{"id":120765,"date":"2021-09-06T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T13:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=120765"},"modified":"2021-09-06T09:12:45","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T13:12:45","slug":"fantasy-football-week-1-running-back-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2021\/09\/06\/fantasy-football-week-1-running-back-rankings\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another offseason is in the books, as football is finally here! You\u2019ve drafted your teams, now it\u2019s time to set your lineups. Picking the right players on a weekly basis is the key to actually winning your matchups, so without further ado, let\u2019s take a look at the fantasy football Week 1 running back rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Week 1 Wide Receiver Rankings<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Fantasy Football Week 1 Running Back Rankings: Football Is Back!<\/h2>\n

Tier 1: Week-Winning Upside<\/strong><\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. Christian McCaffrey<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Alvin Kamara<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Dalvin Cook<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Aaron Jones<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Derrick Henry<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Austin Ekeler<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Don\u2019t overthink this – Christian McCaffrey is the top running back in fantasy football by a comfortable margin. Jameis Winston starting is good news for Kamara, and he\u2019ll be the only proven target in the passing game with Michael Thomas sidelined<\/a>. Mike Zimmer loves to run the ball, and Cook should see plenty of targets in the passing game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Aaron Rodgers is back, which means Aaron Jones is a full-go for 2021. Derrick Henry doesn\u2019t catch passes, but he runs the ball so well that it doesn\u2019t really matter. Ekeler is basically the anti-Henry, as his high role in the passing game gives him limitless potential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    [pickup_prop id=”10302″]<\/p>\n

    Tier 2: Low-End RB1<\/strong><\/h4>\n
      \n
    1. Nick Chubb<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Ezekiel Elliott<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Joe Mixon<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Jonathan Taylor<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Clyde Edwards-Helaire<\/span><\/li>\n
    6. Antonio Gibson<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The Cleveland Browns<\/a> vs the Kansas City Chiefs<\/a> has a good shot of being the highest-scoring game of the week, so Nick Chubb should have plenty of touchdown opportunities. Ezekiel Elliott has a bit of a capped ceiling with Zack Martin sidelined and an unfavorable gamescript likely, but the volume will still be there. Joe Mixon is the only man in town and should plenty of touches in Cincinnati\u2019s backfield.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson should be back in Week 1, which means Jonathan Taylor is a safe play with decent touchdown upside. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has no backfield competition and a good shot of being the third passing option in the most dangerous aerial attack in the league. Antonio Gibson is everyone\u2019s favorite breakout running back\u00a0 and should see more work in the passing game in Year 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n

      All we're thankful for is Antonio Gibson switching hands with the ball to wave to the defender on this TDpic.twitter.com\/30NVxkbMQe<\/a><\/p>\n

      — PFF (@PFF) November 27, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n