The 2022-23 NFL season began last week which means so did fantasy football. After getting a taste of the NFL season last week, it is important not to overreact some and make risky moves when setting lineups for this week. For the first few weeks, fantasy managers should pay attention to trends that they see from teams that could shape the rest of the season. Here are fantasy football week 2 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 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)
Key:
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 isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 category.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is 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 causes 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 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB1 |
Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs New York Giants | RB2 |
Must Start | Austin Ekeler | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB3 |
Starting RB1 | Saquon Barkley | vs Carolina Panthers | RB4 |
Starting RB1 | Dalvin Cook | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB5 |
Starting RB1 | Joe Mixon | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB6 |
Starting RB1 | D’Andre Swift | vs Washington Commanders | RB7 |
Starting RB1 | Derrick Henry | vs Buffalo Bills | RB8 |
Starting RB1 | Leonard Fournette | vs New Orleans Saints | RB9 |
High-End RB2 | Javonte Williams | vs Houston Texans | RB10 |
High-End RB2 | James Conner | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB11 |
High-End RB2 | Alvin Kamara* | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB12 |
High-End RB2 | Najee Harris* | vs New England Patriots | RB13 |
Starting RB2 | Antonio Gibson | vs Detroit Lions | RB14 |
Starting RB2 | Nick Chubb | vs New York Jets | RB15 |
Starting RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs Chicago Bears | RB16 |
Low RB2 | Darrell Henderson Jr. | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB17 |
Low RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Green Bay Packers | RB18 |
Low RB2 | A.J. Dillon | vs Chicago Bears | RB19 |
Low RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB20 |
Low RB2 | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB21 |
Low RB2 | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB22 |
Flex | James Robinson | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB23 |
Flex | Chase Edmonds | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB24 |
Flex | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB25 |
Flex | Miles Sanders | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB26 |
Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs New York Jets | RB27 |
Flex | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB28 |
Flex | Michael Carter | vs Cleveland Browns | RB29 |
Deep League Flex | Travis Etienne | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB30 |
Deep League Flex | Rashaad Penny | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB31 |
Deep League Flex | Breece Hall | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB32 |
Deep League Flex | Melvin Gordon | vs Houston Texans | RB33 |
Deep League Flex | Damien Harris | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB34 |
Deep League Flex | Jamaal Williams | vs Washington Commanders | RB35 |
Deep League Flex | Rex Burkhead | vs Denver Broncos | RB36 |
Deep League Flex | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB37 |
Deep League Flex | J.K. Dobbins* | vs Miami Dolphins | RB38 |
Deep League Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Tennessee Titans | RB39 |
Leave on the Bench | Dameon Pierce | vs Denver Broncos | RB40 |
Leave on the Bench | J.D. McKissic | vs Detroit Lions | RB41 |
Leave on the Bench | Cam Akers | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB42 |
Leave on the Bench | Brandon Bolden* | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB43 |
Leave on the Bench | Khalil Herbert | vs Green Bay Packers | RB44 |
Leave on the Bench | Nyheim Hines | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB45 |
Leave on the Bench | Tony Pollard | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB46 |
Leave on the Bench | Zack Moss | vs Tennessee Titans | RB47 |
Leave on the Bench | Raheem Mostert | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB48 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenyan Drake | vs Miami Dolphins | RB49 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB50 |
Leave on the Bench | Dontrell Hilliard | vs Buffalo Bills | RB51 |
Leave on the Bench | Eno Benjamin | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB52 |
Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB53 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Walker III* | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB54 |
Leave on the Bench | Tyrion Davis-Price | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB55 |
Leave on the Bench | Rachaad White | vs New Orleans Saints | RB56 |
Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB57 |
Leave on the Bench | Isiah Pacheco | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB58 |
Leave on the Bench | James Cook | vs Tennessee Titans | RB59 |
Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB60 |
Leave on the Bench | Mark Ingram | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB61 |
Leave on the Bench | Andrew Beck | vs Houston Texans | RB62 |
Leave on the Bench | Boston Scott | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB63 |
Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB64 |
Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman | vs New York Giants | RB65 |
Leave on the Bench | Jaylen Warren | vs New England Patriots | RB66 |
Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs New York Giants | RB67 |
Leave on the Bench | Matt Breida | vs Carolina Panthers | RB68 |
Leave on the Bench | D’Ernest Johnson | vs New York Jets | RB69 |
Leave on the Bench | Mike Davis | vs Miami Dolphins | RB70 |
Leave on the Bench | Zamir White | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB71 |
Leave on the Bench | Jordan Mason | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB72 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB12 Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara was limited by a rib injury in New Orleans’ week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. If Kamara cannot play on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mark Ingram moves up to RB39 between Devin Singletary and Dameon Pierce. It is worth noting that New Orleans did reunite with Latavius Murray by adding him to their practice squad.
RB13 Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
The already injured Najee Harris suffered another foot injury during Pittsburgh’s first game against the Cincinnati Bengals. During his appearance on Sirus XM’s “Mad Dog Sports Radio” Harris said he would play this weekend. But if Harris cannot play this weekend his backup Jaylen Warren will move up to RB41 between J.D. McKissic and Cam Akers.
RB38 J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens
J.K. Dobbins is still recovering from his ACL tear from last season. There is still some uncertainty about if he will be available in Week 2 after he sat out Baltimore’s first game against the New York Jets. If Dobbins misses this week’s game against the Miami Dolphins then Kenyan Drake moves up to RB37 between Rex Burkhead and Rhamondre Stevenson. Mike Davis would move up to RB59 between James Cook and Alexander Mattison.
RB43 Brandon Bolden, Las Vegas Raiders
Brandon Bolden suffred a hamstring injury in Las Vegas’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend. If Bolden misses this week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals Ameer Abdullah will become the RB54 between Kenneth Walker III and Tyrion Davis-Price.
RB54 Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Rookie running back Kenneth Walker III suffered a sports hernia in the preseason. This resulted in Walker being inactive for Seattle’s Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos. Walker is expected to return this week against the San Francisco 49ers. But if Walker was to miss this week’s game then Rashaad Penny would retain his current status at RB31. Once again Seattle’s change of pace back would likely be Travis Homer or DeeJay Dallas.
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