The top of our fantasy football running back rankings for Week 1 look much like our preseason 2015 RB rankings with one notable mover: DeMarco Murray leaps to No. 2 with a perfect matchup against the Falcons in the Georgia Dome. For one game, at least, Murray should be back among the elite fantasy running backs.
With injuries and matchups in mind, let’s take a look at how the overall fantasy RB rankings look for Week 1 to identify the sleepers and busts.
MORE: Week 1 fantasy football rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K
Fantasy football rankings, Week 1, RB
Outside of DeMarco Murray, the rest of our top five running backs for Week 1 are exactly who was probably drafted in the top five of your league (minus Le’Veon Bell, of course): Eddie Lacy (1), Jamaal Charles (3), Adrian Peterson (4) and Marshawn Lynch (5).
No surprises there, but things get interesting outside the top 10. You can see the full Week 1 RB rankings here.
LeSean McCoy, C.J. Spiller injury updates
The two major injuries to track in Week 1 are LeSean McCoy’s hamstring strain and C.J. Spiller’s recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery. Fortunately, the Bills play at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, so we’ll know early if McCoy is playing. However, the Saints play at 4:05 on Sunday, which makes waiting on Spiller a risky proposition if you don’t have a late-game backup plan.
We’re also watching for updates on Tre Mason (hamstring), but with the Seahawks coming to town, you shouldn’t be interested in whoever starts for the Rams.
Fantasy RB sleepers for Week 1
While we caution against starting sleepers over your studs in the early weeks of the season, we do like a few under-the-radar starting running backs to have good games. Chris Ivory (No. 17) should excel as the Jets’ lead back against the Browns, while Isaiah Crowell (24) should see the bulk of the touches in Cleveland’s backfield.
If you’re feeling lucky, take a gamble on the Falcons’ Devonta Freeman against the Eagles, or the Cowboys’ Darren McFadden against the Giants. There should be a lot of points in both of those games.
Get your full Week 1 running back fantasy rankings here.
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