Here are the Week 1 fantasy football running back rankings for the 2026 NFL season, complete with DraftKings salaries, projected fantasy points and DFS value plays in full-PPR scoring.
Projections based on 2025 per-game DraftKings production, adjusted for Week 1 matchups, implied team totals and expected workload share.
Week 1 Running Back Rankings
| Rank | Player | Team | Opp | DK Salary | 2025 Opp PPG Allowed | Proj Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | vs. NO | $8,000 | 27.6 | 23.5 |
| 2 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | @ LAR | $7,500* | 27.1 | 22.1 |
| 3 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | @ PIT | $7,700 | 29.3 | 19.9 |
| 4 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | vs. BAL | $7,300 | 31.0 | 19.6 |
| 5 | De’Von Achane | MIA | @ LV | $7,000 | 31.7 | 19.1 |
| 6 | Chase Brown | CIN | vs. TB | $7,100 | 29.6 | 17.6 |
| 7 | James Cook III | BUF | @ HOU | $7,200 | 25.2 | 17.2 |
| 8 | Derrick Henry | BAL | @ IND | $6,700 | 29.9 | 17.3 |
| 9 | Omarion Hampton | LAC | vs. ARI | $6,800 | 33.2 | 16.3 |
| 10 | Kyren Williams | LAR | vs. SF | $6,200* | 29.3 | 16.4 |
| 11 | Javonte Williams | DAL | @ NYG | $6,300* | 34.7 | 15.6 |
| 12 | D’Andre Swift (Q) | CHI | @ CAR | $6,100 | 31.1 | 14.8 |
| 13 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | vs. WAS | $6,900 | 34.4 | 14.7 |
| 14 | Bucky Irving | TB | @ CIN | $5,700 | 34.6 | 14.2 |
| 15 | Cam Skattebo | NYG | vs. DAL | $5,800* | 35.7 | 14.0 |
| 16 | Kenneth Walker III | KC | vs. DEN | $6,500* | 24.6 | 13.8 |
| 17 | Ashton Jeanty (Q) | LV | vs. MIA | $6,600 | 32.9 | 13.0 |
| 18 | Bhayshul Tuten (Q) | JAX | vs. CLE | $5,800 | 27.6 | 12.8 |
| 19 | David Montgomery | HOU | vs. BUF | $6,000 | 31.8 | 12.9 |
| 20 | Travis Etienne Jr. | NO | @ DET | $5,900 | 30.2 | 12.5 |
| 21 | MarShawn Lloyd | GB | @ MIN | $4,800 | 26.6 | 12.5 |
| 22 | Jadarian Price | SEA | vs. NE | $5,600* | 26.1 | 12.2 |
| 23 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | vs. ATL | $5,400 | 29.2 | 12.4 |
| 24 | Jordan Mason | MIN | vs. GB | $5,400 | 29.2 | 12.1 |
| 25 | Chuba Hubbard (Q) | CAR | vs. CHI | $5,500 | 32.2 | 11.8 |
| 26 | Breece Hall (Q) | NYJ | @ TEN | $6,200 | 32.4 | 11.7 |
| 27 | Jeremiyah Love (Q) | ARI | @ LAC | $6,400 | 26.7 | 11.4 |
| 28 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | @ SEA | $5,700* | 24.6 | 11.1 |
| 29 | RJ Harvey | DEN | @ KC | $5,400* | 26.9 | 10.6 |
| 30 | Tony Pollard | TEN | vs. NYJ | $5,600 | 34.1 | 10.5 |
| 31 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | @ JAX | $5,500 | 26.5 | 9.5 |
| 32 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Q) | WAS | @ PHI | $5,300 | 30.1 | 9.6 |
| 33 | TreVeyon Henderson (O) | NE | @ SEA | $5,200* | 24.6 | 8.3 |
| 34 | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | @ KC | $5,300* | 26.9 | 8.3 |
| 35 | Kenny Gainwell | TB | @ CIN | $5,200 | 34.6 | 8.2 |
| 36 | Rico Dowdle | PIT | vs. ATL | $5,200 | 29.2 | 8.2 |
| 37 | Alvin Kamara (Q) | NO | @ DET | $4,900 | 30.2 | 7.5 |
| 38 | Aaron Jones Sr. | MIN | vs. GB | $5,300 | 29.2 | 7.4 |
| 39 | Blake Corum | LAR | vs. SF | $5,200* | 29.3 | 7.4 |
| 40 | Kyle Monangai (Q) | CHI | @ CAR | $5,100 | 31.1 | 7.2 |
| 41 | Jonathon Brooks (Q) | CAR | vs. CHI | $5,000 | 32.2 | 7.1 |
| 42 | Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Q) | NYG | vs. DAL | $4,800* | 35.7 | 7.0 |
| 43 | Keaton Mitchell (Q) | LAC | vs. ARI | $4,800 | 33.2 | 7.0 |
| 44 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | vs. NYJ | $5,100 | 34.1 | 6.6 |
| 45 | George Holani | SEA | vs. NE | $4,600* | 26.1 | 6.6 |
| 46 | Kimani Vidal | LAC | vs. ARI | $4,800 | 33.2 | 6.5 |
| 47 | Rachaad White (Q) | WAS | @ PHI | $5,200 | 30.1 | 6.2 |
| 48 | Tyler Allgeier | ARI | @ LAC | $4,900 | 26.7 | 6.2 |
| 49 | Tank Bigsby | PHI | vs. WAS | $4,900 | 34.4 | 6.2 |
| 50 | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | JAX | vs. CLE | $5,100 | 27.6 | 6.2 |
| 51 | Mike Washington Jr. | LV | vs. MIA | $4,600 | 32.9 | 6.0 |
| 52 | Kaelon Black | SF | @ LAR | $4,500* | 27.1 | 5.9 |
| 53 | Nick Singleton | TEN | vs. NYJ | $4,800 | 34.1 | 5.8 |
| 54 | Brian Robinson Jr. | ATL | @ PIT | $4,700 | 29.3 | 5.7 |
| 55 | Samaje Perine | CIN | vs. TB | $4,600 | 29.6 | 5.9 |
| 56 | Braelon Allen | NYJ | @ TEN | $4,700 | 32.4 | 5.8 |
| 57 | Emmett Johnson | KC | vs. DEN | $4,500* | 24.6 | 5.5 |
| 58 | Woody Marks | HOU | vs. BUF | $5,000 | 31.8 | 5.6 |
| 59 | Ray Davis | BUF | @ HOU | $4,600 | 25.2 | 5.5 |
| 60 | Dylan Sampson | CLE | @ JAX | $4,700 | 26.5 | 5.4 |
* Salary from a non-Sunday DraftKings slate. These players appear on primetime or international game slates with different salary structures than the Sunday Main contest.
Note: TreVeyon Henderson (NE) is Out for Week 1.
DraftKings DFS Value Plays
Bucky Irving, Buccaneers @ Bengals
Projected DraftKings points: 14.2
Salary: $5,700
2025 PPG: 14.0 DK fantasy points (10 games)
Game environment: TB +3.5, O/U 50.5 (23.5 implied team total)
Irving lands in the best game environment on the Week 1 slate. The TB-CIN matchup carries a 50.5 over/under, the highest total of any Week 1 game, projecting significant scoring volume for both offenses. At $5,700, Irving is priced $1,000 or more below comparable lead backs while carrying a similar workload floor. His 2025 production (14.0 DK PPG across 10 games) confirms a consistent weekly role, and the Bengals surrendered rushing production throughout 2025. The combination of top-tier game environment, established role and depressed salary makes Irving one of the strongest RB values on this slate.
Omarion Hampton, Chargers vs. Cardinals
Projected DraftKings points: 16.3
Salary: $6,800
2025 PPG: 15.1 DK fantasy points (9 games)
Game environment: LAC -10, O/U 47.5 (28.5 implied team total)
Hampton benefits from the most favorable game script on the Week 1 slate. The Chargers are 10-point home favorites with a 28.5 implied team total, the highest of any team this week. That spread projects LAC to control the clock and lean on the ground game, funneling volume to Hampton as the lead back. His 2025 per-game production (15.1 DK PPG in 9 games) already demonstrated the ceiling of a three-down workload, and a blowout script against Arizona only amplifies that opportunity. Hampton projects for both volume and scoring equity in a game the Chargers are expected to dominate.
Chase Brown, Bengals vs. Buccaneers
Projected DraftKings points: 17.6
Salary: $7,100
2025 PPG: 16.5 DK fantasy points (17 games)
Game environment: CIN -3.5, O/U 50.5 (27.5 implied team total)
Brown is on the other side of the slate’s highest total (50.5 O/U), and CIN’s 3.5-point home spread projects a game that stays competitive with sustained offensive possessions. Brown averaged 16.5 DK PPG in 2025 as Cincinnati’s lead back with a meaningful receiving role, giving him floor through both the ground game and passing game. The Bengals’ home implied team total of 27.5 ranks among the top three on the slate. At $7,100, Brown is priced below the top tier while carrying upside that mirrors it.
D’Andre Swift, Bears @ Panthers
Projected DraftKings points: 14.8
Salary: $6,100
2025 PPG: 14.4 DK fantasy points (17 games)
Game environment: CHI -3, O/U 47.5 (24.5 implied team total)
Swift draws a favorable road matchup as Chicago’s 3-point favorite with a 47.5 over/under. Carolina’s defense was among the most generous to opposing running backs in 2025, and Swift’s receiving role (14.4 DK PPG in full PPR) creates a high floor independent of game script. At $6,100, he’s priced as a mid-range RB2 with upside to finish as a top-12 back this week. The projected positive game script for Chicago further supports a high-touch workload.
Kyren Williams, Rams vs. 49ers
Projected DraftKings points: 16.4
Salary: $6,200
2025 PPG: 15.6 DK fantasy points (17 games)
Game environment: LAR -3.5, O/U 48.5 (26.0 implied team total)
Williams is a lead back priced at $6,200 in a game with a 48.5 over/under, the second-highest total on the Week 1 slate. The Rams are 3.5-point home favorites, projecting a game script that should support sustained rushing volume. Williams averaged 15.6 DK PPG in 2025 as the clear RB1 in Los Angeles, and the Thursday night opener provides a standalone slate opportunity. His combination of volume security, game environment and salary makes him one of the strongest plays on the non-Sunday slate.
FAQ
Are these PPR rankings?
Yes. These rankings use full-PPR scoring, awarding one point per reception in addition to standard rushing and receiving yardage and touchdowns.
Are players on bye included?
No. Players on bye and confirmed inactive players are excluded from these rankings.
Why are the rankings based on 2025 statistics?
With no 2026 regular-season games played yet, these rankings use 2025 per-game production as the statistical foundation. Projections are then adjusted for offseason roster changes, Week 1 matchups and current game-environment data (spreads, over/unders, implied team totals).
