Bizarre usage with Todd Gurley and David Montgomery and injuries to Tevin Coleman and Joe Mixon dominated the RB storylines in the season's opening week, at least on the negative side. Heading into Week 2, fantasy football owners know they can count on Austin Ekeler and Nick Chubb maybe more than they expected prior to Sunday, which is reflected in our Week 2 fantasy RB rankings. Running back is the position that could see the most fluctuation in Week 2 snaps and touches as teams look to figure out how their committees should really shake out. Luckily, aside from Mixon (whose status remains up in the air), the studs all stayed healthy, including Ezekiel Elliott in his return from a holdout.
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We also saw multiple RBs make cases that they'll have standalone value in non-PPR leagues due to the work they do as receivers, namely Tarik Cohen, James White and Damien Williams. They'll be a bit more inconsistent week-to-week, but all will deserve FLEX consideration each week in standard leagues.
WEEK 2 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey both looked like the superstars we know they are, and Le'Veon Bell looked comfortable in green. Mark Ingram made a name for himself in his Ravens' debut, while Chris Carson showed he's the only back to care about in Seattle. In Week 2, continue rolling with your studs and maybe find a sleeper further down the rankings, too.
Reminder: These rankings will be adjusted throughout week, so check back often for the latest updates and analysis!
Week 2 Fantasy RB Rankings
These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues.
| 1 | Saquon Barkley, NYG vs. BUF |
| 2 | Christian McCaffrey, CAR vs. TB |
| 3 | Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ WAS. After the prediction was 20-25 snaps for Zeke in Week 1, he played 37 of Dallas' 68 offensive snaps. Elliott should be back up to full speed in Week 2 and, while Tony Pollard may eat into a few snaps still, Zeke should be closer to 55-60 snaps in Washington. |
| 4 | Alvin Kamara, NO @ LAR |
| 5 | Le'Veon Bell, NYJ vs. CLE |
| 6 | Joe Mixon, CIN vs. SF. Mixon is dealing with an ankle injury that has his status up in the air for this one. Fantasy owners should hope he plays given the matchup. San Francisco allowed Tampa RBs to go for 108 yards on just 21 carries last week, so Mixon would be in line for a big day. If he can't go, Giovani Bernard would fly up these rankings. |
| 7 | David Johnson, ARZ @ BAL |
| 8 | Dalvin Cook, MIN @ GB |
| 9 | Leonard Fournette, JAX @ HOU |
| 10 | James Conner, PIT vs. SEA |
| 11 | Austin Ekeler, LAC @ DET. Ekeler is the biggest riser in our rankings for this week among guys in the top 20. Despite Justin Jackson's effectiveness on limited touches, it was Ekeler who scored three times and was entrusted with the game-winning drive in overtime. After Kyler Murray and co. figured it out against Detroit in Week 1, it was obvious the Lions have a vulnerable defense. Ekeler should be looking at another big game and should be in everyone's starting lineups. |
| 12 | Kerryon Johnson, DET vs. LAC |
| 13 | Mark Ingram, BAL vs. ARZ |
| 14 | Todd Gurley, LAR vs. NO. Gurley finished as the Rams' leading Week 1 rusher, with his 14 carries for 97 yards besting Malcolm Brown's 11 carries. L.A. counted on Gurley as their closer, showing they still believe in him. It just might not be as full a workload as fantasy owners would've hoped for, which is why he's outside our top 10 backs this week. |
| 15 | Chris Carson, SEA @ PIT. Seattle's goal to get Carson 50 targets out of the backfield this season got off to a great start in Week 1 - he got seven targets and caught six. That only serves to solidify Carson's value as an every-week RB2. |
| 16 | Marlon Mack, IND @ TEN |
| 17 | Derrick Henry, TEN vs. IND |
| 18 | Nick Chubb, CLE @ NYJ. The Browns were Week 1's surprise loss, getting blown out by the Titans. Chubb was very effective before Cleveland was forced to air it out to try and come back, though, racking up 75 yards on 17 carries (4.4 average). He also was involved some in the passing game, with three catches, so it looks like Chubb is an every-down back right now for Cleveland. |
| 19 | Sony Michel, NE @ MIA. Miami was gouged by the Ravens left and right in Week 1, including on the ground. New England's offense was clicking on all cylinders, too, so the only thing that could slow Michel down in Week 2 is the running-back rotation for the Patriots. This is as good a shot Michel will have all season of scoring multiple touchdowns (Mark Ingram had two against the Dolphins in the opener). |
| 20 | Aaron Jones, GB vs. MIN |
| 21 | Josh Jacobs, OAK vs. KC |
| 22 | LeSean McCoy, KC @ OAK. Damien Williams outcarried McCoy, 13-10, on Sunday, but McCoy rushed for 18 yards compared to Williams' 26. We've seen Shady have success in Andy Reid's scheme before, so at least in standard leagues, McCoy might be the Week 2 preference to Williams. |
| 23 | Devonta Freeman, ATL vs. PHI |
| 24 | Derrius Guice, WAS vs. DAL. News broke midday Monday that Guice is dealing with an injury to the opposite knee from the one he tore his ACL in. We're waiting for further news before moving him. |
| 25 | James White, NE @ MIA |
| 26 | Phillip Lindsay, DEN vs. CHI. The Bears' defense was as advertised in Week 1, and they held the Packers' runnin backs to 2.2 yards per carry. This isn't a matchup where you're playing Lindsay because you want to -- but you might have to, depending on the other RBs on your team. Denver might have a worse offensive line than GB, too, so Lindsay's Monday night performance could go a long way in determining his Week 2 value. |
| 27 | Tarik Cohen, CHI @ DEN |
| 28 | Damien Williams, KC @ OAK |
| 29 | Duke Johnson Jr., HOU vs. JAX |
| 30 | Miles Sanders, PHI @ ATL. Sanders received the most snaps of any Philadelphia running back on Sunday, turning that into 11 carries and a catch. He didn't have much running room all day, but he did break off a 19-yard run and showed shiftiness to avoid huge losses a couple of times in the backfield. Dalvin Cook ran all over Atlanta in Week 1, so Sanders could be worth a flex stab as a Week 2 breakout possibility. |
| 31 | Ronald Jones, TB @ CAR. Jones showed off the powerful running style that made him everyone's 2018 sleeper, carrying 13 times for 75 yards - leading Bucs' backs in carries and yards by a wide margin (although he was outsnapped by Peyton Barber). Carolina struggled to stop the Rams' rushing attack in Week 1, so as long as Jameis Winston can avoid turning the ball over too early in possessions, Jones shapes up for a solid Week 2. |
| 32 | David Montgomery, CHI @ DEN |
| 33 | Tevin Coleman, SF @ CIN. Coleman is dealing with an ankle injury he sustained in Week 1, but this isn't a favorable backfield situation at the moment, anyway, with three players potentially competing for touches. |
| 34 | Latavius Murray, NO @ LAR |
| 35 | Devin Singletary, BUF @ NYG. Singletary rushed for 70 yards on just four carries in Week 1, showing his explosiveness, while also getting six targets in the passing game - he caught five for 28 yards. He was on the field for 48 of Buffalo's 69 snaps - Frank Gore played just 19 snaps. Singletary's full-on breakout is coming soon. |
| 36 | Royce Freeman, DEN vs. CHI |
| 37 | Kenyan Drake, MIA vs. NE |
| 38 | Matt Breida, SF @ CIN. We'll be monitoring Coleman's ankle injury - if he misses Week 2, Breida will move up into surefire flex territory. The Bengals didn't give up too many yards to Chris Carson, but between receptions and touchdowns in Week 1, Carson showed the recipe for Breida to have a good Week 2 outing in Cincinnati. |
| 39 | Dion Lewis, TEN vs. IND |
| 40 | Justin Jackson, LAC @ DET |
| 41 | Carlos Hyde, HOU vs. JAX |
| 42 | Darren Sproles, PHI @ ATL. Sproles got a touch on 12 of his 23 snaps on Sunday, showing that as long as Doug Pederson has him, he's going to use him. It probably isn't enough usage for standard-league owners to take notice, besides that it takes away from Sanders and Jordan Howard. |
| 43 | Malcolm Brown, LAR vs. NO |
| 44 | Jalen Richard, OAK vs. KC |
| 45 | Ito Smith, ATL vs. PHI |
| 46 | Gus Edwards, BAL vs. ARZ |
| 47 | Peyton Barber, TB @ CAR |
| 48 | Rashaad Penny, SEA @ PIT |
| 49 | Nyheim Hines, IND @ TEN |
| 50 | Jordan Howard, PHI @ ATL |
| 51 | Mike Davis, CHI @ DEN |
| 52 | Kalen Ballage, MIA vs. NE |
| 53 | Frank Gore, BUF @ NYG |
| 54 | Giovani Bernard, CIN vs. SF. Bernard will rise up into RB2/FLEX territory in the rankings if Joe Mixon is ruled out for Week 2. San Francisco's run defense - or lack therof - would make Bernard an appealing fantasy option. |
| 55 | C.J. Anderson, DET vs. LAC |
| 56 | Chris Thompson, WAS vs. DAL |
| 57 | Alexander Mattison, MIN @ GB |
| 58 | Raheem Mostert, SF @ CIN |
| 59 | Ty Montgomery, NYJ vs. CLE |
| 60 | Jamaal Williams, GB vs. MIN |
| 61 | Rex Burkhead, NE @ MIA |
| 62 | Justice Hill, BAL vs. ARZ |
| 63 | Chase Edmonds, ARZ @ BAL |
| 64 | Jaylen Samuels, PIT vs. SEA |
| 65 | Darwin Thompson, KC @ OAK |