Fantasy RB Rankings Week 2: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 2: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

Regardless of whether you're 1-0 or 0-1, chances are you have questions about your running backs. Every year, the opening week yields at least a few surprising results -- some of which are the start of season-long trends while others are one-week flukes. Discerning between the two is never easy, but we're here to help with our Week 2 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues.

Of course, nothing is worse than injuries, and Week 1 saw a couple big ones at running back. JK Dobbins (knee) was inactive, while Najee Harris (foot) and Elijah Mitchell (knee) left their games early. We'll continue to monitor their statuses throughout the week, but it's looking like backups Jeff Wilson Jr. (vs. Seahawks) and possibly Jaylen Warren (vs. Patriots) could see more touches and find their way into fantasy lineups this week. (Update: Mitchell will reportedly miss several weeks.) Fortunately, there's a good chance Dobbins is back after Baltimore's running game was non-existent last week.

WEEK 2 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kicker

The biggest surprises in Week 1 included Darrell Henderson Jr. (vs. Falcons), Kareem Hunt (vs Jets), Michael Carter (@ Browns), and Jamaal Williams (vs. Commanders). Obviously, Williams' and Hunts' fantasy numbers were inflated by two TDs apiece, which can't be counted on every week, but when you look at carries and snaps, all stood out. There's no guarantee we'll see a repeat next week, but these guys look for real -- at least in the short term -- and should do enough to have at least flex value most weeks.

WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kicker

Conversely, Cam Akers (vs. Falcons), James Cook (vs. Titans), Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Steelers), Breece Hall (@ Browns), and Dameon Pierce (@ Broncos) really disappointed, both in terms of touches and production. Hall really only produced in garbage time. We're not writing them off completely for the season, but they all dropped in our rankings compared to last week.

WEEK 2 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | BustsStart 'em, sit 'em

For Akers, Cook, and Hall, it appears that Henderson (vs. Falcons), Devin Singletary (vs. Titans), and Carter (@ Browns) will be the leaders in their teams' respective committees. Even Zack Moss (vs. Titans), who had six catches, is ahead of Cook and looks like a potential flex in PPR leagues. We also saw AJ Dillon (vs. Bears) and James Robinson (vs. Colts) lead the way over Aaron Jones and Travis Etienne, respectively. For now, we'll continue to rank those backs above all others on their teams, but be aware things could always swing back this week and none of these backs are sure things this week. For what it's worth, Etienne should have two TDs (Trevor Lawrence overthrew him on one, while he dropped another), but with just six touches to Robinson's 12, there's cause for concern.

WEEK 2 DFS: Best values | Best stacks

While we still have a lot to learn about matchups, Week 1 yielded some interesting results. The Titans, Texans, Panthers, Cowboys, Saints, and Eagles really struggled against the run, and we've bumped up opposing RBs Singletary (vs. Titans), Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon (vs. Texans), Saquon Barkley (vs. Panthers), Joe Mixon (@ Cowboys), Leonard Fournette (@ Saints), and Dalvin Cook (@ Eagles) this week (not that the latter four needed it).

WEEK 2 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo

In terms of "unfavorable" matchups, Derrick Henry (@ Bills), Ezekiel Elliott (vs. Bengals), Dillon and Jones (vs. Bears), Robinson and Etienne (vs. Colts), and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Chargers) look to be in the toughest spots. We're not worried about Henry, Elliott, and CEH given their usual workloads, but the rest have been dropped to the low-end RB2/flex tier. We also don't trust Pierce (@ Broncos) after Rex Burkhead saw three more carries than him last week.

Obviously, touchdowns go a long way toward determining how you feel about an RBs' fantasy day, even in PPR leagues, but carries (especially carries near the goal line) and targets are more important to track at this point in the season. Having the right process usually wins out and leads to more success in the long run, so trust the touches and weigh all factors before locking in your start 'em, sit 'em decisions.

Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.

Week 2 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues

Rank Player
1 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Jaguars
2 Christian McCaffrey, Panthers @ Giants
3 Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Jets
4 Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Eagles
5 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Panthers
6 D'Andre Swift, Lions vs. Commanders
7 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Bills
8 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ Saints
9 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Cowboys
10 Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Chiefs
11 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Lions
12 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Patriots
13 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons @ Rams
14 Rashaad Penny, Seahawks @ 49ers
15 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Chargers
16 Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Texans
17 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Bengals
18 James Conner, Cardinals @ Raiders
19 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Vikings
20 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams vs. Falcons
21 JK Dobbins, Ravens vs. Dolphins
22 Michael Carter, Jets @ Browns
23 Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Titans
24 AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Bears
25 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Cardinals
26 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers vs. Seahawks
27 Damien Harris, Patriots @ Steelers
28 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos vs. Texans
29 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Bears
30 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Jets
31 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins @ Ravens
32 Mark Ingram, Saints vs. Buccaneers
33 James Robinson, Jaguars vs. Colts
34 David Montgomery, Bears @ Packers
35 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Steelers
36 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Bengals
37 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars vs. Colts
38 Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Broncos
39 Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Commanders
40 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Packers
41 Nyheim Hines, Colts @ Jaguars
42 Breece Hall, Jets @ Browns
43 Rex Burkhead, Texans @ Broncos
44 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Vikings
45 Zack Moss, Bills vs. Titans
46 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ 49ers
47 J.D. McKissic, Commanders @ Lions
48 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Ravens
49 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons @ Rams
50 Ameer Abdullah, Raiders vs. Cardinals
51 Kenyan Drake, Ravens vs. Dolphins
52 James Cook, Bills vs. Titans
53 Cam Akers, Rams vs. Falcons
54 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Eagles
55 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Patriots
56 Dwayne Washington, Saints vs. Buccaneers
57 Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Seahawks
58 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Chargers
59 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Saints
60 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Chargers
61 Sony Michel, Chargers @ Chiefs
62 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals @ Raiders

Week 2 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

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Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.