The 2024-25 NFL season is about to begin which means fantasy football is back! Most fantasy football team managers don’t make major lineup moves in the first week of the season. Typically managers will start the players they drafted in the earlier rounds. However, since every week is important it would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one because he was drafted to be a starter. Here are fantasy football week 1 running back rankings.
[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]
[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey* | vs New York Jets | RB1 |
| Must Start | Breece Hall | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB2 |
| Must Start | Bijan Robinson | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB3 |
| Must Start | Saquon Barkley | vs Green Bay Packers | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Houston Texans | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Alvin Kamara | vs Carolina Panthers | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Kyren Williams | vs Detroit Lions | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | Jahmyr Gibbs* | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Miami Dolphins | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Derrick Henry | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | James Cook | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | James Conner | vs Buffalo Bills | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | De’Von Achane | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Kenneth Walker III | vs Denver Broncos | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Rachaad White | vs Washington Commanders | RB17 |
| Starting RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB18 |
| Starting RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs New York Giants | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB21 |
| Low RB2 | Zamir White | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB22 |
| Low RB2 | Javonte Williams | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB23 |
| Flex | D’Andre Swift | vs Tennessee Titans | RB24 |
| Flex | Austin Ekeler | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB25 |
| Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB26 |
| Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs New Orleans Saints | RB27 |
| Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB28 |
| Flex | Jerome Ford | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Najee Harris | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Cleveland Browns | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | J.K. Dobbins | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Jaylen Warren* | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Zack Moss | vs New England Patriots | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Raheem Mostert | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Tony Pollard | vs Chicago Bears | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Chase Brown | vs New England Patriots | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Gus Edwards | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB38 |
| Deep League Flex | Tyjae Spears | vs Chicago Bears | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaleel McLauglin | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ty Chandler | vs New York Giants | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Blake Corum | vs Detroit Lions | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rico Dowdle | vs Cleveland Browns | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Trey Benson | vs Buffalo Bills | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Bucky Irving | vs Washington Commanders | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zach Charbonnet* | vs Denver Broncos | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Khalil Herbert | vs Tennesee Titans | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyrone Tracy* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Miles Sanders | vs New Orleans Saints | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ray Davis | vs Ariznona Cardinals | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justice Hill | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jamaal Williams | vs Carolina Panthers | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rochon Johnson | vs Tennessee Titans | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Braelon Allen | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dameon Pierce | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Green Bay Packers | RB60 |
| Leave on the Bench | Audric Estime | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB61 |
| Leave on the Bench | Trey Sermon* | vs Houston Texans | RB62 |
| Leave on the Bench | Deuce Vaughn | vs Cleveland Browns | RB63 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaylen Wright | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB64 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jordan Mason | vs New York Jets | RB65 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kimani Vidal | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB66 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB67 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dalvin Cook* | vs Cleveland Browns | RB68 |
| Leave on the Bench | Isaac Guerendo* | vs New York Jets | RB69 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dylan Laube | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB70 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs New York Jets | RB71 |
| Leave on the Bench | Will Shipley | vs Green Bay Packers | RB72 |
San Francisco 49ers Running Backs: RB1 Christian McCaffrey & RB69, Isaac Guerendo
Christian McCaffrey suffered a calf strain during training camp. San Francisco has rested McCaffrey since he suffered the injury. Isaac Gerendo missed practice Monday with a groin injury after suffering a hamstring injury in training camp. If both McCaffrey and Guerendo misses Week 1 against the New York Jets Jordan Mason moves up to RB23 between Javonte Williams and D’Andre Swift.
If McCaffrey misses Week 1 against the New York Jets and Guerendo is active Jordan Mason moves up to RB23 between Javonte Williams and D’Andre Swift. Guerendo moves up to RB50 between Tyron Tracy and Miles Sanders.
RB8 Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs had been dealing with a hamstring injury. Gibbs is expected to be ready to play in the first game of the season. If Gibbs misses Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams David Montgomery moves up to RB12 between Isiah Pacheco and James Conner.
RB33 Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaylen Warren suffered a hamstring injury during training camp. He is on track to play in the first game of the seaon. If Warren misses Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons Najee Harris moves up to RB25 between D’Andre Swift and Austin Ekeler. Cordarrelle Patterson moves up to RB53 between Alexander Mattison and Justice Hill.
RB48 Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
Zach Charbonnet suffered an undisclosed injury a few weeks ago. There hasn’t been any clarification on if Charbonnet will miss anytime because of the injury. If Charbonnet misses Week 1 against the Denver Broncos Kenny McIntosh will serve as the backup running back for the Seahawks.
RB50 Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants
Tyrone Tracy suffered an ankle sprain earlier in training camp. Many were scared that the injury Tracy suffered was going to be worse because he was carted off the field. It is unclear at this point if Tracy will miss time during the regular season because of his ankle sprain. If Tracy misses Week 1 Eric Gray becomes the RB67 between Coradarrelle Pattersona and Dalvin Cook.
RB62 Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts
Trey Sermon returned to practice Wednesday after missing time with a hamstring injury. It’s a good sign that Sermon has returned to practice at this point of the week. If Sermon misses Week 1 against the Houston Texans Tyler Goodson will be the backup running back for the Indianapolis Colts.
RB68, Dalvin Cook, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys signed Dalvin Cook to their practice squad last week. It is unclear if the Cowboys plan on having Cook active for the first game of the season. There is a chance he could see Cook’s role elavate throughout the season. But for now Cook needs to learn the playbook and become an active player of the roster before holding any fantasy value. But if he plays he could see a couple of snaps to get into game shape.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb is starting the year on the PUP list after suffering a horiffic knee injury in Week 2 last season. Jerome Ford is expected to be Cleveland’s lead back until Chubb returns. Then when Chubb returns there is a chance Ford see’s a majority of the work until Chubb proves that he can work his way back to the player he was before the injury.
Jonathan Brooks, Carolina Panthers
Jonathan Brooks will begin his rookie season on the NFI list after tearing his ACL during his final year at Texas. Expectations were high for Brooks this seaon given he can take control of this backfield quickly. However the Panthers are taking a slow approach with Brooks and will give him all the time he needs to become the player they drafted in the second round. Chuba Hubbard will likely lead the team in carries until Brooks returns.
Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
Late last season Keaton Mitchell brough an explosive element to the Ravens backfield that they haven’t had in a few seasons. However Mitchell suffered a torn ACL late last season. Mitchell now is starting the year on the PUP list. Justice Hill will take over the role as the team’s third down back until Mitchell returns.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is currently on the NFI list because he is dealing with PTSD. This isn’t a situation that could be given a time window. When he returns he is expected to have a role as the Chiefs number two running back.
Marshawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers took running back Marshawn Lloyd in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He is expected to compete for the change of pace back role in Green Bay behind Josh Jacobs. However Lloyd is dealing with a hamstring injury that could cause him to miss time to start his rookie season. Emanuel Wilson is expected to backup Jacobs to begin the season.
A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers
A.J. Dillon will begin the season on Injured Reserve because of a neck injury. He is expected to compete for the backup running back job with Marshawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson when he returns. Dillon did not live up to his second round draft selection when Aaron Jones missed time last season. However the Packers did decide to bring Dillon back on a one-year deal.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell was put on Injured Reserve which ends his 2024-25 season. He dealt with a hamstring injury since the begining of the summer. Mitchell has missed a ton of time the past few seasons with injuries. Jordan Mason will be the backup running back for the 49ers this season.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Kendre Miller was put on Injured Reserve to begin the season. Miller disappointed and dealt with injuries last season. The expectation was that he was supposed to be the change of pace back for this offense behind Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams. But Miller has not taken that leap yet or earned much playing time. New Orleans’ backfield will be dominated by Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams.
Nyhiem Hines, Cleveland Browns
Nyhiem Hines was put on the NFI list to begin the year as he is still recovering from his ACL tear that he suffered almost two years ago. It is unclear what Hines’ role will be in this offense once he returns. He is an explosive back that brings a different element than what Cleveland has in their backfield. He will likely be the team’s kick returner once he returns.
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