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Week 1 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

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.

Editor's Note: Our friends at FantasyFeud are hosting Survivor and Seasonal Leagues perfect for the non-DFS fantasy manager, and you can enter for as little as $1. If you sign up and deposit now, you'll receive a 100% bonus AND a get free full season of RotoBaller's NFL Premium Tools & DFS Lineups Picks ($39.99 value).

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

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.




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RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP