The 2024 NFL season is finally here! You've drafted your teams and now it's time to set your Week 1 lineups.
Jamey Eisenberg has all the Start 'Em & Sit 'Em insight you'll need to make sound decisions at running back ahead of Week 1, right here. His Waiver Wire column can also direct you to the best options that may be available in your leagues. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' running back preview for more help with matchup notes, Week 1 numbers to know, and more. Plus check out Heath's Week 2 projections over at Sportsline.
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RBs to Start
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Robinson scored 17.9 PPR points in Week 1 at Tampa Bay, which was a nice surprise given the tough matchup. He only had 12 carries for 40 yards, but he scored a touchdown and caught three passes for 49 yards on four targets. He'll continue to share touches with Austin Ekeler, but it was great to see Robinson get as many targets as Ekeler against the Buccaneers. This week, Robinson gets an easier matchup against the Giants, who last week allowed Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler to combine for 111 rushing yards and a touchdown and five catches for 40 yards on five targets. Robinson has more than 100 total yards in three of four career meetings with the Giants, and last year in Week 11 at home, he had 20.2 PPR points against New York with 17 carries for 73 yards and seven catches for 59 yards.
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The Bengals' game plan was to stop Stevenson in Week 1 since he faced an eight-man front on 24 percent of his carries, but he still managed 25 attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 6 yards on three targets for 21.6 PPR points. He'll face a tougher test against Seattle in Week 2, and the Seahawks just shut down Denver's run game in Week 1, holding Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin to 18 carries for 50 yards and six catches for 1 yard on seven targets. But I'm going to buy this performance from Stevenson against Cincinnati and start him against Seattle at home as a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
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Ford dominated playing time and touches for the Browns in Week 1 against Dallas, and he finished with 12 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 25 yards on seven targets. His role in the passing game should matter in Week 2 against the Jaguars, who allowed De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert to catch nine passes for 86 yards on 10 targets. Ford should again flirt with 20 total touches this week, and he should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues.
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There's no guarantee that Christian McCaffrey (calf) will miss Week 2, but if he's out again then Mason is a must-start running back in all leagues at Minnesota. He ran through the Jets defense with 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown, and he caught one pass for 5 yards on one target. It would be nice if the 49ers gave Mason more work in the passing game, but if Mason gets another start then he has top-10 upside in all leagues in Week 2.
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Harris dominated touches in Week 1 at Atlanta with 20 carries for 70 yards, and he caught one pass for 9 yards on two targets. We'll see if Jaylen Warren gets more work in Week 2 at Denver as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury that he suffered in training camp, but Harris should be considered a No. 2 running back in all leagues. The Broncos just allowed Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet to combine for 28 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown and four catches for 35 yards and a touchdown on six targets in Week 1, and hopefully Harris can find the end zone for the first time this week.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Moss only had 11 total touches in Week 1 against New England, but he played the majority of the snaps ahead of Chase Brown. Moss played 65 percent of the snaps compared to 33 percent for Brown, and Moss finished with nine carries for 44 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 17 yards on four targets. We'll see if the Bengals give Moss more work in Week 2, and I would use him as a flex at Kansas City. Last week, the Chiefs allowed Derrick Henry and Justice Hill to each score at least 10.6 PPR points.
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Charbonnet will either start for an injured Kenneth Walker III (abdomen) this week or take on a bigger role with Walker at less than 100 percent. That makes Charbonnet at least a flex at New England. If he starts for Walker then Charbonnet has top-20 upside in all leagues. Last week, Charbonnet had eight carries for 12 yards and caught two of three targets for 29 yards and a touchdown against Denver in the game where Walker was injured. Charbonnet would have the potential for 20 total touches if Walker can't play, so keep an eye on what happens heading into Sunday.
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One of the bigger surprises in Week 1 was Mattison playing more snaps than Zamir White against the Chargers, and Mattison was also used as a pass catcher out of the backfield. It worked as he caught four of six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown with five carries for 19 yards. He played 60 percent of the snaps compared to 38 percent for White, and we'll see what happens in Week 2 at Baltimore. Given the likely game script of the Raiders playing from behind, Mattison can be considered a flex option in PPR.
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Raheem Mostert (chest) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against Buffalo, and De'Von Achane (ankle) is a game-time decision. That should benefit Wilson and potentially Jaylin Wright, who was a healthy scratch for Week 1 against Jacksonville. Wilson had five carries for 26 yards against the Jaguars, but he could be looking at 20 total touches against the Bills if Achane is out. Wilson should be considered at least a flex in all leagues in Week 2.
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RBs to Sit
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Swift was awful in Week 1 against the Titans with 10 carries for 30 yards, and half of his 10 attempts went for one or fewer yards. He also had no catches on one target. Things will hopefully improve in Week 2 at Houston, but the Texans just held Jonathan Taylor to 16 carries for just 48 yards and a touchdown and no catches. I need to see Swift to do something positive before trusting him, and he's a flex at best in most leagues for Week 2.
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White was outplayed and played fewer snaps than Alexander Mattison in Week 1 against the Chargers, and that's alarming this early in the season. White had 13 carries for 44 yards and two catches for 2 yards on two targets, while Mattison had five carries for 19 yards and four catches for 43 yards, and a touchdown on six targets. Mattison also played 60 percent of the snaps compared to 38 percent for White, and we'll see what happens in Week 2 at Baltimore. Given the likely game script of the Raiders playing from behind, White will be tough to trust in this matchup.
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Elliott had a solid performance in Week 1 in his return to the Cowboys with 10 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown at Cleveland, and he added two catches for 9 yards on two targets. He alternated drives with Rico Dowdle for the majority of the game, and that seems like a pattern that will continue in Week 2 against New Orleans. Elliott will likely have to score to boost his Fantasy value, and we'll see if the New Orleans run defense is for real based on what happened in Week 1 against Carolina. The Saints held Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and Mike Boone to a combined 15 carries for 43 yards and no catches on two targets. I would only use Elliott as a flex at best in Week 2.
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Hubbard (54 percent) played more snaps than Miles Sanders (37 percent) in Week 1 at New Orleans, but both nearly had equal touches and production. Hubbard finished with six carries for 14 yards and no targets, and Sanders had five carries for 22 yards and two targets. It was ugly, and this Panthers offense will be tough to trust heading into Week 2 against the Chargers, who just shut down Zamir White in Week 1. I was hoping Hubbard would be a good replacement option until Jonathon Brooks (knee) is ready to play, but if Week 1 was any indication, you can't use Hubbard as even a flex in deeper leagues.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Week 1 was bad for Williams, and I hope it's not a sign of things to come. He had eight carries for 23 yards and one catch for no yards on two targets at Seattle, and he was outplayed by Jaleel McLaughlin, who had more carries (10) and total touches (15). After a positive training camp and preseason, Williams looked poised for a quality campaign, but it started in horrific fashion. And it won't get any easier in Week 2 against Pittsburgh. At best, Williams is just a flex in the majority of leagues, and McLaughlin is also a risky flex play against the Steelers.
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