Running back rankings Week 1: Where do Antonio Gibson, Melvin Gordon, and others rank?

Week 1 of the 2022 fantasy football season is here, meaning it’s now time to consider our running back rankings for the week ahead. With matchups to consider as opposed to looking at it from a season-long perspective, things can look very different from the year-long rankings. Let’s take a look at those Week 1 RB rankings and some intriguing players who stand out this week.

Week 1 running back rankings

The rankings below are from me (Senior Fantasy Analyst, Tommy Garrett). If you want to ask any of our fantasy analysts about running back rankings or streamers for Week 1, then be sure to sign up for the PFN Pass, which includes daily personalized fantasy advice through the PFN Discord server.

To view more information and analysis around these rankings, scroll past the table.

The table is best viewed in landscape on mobile devices and can be sorted using the filters above the table. Within the table are rankings for PPR, half-PPR, and non-PPR. In order to select your scoring system, use the filters above the table. The overall ranking is based on Superflex leagues.

Intriguing players in the Week 1 RB rankings

Each week there are always new names that provide intrigue for fantasy managers. Should you trust a new player who you didn’t plan to start? Or maybe you should sit a player who you drafted to be a starter. Here are three players who are intriguing in the Week 1 RB rankings.

Antonio Gibson, WAS | vs. JAX

Arguably no player has seen more of a change in value than Antonio Gibson. From a draft day target to being someone you couldn’t pay someone to draft at ADP, Gibson is back on the fantasy radar for Week 1.

Due to the unfortunate incident involving Brian Robinson, Gibson stands uncontested as the primary back in a favorable matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that ranked 19th in fantasy points allowed to the position last year. While these do not correlate completely year to year, the Jaguars, while improved, are likely to struggle once again.

Gibson has been a solid option, finishing as the RB19 and RB17, respectively, in points per game in the past two seasons. He’s also been effective on a per-carry basis, ranking 10th in YPRR and tied for seventh in carries inside the 5-yard line, a role he regains with Robinson sidelined.

While we don’t know what the future of this backfield holds, Gibson is a reliable starter in Week 1 in a favorable matchup where 15+ PPR points are the expectation.

Melvin Gordon, DEN | @ SEA

This is a matchup I’m all over for Week 1 as Russell Wilson leads the Denver Broncos into his old stomping grounds in Seattle. This is one of the biggest mismatches on paper. Even the oddsmakers on this, with Denver a -6.5 favorite as a Super Bowl contender, takes on a likely bottom-five roster.

All eyes are on Wilson, Javonte Williams, Courtland Sutton, and Jerry Jeudy, but the best value remains Melvin Gordon. It has been reported this entire offseason that Gordon and Williams are expected to split carries and both be on “pitch counts” this season, very similar to last year, where they had 203 carries each.

Both RBs had success, each finishing inside the top 24 in points per game. I don’t see that changing in Week 1. Williams does have more upside, but Gordon should be viewed as nothing less than a high-end RB2 against the defense that ranked 31st vs. the position and likely regressed in the offseason.

Ezekiel Elliott, DAL | vs. TB

2022 is a massive year for Ezekiel Elliott as he works to re-establish himself as one of the top rushers in the NFL. However, sledding could be rough in Week 1 as the Cowboys host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For the last two years, teams have all but abandoned the run against Tampa due to their stout defensive line. Last year, Tampa faced a rush on a league-low 34% of the time. But will Dallas be willing to grind out the yards when things are tough, especially with a downgraded offensive line this year?

Given the questions at receiver, Elliott could be busy. While inefficient (No. 28 in points per touch at 0.84), Elliott was 15th in per-game scoring (14.8 PPR/game) and managed to extend his streak of RB1 finishes to six years in a row, finishing as the RB6 in PPR scoring. He did all of this with a reportedly torn PCL.

Elliott will undoubtedly lose some opportunities to Tony Pollard, who given his explosiveness, could see several targets if Elliott struggles to find room. While a mid-RB2 for Week 1, Elliott could disappoint against the Bucs’ formidable front if he can’t find the end zone.