Week 1 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs

Running back rankings for Week 1 to help you dominate the competition!

UPDATED: September 12, 2021

We have finally arrived at Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season! Let's set those Week 1 lineups with a little help from my weekly PPR fantasy football rankings.

Wise decisions go a long way and while you can't lose a league in Week 1, you can overthink easy decisions. Remember to always churn those last couple bench spots to make sure you're bringing your best options to your lineup. Every lineup spot counts!

Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES

MORE: Week 1 Rankings & Articles Hub

Week 1 Rankings (PPR)

RUNNING BACKS

Chicago Bears David Montgomery
Mike Dinovo/USA TODAY Sports
  1. Christian McCaffrey, CAR (vs. NYJ)
  2. Dalvin Cook, MIN (at CIN)
  3. Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. GB)*
  4. Derrick Henry, TEN (vs. ARI)
  5. Aaron Jones, GB (at NO)*
  6. James Robinson, JAC (at HOU)
  7. Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. SEA)
  8. Austin Ekeler, LAC (at WAS)
  9. Joe Mixon, CIN (vs. MIN)
  10. Najee Harris, PIT (at BUF)
  11. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (at TB)
  12. Nick Chubb, CLE (at KC)
  13. Antonio Gibson, WAS (vs. LAC)
  14. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC (vs. CLE)
  15. Chris Carson, SEA (at IND)
  16. David Montgomery, CHI (at LAR)
  17. Raheem Mostert, SF (at DET)
  18. Mike Davis, ATL (vs. PHI)
  19. D'Andre Swift, DET (vs. SF)
  20. Miles Sanders, PHI (at ATL)
  21. Myles Gaskin, MIA (at NE)
  22. Saquon Barkley, NYG (vs. DEN)
  23. Ty'Son Williams, BAL (at LV)
  24. Darrell Henderson, LAR (vs. CHI)
  25. Kareem Hunt, CLE (at KC)
  26. Chase Edmonds, ARI (at TEN)
  27. Damien Harris, NE (vs. MIA)
  28. Josh Jacobs, LV (vs. BAL)
  29. Devin Singletary, BUF (vs. PIT)
  30. Javonte Williams, DEN (at NYG)
  31. Nyheim Hines, IND (vs. SEA)
  32. Ronald Jones, TB (vs. DAL)
  33. Melvin Gordon, DEN (at NYG)
  34. Jamaal Williams, DET (vs. SF)
  35. James White, NE (vs. MIA)
  36. Leonard Fournette, TB (vs. DAL)
  37. Tevin Coleman, NYJ (at CAR)
  38. A.J. Dillon, GB (at NO)*
  39. David Johnson, HOU (vs. JAC)
  40. James Conner, ARI (at TEN)
  41. Michael Carter, NYJ (at CAR)
  42. Sony Michel, LAR (vs. CHI)
  43. Kenyan Drake, LV (vs. BAL)
  44. Giovani Bernard, TB (vs. DAL)
  45. Mark Ingram, HOU (vs. JAC)
  46. Latavius Murray, BAL (at LV)
  47. Tony Pollard, DAL (at TB)
  48. J.D. McKissic, WAS (vs. LAC)
  49. Tony Jones, NO (vs. GB)*
  50. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (vs. MIA)
  51. Damien Williams, CHI (at LAR)
  52. Rashaad Penny, SEA (at IND)
  53. Matt Breida, BUF (vs. PIT)
  54. JaMycal Hasty, SF (at DET)
  55. Ty Johnson, NYJ (at CAR)
  56. Joshua Kelley, LAC (at WAS)
  57. Phillip Lindsay, HOU (vs. JAC)
  58. Joshua Kelley, LAC (at WAS)
  59. Alexander Mattison, MIN (at CIN)
  60. Devontae Booker, NYG (vs. DEN)

* - game is being played in Jacksonville


Published
Michael Fabiano
MICHAEL FABIANO

Michael Fabiano is a fantasy football analyst for Sports Illustrated. His weekly rankings and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em articles are must-reads for fantasy players. He is also the co-host of the Fantasy Dirt Podcast on SI. Before joining SI in August 2020, he worked for CBS Sports, NFL Network and SiriusXM. He also contributes to Westwood One Radio. Fabiano was the first fantasy analyst to appear on one of the four major TV networks and is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.