Fantasy Football Week 2 Running Back Rankings

The 2025-26 NFL season has begun 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 2 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]

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 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.

Fantasy Football Week 2 Running Back Rankings

Players that could miss this week’s game

RB32 Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders

Austin Ekeler was limited in practice on Tuesday with a shoulder injury. It doesn’t seem like this injury would hold Ekeler out of this week’s game. If Ekeler misses Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt moves up to RB29 between J.K. Dobbins and David Montgomery. Jeremy McNichols would become RB46 between Jerome Ford and Cam Skattebo.

RB52 Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

Quinshon Judkins is expected to make his NFL debut this week. He signed his rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns last weekend. It is unlikely that Judkins would have a large role right away in the offense. If Judkins misses Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens expected the backfield split to look similar to last week with fellow rookie Dylan Sampson seeing a majority of the snaps.

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