Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books and some of us are still staring at players on our squad and wondering what happened. An Atlanta Falcons running back finished Week 1 fourth overall in PPR scoring and it wasn\u2019t Bijian Robinson, although he wasn\u2019t far behind. Roschon Johnson and Kyren Williams made surprise visits to the top 10 in overall PPR scoring for Week 1 while Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs didn\u2019t crack RB2 status for the week. As you look toward setting your fantasy football Week 2 lineup, here are this week\u2019s running back rankings.<\/p>\n
Read More: Week 2 Wide Receiver Rankings<\/a> | Week 2 Streamers<\/a> | Week 2 Buy and Sell<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n [cta id=445 type=cta]<\/p>\n 1. Christian McCaffrey<\/em> Christian McCaffrey finished the week as the number three overall running back, reaching the end zone once on 22 carries for 152 yards and three catches for 17 yards. McCaffrey remains a plug-and-play every week. Austin Ekeler managers held their breath late in the third quarter when Ekeler left the field limping, Ekeler quickly returned but is questionable this week as of writing this. Ekeler finished as the second-highest-scoring running back in Week 1 and if he plays is a must-start in your Week 2 roster at running back. If he misses the game, Joshua Kelly is a solid flex option.<\/p>\n Nick Chubb finished the week as an RB1, breaking 100 yards on the ground while averaging 5.9 per carry. Chubb will play a Steelers defense that gave up 188 yards are the ground to the 49ers in Week 1 and is now without defensive tackle Cam Heyward. Derrick Henry was out-snapped by rookie Tyjae Spears in Week 1 but to nobody’s surprise got most of the Titans rushing work and even caught two passes for 56 yards. Without reaching the end zone Henry still finished Week 1 as the number 13 overall running back. Head coach Mike Vrabel said after the game Henry\u2019s usage was \u201cprobably\u201d an outlier and \u201cDerrick will be a huge part of that\u201d about making sure the team gets into a rhythm and does things consistently.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t take Tony Pollard long to jump into the top tier in the fantasy football Week 2 running back rankings. Pollard showed up with 70 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. After posting numbers of RB17 or better in seven of his last nine games in 2022 and coming out firing in a blowout Sunday night game Pollard is a reliable must-start. Saquon Barkley disappointed in that same Sunday night game but there\u2019s no need to overreact. Barkley is still a top running back and had one bad game. He finished Week 1 as the RB31, but in 2022 only had three weeks all season where he wasn\u2019t an RB2 or better.<\/p>\n 7. Travis Etienne<\/em> Travis Etienne was used on the ground and in the air, chalking up over 100 total yards and a touchdown. He\u2019ll face a Chief’s team in Week 2 that gave up a lot on the ground to the Lions. Bijian Robinson\u2019s debut was a little rocky with a touchdown saving his fantasy week. However, he saw plenty of snaps and explosiveness, he should continue to get plenty of work in Week 2.<\/p>\n Aaron Jones left Sunday\u2019s game against the Bears in the third quarter after suffering a hamstring injury. Jones still finished the week as the #1 running back. Keep an eye on his status, but if he plays he starts. Rhamondre Stevenson was on the field for 73% of the Patriots’ snaps in Week 1. Stevenson saw lots of work in the passing game catching all six passes thrown his way and still managed an RB13 finish without reaching the end zone. This week he goes against a Dolphins defense that allowed 234 yards on the ground in Week 1.<\/p>\n Josh Jacobs was another Week 1 disappointment. Much like Saquon Barkley, there\u2019s no need to overreact. Jacobs was the third overall running back in 2022 and will face a Buffalo Bills defense in Week 2 that gave up 12.7 yards per carry on 10 carries to Breece Hall on Monday night. Joe Mixon, like the rest of the Bengals offense, was a fantasy football Week 1 dud. For Week 2 the Bengals face a Steelers defense that got torched for 188 rushing yards, the third-worst performer from Week 1.<\/p>\n Atonio Mafi springs Rhamondre Stevenson and No. 38 does the rest. pic.twitter.com\/CcDvyz2BDg<\/a><\/p>\n — Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) September 11, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nFantasy Football Week 2 Running Back Rankings<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Tier 1: Weekly Winners<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n2. Austin Ekeler*<\/em>
\n3. Nick Chubb<\/em>
\n4. Derrick Henry<\/em>
\n5. Tony Pollard<\/em>
\n6. Saquon Barkley<\/em><\/p>\nTier 2: Low-End Running Back 1<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n8. Bijian Robinson<\/em>
\n9. Aaron Jones<\/em>
\n10. Rhamondre Stevenson<\/em>
\n11. Josh Jacobs<\/em>
\n12. Joe Mixon<\/em><\/p>\n\n