Vikings Finally Draft a RB in Round 6

By Shane Hallam | Updated on Sat, Apr 25 2026 8:58 PM UTC

The Minnesota Vikings selected Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne in Round 6 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Claiborne spent three years leading the Wake Forest backfield, stacking good production despite a middling offense. That included 1,956 rushing yards, 21 TDs, and 51 receptions over his final two years. He even squeezed out a career-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2025 after suffering a rib injury in the opener. Claiborne brings legit juice. His 42.5% breakaway rate, per Pro Football Focus, underscores how often he delivered runs of 15+ yards. Among the 20 RBs invited to the NFL Combine, Claiborne ranked sixth in 2025 rushing market share (48.1%), and 14th in yards after contact per attempt (3.04). He ranked 10th in 2025 missed tackles forced per attempt (0.21) and 17th in receiving yards per route run (0.66). He is currently 22 years old.

What They're Saying

Draft Sharks Rookie Guide: “The burst and lateral agility pop, especially when Claiborne bounces outside. The concerns are clear, though. His frame likely caps him as a complementary piece, and five fumbles in 2025 highlight ball-security risk that NFL coaches won’t ignore.”

2026 Fantasy Football Impact

Claiborne’s speed and receiving ability could allow him to make the Vikings as a the third RB behind Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.

He will compete with Zavier Scott for that spot.

Claiborne’s injuries likely hurt his draft stock, causing the tumble down to Round 6.

He offers no redraft value.

Dynasty Impact

Claiborne does offer some dynasty intrigue, however.

Despite the late draft capital, Claiborne’s speed and former production are intriguing.

The Vikings situation also presents an opening for 2027.

Jones signed a one-year contract and will be a free agent in 2027. Mason also is set to become a free agent after this season.

If Claiborne shows he can handle work, he could ascend to the top of the depth chart when the season ends.

Claiborne will be worth drafting toward the end of your rookie drafts…just in case he gets an opportunity in 2027.

Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.