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Below you will find our Week 1 running back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).
Lead fantasy football editor Edward Gorelik also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 1, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 1. You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.
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Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
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Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs
| RotoBaller Staff Ranks |
Player Name (Team - Position) |
Zach Wilkens Rankings |
Ed Gorelik Rankings |
| 1 | Eddie Lacy GB at CHI | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Adrian Peterson MIN at SF | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | DeMarco Murray PHI at ATL | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Jeremy Hill CIN at OAK | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | Matt Forte CHI vs. GB | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Marshawn Lynch SEA at STL | 7 | 5 |
| 7 | Jamaal Charles KC at HOU | 5 | 10 |
| 8 | Lamar Miller MIA at WAS | 10 | 7 |
| 9 | Justin Forsett BAL at DEN | 9 | 8 |
| 10 | C.J. Anderson DEN vs. BAL | 8 | 9 |
| 11 | Jonathan Stewart CAR at JAC | 13 | 12 |
| 12 | LeSean McCoy BUF vs. IND | 11 | 15 |
| 13 | Frank Gore IND at BUF | 18 | 11 |
| 14 | Mark Ingram NO at ARI | 12 | 17 |
| 15 | Christopher Ivory NYJ vs. CLE | 14 | 16 |
| 16 | Andre Ellington ARI vs. NO | 15 | 18 |
| 17 | Latavius Murray OAK vs. CIN | 20 | 14 |
| 18 | Doug Martin TB vs. TEN | 16 | 20 |
| 19 | Carlos Hyde SF vs. MIN | 17 | 22 |
| 20 | Ameer Abdullah DET at SD | 29 | 13 |
| 21 | T.J. Yeldon JAC vs. CAR | 22 | 21 |
| 22 | Alfred Morris WAS vs. MIA | 19 | 26 |
| 23 | Joseph Randle DAL vs. NYG | 28 | 19 |
| 24 | Melvin Gordon SD vs. DET | 24 | 23 |
| 25 | Tevin Coleman ATL vs. PHI | 21 | 28 |
| 26 | Rashad Jennings NYG at DAL | 26 | 25 |
| 27 | Giovani Bernard CIN at OAK | 25 | 27 |
| 28 | Isaiah Crowell CLE at NYJ | 23 | 31 |
| 29 | Shane Vereen NYG at DAL | 27 | 29 |
| 30 | Alfred Blue HOU vs. KC | 34 | 24 |
| 31 | DeAngelo Williams PIT at NE | 31 | 33 |
| 32 | Joique Bell DET at SD | 30 | 35 |
| 33 | Danny Woodhead SD vs. DET | 37 | 32 |
| 34 | Bishop Sankey TEN at TB | 40 | 30 |
| 35 | Tre Mason STL vs. SEA | 33 | 38 |
| 36 | Darren McFadden DAL vs. NYG | 38 | 34 |
| 37 | Dion Lewis NE vs. PIT | 32 | 44 |
| 38 | Ryan Mathews PHI at ATL | 39 | 37 |
| 39 | Devonta Freeman ATL vs. PHI | 41 | 36 |
| 40 | Duke Johnson CLE at NYJ | 36 | 41 |
| 41 | Darren Sproles PHI at ATL | 35 | 45 |
| 42 | Benny Cunningham STL vs. SEA | 42 | 39 |
| 43 | Reggie Bush SF vs. MIN | 45 | 40 |
| 44 | Denard Robinson JAC vs. CAR | 44 | 46 |
| 45 | Matt Jones WAS vs. MIA | 50 | 42 |
| 46 | David Johnson ARI vs. NO | 61 | 43 |
| 47 | Roy Helu OAK vs. CIN | 43 | 53 |
| 48 | Chris Polk HOU vs. KC | 46 | 55 |
| 49 | Chris Johnson ARI vs. NO | 63 | 47 |
| 50 | Knile Davis KC at HOU | 47 | 52 |
| 51 | Fred Jackson SEA at STL | 48 | 61 |
| 52 | Damien Williams MIA at WAS | 56 | 48 |
| 53 | James White NE vs. PIT | 49 | 56 |
| 54 | Brandon Bolden NE vs. PIT | 49 | |
| 55 | Khiry Robinson NO at ARI | 60 | 50 |
| 56 | Charles Sims TB vs. TEN | 51 | 51 |
| 57 | Anthony Dixon BUF vs. IND | 52 | 69 |
| 58 | James Starks GB at CHI | 53 | 65 |
| 59 | Andre Williams NYG at DAL | 54 | 54 |
| 60 | Ronnie Hillman DEN vs. BAL | 55 | 58 |
| 61 | Dri Archer PIT at NE | 66 | 57 |
| 62 | Branden Oliver SD vs. DET | 57 | 63 |
| 63 | Zac Stacy NYJ vs. CLE | 58 | 59 |
| 64 | Lance Dunbar DAL vs. NYG | 59 | 64 |
| 65 | Cameron Artis-Payne CAR at JAC | 65 | 60 |
| 66 | Theo Riddick DET at SD | 62 | |
| 67 | Karlos Williams BUF vs. IND | 62 | |
| 68 | Josh Robinson IND at BUF | 64 | 71 |
| 69 | Christine Michael DAL vs. NYG | 66 | |
| 70 | Chris Thompson WAS vs. MIA | 67 | |
| 71 | Javorius Allen BAL at DEN | 67 | |
| 72 | Jerick McKinnon MIN at SF | 68 | 72 |
| 73 | Jonathan Grimes HOU vs. KC | 68 | |
| 74 | Jeremy Langford CHI vs. GB | 69 | |
| 75 | Toby Gerhart JAC vs. CAR | 70 | |
| 76 | Terrance West TEN at TB | 70 | |
| 77 | Bilal Powell NYJ vs. CLE | 73 |
Week 1 Quick Hit Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis
By Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik)
Chris Ivory is just sitting on a great matchup against the Browns, who are unlikely to deliver an offensive performance on the road that would inspire the Jets to throw heavily.
The Browns were amongst the worst last year in rushing defense, and although Danny Shelton will help them improve, that improvement is only at one position that happens to coincide with the Jets best run blocker, Nick Mangold.
Alfred Morris against the Miami defense is a matchup I don't want any shares of. The Redskins offense has enough struggles. And although it's likely Morris sees some volume as they try to balance the game plan to keep Kirk Cousin's from being relied on too much, it shouldn't take long for the Dolphins to get so far ahead that they shelve the run game entirely.
There's also the factor of Matt Jones, who's hype has only kept growing and the potential carries he might take away.
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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
