Virginia Tech and immediately became the Hokies' featured back. In 2023, Tuten leaned more on him in the passing game (27 catches, 239 yards, and 2 TDs) while rushing for 863 yards and 10 scores on 173 carries. His final college season showed more explosiveness (183 carries, 1,159 yards, and 15 rushing touchdowns at 6.3 yards per carry). His receiving numbers dipped (23 catches, 81 yards, and 2 TDs), but his impact as a runner was undeniable.

At the 2025 NFL Combine, Tuten ran a 4.32 forty, confirming what the tape already showed. He's a between-the-tackles runner who doesn't shy away from contact, with the lateral quickness to find and squeeze through tight creases before they close. Once in open space, he shifts into another gear and pulls away from defenders in a hurry. The one concern is his tendency to lower his head and shoulder into contact to finish runs, effective for extra yards, but a habit that raises some flags around ball security and long-term durability.

Tuten's size (5'9" and 205 lbs.) doesn't hold him back as a pass protector; he holds his own against bigger defenders. The areas that need work are his decision-making in tight spaces and his pass-catching fundamentals, both of which will need to be developed before he's a true three-down back at the NFL level.

In his rookie season, Tuten failed to develop into a trusted RB3 fantasy option. He gained only 386 combined yards with seven touchdowns and 10 catches on 93 touches. His only playable fantasy value came in two games (74 combined yards with a touchdown and two catches ~ 15/74/1). Tuten missed two games late in the year that required surgery.

In the early draft season in the high-stakes market, Tuten projects as a borderline RB2/RB3 with an ADP of 64. To reach this threshold in fantasy points, he needs to average close to 10.00 fantasy points per game in PPR formats, requiring about 1,000 combined yards with seven touchdowns and 20 catches. His explosiveness gives him a chance, but a three-back rotation in Jacksonville could be an issue.