The 2023-24 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 the 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.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB1 |
| Must Start | Austin Ekeler | vs Miami Dolphins | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Saquon Barkley | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Bijan Robinson | vs Carolina Panthers | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Tony Pollard | vs New York Giants | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Derrick Henry | vs New Orleans Saints | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Josh Jacobs | vs Denver Broncos | RB7 |
| High-End RB2 | Nick Chubb | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Cleveland Browns | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | James Conner | vs Washington Commanders | RB12 |
| High-End RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs Chicago Bears | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Kenneth Walker III | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | Miles Sanders* | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Jahmyr Gibbs | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB16 |
| Low RB2 | Rachaad White | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB17 |
| Low RB2 | Najee Harris | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Dameon Pierce | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Jamaal Williams | vs Tennessee Titans | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Alexander Mattison | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB21 |
| Flex | Dalvin Cook | vs Buffalo Bills | RB22 |
| Flex | Raheem Mostert | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB23 |
| Flex | Cam Akers | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB24 |
| Flex | Deon Jackson | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB25 |
| Flex | David Montgomery | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB26 |
| Flex | J.K. Dobbins | vs Houston Texans | RB27 |
| Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB28 |
| Deep League Flex | James Cook | vs New York Jets | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Khalil Herbert | vs Green Bay Packers | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Isiah Pacheco | vs Detroit Lions | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Antonio Gibson | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Breece Hall* | vs Buffalo Bills | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Samaje Perine | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | Jerick McKinnon | vs Detroit Lions | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Chicago Bears | RB37 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Andre Swift | vs New England Patriots | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | De’Von Achane* | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zach Charbonnet | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Elijah Mitchell | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Evan Hull | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs Carolina Panthers | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaylen Warren | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devin Singletary | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rashaad Penny | vs New England Patriots | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kendre Miller* | vs Tennessee Titans | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman | vs Green Bay Packers | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs New England Patriots | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tank Bigsby | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Gus Edwards | vs Houston Texans | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Damien Harris | vs New York Jets | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Miami Dolphins | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerome Ford | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyren Williams | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Keontay Ingram | vs Washington Commanders | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyjae Spears | vs New Orleans Saints | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Ty Chandler | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB60 |
| Leave on the Bench | Roschon Johnson | vs Green Bay Packers | RB61 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cordarrelle Patterson* | vs Carolina Panthers | RB62 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rico Dowdle | vs New York Giants | RB63 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB64 |
| Leave on the Bench | Sean Tucker | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB65 |
| Leave on the Bench | Deuce Vaughn | vs New York Giants | RB66 |
| Leave on the Bench | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | vs Detroit Lions | RB67 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB15 Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers
Newly signed Miles Sanders has been dealing with a groin injury. Early reports say that he should be available for Week 1. If Sanders does miss Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons Chuba Hubbard moves up to RB29 between James Cook and Brian Robinson Jr. Raheem Blacksheer would become the RB53 between Damien Harris and Joshua Kelley.
RB34 Breece Hall, New York Jets
Breece Hall is still recovering from his torn ACL from last season. He is expected to start the year slow and ramp up to a role comparable to what he had last season as he gets healthier. If Hall sits out Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills Dalvin Cook moves up to RB9 between Nick Chubb and Rhamondre Stevenson. Michael Carter becomes the RB54 between Joshua Kelley and Jerome Ford. Israel Abanikanda becomes the RB64 between Rico Dowdle and Kyle Juszczyk.
RB39 De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
De’Von Achane has been limited in practice because of a shoulder injury. Since Jeff Wilson Jr. will begin the year on IR Achane could see a large workload early on in his rookie season. However, if Achane was to miss Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers Raheem Mostert moves up to RB18 between Rachaad White and Najee Harris. Salvon Ahmed will become the RB58 between Keontay Ingram and Tyjae Spears. If Ahmed misses Week 1 because of his neck injury Chris Brooks will become the RB63 between Rico Dowdle and Kyle Juszczyk.
RB48 Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints
Kendre Miller missed practice last Thursday with a neck injury. He is expected to have an expanded role with Alvin Kamara missing the first three games due to suspension. If Miller was to miss Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans Jamaal Williams would retain his RB20 position. Versatile offensive weapon Kirk Merritt would be the team’s backup running back behind Williams.
RB62 Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
Cordarrelle Patterson has been resting to recover from a soft tissue injury. His role is unclear with the addition of Bijan Robinson to the Falcons running back room. If Patterson misses Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers Bijan Robinson retains his RB4 position. Tyler Allgeier becomes a more comfortable option to flex in deeper leagues at his RB43 position.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
Zack Moss is currently recovering from an arm fracture suffered early in the offseason program. Moss is not expected to be ready for the Indianapolis’ first game of the season. There is a chance Moss plays in the season opener. If Moss was to play he would slot in at RB35 between Breece Hall and Samaje Perine. Deon Jackson would drop down to RB40 between Devon Achane and Zach Charbonnet. Evan Hull would then drop to RB57 between Jerome Ford and Chuba Hubbard.
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/fantasy-football/fantasy-football-week-1-running-back-rankings-3/2023/09/07/
