Week 1 Fantasy Football RB Rankings & Tiers: D'Andre Swift No Matter What

Week 1 is here! After seven long, cold months: Meaningful NFL football is back, baby!

I'll break down my weekly RB rankings and tiers each and every week *with* some bigger-picture questions sprinkled in along the way. This week's additional topics feature:

1. What does Vegas have to say about the scoring upside of the top-three RBs' offenses?
2. What coaching staffs have been most willing to leave *one* RB on the field for essentially the entire game?
3. What are the biggest injury situations to monitor at RB?
4. What RBs project EXTRA nicely for receptions thanks to facing zone-heavy defenses?
5. What do RotoWire Projections say about these muddled Tier 5 backfields?
6. Who has the league's best and worst matchups in terms of combined RB yards *before* contact per carry?
7. Who are the top-5 under-rostered handcuffs to stash on your fantasy bench?

As always: It's a great day to be great.

Check out my QB Ranks and Tiers for Week 1.

QB Ranks and Tiers for Week 1
WR Ranks and Tiers for Week 1
TE Ranks and Tiers for Week 1

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Check out our expert rankings page for updated ranks throughout the week.

Tier 1: The Big Three

• RB1: Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. NO). Mr. 1.01 has averaged a whopping 25.1 half-PPR points in eight career games where David Montgomery was sidelined or played less than 25 percent of snaps.
• RB2: Bijan Robinson (at PIT). RotoWire Projections have Bijan leading the entire slate in total touches. It'd just be a lot cooler if we could expect something close to decent QB play.
• RB3: Christian McCaffrey (at LAR in Australia). Couldn't get much going on the ground against the Rams last season, but did turn in 8-82-1 and 8-66-0 receiving lines. It'd make sense if CMC is featured more than ever as a receiver if the team decides to ease George Kittle (Achilles) back.

Key question: What does Vegas have to say about the scoring upside of these offenses?

We can calculate what Vegas thinks about every team's offense during any given week with each squad's implied total, which is derived from every game's spread and over/under.

A look at the Week 1 marks is the main reason why many were happy to scoop up Jahmyr Gibbs over Bijan Robinson with the first overall pick in fantasy drafts of most shapes and sizes:

• Lions: 28.3 implied team total (2nd)
• Falcons: 19.3 (28th)
• 49ers: 22.5 (tied for 16th)

Maybe Kevin Stefanski manages to get the most out of the Michael Penix and/or Tua Tagovailoa experiences, but it's tough to not be enthralled with the weekly scoring upside in Detroit and, to a slightly lesser extent, San Francisco (especially when they aren't facing Myles Garrett and company).

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, news and everything going on around the NFL, head to RotoWire's NFL Fantasy Football News Today or follow @RotoWireNFL on X.

Tier 2: No-Doubt RB1s

• RB4: Chase Brown (vs. TB). Ended last season with top-14 PPR finishes in each of his final 10 games. Up first is a Bucs defense that allowed an NFL-high 860 receiving yards to RBs last season.
• RB5: Saquon Barkley (vs. WSH). Has posted 26-146-2, 29-150-2, 15-118-3 and 21-132-1 rushing lines in four games against the Commanders since joining the Eagles.
• RB6: Derrick Henry (at IND). The Ravens are comfortable 3.5-point favorites in this one. Henry has averaged 117.1 rushing yards and 1.05 rushing touchdowns in Baltimore wins the last two seasons. Those numbers drop to 83.9 and 0.8 when the Ravens lose.
• RB7: De'Von Achane (at LV). There could be a time when it will be tougher to trust Achane due to the potential for the Dolphins to get blown out of the water, but this is not one of those times.
• RB8: Omarion Hampton (vs. ARZ). Bell-cow back as a 10.5-point home favorite against the league's reigning third-worst defense in PPR points per game allowed to the position. Just PLEASE spare the rest of this offensive line, Injury Gods.
• RB9: James Cook (at HOU). The Texans' ferocious defense plays like it shoots up rabies before every game. And yet, that didn't stop Cook from posting 17-116-1 rushing and 3-13-0 receiving lines the last time the Bills took on Will Anderson and company. 
• RB10: Jonathan Taylor (vs. BAL). Here's to hoping Daniel Jones and the Colts are ready to pick up where they left off during the *first* half of last season. Overall, Taylor averaged 27 PPR points per game (RB1) in Weeks 1-10 … and 12.6 (RB23) in Weeks 12-18 once Jones was injured.

Key question: What coaching staffs have been most willing to leave *one* RB on the field for essentially the entire game?

The chart below denotes the percentage of games that every team had an RB reach 60, 75 and 90 percent snaps in 2025.

This is one of the main reasons to be optimistic about Jonathan Taylor and (especially) De'Von Achane overcoming potentially porous offensive environments: Both coaching staffs were VERY willing to simply leave them on the field for entire games last season. Obviously, former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel is now in Los Angeles, but OC Bobby Slowik was on that staff, and new HC Jeff Hafley sure sounds like he's ready to FEED his RB1.

Track player roles with our NFL Depth Charts to see who's in line for snaps this season.

Tier 3: Lead Backs with Smashable Matchups

• RB11: Javonte Williams (at NYG). Fantasy's reigning RB12 in PPR points per game has weekly two-TD upside as the workhorse back of what is fully expected to be one of the NFL's highest-scoring offenses. This is especially true against a Giants defense that ranked last in EPA allowed per rush last season — and that was with Dexter Lawrence.
• RB12: D'Andre Swift (at CAR). Locked-and-loaded as a must-start RB1 as long as Kyle Monangai (knee) is banged up — especially against a Panthers defense that ranked 27th in EPA allowed per rush last season. 
• RB13: Travis Etienne (at DET). Looks poised to see plenty of volume as long as Alvin Kamara (knee) is sidelined, and potentially even once the 31-year-old veteran returns. Credit to the Lions for allowing the fifth-fewest PPR points per game against RBs last season, but there could be PLENTY of opportunities here inside the fast-paced Saints offense ahead of what could be a sneaky shootout.
• RB14: Breece Hall (at TEN). It's a testament to how good Titans DL Jeffery Simmons is that Tennessee was an average defense against RBs despite perennially being in bad game script last season. Nevertheless, Hall projects for plenty of work in a Jets offense that (while healthy) perhaps looks a bit better on paper relative to typical expectations.

Key question: What are the biggest injury situations to monitor at RB?

There are quite a few! Make sure to check out RotoWire's critically acclaimed Injury Report and Practice Participation pages throughout the week for updated info, but for now these are the main ones to worry about:

• Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty (ankle): Allegedly more low than high, Klint Kubiak is optimistic he'll play Week 1.
• Jets RB Breece Hall (groin): Working his way back to practice, should be good for Week 1.
• Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love (ankle): Considered "50/50" to play Week 1 per Mike Garafolo.
• Jaguars RB Bhayshul Tuten (illness): Presumably fine.
• Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson (ankle): Appears unlikely to play Week 1 after not practicing all week.
• Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard (hamstring): Back at practice after missing three weeks. Should be good for Week 1.
• Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks (general soreness): HC Dave Canales is "very optimistic" Brooks will be available Week 1.
• Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (groin): Back at practice and expected to be good to go.
• Commanders RB Rachaad White (hamstring): Not quite all the way back to 11-on-11 drills due to a hamstring injury seemingly suffered during an ice bucket challenge.
• Chargers RB Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed): Continues to be sidelined by an undisclosed, believed to be lower-body, injury. Kimani Vidal is the next man up if Mitchell is sidelined.
• Saints RB Alvin Kamara (knee): Still not practicing and could miss the start of the regular season.
• Saints RB Kendre Miller (undisclosed): Practice injury is reportedly "minor." Still, this injury-riddled depth chart could really set up Travis Etienne for a workhorse role in the early parts of 2026.
• Bears RB Kyle Monangai (knee): Considered week-to-week after hyperextending his knee in mid-August. Roschon Johnson is the RB3 in Chicago, but the real takeaway is probably D'Andre Swift getting a BIG role in the early going.
• Giants RB Tyrone Tracy (neck): Was back at practice shortly after suffering the stinger.
• Bills RB Ty Johnson (lower leg): Remains out of practice, though he should be back before too long after not being placed on IR.
• Jets RB Isaiah Davis (knee): Continues to be sidelined from a knee injury sustained in early August. This sets up Braelon Allen as the clear No. 2 behind Hall.

Tier 4: You're Starting Them, But We have at Least One Question

• RB15: Kenneth Walker (vs. DEN). Figures to be leaned on more than ever in the early going while Patrick Mahomes gets his legs back under him. That said: Nobody allowed fewer PPR points per game to RBs than the Broncos last season.
• RB16: Kyren Williams (vs. SF in Australia). Could be looking at more of a 50/50 split than usual alongside Blake Corum, though something around 15-18 touches might be plenty if the Rams are anywhere near as good as they're expected to be. Williams has scored nine touchdowns in five career games against the 49ers.
• RB17: Ashton Jeanty (vs. MIA). Would be up in tier two if we had full confidence of, 1) His ankle being OK, and 2) Mike Washington not being a major factor. I'm more concerned about the former variable, particularly in the early going as this offense meshes, though the early preseason returns from this offensive line were very positive.
• RB18: Rhamondre Stevenson (at SEA). No TreVeyon Henderson should mean a near every-down role for Mondre; the problem is a matchup against the NFL's reigning No. 1 defense in EPA allowed per rush. Game script certainly played a role, but the Patriots seemed cognizant of this on their way to giving Stevenson just seven rush attempts in the Super Bowl. Stevenson will be pushing for borderline RB1 treatment in future (better) matchups should Henderson remain sidelined.
• RB19: David Montgomery (vs. BUF). Expected to work as the bell-cow RB against a Bills defense that ranked 31st in EPA allowed per rush last season. Then again, are we positive this Texans offense and offensive line will be, you know, any good?
• RB20: Bucky Irving (at CIN). Just how involved will Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker be in passing and goal-line situations? This ranking could be too light if Bucky is poised to be a 70 percent snap lead back, though an annoying 50/35/15 three-way split could also be on the table.
• RB21: Cam Skattebo (vs. DAL). Fully expected to be the lead back for the Giants, but it remains to be seen if it will be in last year's three-down workhorse capacity, or something less. Skattebo is also returning from a devastating dislocated right ankle, fractured fibula and a deltoid ligament rupture. The volume *should* be there, but decreased efficiency in the early going shouldn't surprise anyone.
• RB22: Jeremiyah Love (at LAC). Would be knocking on the RB1 door with more certainty surrounding his health. Mike Garafolo called Love "50/50" to play in Week 1. If active, the potential for Love to be operating at less than 100 percent health could make Tyler Allgeier more involved than usual. It's also hardly a great spot as a double-digit road underdog against a Chargers defense that allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to RBs last season.
• RB23: Jadarian Price (vs. NE). The first-rounder is expected to lead the way during Zach Charbonnet's (knee, IR) absence, but to what extent? We'll have a better idea of just how highly to trust the explosive Golden Domer by Thursday morning.
• RB24: Quinshon Judkins (at JAX). Similar to Skattebo: It'll be easier to boost Judkins up the RB2 ranks if/when we get confirmation that the second-year talent is in fact fully healthy following last season's brutal dislocated ankle/fractured fibula combo. In Judkins' case, the upside is further diluted due to limited pass-game involvement in an offense that Vegas has implied to score the fewest points in Week 1.

Key question: What RBs project EXTRA nicely for receptions thanks to facing zone-heavy defenses?

We've seen running backs REALLY eat into wide receiver target share against zone coverage over the years. This makes sense in real football terms: Linebackers and safeties in man coverage will be in a running back's hip pocket attempting to guard them, but they're coached to gain depth and rally up to the checkdown when in zone coverage.

We can use this to our advantage in the prop markets by looking at the most zone-heavy defenses and the corresponding pass-catching running backs they're up against. Last season's top-3 most zone-heavy defenses conveniently didn't change defensive coordinators this offseason:

• Panthers (No. 1 in zone coverage in 2025): D'Andre Swift
• Seahawks (No. 2): Rhamondre Stevenson
• Rams (No. 3): Christian McCaffrey

The Seahawks and Rams allowed the first and fourth-most targets to RBs last season, while the Panthers were tied for 15th. Both Stevenson (5) and CMC (8, 8) racked up receptions in these matchups last season — I'm a big fan of the over on their respective 2.5 and 4.5 marks on FanDuel. We don't have Swift lines up just yet with Kyle Monangai (knee) looking iffy for Week 1, but anything less than four will be in play for me as well.

Tier 5: Lead Running Backs … Probably

• RB25: MarShawn Lloyd (at MIN). No Josh Jacobs means the MarShawn Lloyd RB1 era is NOW … but to what extent remains to be determined. Chris Brooks, Pierre Strong and Kaleb Johnson are candidates to spell the injury-riddled third-year talent; just realize at the end of the day we want to prioritize the explosive, pass-catching option in situations like this — and that is Brooks' (Matt) forte.
• RB26: Bhayshul Tuten (vs. CLE). The Browns were a top-5 defense in both EPA per play and success rate last season … when they had the best defender alive in Myles Garrett. While this matchup still doesn't exactly profile as a layup, Tuten is set up well as a 7.5-point home favorite — just keep an eye on the performance of RotoWire's 28th-ranked offensive line.
• RB27: Rico Dowdle (vs. ATL). We expect a 50/50 split between Dowdle and Warren. I'm giving the edge to Dowdle as the likely early down, short-yardage lead in a spot that features Pittsburgh as three-point home favorites. Still, this offense enabled both Warren and Kenny Gainwell to top-24 heights last season in fantasy land. Don't underestimate the fantasy-friendly nature of elderly quarterbacks.
• RB28: Jaylen Warren (vs. ATL).
• RB29: J.K. Dobbins (at KC). Out-touched RJ Harvey 164 to 75 during the first 10 weeks of last season … but was just the RB27 in PPR points per game along the way. Sean Payton's top RB has finished as the RB31, RB37 and RB24 during his three seasons leading the Broncos.
• RB30: Tony Pollard (vs. NYJ). Joins Derrick Henry as the only two RBs with 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons and ended 2025 HOT with three games of 100-plus yard Weeks 14-16. Still, we're talking about the reigning RB30 in PPR points per game in a probably bad offense that looked willing to give Tyjae Spears a true 1B role during preseason action.

Key question: What do RotoWire Projections say about these muddled backfields?

The Packers, Jaguars, Steelers, Broncos and Titans stand out as five relatively ambiguous situations that we'll know quite a bit more about this time next week.

But that doesn't mean we can't try to figure things out now! Current Week 1 Projections have the splits going as follows:

Very clear leaders in Green Bay and Tennessee, a hat tip to Tuten in Jacksonville, and even splits in Pittsburgh and Denver. Fantasy managers should err on the side of caution with expecting TOO much from these backs in Week 1 — I'll be answering most close start/sit questions involving one of these backs and a WR2-3 type with the pass-catcher. 

Tier 6: FLEX Options

• RB31: Blake Corum (vs. SF in Australia). Posted top-5 numbers in yards per carry and rushing success rate as the second banana in this increasingly even backfield split. A more dominant defense in 2026 could lead to a more fantasy-friendly blowout game script for the third-year talent.
• RB32: Jordan Mason (vs. GB). One of my bold calls this season is Mason scores 10-plus touchdowns in a vastly improved Vikings offense. I like his chances of ending Week 1 with at least one score against the Micah Parsons-less Packers.
• RB33: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (at PHI). Tentatively expected to lead the way behind a Commanders offensive line that struggled mightily in the preseason and will be without LT Laremy Tunsil (triceps, IR). The artist known as Bill ended 2025 with four scores in his final four games, though the ceiling could be limited if, 1) This offensive line really struggles, and 2) Rachaad White takes most of the pass-down work.
• RB34: Chuba Hubbard (vs. CHI). Suddenly appears to be the healthier Panthers RB. Expect something close to a 50/50 split when both Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks are healthy enough to suit up, though that's still a bit of a guesstimate at this point. I'll answer most start/sit questions involving a Panthers RB with the other guy until we have a better idea of how this situation will shake out — especially with this banged-up offensive line potentially being a problem (RotoWire's 29th-ranked group entering the season). 
• RB35: Jonathon Brooks (vs. CHI).
• RB36: Rachaad White (at PHI). Best-case scenario: White serves in a "2024 Austin Ekeler-plus" role in an offense that gets back to partying with a healthy Jayden Daniels under center. Worst-case scenario: The ex-Buccaneers is the clear No. 2 RB in an offense unable to overcome a potentially ROUGH offensive line and a first-time play-caller. 
• RB37: Kenny Gainwell (at CIN). The reigning Steelers team MVP could mess around and catch five passes or more any given week like last year … or be a clear backup behind Bucky Irving. This is the sort of potential trailing/shootout game script that could bring out the best in a pass-down-friendly back like Gainwell.
• RB38: RJ Harvey (at KC). Deserves credit for scoring 12 touchdowns as a rookie and providing RB1 production down the stretch, but Harvey is expected to be the clear backup behind Dobbins, and it's possible rookie Jonah Coleman steals fantasy-friendly pass-down and goal-line touches.
• RB39: Chris Rodriguez (vs. CLE). This ranking is giving Bhayshul Tuten the benefit of the doubt as the lead back … but that might be misguided! Is there THAT much difference between C-Rod and Jordan Mason? Or, in a REALLY good scenario for him, David Montgomery? Rodriguez deserves to be ranked higher in non-PPR formats thanks to his potential to fall into the end zone a time or two as a big home favorite against the lowly Browns.
• RB40: Aaron Jones (vs. GB). A #RevengeGame special for A-aron, who is expected to serve in something close to a 50/50 split alongside Mason. It'd make sense if the Vikings refrain from putting too much on the 31-year-old veteran's plate, though we did see Kevin O'Connell load Jones up with 23 and 21 touches in his last two games of 2025.

Key question: Who has the league's best and worst matchups in terms of combined RB yards *before* contact per carry?

I like using RB yards before contact per carry as a way to quantify offensive line performance. A perfect science? No, but what is? WHAT IS?

Anyway, the chart below denotes Week 1's biggest mismatches in the trenches. Blue is a good matchup for the offense; red is bad.

The best matchups of the week go to the Rams, Bears and Cowboys, while the worst belong to the Browns, Packers and Raiders. We'll obviously feel better about matchup stats as we get into the season and have actual 2026 data to work with, but this does line up with what we're seeing in RotoWire's preseason offensive line ranks.

Tier 7: Handcuffs & Dart Throws

• RB41: Keaton Mitchell (vs. ARZ). Is Mitchell fully healthy? We've had little reporting to unearth what lower-body injury the pint-sized speedster has been dealing with. If the ex-Raven is healthy, this is the sort of spot where he could certainly make the most out of 8-10 well-designed touches. Reminder: Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel put "Wanted" posters of Mitchell in the Chargers GM's office.
• RB42: Mike Washington (vs. MIA). Expected to work as the clear No. 2 RB behind Ashton Jeanty, but whether that means 40 percent of the snaps, or 20 percent, remains to be seen. I'm dubious Washington carves out a big enough role for meaningful standalone value, but the freakishly athletic rookie is certainly one of the better handcuff stashes in all of fantasy football.
• RB43: Woody Marks (vs. BUF). Now rocking jersey No. 4, Marks joins Washington as someone who could be more of a 1B option than true backup … or maybe he won't! The preseason returns were promising, but you know who had an even better preseason? David Montgomery. Because he was resting with the starters.
• RB44: Tyjae Spears (vs. NYJ). The NFL's reigning leader in tackles avoided per touch looked ready to ball out in the preseason and could feasibly be treated as more of a co-starter alongside Tony Pollard under new OC Brian Daboll. That said, we'll need to see that play out to believe in Spears enough as anything more than a full-PPR-friendly RB4 inside this likely dismal Titans offense.
• RB45: Tyler Allgeier (at LAC). Would be in the low-end RB2 range with guys like Rhamondre Stevenson and Quinshon Judkins if Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is unable to suit up. If the No. 3 overall pick is good to go, it's tough to expect much from Allgeier inside an offense that likely will be trailing and isn't exactly expected to light up the scoreboard.
• RB46: Ray Davis (at HOU). Davis could see his role expanded if Ty Johnson (knee) is unable to suit up. He'd be a thin RB4 play as the clear backup against this ferocious defense, but let this be a reminder that Davis is WAY too under-rostered across home league sites. He's an A+ handcuff bench stash, and it's like none of you even care!
• RB47: Tank Bigsby (vs. WSH). Speaking of elite handcuff stashes: There's not much, if any, chance of Bigsby having standalone value outside of the Eagles blowing out their opponent and riding the ex-Jaguar in garbage time. But hey, we'd be looking at a legit RB1 contender if Saquon were forced to miss time.

Key question: Who are the top-5 under-rostered handcuffs to keep stashed on your fantasy bench?

The following RBs are available in over 70 percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues at the moment. I would MUCH rather stash these guys over meh backups at QB, TE, DST or, God forbid, K. It's also generally good practice to have more handcuff RBs than WR5/6 types who you're going to struggle to get into your lineup more weeks than not anyway.

• Eagles RB Tank Bigsby: 35% rostered on Yahoo, 19% on ESPN
• Falcons RB Brian Robinson: 26% Yahoo, 27% ESPN
• 49ers RB Kaelon Black: 19% Yahoo, 10% ESPN
• Bills RB Ray Davis: 16% Yahoo, 10% ESPN
• Cowboys RB Malik Davis: 4% Yahoo, 3% ESPN