Regardless of whether you're 1-0 or 0-1, chances are you have questions about your running backs. Every year, the opening week yields at least a few surprising results -- some of which are the start of season-long trends while others are one-week flukes. Discerning between the two is never easy, but we're here to help with our Week 2 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues.
Of course, nothing is worse than injuries, and Week 1 saw a couple big ones at running back. JK Dobbins (knee) was inactive, while Najee Harris (foot) and Elijah Mitchell (knee) left their games early. We'll continue to monitor their statuses throughout the week, but it's looking like backups Jeff Wilson Jr. (vs. Seahawks) and possibly Jaylen Warren (vs. Patriots) could see more touches and find their way into fantasy lineups this week. (Update: Mitchell will reportedly miss several weeks.) Fortunately, there's a good chance Dobbins is back after Baltimore's running game was non-existent last week.
WEEK 2 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kicker
The biggest surprises in Week 1 included Darrell Henderson Jr. (vs. Falcons), Kareem Hunt (vs Jets), Michael Carter (@ Browns), and Jamaal Williams (vs. Commanders). Obviously, Williams' and Hunts' fantasy numbers were inflated by two TDs apiece, which can't be counted on every week, but when you look at carries and snaps, all stood out. There's no guarantee we'll see a repeat next week, but these guys look for real -- at least in the short term -- and should do enough to have at least flex value most weeks.
WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kicker
Conversely, Cam Akers (vs. Falcons), James Cook (vs. Titans), Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Steelers), Breece Hall (@ Browns), and Dameon Pierce (@ Broncos) really disappointed, both in terms of touches and production. Hall really only produced in garbage time. We're not writing them off completely for the season, but they all dropped in our rankings compared to last week.
WEEK 2 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
For Akers, Cook, and Hall, it appears that Henderson (vs. Falcons), Devin Singletary (vs. Titans), and Carter (@ Browns) will be the leaders in their teams' respective committees. Even Zack Moss (vs. Titans), who had six catches, is ahead of Cook and looks like a potential flex in PPR leagues. We also saw AJ Dillon (vs. Bears) and James Robinson (vs. Colts) lead the way over Aaron Jones and Travis Etienne, respectively. For now, we'll continue to rank those backs above all others on their teams, but be aware things could always swing back this week and none of these backs are sure things this week. For what it's worth, Etienne should have two TDs (Trevor Lawrence overthrew him on one, while he dropped another), but with just six touches to Robinson's 12, there's cause for concern.
WEEK 2 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
While we still have a lot to learn about matchups, Week 1 yielded some interesting results. The Titans, Texans, Panthers, Cowboys, Saints, and Eagles really struggled against the run, and we've bumped up opposing RBs Singletary (vs. Titans), Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon (vs. Texans), Saquon Barkley (vs. Panthers), Joe Mixon (@ Cowboys), Leonard Fournette (@ Saints), and Dalvin Cook (@ Eagles) this week (not that the latter four needed it).
WEEK 2 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo
In terms of "unfavorable" matchups, Derrick Henry (@ Bills), Ezekiel Elliott (vs. Bengals), Dillon and Jones (vs. Bears), Robinson and Etienne (vs. Colts), and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Chargers) look to be in the toughest spots. We're not worried about Henry, Elliott, and CEH given their usual workloads, but the rest have been dropped to the low-end RB2/flex tier. We also don't trust Pierce (@ Broncos) after Rex Burkhead saw three more carries than him last week.
Obviously, touchdowns go a long way toward determining how you feel about an RBs' fantasy day, even in PPR leagues, but carries (especially carries near the goal line) and targets are more important to track at this point in the season. Having the right process usually wins out and leads to more success in the long run, so trust the touches and weigh all factors before locking in your start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 2 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Jaguars |
| 2 | Christian McCaffrey, Panthers @ Giants |
| 3 | Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Jets |
| 4 | Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Eagles |
| 5 | Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Panthers |
| 6 | D'Andre Swift, Lions vs. Commanders |
| 7 | Derrick Henry, Titans @ Bills |
| 8 | Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ Saints |
| 9 | Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Cowboys |
| 10 | Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Chiefs |
| 11 | Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Lions |
| 12 | Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Patriots |
| 13 | Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Rams |
| 14 | Rashaad Penny, Seahawks @ 49ers |
| 15 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Chargers |
| 16 | Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Texans |
| 17 | Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Bengals |
| 18 | James Conner, Cardinals @ Raiders |
| 19 | Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Vikings |
| 20 | Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams vs. Falcons |
| 21 | JK Dobbins, Ravens vs. Dolphins |
| 22 | Michael Carter, Jets @ Browns |
| 23 | Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Titans |
| 24 | AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Bears |
| 25 | Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Cardinals |
| 26 | Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers vs. Seahawks |
| 27 | Damien Harris, Patriots @ Steelers |
| 28 | Melvin Gordon III, Broncos vs. Texans |
| 29 | Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Bears |
| 30 | Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Jets |
| 31 | Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Ravens |
| 32 | Mark Ingram, Saints vs. Buccaneers |
| 33 | James Robinson, Jaguars vs. Colts |
| 34 | David Montgomery, Bears @ Packers |
| 35 | Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Steelers |
| 36 | Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Bengals |
| 37 | Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Colts |
| 38 | Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Broncos |
| 39 | Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Commanders |
| 40 | Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Packers |
| 41 | Nyheim Hines, Colts @ Jaguars |
| 42 | Breece Hall, Jets @ Browns |
| 43 | Rex Burkhead, Texans @ Broncos |
| 44 | Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Vikings |
| 45 | Zack Moss, Bills vs. Titans |
| 46 | Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ 49ers |
| 47 | J.D. McKissic, Commanders @ Lions |
| 48 | Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Ravens |
| 49 | Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Rams |
| 50 | Ameer Abdullah, Raiders vs. Cardinals |
| 51 | Kenyan Drake, Ravens vs. Dolphins |
| 52 | James Cook, Bills vs. Titans |
| 53 | Cam Akers, Rams vs. Falcons |
| 54 | Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Eagles |
| 55 | Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Patriots |
| 56 | Dwayne Washington, Saints vs. Buccaneers |
| 57 | Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Seahawks |
| 58 | Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Chargers |
| 59 | Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Saints |
| 60 | Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Chargers |
| 61 | Sony Michel, Chargers @ Chiefs |
| 62 | Eno Benjamin, Cardinals @ Raiders |
Week 2 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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