Week 1 overreactions often seep into how we judge fantasy football players for the rest of the season.
The opening weekend often presents many challenges that adversely influence an RB’s performance. The short sample size shouldn’t be ignored — but must be put into proper context.
How many of the top players from the opener can sustain that production? How trustworthy is the role? The opportunity? The offensive line?
We once again aim to tell the most complete story for this position — the most important in our favorite pastime.
Keep scrolling for our top RB fantasy rankings for Week 2, with tiers and lineup value designations.
FANTASY WEEK 2 RANKINGS: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK
Fantasy Football RB Rankings Week 2: PPR tips on who to start, sit at running back
This list positions running backs for Week 1 expected value in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues.
Note: Players who have already had their game are in italicized, strikethrough font.
| Rk | Tr | Running Backs | TM | OPP | Week 2 Value |
| 1 | 1 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | @NO | Elite RB1 |
| 2 | 1 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | @MIN | Elite RB1 |
| 3 | 1 | Derrick Henry | BAL | CLE | Elite RB1 |
| 4 | 1 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | @KC | Elite RB1 |
| 5 | 2 | Chase Brown | CIN | JAX | Elite RB1 |
| 6 | 2 | Bucky Irving | TB | @HOU | Elite RB1 |
| 7 | 3 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | CHI | RB1 |
| 8 | 3 | Kyren Williams | LAR | @TEN | RB1 |
| 9 | 3 | James Cook | BUF | @NYJ | RB1 |
| 11 | 3 | De’Von Achane | MIA | NE | RB1 |
| 12 | 3 | James Conner | ARI | CAR | RB1 |
| 13 | 4 | Alvin Kamara | NO | SF | RB1/RB2 |
| 14 | 4 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | LAC | RB1/RB2 |
| 15 | 4 | Travis Etienne | JAX | @CIN | RB1/RB2 |
| 16 | 5 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | DEN | Strong RB2 |
| 17 | 5 | Breece Hall | NYJ | BUF | Strong RB2 |
| 18 | 5 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | @ARI | Strong RB2 |
| 19 | 6 | Tony Pollard | TEN | LAR | RB2 |
| 20 | 6 | Javonte Williams | DAL | NYG | RB2 |
| 22 | 6 | D’Andre Swift | CHI | @DET | RB2 |
| 23 | 6 | Omarion Hampton | LAC | @LV | RB2 |
| 24 | 7 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | @MIA | RB2/Flex |
| 25 | 7 | Aaron Jones | MIN | ATL | RB2/Flex |
| 26 | 7 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | SEA | Strong Flex |
| 27 | 7 | RJ Harvey | DEN | @IND | RB2/Flex |
| 28 | 7 | Kenneth Walker III | SEA | @PIT | RB2/Flex |
| 29 | 7 | Dylan Sampson | CLE | @BAL | RB2/Flex |
| 30 | 7 | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | @IND | RB2/Flex |
| 31 | 7 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | @PIT | Strong Flex |
| 32 | 7 | Nick Chubb | HOU | TB | Strong Flex |
| 33 | 8 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | PHI | Strong Flex |
| 34 | 8 | David Montgomery | DET | CHI | Strong Flex |
| 35 | 8 | Jordan Mason | MIN | ATL | Strong Flex |
| 36 | 8 | Tyrone Tracy | NYG | @DAL | Strong Flex |
| 38 | 8 | Najee Harris | LAC | @LV | Strong Flex |
| 39 | 8 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | @MIA | Flex |
| 40 | 9 | Braelon Allen | NYJ | BUF | Flex |
| 41 | 9 | Trey Benson | ARI | CAR | Flex |
| 42 | 9 | Rico Dowdle | CAR | @ARI | Flex |
| 43 | 9 | Raheim Sanders | CLE | @BAL | Flex |
| 44 | 10 | Cam Skattebo | NYG | @DAL | Flex |
| 45 | 10 | Kareem Hunt | KC | PHI | Flex |
| 46 | 11 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | @MIN | Flex/Bench |
| 47 | 11 | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | SEA | Flex/Bench |
| 48 | 11 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX | @CIN | Flex/Bench |
| 49 | 11 | Kendre Miller | NO | SF | Flex/Bench |
| 50 | 11 | Ollie Gordon | MIA | NE | Flex/Bench |
| 51 | 11 | Isaac Guerendo | SF | @NO | Flex/Bench |
| 52 | 11 | AJ Dillon | PHI | @KC | Flex/Bench |
| 53 | 11 | Tank Bigsby | PHI | @CIN | Flex/Bench |
| 54 | 11 | Rachaad White | TB | @HOU | Flex/Bench |
| 55 | 11 | Kaleb Johnson | PIT | SEA | Flex/Bench |
| 56 | 11 | Kyle Monangai | CHI | @DET | Bench |
| 57 | 12 | Justice Hill | BAL | CLE | Bench |
| 58 | 12 | Ty Johnson | BUF | @NYJ | Bench |
| 59 | 12 | Antonio Gibson | NE | @MIA | Bench |
| 60 | 12 | Dare Ogunbowale | HOU | TB | Bench |
| 61 | 12 | LeQuint Allen | JAX | @CIN | Bench |
| 62 | 12 | DJ Giddens | IND | DEN | Bench |
| 63 | 12 | Samaje Perine | CIN | JAX | Bench |
| 64 | 12 | Tyler Badie | DEN | @IND | Bench |
| 66 | 13 | Sean Tucker | TB | @HOU | Bench |
| 67 | 13 | Blake Corum | LAR | @TEN | Bench |
| 68 | 13 | Woody Marks | HOU | TB | Bench |
| 69 | 13 | Jerome Ford | CLE | @BAL | Bench |
| 70 | 13 | Ray Davis | BUF | @NYJ | Bench |
| 71 | 14 | Julius Chestnut | TEN | LAR | Bench |
| 73 | 14 | Jarquez Hunter | LAR | @TEN | Bench |
| 74 | 14 | Trevor Etienne | CAR | @ARI | Bench |
| 75 | 14 | Tahj Brooks | CIN | JAX | Bench |
| 76 | 14 | Devin Singletary | NYG | @DAL | Bench |
| 77 | 14 | Isaiah Davis | NYJ | BUF | Bench |
| 78 | 15 | Zamir White | LV | LAC | Bench |
| 79 | 15 | Dylan Laube | LV | LAC | Bench |
| 80 | 15 | Brashard Smith | KC | PHI | Bench |
| 81 | 15 | Ulysses Bentley | IND | DEN | Bench |
| 82 | 15 | Devin Neal | NO | SF | Bench |
| TBD | — | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | @BAL | TBD |
| QUE | — | Roschon Johnson | CHI | @DET | QUE |
| DBT | — | Jaylen Wright | MIA | NE | DBT |
| OUT | — | Will Shipley | PHI | @KC | OUT |
FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 2 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em | Week 2 Sleepers | Week 2 Busts
Who are the best fantasy football running backs to start in Week 2?
Surviving a flurry of ominous pregame injury news, Christian McCaffrey balled out in a tough San Francisco 49ers victory. The PPR wizard continues to dominate (when on the field).
Derrick Henry’s stat-stuffing Sunday night reminded us of his greatness, and a matchup with the Browns, admittedly a tough draw, won’t stop him. James Cook’s breakaway highlights in that same SNF outing nudges the Bills’ weapon upward from previous weeks, now that he’s past any possible “hold-in” effects.
Volume gatherers who often went in Round 2 of fantasy drafts — Bucky Irving, Chase Brown, Kyren Williams — continue to stake a claim as top-10 backs.
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Who are the top fantasy RB sleepers for Week 2?
Major Week 2 RB matchup boosts to note:
- We’ll run with both RJ Harvey and J.K. Dobbins for the Denver Broncos, despite the tough on-paper matchup. The Indianapolis Colts lucked out by facing a Miami Dolphins offense in despair; Denver’s ground game should be a bigger test, giving both names big potential to break through as they did in the second half of Week 1.
- Braelon Allen vultured a touchdown from Breece Hall during the New York Jets’ tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and given that the Bills wilted against bruiser Derrick Henry, that type of back (Allen isn’t King Henry but has that inside brute strength) could give him a bigger opportunity in order for New York to keep the ball away from Josh Allen. Both backs are great plays in Week 2.
- I faded Tony Pollard in the Week 1 busts article, but I’ll expect him to be plenty involved in Week 2 for the Titans against the Los Angeles Rams. Houston didn’t offer a consistent run game for much of the action, and Tennessee should rely on ground work to give Cam Ward play-action opportunities.
