Week 1 is now officially upon as we are mere hours away from the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs facing off on Thursday Night Football!
What do fantasy football rankings look like as we get closer to final lineups on Sunday? Here are my top RBs to start — or sit — going into Week 1.
Which RBs Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
Be sure to check out Soppe’s other positional rankings: QB | WR | TE
1) Austin Ekeler | LAC | (vs. MIA)
2) Christian McCaffrey | SF | (@ PIT)
3) Tony Pollard | DAL | (@ NYG)
4) Saquon Barkley | NYG | (vs. DAL)
5) Bijan Robinson | ATL | (vs. CAR)
6) Nick Chubb | CLE | (vs. CIN)
7) Joe Mixon | CIN | (@ CLE)
8) Derrick Henry | TEN | (@ NO)
9) Josh Jacobs | LV | (@ DEN)
10) Aaron Jones | GB | (@ CHI)
11) Alexander Mattison | MIN | (vs. TB)
12) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX | (@ IND)
13) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | (@ KC)
14) Isiah Pacheco | KC | (vs. DET)
15) Jamaal Williams | NO | (vs. TEN)
16) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | (vs. PHI)
17) Rachaad White | TB | (@ MIN)
18) Raheem Mostert | MIA | (@ LAC)
19) Kenneth Walker III | SEA | (vs. LAR)
20) Dalvin Cook | NYJ | (vs. BUF)
21) James Cook | BUF | (@ NYJ)
22) James Conner | ARI | (@ WAS)
23) Miles Sanders | CAR | (@ ATL)
24) Antonio Gibson | WAS | (vs. ARI)
25) Khalil Herbert | CHI | (vs. GB)
26) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS | (vs. ARI)
27) J.K. Dobbins | BAL | (vs. HOU)
28) Cam Akers | LAR | (@ SEA)
29) Javonte Williams | DEN | (vs. LV)
30) Najee Harris | PIT | (vs. SF)
31) Dameon Pierce | HOU | (@ BAL)
32) Breece Hall | NYJ | (vs. BUF)
33) D’Andre Swift | PHI | (@ NE)
34) AJ Dillon | GB | (@ CHI)
35) David Montgomery | DET | (@ KC)
36) Deon Jackson | IND | (vs. JAX)
37) Jerick McKinnon | KC | (vs. DET)
38) Samaje Perine | DEN | (vs. LV)
39) Jaylen Warren | PIT | (vs. SF)
40) Elijah Mitchell | SF | (@ PIT)
41) Kendre Miller | NO | (vs. TEN)
42) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI | (@ NE)
43) Tank Bigsby | JAX | (@ IND)
44) Rashaad Penny | PHI | (@ NE)
45) Damien Harris | BUF | (@ NYJ)
46) Zach Charbonnet | SEA | (vs. LAR)
47) Gus Edwards | BAL | (vs. HOU)
48) Roschon Johnson | CHI | (vs. GB)
49) Devin Singletary | HOU | (@ BAL)
50) De’Von Achane | MIA | (@ LAC)
51) Tyler Allgeier | ATL | (vs. CAR)
52) Boston Scott | PHI | (@ NE)
53) Ezekiel Elliott | NE | (vs. PHI)
54) Zamir White | LV | (@ DEN)
55) Deuce Vaughn | DAL | (@ NYG)
56) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC | (vs. DET)
57) Chuba Hubbard | CAR | (@ ATL)
58) D’Onta Foreman | CHI | (vs. GB)
59) Kyren Williams | LAR | (@ SEA)
60) Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL | (vs. CAR)
61) Chase Edmonds | TB | (@ MIN)
62) Joshua Kelley | LAC | (vs. MIA)
63) Michael Carter | NYJ | (vs. BUF)
64) Tyjae Spears | TEN | (@ NO)
65) Latavius Murray | BUF | (@ NYJ)
66) DeeJay Dallas | SEA | (vs. LAR)
67) Chris Evans | CIN | (@ CLE)
68) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE | (vs. CIN)
69) Jerome Ford | CLE | (vs. CIN)
70) Keaontay Ingram | ARI | (@ WAS)
71) Brandon Bolden | LV | (@ DEN)
72) Matt Breida | NYG | (vs. DAL)
73) Chase Brown | CIN | (@ CLE)
74) Corey Clement | ARI | (@ WAS)
75) Raheem Blackshear | CAR | (@ ATL)
76) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS | (vs. ARI)
77) Ameer Abdullah | LV | (@ DEN)
78) Mike Boone | HOU | (@ BAL)
79) Kyle Juszczyk | SF | (@ PIT)
80) Ty Montgomery II | NE | (vs. PHI)
81) Ke’Shawn Vaughn | TB | (@ MIN)
82) Rico Dowdle | DAL | (@ NYG)
83) Tony Jones Jr. | NO | (vs. TEN)
84) JaMycal Hasty | JAX | (@ IND)
85) Craig Reynolds | DET | (@ KC)
86) Travis Homer | CHI | (vs. GB)
87) Eric Gray | NYG | (vs. DAL)
88) Zach Evans | LAR | (@ SEA)
The Best RBs To Start in Week 1
Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints
The first of three games to open the season with Alvin Kamara suspended sees the Saints playing a slow team that chewed up the clock and, on the defensive end, forced punts on 44.4% of possessions (second highest) last year.
MORE: Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer
That said, in a game that is likely going to see limited possessions, I have no choice but to overvalue the player with the scoring equity, and that’s clearly Williams. I have him as a fringe top-20 player at the position that comes with scoring potential but limited upside.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
This backfield is going to be nothing short of maddening until we get some usage to react to, but Week 1 is a spot where there might be no wrong answer. The Cardinals defense ranked dead last in completion percentage and yards per attempt to the running back position, a flaw that is ideal for those rostering Gibson.
Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson this Sunday against the Cardinalspic.twitter.com/OG9wrSIx23
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) September 6, 2023
He’s right on the borderline of RB2 and Flex play for me this week. I’m leaning toward playing him in some capacity where I have him.