The NFL season has finally arrived! Fresh off fantasy football drafts, you likely know which running backs are locked into your lineups. That said, there are plenty of tricky backfield situations across the league to open the year. Let’s break down my Week 1 start/sit fantasy running back picks.
Check out my full Week 1 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: J.K. Dobbins (Broncos) vs. Titans
Fantasy managers across the country have been pounding the drum for rookie darling RJ Harvey… yet he’s likely not even going to be Denver’s starter heading into the season.
I know, I know, just because a guy isn’t technically the starter doesn’t mean he won’t contribute at a high clip. That said, there’s something concerning about your second-round running back not clearly establishing himself as “the guy” right away.
A lot of this has to do with the man I’m telling you to start instead. In 13 games last year, Dobbins took his 195 carries for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in a Chargers uniform. Despite having dealt with multiple significant injuries over the course of his career, the 26-year-old still flashes elite athleticism when healthy.
I expect Sean McVay to value Dobbins’ experience to open the year. He should serve as the primary and goal-line back against Tennessee on Sunday.
Sit ‘Em: Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs) at Chargers
Let’s be honest, we have absolutely no idea how exactly Andy Reid is going to utilize his backfield in Kansas City’s season opener.
At his best, Pacheco is a dominant, angry rusher capable of bowling over just about anyone in his path. The problem? I doubt Reid lets him rack up enough consecutive carries to get in a true rhythm, and he lacks receiving upside.
Sure, a touchdown could salvage Pacheco’s fantasy day, but if he doesn’t find the end zone, I have serious doubts he’ll manage to record double-digit fantasy points. Veteran Kareem Hunt (who was the go-to back down the stretch for the Chiefs last year) has more fantasy upside, but I would avoid this backfield in general for now. The Chargers allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs last year, setting up a lackluster performance for Pacheco.
Check out my full Week 1 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots) vs. Raiders
No, I am not telling you to start Rhamondre Stevenson OVER Tre’Veyon Henderson if you have both backs. Let’s get that out of the way right now.
However, I have been adamant throughout the entire offseason that this is not magically going to the Henderson show overnight. Tre’Veyon does not profile as a workhorse, while Stevenson is more than capable of handling a bulk of carries between the tackles.
Assuming all goes right for New England, this is going to look very similar to what we’ve seen in Detroit as of late with the David Montgomery-Jahmyr Gibbs committee. Henderson is the big play threat, but his touches are going to be capped, while Stevenson should receive 10-15 carries and a majority of the goal-line work. The veteran has legitimate FLEX/low-end RB2 upside against Vegas.
Sit ‘Em: D’Andre Swift (Bears) vs. Vikings
While I do like Swift’s full-season fantasy outlook, this isn’t the ideal matchup right off the bat. Brian Flores has made a living by selling out to win the battle at the line of scrimmage, and the Vikings found plenty of success doing so last year. Minnesota allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game at 93.2.
Swift is in a prime position to retain his role as the clear top running back in Chicago, and the Bears appear to have improved on that side of the ball, but this is by no means a finished product. Ben Johnson still has his work cut out for him, and it could take weeks before Caleb Williams and company are fully up to speed against starting-caliber NFL defenses. There are better fantasy options at RB in Week 1.
Start ‘Em: Tony Pollard (Titans) at Broncos
The Broncos enter this year fresh off a top-five finish in the rushing yards allowed department in 2024, holding opponents to just over the century mark on the ground per contest.
That said, there’s a lot to love about Pollard’s projected workload to open the season. With Tyjae Spears on IR, the veteran is primed to serve as Tennessee’s bellcow. Pollard will also likely be rookie Cam Ward’s safety blanket out of the backfield, and he’s certainly a capable receiver, catching at least 39 balls in four straight campaigns.
We could be looking at 20-25 touches per game for the 28-year-old to start the season, and volume is king in fantasy football.
Those are my RB start ’em, sit ’em Week 1 fantasy football picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice throughout the week.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
