The 2021-22 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 1 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 | Christian McCaffrey | vs New Orleans Saints | RB1 |
Must Start | Dalvin Cook | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB2 |
Must Start | Alvin Kamara | vs Carolina Panthers | RB3 |
Must Start | Derrick Henry | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB4 |
Starting RB1 | Nick Chubb | vs Houston Texans | RB5 |
Starting RB1 | Aaron Jones | vs Detriot Lions | RB6 |
Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB7 |
Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB8 |
Starting RB1 | Najee Harris | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB9 |
Starting RB1 | David Montgomery | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB10 |
High-End RB2 | Antonio Gibson | vs New York Giants | RB11 |
High-End RB2 | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB12 |
Starting RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Green Bay Packers | RB13 |
Starting RB2 | Chris Carson | vs Tennessee Titans | RB14 |
Starting RB2 | Myles Gaskin | vs Buffalo Bills | RB15 |
Starting RB2 | Ty’Son Williams | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB16 |
Low RB2 | Elijah Mitchell | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB17 |
Low RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Chicago Bears | RB18 |
Low RB2 | Miles Sanders | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB19 |
Low RB2 | Saquon Barkley* | vs Washington Football Team | RB20 |
Low RB2 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB21 |
Flex | Melvin Gordon | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB22 |
Flex | Darrell Henderson | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB23 |
Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Houston Texans | RB24 |
Flex | Chase Edmonds | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB25 |
Flex | Damien Harris | vs New York Jets | RB26 |
Flex | Leonard Fournette | Atlanta Falcons | RB27 |
Flex | Nyheim Hines | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB28 |
Deep League Flex | James Robinson | vs Denver Broncos | RB29 |
Deep League Flex | James White | vs New York Jets | RB30 |
Deep League Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB31 |
Deep League Flex | Jamaal Williams | vs Green Bay Packers | RB32 |
Deep League Flex | James Conner | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB33 |
Deep League Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Miami Dolphins | RB34 |
Deep League Flex | Mike Davis | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB35 |
Deep League Flex | Josh Jacobs* | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB36 |
Deep League Flex | Latavius Murray | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB37 |
Leave on the Bench | A.J. Dillon | vs Detriot Lions | RB38 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs San Fransisco 49ers | RB39 |
Leave on the Bench | Ronald Jones II | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB40 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenyan Drake | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB41 |
Leave on the Bench | JaMycal Hasty | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB42 |
Leave on the Bench | Mark Ingram | vs Cleveland Browns | RB43 |
Leave on the Bench | Tony Jones Jr. | vs Carolina Panthers | RB44 |
Leave on the Bench | Carlos Hyde | vs Denver Broncos | RB45 |
Leave on the Bench | Tevin Coleman | vs New England Patriots | RB46 |
Leave on the Bench | David Johnson | vs Cleveland Browns | RB47 |
Leave on the Bench | Cordarrelle Patterson | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB48 |
Leave on the Bench | Phillip Lindsay | vs Cleveland Browns | RB49 |
Leave on the Bench | Damien Williams | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB50 |
Leave on the Bench | Tony Pollard | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB51 |
Leave on the Bench | Giovanni Bernard | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB52 |
Leave on the Bench | Larry Rountree III | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB53 |
Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Chicago Bears | RB54 |
Leave on the Bench | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs New York Jets | RB55 |
Leave on the Bench | Sony Michel | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB56 |
Leave on the Bench | Devontae Booker | vs Washington Football Team | RB57 |
Leave on the Bench | Trey Sermon | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB58 |
Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs Buffalo Bills | RB59 |
Leave on the Bench | J.J. Taylor | vs New York Jets | RB60 |
Leave on the Bench | Darrel Williams | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB61 |
Leave on the Bench | Jeremy McNichols | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB62 |
Leave on the Bench | Ty Johnson | vs New England Patriots | RB63 |
Leave on the Bench | J.D. McKissic | vs New York Giants | RB64 |
Leave on the Bench | Matt Breida | vs Miami Dolphins | RB65 |
Leave on the Bench | Alex Collins | vs Tennessee Titans | RB66 |
Leave on the Bench | Malcolm Brown | vs Buffalo Bills | RB67 |
Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB68 |
Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs New England Patriots | RB69 |
Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB70 |
Leave on the Bench | Deejay Dallas | vs Tennessee Titans | RB71 |
Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs New Orleans Saints | RB72 |
Leave on the Bench | Justin Jackson | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB73 |
Leave on the Bench | Zack Moss | vs Miami Dolphins | RB74 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB20 Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Last week Giants running back Saquon Barkley played his first game since tearing is ACL last year. Barkley did not have an outstanding performance, but it was a step forward for him to get to the player he was two years ago. The Giants could take a safe approach with Barkley and could sit him out on a short week. New York is playing Washington Thursday night and that may not be long enough of a break from game action for Barkley who is not 100%. If the Giants decide to rest Barkley Devontae Booker moves up to RB40 betwen Ronald Jones and Kenyan Drake.
RB36 Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
If it wasn’t for Josh Jacobs’ two touchdowns his performance Mondady versus the Ravens would have been alarming. It was impressive that he played out the entire game dealing with an illness and a toe issue. That toe issue appeared to affect Jacobs a lot during that game. He is still on the injury report with that toe issue. If it gets worse or the Raiders decide to let him heal up Kenyan Drake moves up to RB33 between James Conner and Devin Singletary.
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