True stud running backs are difficult to find in fantasy football.
It's not easy to just draft a couple of great RBs and then plug them in every week. You need to draft many running backs, scour the waiver wire, watch for injuries and play the matchups.
And with most leagues requiring you to start two, three or even four running backs, it means that you have to be smart and dig deep at the position.
To help you out, I put together this summary of our top 10 ranked running backs for week 1.
You can also check out our full list of RB rankings or use our free who should I start tool for an interactive way to use our fantasy football rankings.
For custom advice tailored to your fantasy team, our premium league sync tools instantly tell you who to start or sit every week.
No teams have a bye week this week, so you have a full slate of players to choose from.
Week 1 Rankings Home | Week 1 QB Rankings | Week 1 WR Rankings | Week 1 TE Rankings | Week 1 Kicker Rankings | Week 1 Defense Rankings
Full Rankings
If you want to dive head-first into the full set of projections for this week, here are our rankings for each format:
You can also get custom rankings tailored to your league with our import tool. It's part of the Premium Membership.
Rankings Summary
1. Christian McCaffrey - RB (SF)
Christian McCaffrey had a bye last week. We're projecting 17.3 carries, 91.9 yards and 0.8 touchdowns for Christian McCaffrey this week as he faces the Jets.
2. Jahmyr Gibbs - RB (DET)
Jahmyr Gibbs faces the Rams this week. We're projecting him for 14.8 carries, 83.5 yards and 0.7 touchdowns. Gibbs was off last week with a bye.
3. Breece Hall - RB (NYJ)
Breece Hall had a bye last week. He is playing against the San Francisco 49ers this week. Our system projects him for 21.3 carries, 92.4 yards and 0.7 touchdowns.
4. James Cook - RB (BUF)
James Cook was on bye last week. We're projecting 15.9 carries, 83.1 yards and 0.8 touchdowns for James Cook this week as he faces the Cardinals.
5. Saquon Barkley - RB (PHI)
Saquon Barkley had a bye last week. Our system projects Saquon Barkley for 17.6 carries, 84.6 yards and 0.6 touchdowns versus the Packers this week.
6. Kenneth Walker III - RB (SEA)
Kenneth Walker III was on bye last week. He is up against the Broncos this week. Our system projects him for 17.8 carries, 74.3 yards and 0.7 touchdowns.
7. Joe Mixon - RB (HOU)
Joe Mixon was off last week with a bye. Joe Mixon is against the Colts this week and is projected for 20.9 carries, 82.8 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.
8. Aaron Jones - RB (MIN)
Aaron Jones had a bye last week. He is playing against the New York Giants this week. Our system projects him for 15.0 carries, 78.1 yards and 0.6 touchdowns.
9. Javonte Williams - RB (DEN)
Our system projects Javonte Williams for 17.9 carries, 78.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns versus the Seahawks this week. Williams was off last week with a bye.
10. Kyren Williams - RB (LAR)
Our system projects Kyren Williams for 16.4 carries, 81.9 yards and 0.7 touchdowns versus the Lions this week. Williams was off last week with a bye.
For more, check out our full rankings here.
Import Your League For Custom Advice
One thing that people frequently say is that they wish it could be easier to see these rankings and projections next their own fantasy team roster.
Luckily, you can do that easily with our premium league sync tools. They work with ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, NFL.com, Sleeper and MyFantasyLeague. Plans start at just $2.99 per month with a full 30-day money back guarantee.
