It’s week one of the NFL season, and after the NFL draft, you’ve got your team set. You’ve looked at the goal line offense and defense, and you’re ready to select your players. But one player you’re not sure about is your RB. Are you going to start him? Sit him? You decide, but you should decide quickly, because others are already making their own picks.
Who do you have starting in Week 1? Fred Jackson/Latavius Murray? Arian Foster/Alfred Blue? Kendall Wright/Travis Benjamin? Charcode Jackson/Terrance Williams? Ladarius Green/Antonio Gates? Roddy White/Julio Jones? Brandon LaFell/Jeremy Maclin? Rashard Mendenhall/Marshawn Lynch? Kenny Stills/Odell Beckham Jr.? Bruce Ellington/Allen Robinson? Lance Moore/Mike Wallace? Tavon Austin/Torrey Smith? Steve Smith/Travis
Week 1 in fantasy football is in the books and the weather in the northeast is only getting colder. With the help of all your friends that play fantasy football, we give out our fantasy start and sit for the week.
Getty The Baltimore Ravens’ Gus Edwards #35 runs the ball against the Carolina Panthers.
Welcome to Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season and our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Back-up Running edition. In this column, we’ll look at what seems to be a brand-new feature in Baltimore. In addition, there’s a previous must-start in Denver who seems to be fading in popularity.
*Reminder: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is designed to provide you with non-obvious fantasy lineup options. To best assist you with your fantasy choices, we delve deep into player matchups, scoring patterns, and other variables. This column does not include superstars like Christian McCaffrey. Check out our weekly fantasy football running back rankings if you’re searching for players of that quality.
[QBs | RBs | WRs] Start-Sit
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RB: Let’s get this party started.
HOU’s James Robinson kicks off the week.
This summer, it felt like everyone was dumping their James Robinson stocks. However, J-rise Rob’s to the top of the running back ranks has been aided by Travis Etienne’s injury. I’m not sure that Carlos Hyde will much reduce Robinson’s workload, which he averaged 20.6 touches per game last season. In 2020, the Texans allowed 31.8 points per game (second most in the NFL) to opponent running backs, including a league-high 1.3 rushing touchdowns per game. As a rookie, Robinson accounted for 76.9% of Jacksonville’s total red zone running attempts (highest in football).
LV vs. Gus Edwards
Nick Chubb, Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara, and… are among the players who have rushed for at least 700 yards in each of the last three seasons. Edwards, Gus Take the Gus Bus this week, since Baltimore is likely to do so. Last season, the Raiders gave up the third most rushing touchdowns (18) and the fourth most fantasy points to running backs. Edwards has averaged 83.9 yards per game in starts when he has had at least 10 carries.
DET vs. Raheem Mostert
Trey Sermon is a long-term investment for the Niners. A healthy Jeff Wilson, on the other hand, may play a role in the backfield down the future. For the time being, Mostert is the man in San Francisco, and you should take advantage of him as much as possible. A game against Detroit would be a good place to start. Last season, no defense allowed more fantasy points (32.2) and total touchdowns (29) to running backs than the Lions.
Leonard Fournette against. Dallas Cowboys is a sleeper.
For the most of 2020, the Buccaneers’ backfield was a crapshoot. They eventually started to use Fournette in the playoffs, when he out-carried Ronald Jones by 29 attempts. Despite this, the two still have a near-neck-and-neck ADP. Don’t sleep on Fournette in Week 1 because he’s being overlooked in drafts. During the last seven weeks of 2020, Dallas allowed one rushing touchdown per game. In 2020, they also allowed 34 throwing touchdowns (tied for third-most in NFL). Don’t forget, Fournette is coming off a season in which he had 76 catches.
RB: Take a seat.
Zack Moss vs. PIT: Sit of the Week
This summer, Moss has been the favorite Bills running back among fantasy owners. However, ESPN’s NFL expert Dan Graziano has indicated that Devin Singletary will lead the assault once again. Last season, Moss only had 59 yards running in two games and just three touchdowns as a rusher. In 2020, Pittsburgh was among the top ten teams in terms of running yards allowed to the position (85.3 yards per game). They were also one of only three teams to enable the position group to score less than 20 points each game.
Melvin Gordon is with the New York Giants.
Gordon’s time as Denver’s lead back seems to be coming to an end — if it hasn’t already. Teddy Bridgewater compared youngster Javonte Williams to none other than Alvin Kamara. According to the Denver Post, head coach Vic Fangio said that the club is “not at all opposed using him in any scenario at any point in the game.” In defense, the Giants are surprisingly stingy, particularly on the interior. Last season, they gave up the 11th-fewest rushing yards per game to running backs.
Buyers Beware: D’Andre Swift in San Francisco
Swift’s stock is at an unusually low level. As a low-end RB2, getting a guy who scored 10 touchdowns in 13 games last season is a value. However, you may want to avoid him based on his attitude in the first episode. Last season, the 49ers only allowed three receiving touchdowns to running backs (tied for fourth-fewest in NFL). They were also in the top eight in points allowed, even without Nick Bosa in the roster.
[QBs | RBs | WRs] Start-Sit
Rankings of Running Backs
|
# |
Running Back |
Opp. |
|
1 |
CAR Christian McCaffrey |
vs. NYJ |
|
2 |
NO, Alvin Kamara. |
vs. GB |
|
3 |
TEN Derrick Henry |
vs. ARI |
|
4 |
MIN Dalvin Cook |
at CIN |
|
5 |
Jonathan Taylor is an independent researcher. |
vs. SEA |
|
6 |
Clemson’s Nick Chubb |
at KC |
|
7 |
GB’s Aaron Jones |
at NO |
|
8 |
DAL Ezekiel Elliott |
at TB |
|
9 |
JAC James Robinson |
at HOU |
|
10 |
Antonio Gibson ACTUALLY WAS |
vs. LAC |
*Click here for the complete Week 1 running back rankings.
READ NEXT
It’s time to start thinking about your fantasy football draft and/or auction! I’ve written a few blog posts on this topic, and I’ll again review a few of them to help set expectations for your first week of drafts. First, here’s a short summary of how I’ll be approaching the player evaluation process:. Read more about updated week 1 fantasy football rankings and let us know what you think.
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