Must Start Running Backs for Week 1 Fantasy Football | Start Em Sit Em

Intro [Music] TFA fam the time is finally here it is week one we have your running back rankings let's not waste any time Kev let's just jump right into it these are going to be our consensus running back rankings for week kicking off no RB1 Rankings surprises here we have CMC at w followed by Bree Hall bejon Robinson Jonathan Taylor saquin barklay 5 jir Gibbs Travis etn Isaiah Pacho Devon aan at nine Kenneth Walker Rashad white and Kiren Williams at 12 Kev among these rb1s anyone that you want to touch on anyone you had a little bit higher a little bit lower how are you feeling about these rb1s for week one yeah first thing I Jonathan Taylor vs Texans want to talk about is going to be Jonathan Taylor they play Houston this week uh Jonathan Taylor enters pretty much is the unquestioned lead back a very little behind him uh last season he averaged 17 carriers and 2.3 targets per game but that was splitting Touches at time with Zach Moss this year we're really not going to have to worry about that whatsoever obviously he gets the bump with that Anthony Richardson as well now I will say Houston was a really solid run defense in 2023 allowing the eighth fewest rushing yards per game however they did allow the fifth most rushing touchdowns Texans also rank 27th at explosive run rate allowed they also had a stuff rate of 49.2% as well which the third highest rate in the league and allowed 2.35 yards after contact per attempt which was 17 so this Houston run defense was actually pretty solid last year they've made some improvements as well added some more to this defense this year so this isn't the slam duck matchup that it used to be but I still really like JT mainly because of volume he's going to see a ton of it and I think Anthony Ron also opens things up for him as well still running behind one of the best offensive lines I think as well so JT is really strong this week Kenneth Walker vs Broncos next up you have Kenneth Walker somebody who I really liked this offseason there's been a ton of ton of Buzz surrounding Walker and has expected usage heading into 2024 you have Ryan grub and Mike McDonald both uh have have talked at nauseum about Walker and how they think he could be a three down Workhorse we're going to want to see a much higher usage in the passing game for him to push him into the top 12 this year but last season Walker only ran a route of 35.6% of his passes uh which ranked 38th and as well as a 7.7% Target share if you get much closer to 10 to 11% this season Walker I think is going to be a steal for people and then the really good news is they get off a great matchup week one the Seahawks take on at De Broncos defense that really struggled to stop the run last year as they allowed the second most PPR points per game to the position they also ranked fourth in explosive run rate allowed second and Miss tackle four per attempt first in yards after contact per attempt and fourth in yards before contact per attempt as well Broncos did make some moves this offseason to approve their defense they signed Malcolm roach and traded for the Jets for John Franklin Meers according to PFF roach ranked 18th and run defense last season with the Saints so I do think that that will help him but overall this is silly fantastic match up for Kenneth Walker and like I said if he gets more involved in the passing game this year I think Kenneth Walker could end up being a big time I think top 10 running back this year so let's keep it moving let's move over to Rachaad White vs Commanders Rashad white versus the Washington commanders while white was one of the most consistent running backs in the league last season as he only finished outside of the top 24 twice All Season there are some more concerns surrounding him this season first Dave Canales uh in that scheme that he was in last year is gone he's now the head coach of the Panthers obviously they did bring in the former Rams assistant and Kentucky OC Liam Cohen to be the new offive coordinator however they have some questions about his overall usage especially after they went out and brought in Bucky Irving to shoulder the load and also Bucky Irving has has looked really good in preseason been a lot of Buzz around him and I do think there's a chance here that he eats into this workload for Rashad white the biggest question marks going be his passing usage because in the pass game he was phenomenal last year over 500 receiving yards for Rashad white but Bucky Irving is also a more than capable pass catcher so this is gonna be one of those situations I really want to see early on but I will say this is a good matchup the commanders allowed the fifth most PPR points last year they also allow the seventh most rushing yards the fifth most touchdowns and the fifth most receiving yards Commanders took an ARP approach to improving this roster adding Austin Eckler Zack hars and Bobby Wagner uh this offseason but they did add more to the defensive side with adding Dante Bor H Frankie lvo uh Jeremy chin dorrence Armstrong Ken farell Michael Davis and Jeremy Reeves so they did out a lot to this defense but I will expect that sh white should still be able to do his thing against this Commander defense now lastly in my rb1s uh you have kyen Kyren Williams vs Lions Williams now he's had a really roller coaster ride this offseason despite the monster 2023 campaign first they drafted Blake corm in the third round then he was dealing with a foot injury over the off season and then we got the shefy bomb that Kiren is all of a sudden now going to be serving as his team punt returner which is weird for any starting running back to see this this only Drew in more detractors this is going to be one thing that we're going to monitor this season I still think he is going to be fine and can produce a lot which what he did last season he averaged 19 carries four targets per game which was a fourth an opportunity share he rushed for 1100 yards and 15 touchdowns and average 21.3 fantasy points per game even with I think a reduced workload this year if that's what happens because they've talked a lot about wanting to keep him healthy I still think he could be an efficient Runner still be involved in the passing game now I will say this this why we have them where we have him this week is I don't love this matchup the lions were phenomenal last year against the Run they allowed the fewest fantasy points to position they also allowed the fewest rushing yards per game but they did allow the s7th most touchdowns they were solid against the pass catching running backs as well as they allow these second fewest receptions and they were bottom half of the league and receiving yards allowed to running back so this isn't a great matchup this week for Karen Williams in terms facing the Detroit Lions I will say that but I still think you're starting him you obviously drafted probably in the second or third round of your fantasy draft you're definitely going to play him just have a little bit of temperate expectation the only thing that I'll touch on in the rb1 here Travis etn he's he was someone who I was more lukewarm on during the entire draft process but I think this week one match up against Miami sets up pretty well for him that front s for Miami was not great last year and they lost a bunch of pieces this game also has the second highest total on the week I think or it's TI like the third highest I believe so Travis CN is someone who I actually do really like for this week even though it was a little bit cooler on him than most throughout the draft process so let's go ahead and move into the rb2s RB2 Rankings kicking things off there with James Cook followed by Derrik Henry Josh Jacobs Joe Mixon Alvin CRA Aaron Jones David Montgomery James Connor javante Williams zamir white Naji Harris and Raheem moster finishes out our rb2s Kev same deal here what do you got yeah let's start things off with James Cook I James Cook vs Cardinals actually have him as an rb1 blow end rb1 but cook Anders 2024 is one of probably the more polarizing players over the off season while James Cook 2023 season was very much a taale of to have change from Ken dorsy to Joe Brady was massive for cook as he averaged 60.7 carries and near only four targets per game with Brady he also jumped from 12 fantasy points per game under dorsy did nearly 17 fantasy points per game under Brady um right out the gates cook it's one of the best matchups of the week basing a cardinal defense that allowed 140 rushing yards per game and well over a touchdown as well they they did make a few additions adding Justin Jones and bow Nichols in free agency as well as drafting Darius Robinson as 27th overall pick in the draft the Cardinal defense likely is still in the bottom half of the League this year and will be a defense we want to Target with either running backs or wide receivers so James Cook I think is in a really good spot and a really good matchup here against Cardinals now we do have to monitor because Ray Davis it's GNA be another situation how much workload is he going to take is he going to be more utiliz at the goal line James Cook get those opportunities so there's definitely some stuff we want to see here with James Cook early on in the season but overall I still think James Cook is goingon to be a really solid running back next up Josh Jacobs vs Eagles we head to Brazil for the Brazil game with the Eagles and the Packers Josh Jacobs the next up uh the newest edition Enders 2024 in a really good spot to dominate touches AJ Dylan has already had a season ending neck injury with Marshon Lloyd is still working his way back from his own injury as well he did avoid getting put on the IR Jacobs should see the line share of the touches in the backfield making him in ining option week one against Eagles now I will say the Eagles uh while they were really bad last season on the defens side of the ball especially over the second half they did still do a good job containing rushing attacks as they allow the 10th us PPR points per game and they also allowed the fifth us yards after contact per attempt and rank 14 Stu rate one move that's going to be underrated this offseason that they did was they went out and brought in vic fangio as well and Vic fangio is one of the best defensive Minds in the league so I really like the seagull defense take a step forward so I'm a little bit iffy on Josh Jacobs I think he's going to be still a highend rb2 or lowend rb1 this week due to Pure volume alone because there's really nobody else that's going to be getting in his way he could see 80 plus% of the opportunities from this backfield this week so uh really like J Josh Jacobs despite really what will be a tough matchup moving on to Joe Mixon Joe Mixon vs Colts versus the Colts uh he's now obviously the new running back for the Texans he should have scoring opportunities but I am concerned about his uses in the passing game CJ shroud was had the lowest checkdown rate in the league last season and they only targeted running back 74 time which is the second lowest rate in the league as well Joe Mixon last year Saw 52 receptions and 376 receiving yards last season with a 11% Target share this was something that really cats him a Thro because he's never really been uh somebody that's truly been an efficient Runner he's been more on volume and more a little bit more touchdown dependent last season as he had 15 touchdowns last year I do I don't think that part of his game is going to go away but if he sees a significant loss in the passing game then I would be a little bit concerned but this is still a great matchup the Colts run defense was not very good last year as they allowed the fourth most PPR points to position they also allowed the sixth most rushing yards fourth most touchdowns eighth most receptions and the eighth most receiving yards as well now obviously I know things can change from year to year things can get a little bit better but I still think this is going to be a good matchup week one uh for Joe Mixon and so I do think he's a borderline top 12 running back as well this week against the Colts let's keep Javonte Williams vs Seahawks it moving here let's move to another player Javonte Williams against the Seahawks after a down year in which he was coming off a brutal knee injury uh javante has shed shed some weight he has now back down to his college playing weight all reports from camps that he looks phenomenal and should lead the Back Field to touches last season Williams with 15th and waited opportunities he could crack the top 12 this season if he continues his rise back to being one of the best tackle Breakers in the league you couldn't ask for much of a better matchup against the Seahawks last season the Seahawks allowed the third most PPR points they allowed the second most touchdowns their defensive front should be improved this year as they did uh draft Byron Murphy Najee Harris vs Falcons in the first round but it's going to take some time for them to adjust NFL speed I think javante whims a solid rb2 option this week and then lastly niji Harris uh he enters as the number one option Jaylen Warren is dealing with his own with injury his availability is up in the air for week one but last season nii averaged 15 carries 2.2 targets per game but without Warren n's likely going to see 20 plus touches as long as CTO Patterson doesn't come in and take a bunch touches from him because it is we're still dealing with Arthur Smith here as the officer coordinator but naier is still in a good spot against Atlanta I will say though Atlanta was pretty good with stuffing defenses last year allowing the four few PPR points game but I still think if Warren were to miss this game na becomes a really solid lowend rb2 against the Atlanta Falcons yeah just a couple things for me uh similar to how I felt about uh Travis etn I felt the same way about Aaron Jones this uh during during draft season Aaron Jones but in this matchup going up against the Giants I do like this spot for Aaron Jones so if he's uh he's someone I would like to get into my lineups if I do have him and then Dave Montgomery is someone I feel like is being uh looked over once David Montogomery again obviously in favor of jir gives this year but there's another C beyond the top 24 running backs for this week is there anyone further on down the list that you think the folks should know maybe they're in a deeper League you know maybe they have an extra Flex spot who else do you like beyond the top 20 I will say in week one I'm going to be leaning way more towards wanting to play RB3 Rankings a wide receiver in the flex especially in PPR formats uh that I do a running back there's still a lot of things to shake out here in the running back position I mean you know like the Chargers how are they going to give you up the touches with Gus Edwards and JK dobins both coming over from Baltimore the Raiders were definitely a defense you could run against as they allowed the eighth most PPR points but will this be a 50-50 split or will it be a clearcut winner uh if I had put Mone anybody it's probably G be JK dobins but uh you know out the gate like these situations aren't really you know shaking out and so I I don't I don't want to put all my eggs in that basket of saying okay I'm gonna definitely gonna play this guy I'd rather get in a wide receiver here you know to play in this spot just same as like the Bengals who take on a Patriots defense that was middle of the road against running backs allowing the 16th most PPR points position last year uh but now this is their first game in the post Bill Bel ERA this will also be the first game that Zach moss and Chase Brown are working together you know really during training camp and over the over preseason these guys really just split touches 5050 I don't know how this is going to shake out I don't know which's going to be that guy so I want more clarity on the situation kind of the same thing with the Titans now I'll say the Titans really don't get a great matchup the bears run defense was actually really good over the second half of last season they were one of the most improved defenses last year once they kind of made some trades and so uh Matt ever flew took over as kind of the defensive calling duties so uh that's another situation I'm a little bit lower on Tony per and Taj Spears this week just because of the matchup I don't think it's that great of a matchup uh for them though I do think better weeks are ahead those are two running backs I do like at Cost um I think you have another somebody else like trumba hover who I think is a fine like backend rb3 this week uh going up against the Saints but I just think there's you know there's a lot of uncertainty around some of these guys I don't necessarily love some of the matchups even someone like DeAndre Swift who I've just haven't loved this entire off season like I think he's a better pass catcher than he is Runner of the football it's not a bad matchup against the Tennessee Titans but the Titans did do a lot of work this offseason improving their defense improving their offense so I don't necessarily love him I think DeAndre Swift for me is probably going to be like a lowend rb2 highend rb3 pretty much every single week but overall like this these all these running backs I really want to see everything shakes out and start to get a feel for how these guys are going to be utilized so if you did well enough Drafting and you have a wide receiver I'm probably going to be much poror Klein to plug in a wide reer versus a running back who we're just not sure how that's going to shake out and lastly just remember don't overreact to week one okay it's the it is it happens every year people wh overreact to week one and what happens and freak out and start dropping players they shouldn't or think these guys are going to do something so just keep that in mind because week one is always overreaction theater once we get to Monday and Tuesday everybody's freaking out about stuff just keep that in mind and like I said we will be going live on Wednesday uh to to answer all your start sit questions we answer every single one of them remember we have the Thursday night game plus a Friday game this week so uh we want to get our lineups locked in let's let's wi some championships week one funnest time of the year it's like Christmas waking up on Christmas morning for your presence uh to see and really it's just fantasy points and hopefully you don't get a dud or nobody gets hurt week one so that being said be sure to hit that like And subscribe button we'll see you on the next one [Music] [Music]