Week 1 is finally here and that means another season of RB rankings at your disposal. Lots of teams made changes this year and trust me, you’re going to need these weekly rankings to know who to start.
Week 1 is always interesting for players moving up to the number one slot or rookies. James Cook, Rachaad White and Jahmyr Gibbs will all have the keys this year. But, which one will produce and which will have problems?
For this week it is merely based on matchups. Week 1 is always the toughest since you have to go by what happened in training camp or preseason. That is why the matchup battle is so important this week.
Let’s get into this week’s notes.
Check out all of our Week 1 Fantasy Football analysis. It’ll be streaming out all week!
Running Back Notes
- As I said before, White has the keys this year and has a great matchup against the Vikings. The Vikings gave up 21.4 fantasy points per game to RBs last season. White came alive at the end of last season and that was with Leonard Fournette in the backfield as well. Now White is all by himself and will be the workhorse back. He also has the ability to catch and we saw what Baker Mayfield did with Kareem Hunt. This is why White is my RB15 this week.
- Another second-year back that I believe is going to go off this season is Dameon Pierce. I have him as my RB20. He does have a slightly tougher matchup this week against the Ravens, but he is another RB who will be a three-down back. Pierce is also someone who can catch the ball as well. He caught 30 of his 39 targets last year and I expect that to grow this year. Especially with Rex Burkhead gone.
- D’Andre Swift has been a solid RB in past years, but I don’t like his matchup this year. This week he has the Patriots who are always great on defense and last year they finished as the fourth toughest fantasy defense against RBs. Also, the Eagles have a trio of RBs, Even though Swift looks to be the lead, you just never know. I expect Jalen Hurts to be the lead rusher this game. This is why I have Swift as my RB32 this week.
- Lastly, I have Aaron Jones as my RB10. Jones may have slipped in a lot of drafts with Aaron Rodgers gone and AJ Dillon growing into a solid RB. But, Jones is still talented and I believe Jordan Love is going to look his way a lot this week. The Packers play the Bears this week and the Bears defense gave up the second most fantasy points to RBs last season. Jones is always a threat and this week he will show why he is still a top RB.
2023 Fantasy Football: Week 1 RB Rankings
More Week 1 Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End
*These RB rankings are based on half-PPR scoring
| Rnk | Player | Team | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | at PIT |
| 2 | Nick Chubb | CLE | vs. CIN |
| 3 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | vs. MIA |
| 4 | Tony Pollard | DAL | at NYG |
| 5 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | vs. CAR |
| 6 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | vs. DAL |
| 7 | Josh Jacobs | LV | at DEN |
| 8 | Joe Mixon | CIN | at CLE |
| 9 | Derrick Henry | TEN | at NO |
| 10 | Aaron Jones | GB | at CHI |
| 11 | Travis Etienne Jr. | JAC | at IND |
| 12 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | vs. PHI |
| 13 | Najee Harris | PIT | vs. SF |
| 14 | Rachaad White | TB | at MIN |
| 15 | J.K. Dobbins | BAL | vs. HOU |
| 16 | Miles Sanders | CAR | at ATL |
| 17 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | at KC |
| 18 | James Conner | ARI | at WAS |
| 19 | Kenneth Walker III | SEA | vs. LAR |
| 20 | Dameon Pierce | HOU | at BAL |
| 21 | Alexander Mattison | MIN | vs. TB |
| 22 | Cam Akers | LAR | at SEA |
| 23 | David Montgomery | DET | at KC |
| 24 | Jamaal Williams | NO | vs. TEN |
| 25 | James Cook | BUF | at NYJ |
| 26 | Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS | vs. ARI |
| 27 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | vs. DET |
| 28 | Breece Hall | NYJ | vs. BUF |
| 29 | Khalil Herbert | CHI | vs. GB |
| 30 | Raheem Mostert | MIA | at LAC |
| 31 | Javonte Williams | DEN | vs. LV |
| 32 | D'Andre Swift | PHI | at NE |
| 33 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | vs. LAR |
| 34 | Antonio Gibson | WAS | vs. ARI |
| 35 | Dalvin Cook | NYJ | vs. BUF |
| 36 | AJ Dillon | GB | at CHI |
| 37 | Jerick McKinnon | KC | vs. DET |
| 38 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | vs. CAR |
| 39 | Samaje Perine | DEN | vs. LV |
| 40 | Elijah Mitchell | SF | at PIT |
| 41 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | vs. SF |
| 42 | Damien Harris | BUF | at NYJ |
| 43 | Kenneth Gainwell | PHI | at NE |
| 44 | Rashaad Penny | PHI | at NE |
| 45 | Devin Singletary | HOU | at BAL |
| 46 | Tank Bigsby | JAC | at IND |
| 47 | De'Von Achane | MIA | at LAC |
| 48 | Gus Edwards | BAL | vs. HOU |
| 49 | Deon Jackson | IND | vs. JAC |
| 50 | Roschon Johnson | CHI | vs. GB |
| 51 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | at ATL |
| 52 | Ezekiel Elliott | NE | vs. PHI |
| 53 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | at NO |
| 54 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC | vs. DET |
| 55 | Evan Hull | IND | vs. JAC |
| 56 | Kyren Williams | LAR | at SEA |
| 57 | D'Onta Foreman | CHI | vs. GB |
| 58 | Sean Tucker | TB | at MIN |
| 59 | Latavius Murray | BUF | at NYJ |
| 60 | Kendre Miller | NO | vs. TEN |
Got a beef with Michael’s Week 1 RB Rankings? Let him hear about it in the comments below!
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