2026 Fantasy Football: Week 1 RB Rankings

Guess what, just like that, we are back!. The offseason seemed like it stretched on forever, but now that is over. The 2026 NFL season is upon us, and it is time to jump right back into the weekly cycle. Let’s begin by taking a look at our Week 1 RB rankings.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!

Running Back Notes

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

I have high hopes for Jeanty this season. For a stretch this summer, it appeared as if those were going to be placed on a serious hold. Thankfully, it was just a low ankle sprain for Jeanty, and all current signs point towards him taking the field for Week 1. There might be some rust involved, and perhaps Jeanty operates with less than a full workload, but to this point, has to be in your lineup to begin the season. The other piece is that with rookie Mike Washington, there isn’t going to be much competition for Jeanty.

Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers

With just nine NFL carries in two seasons, it’s difficult to know what to truly expect from Brooks. There’s going to be a risk here, though, as the Brooks we see in Week 1 likely is not going to be the same Brooks we see in Week 10. While it’s possible Brooks comes out of the gate hot, it’s also something I need to see before backing it. It might take Brooks a few weeks to shake the rust off, but it’s also possible he breaks off a few big plays.

Instead, the expectation is that, assuming Brooks gets past his soreness and does take the field, he’ll be utilized in limited packages. The Panthers still have Chubba Hubbard to take the load, but there’s going to be a time this season when Brooks surpasses him. Don’t be hasty to drop Brooks early in the season. The good news, though, is that Week 1 should provide some clarity.

Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers

Perhaps an underrated transaction this offseason was Dowdle signing with the Steelers. Yes, Jaylen Warren will still play a large role, but the expectation is that Dowdle will be busy. In each of the last two seasons, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Dowdle also broke the 1,000-yard mark in each season. He’s now reunited with his former head coach from Dallas, Mike McCarthy, and it appears that Dowdle will receive the majority of the early-down work. Whether that translates into him being more of a flex option remains to be seen. Regardless, there is some value to be found.

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

At least for one week, the Patriots are going back to old reliable. While TreVeyon Henderson went first in drafts and has more buzz, it’s Stevenson who will be front and center in Week 1. Of course, that’s because Henderson has been ruled out with an ankle injury, but it’s been a tough summer overall for Henderson.

With limited depth behind Stevenson, he’s likely going to be busy this week. We can expect to see Stevenson on the field for all three downs. That comes after he averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season. Henderson is talented enough to be a factor this season. However, it might take a few weeks to see it. It’s also too soon to write off Stevenson.

Week 1 RB Rankings