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Week 2 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Below you will find our Week 2 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 2, 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 2.

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.

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

 

Week 2 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs

RotoBaller
Staff Ranks
Player Name
(Team - Position)
Zach Wilkens
Rankings
Ed Gorelik
Rankings
1 Matt Forte CHI vs. ARI 1 1
2 Marshawn Lynch SEA at GB 4 2
3 DeMarco Murray PHI vs. DAL 2 5
4 Jeremy Hill CIN vs. SD 8 3
5 Carlos Hyde SF at PIT 3 8
6 Adrian Peterson MIN vs. DET 10 4
7 Jamaal Charles KC vs. DEN 7 7
8 Mark Ingram NO vs. TB 5 10
9 Justin Forsett BAL at OAK 9 6
10 Eddie Lacy GB vs. SEA 6 9
11 Lamar Miller MIA at JAC 13 11
12 Ameer Abdullah DET at MIN 12 13
13 LeSean McCoy BUF vs. NE 11 15
14 Christopher Ivory NYJ at IND 14 12
15 Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. HOU 15 14
16 Doug Martin TB at NO 24 16
17 Tevin Coleman ATL at NYG 17 23
18 Frank Gore IND vs. NYJ 22 19
19 Latavius Murray OAK vs. BAL 20 24
20 Danny Woodhead SD at CIN 27 18
21 DeAngelo Williams PIT vs. SF 23 22
22 Joseph Randle DAL at PHI 21 25
23 C.J. Anderson DEN at KC 25 21
24 Giovani Bernard CIN vs. SD 18 31
25 Dion Lewis NE at BUF 35 17
26 Bishop Sankey TEN at CLE 32 20
27 Shane Vereen NYG vs. ATL 19 34
28 Rashad Jennings NYG vs. ATL 28 26
29 Alfred Morris WAS vs. STL 26 28
30 C.J. Spiller NO vs. TB 16 43
31 Melvin Gordon SD at CIN 31 30
32 T.J. Yeldon JAC vs. MIA 29 36
33 Chris Johnson ARI at CHI 39 27
34 Isaiah Crowell CLE vs. TEN 34 35
35 Benny Cunningham STL at WAS 37 33
36 Darren Sproles PHI vs. DAL 43 29
37 LeGarrette Blount NE at BUF 41 32
38 Joique Bell DET at MIN 36 39
39 Lance Dunbar DAL at PHI 33 44
40 Tre Mason STL at WAS 30 49
41 Ryan Mathews PHI vs. DAL 42 40
42 Alfred Blue HOU at CAR 40 42
43 Duke Johnson CLE vs. TEN 45 38
44 David Johnson ARI at CHI 47 37
45 Ronnie Hillman DEN at KC 38 46
46 Devonta Freeman ATL at NYG 44 45
47 Khiry Robinson NO vs. TB 62 41
48 Jonathan Grimes HOU at CAR 46 56
49 Reggie Bush SF at PIT 47
50 Fred Jackson SEA at GB 48 64
51 Matt Jones WAS vs. STL 58 48
52 Andre Williams NYG vs. ATL 49 58
53 Roy Helu OAK vs. BAL 50 67
54 Bilal Powell NYJ at IND 56 50
55 Darren McFadden DAL at PHI 54 51
56 Denard Robinson JAC vs. MIA 51 53
57 Karlos Williams BUF vs. NE 55 52
58 Charles Sims TB at NO 52 54
59 Damien Williams MIA at JAC 53 71
60 Theo Riddick DET at MIN 55
61 Jerick McKinnon MIN vs. DET 57 60
62 James White NE at BUF 57
63 Marcel Reece OAK vs. BAL 59 62
64 Terrance West TEN at CLE 60 59
65 Josh Robinson IND vs. NYJ 61 72
66 Javorius Allen BAL at OAK 68 61
67 Knile Davis KC vs. DEN 63 63
68 Chris Polk HOU at CAR 64 66
69 Toby Gerhart JAC vs. MIA 65
70 Anthony Dixon BUF vs. NE 65
71 James Starks GB vs. SEA 66
72 Chris Thompson WAS vs. STL 67
73 Brandon Bolden NE at BUF 68
74 Dri Archer PIT vs. SF 69
75 Jarryd Hayne SF at PIT 69
76 Bobby Rainey TB at NO 70
77 Will Johnson PIT vs. SF 70
78 Cameron Artis-Payne CAR vs. HOU 73
79 Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL at OAK 74

 
 

Week 2 Quick Hit Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis

By Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik)

Jamaal Charles is another player that's hard to feel this week. On short rest, the Chiefs are lucky to at least be playing at home against the Broncos' talented front seven.

This is a team whose front has the ability to match up with running backs in the passing game, and completely close out rushing lanes, as it did against the Ravens. Charles is going to be hoping for a high volume of passes if he wants to find value in this game, because otherwise that 3.5 YPC average he had against the Texans is likely going to find itself falling even lower this week.

Speaking of front sevens that close running lanes, the Broncos found out last week that the Ravens front wasn't kidding around either. No one was able to find room to run in that game, and this week the Raiders (with an injured Derek Carr) are going to see the Ravens at home.

Latavius Murray was featured last week as the true three-down back on the roster, still finding value in a game where the Raiders were unable to do anything, but Murray is going to have to pull off some real magic in order to create value for himself in this one.

With either an injured signal caller or a backup, Murray will become the focal point of the offense against a very tough defense with little support.

On the flip side, Duke Johnson and Isaiah Crowell are getting boosts from irrelevance to potential relevance this week. I can't buy the idea that the Titans have suddenly turned their bottom-eight offense into a top-eight one so quickly, but even if they have gotten better they shouldn't be good enough to take advantage of an offensive line like the Browns.

Both running backs are still far outside the top 24, and are more FLEX options than actual starters, because of the Browns offense that's likely to stutter. But the matchup is in their favor for some relevance this week.

 

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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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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Deshaun Watson

"a Good Month Away" From Practicing
CFB

Jayden Gibson No Longer with Oklahoma Program
David Njoku

Not Practicing Wednesday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs "Allocating a Heavy Workload" for Rashee Rice Right Away
Puka Nacua

a "Long Shot" to Play in Week 7
Emeka Egbuka

is Expected to Miss Week 7
Jalen Suggs

Participates in Contact Drills
Mark Williams

Progresses to Five-on-Five Work
Gary Harris

to Miss 1-2 Weeks
De'Andre Hunter

Sustains Knee Contusion Tuesday
Karlo Matković

Karlo Matkovic Hurts Elbow in Loss to Houston
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Returns to Action Against Cavaliers
Stuart Skinner

Records Eighth Career Shutout
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Dishes Out Three Assists in Tuesday's Win
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Likely Out on Friday
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Sustains Lower-Body Injury Versus Flames
Matt Duchene

Injured in Tuesday's Win
Emmanuel Clase

to be Banished for Life After Gambling Allegations?
Alex Bregman

Plans to Opt Out of Contract With Red Sox
Jalen Green

Reinjures Hamstring, Will be Reevaluated in 10 Days
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Set to Suit Up Tuesday
Joel Embiid

Could Play in Friday's Preseason Finale
Alexey Toropchenko

to Remain Out Wednesday
Jake Walman

Targeting Season Debut for Thursday
Zach Benson

Expected to Make Season Debut Wednesday
Paul George

Participates in Team Activities During Practice on Tuesday
Steven Lorentz

Misses Tuesday's Action
Jaccob Slavin

Unavailable Versus Sharks
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Out on Tuesday
Kris Letang

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Brady Tkachuk

Expected to Miss at Least One Month
CeeDee Lamb

"Looking Good" for Week 7
Kevin Huerter

Could Be an Option Thursday
Tre Jones

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Marcus Smart

Set for Lakers Debut Tuesday
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Sits Out Tuesday's Preseason Game
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Scores Twice in Monday's Win
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Garrett Wilson

Expected to Miss "a Couple of Weeks" With Hyperextended Knee
Dalton Kincaid

Ruled Out for Monday Night
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Set to Make Preseason Debut on Tuesday
Josh Norris

Could Miss Eight Weeks
Toumani Camara

Misses Practice on Monday
Coby White

Expected to Miss Remainder of Preseason
Tre Mann

Considered Questionable for Wednesday's Preseason Contest
CFB

Sam Leavitt Viewed as Day-to-Day with Undisclosed Injury
Anthony Santander

Scratched From Game 2 of ALCS With Back Tightness
Deebo Samuel Sr.

Expected to Play on Monday Night
Brock Bowers

Could Sit for the "Long Haul"
CeeDee Lamb

has a Chance to Play in Week 7
San Diego Padres

Mike Shildt Retires as a Manager
Tennessee Titans

Titans Fire Head Coach Brian Callahan
Mateusz Gamrot

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Charles Oliveira

Gets Back In The Win Column
Montel Jackson

Drops Decision
Deiveson Figueiredo

Gets Split-Decision Victory
Vicente Luque

Outclassed
Vicente Luque

Joel Alvarez Outclasses Vicente Luque
Jhonata Diniz

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Mario Pinto

Remains Undefeated
CFB

Matt Rhule Denying Interest in Penn State Head Coaching Job
CFB

Le'Veon Moss Not Believed to Have Suffered Season-Ending Injury
Ricardo Ramos

Suffers First-Round Submission Loss
Chris Godwin

Not Expected to Return in Week 7
Bucky Irving

Not Expected to Return in Week 7
Puka Nacua

Rams Think Puka Nacua has Avoided a Long-Term Injury
Kaan Ofli

Scores Comeback Win
CFB

Bill Belichick Says he's Committed to North Carolina
Puka Nacua

Likely to Miss Time Due to Sprained Ankle
Rashee Rice

Eligible to Play Sunday Against the Raiders
Emeka Egbuka

Expected to Miss "Some Time"
Tiger Woods

Undergoes Back Surgery
CFB

UAB Fires Head Coach Trent Dilfer After 2.5 Seasons In Birmingham
CFB

Penn State Fires Head Coach James Franklin After 10.5 Seasons
CFB

Penn State QB Drew Allar Will Miss The Rest Of 2025 Season With Ankle Injury
Brandon Woodruff

Will Not be on NLCS Roster
Max Scherzer

Added to ALCS Roster
Bryan Woo

Makes ALCS Roster
Bo Bichette

Won't Make ALCS Roster
Christopher Bell

the Favorite to Win at Las Vegas
Denny Hamlin

on the Pole at Las Vegas
Joey Logano

Can Joey Logano Get Lucky in Las Vegas Again?
William Byron

has the Fastest Car in Practice at Las Vegas
Ty Gibbs

Speed of Ty Gibbs a Good Sign for Toyota at Las Vegas
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Should Contend at Las Vegas
Ross Chastain

Scrapes Wall in Practice But Qualifies 15th at Las Vegas
Chris Buescher

Looking for Improvement at Las Vegas
Austin Cindric

It Has Been Hit or Miss for Austin Cindric at Las Vegas
Chase Elliott

Should Run Well at Las Vegas
Kyle Larson

Conservatism May Keep him from Replicating Previous Las Vegas Drive
Josh Berry

After Josh Berry's Las Vegas Win, Ryan Blaney Should be a Top Contender
Chase Briscoe

has Definitely Improved on Intermediate Tracks
Gleyber Torres

Will Undergo Surgery to Repair Sports Hernia
Bryan Woo

Expected to be on Mariners' ALCS Roster
CFB

CJ Baxter to Miss Saturday's Game Against No. 6 Oklahoma
CFB

Syracuse QB Steve Angeli Will Miss Significant Time
Cody Bellinger

Plans to Opt Out of Contract
MLB

Munetaka Murakami Will be Posted This Winter
Nathan Eovaldi

has Hernia Surgery, Should be Ready for Spring Training
Mateusz Gamrot

Set For UFC Rio Main Event
Charles Oliveira

Returns At UFC Rio
Montel Jackson

Set For UFC Rio Co-Main Event
Deiveson Figueiredo

Returns At UFC Rio
Joel Álvarez

Joel Alvarez Set for his Welterweight Debut
Vicente Luque

A Huge Underdog
Mario Pinto

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Jhonata Diniz

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Kaan Ofli

Looks To Secure His First Octagon Win
Ricardo Ramos

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Michael Aswell

Looks For His First UFC Win
CFB

North Carolina's Caleb Hood Retiring from College Football
CFB

Jeff Sims Likely to Start Against Utah
CFB

Syracuse QB Steve Angeli Will Miss Remainder of 2025 Season With Torn Achilles
CFB

Sam Leavitt Not Expected to Play for Arizona State on Saturday
CFB

John Mateer Upgraded to Probable Ahead of Saturday's Red-River Shootout
Tanner Scott

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CFB

Ryan Williams Will Be Available Against No. 14 Missouri On Saturday

RANKINGS

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