Times have become tough for running backs. We're seeing fantasy stud RBs guys who were league-winners just two or three years ago engaged in contract disputes, battling serious injuries, or suddenly behind younger backs on the depth charts of their new teams. The perceived real-life value of RBs has perhaps never been lower, but our Week 1 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues will still have plenty of appeal in fantasy lands.Running backs remain one of the most vital pieces to championship-building puzzles, especially in standard leagues. Our collective paths to fantasy glory start in Week 1, with our production at RB1, RB2, and flex likely playing a huge part in whether we start strong or stumble out of the gates.Time waits for no one, so let's prepare! Here's our Cameron Erving Jersey full Week 1 RB rankings for standard leagues, including write-ups about the elite options, the top waiver targets and sleepers, and the biggest injuries of note. Good luck and go get those Ws!MORE: Surprise, surprise: Austin Ekeler (vs. Dolphins), Christian McCaffrey (@ Steelers), Nick Chubb (vs. Bengals), and Derrick Henry (@ Saints) all sit within our top five, which happens to be where they finished in 2022. All four of these backs serve as the predominant offensive force for their respective teams and should see heavy volume and RB1 results. Chubb and Henry have tougher matchups, but they're matchup-proof at this point.WEEK 1 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | | The lone addition to that elite top-five tier: Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson (vs. Panthers), the odds-on favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Robinson not only provides us with an abundance of , buthe also gives us an RB1 ceiling from Day 1 behind a and against a weak Carolina run defense. After the FBS season concluded (and before Atlanta picked him eighth overall), called Bijan "the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley."Last year's rushing champ Josh Jacobs (@ Broncos) didn't make the top five, but he does sit within the elite eight. We expect some negative regre sion from the fifth-round back, but we still like his volume and opportunity within an evolving Raiders offense. Tony Pollard and Saquon Barkley (Cowboys @ Giants) join Jacobs in the top 10, with Pollard now the undisputed bell cow in Dallas after Ezekiel Elliott's departure and Saquon in a contract year after betting on himself with a one-year deal.WEEK 1 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | My ride-or-die this preseason is Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Eagles). Bill Belichick loves this kid, and it's not hard to see why. He works hard, he has good fundamentals, and he can dominate both on the ground and through the air. Don't forget about rookie Jahmyr Gibbs (@ Chiefs), who gets overshadowed by Bijan in this rookie cla s but could easily make his own case for ROY. Detroit has a good o-line, and Gibbs has 4.36 speed, elusivene s, and pa s-catching ability.This section will obviously carry more weight in Week 2 and beyond, as the majority of fantasy teams have just been drafted and we have yet to see a single minute of regular season action. However, there are a couple of names worth mentioning in light of recent news and developments.Your first priorities on the waiver wire should Sammy Watkins Jersey be at least one of the Colts' Zack Mo s (arm), Deon Armani Watts Jersey Jackson, and Evan Hull (vs. Jaguars), especially if you drafted Jonathan Taylor (back, ankle) and have the ability to stash him on IR. As , we like Jackson's floor butloveHull's ceiling as long as Mo s is out.If you're in a shallow league, be sure to double-check if Dolphins rookie Devon Achane (@ Chargers) is available. Achane should launch right into RB2 on Miami's depth chart behind Raheem Mostert now that Jeff Wilson Jr. due to "finger and midsection" i sues (sounds like an injury the Pillsbury Doughboy would suffer). Achane is dealing with a shoulder injury of his own, but he'll be ready to rock sooner rather than later.While not exactly sleepers, we're high on second-year backs Kenneth Walker III (vs. Rams), Breece Hall (vs. Bills), and Isiah Pacheco (vs. Lions), all of whom have home games against below-average run defenses. Sure, KW3 and Breece Lightning are coming off injuries, but all signs point to their ability to start Week 1 without i sue.We're le s excited about Broncos second-year back Javonte Williams (vs. Raiders), who tore his ACL, LCL, and PCL in Week 4 of 2022 against this same Vegas squad. Samaje Perine is the sleeper back to play this week, even if Williams plays. During his tenure with the Bengals, Perine filled in admirably whenever Joe Mixon mi sed time, and we expect strong results from him in his Broncos debut against a poor Raiders rushing defense.Don't forget about Bills second-year back James Cook (@ Jets), who finally sits atop Buffalo's RB depth chart now that Devin Singletary bounced for Houston. Cook draws a tough matchup against Gang Green, so his ceiling may be capped in standard leagues. But his pa s-catching skills and open-field burst make him a solid upside option for any teams struggling with starting RB depth or suffering from Week 1 injuries.As we mentioned in the intro and in the last line of our sleepers section there will be some injuries to monitor, even before the season kicks off. Former rushing champ Jonathan Taylor (back, ankle) begins the season on the PUP list, so the aforementioned Deon Jackson and Evan Hull (vs. Patrick Mahomes Jersey Jaguars) should get bumped to RB1 and RB2 unle s Zack Mo s recovers from the broken arm he sustained in late July.Breece Hall (knee) could be limited this week, so if you have higher-floor options you might want to consider them. Javonte Williams (knee) will play but seems like a risk when Sean Payton has a perfectly healthy Samaje Perine ready to rock in Denver against a very beatable Raiders front-seven.We already pointed out that Dolphins rookie Devon Achane (shoulder) should be on your radar with Jeff Wilson Jr. (midsection) hitting the IR, but Achane is a risk to mi s Week 1 himself. Fantasy owners will also be without Alvin Kamara (suspension), opening the door for Jamaal Williams to really do damage against Carolina.We'll be updating these standard RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.Rank Player1 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Dolphins2 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Panthers3 Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Bengals4 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Saints5 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Steelers6 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Giants7 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Cowboys8 Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Broncos9 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Eagles10 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ Chiefs11 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. 49ers12 Travis Etienne, Jaguars @ Colts13 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Browns14 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Rams15 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Bills16 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Bears17 Isaih Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Lions18 James Conner, Cardinals @ Commanders19 Miles Sanders, Panthers @ Falcons20 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Vikings21 JK Dobbins, Ravens vs. Texans22 Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Ravens23 Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Raiders24 Jamaal Williams, Saints vs. Titans25 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Buccaneers26 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders vs. Cardinals27 Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Packers28 Cam Akers, Rams @ Seahawks29 James Cook, Bills @ Jets30 Deon Jackson, Colts vs. Jaguars31 Samaje Perine, Broncos vs. Raiders32 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots vs. Eagles33 David Montgomery, Lions @ Chiefs34 Dalvin Cook, Jets vs. Bills35 Rashaad Penny, Eagles @ Patriots36 D'Andre Swift, Eagles @ Patriots37 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Chargers38 Damien Harris, Bills @ Jets39 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Bears40 D'Onta Foreman, Bears vs. Packers41 Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Cardinals42 Evan Hull, Colts vs. Jaguars43 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Panthers44 Devon Achane, Dolphins @ Chargers45 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Lions46 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Patriots47 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Lions48 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. Rams49 Elijah Demarcus Robinson Jersey Mitchell, 49ers @ Steelers50 Kendre Miller, Saints vs. Titans51 Devin Singletary, Texans @ Ravens52 Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Texans53 Tank Bigsby, Jaguars @ Colts54 Michael Carter, Jets vs. Bills55 Roschon Johnson, Bears vs. Packers56 Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Panthers57 Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers @ Vikings58 Zamir White, Raiders @ Broncos59 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. 49ers60 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Falcons
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