The 2024 NFL season kicks off this week, and with it, fantasy football leagues. If you need help setting up your lineups, SB Nation is here to help.
Below are our Week 1 running back rankings for standard scoring (non-PPR) leagues, as well as two viable flex plays and two sleepers with scoring potential.
Week 1 RB Flex Play
Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Patriots)
There's still uncertainty about how this backfield will perform the rest of the season, even though 2024 free agent signee Zack Moss is listed as the RB1 on the team's depth chart for Week 1. The good news is that the Bengals should have plenty of time to evaluate their run game in Week 1 against the Patriots, who have a staggering 7.5-point advantage.
The Patriots defense could limit the Bengals' offense in terms of overall efficiency, but should have the volume across the board to boost their rushing production. Meanwhile, Moss is expected to get flex priority from the get-go over teammate Chase Brown as the team's short-yardage and goal-line option.
Devin Singletary, New York Giants (vs. Vikings)
of New York Giants He added free agent Devin Singletary this offseason and reunited with former head coach Brian Daboll, and with very little competition behind him, he has a good chance to get off to a strong start to the fantasy season.
After taking over Texans Singletary proved his worth in fantasy games late last season, beating out running back Dameon Pierce and averaging just over 86 scrimmage yards per game from Weeks 9 through 18. During that span, Singletary recorded two top-four weekly finishes and top-16 finishes in five of his 10 games in non-PPR scoring formats.
The Giants and Vikings are projected to be among the lowest-scoring teams this week with a point total of 41.5, with the Vikings slightly favored by a point differential of -1.5 points (-115 vig). If Minnesota's defense performs poorly after losing Danielle Hunter, DJ Wonnum and Dean Lawrie in the offseason, the Giants' offense may choose to give Singletary a moderately heavy workload early in the year, especially with QB Daniel Jones continuing to recover from a torn ACL that was released in 2023.
Week 1 RB Sleepers
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Ray Davis (Buffalo Bills vs. Cardinals, 18%)
It's been a strong preseason for Bills rookie running back Ray Davis, who has solidified himself as the offensive line's RB2 behind James Cook. While most fantasy managers don't typically get too excited about their team's RB2 prospects, Buffalo's RB2 is especially intriguing because he's seen more goal-line plays than the typically smaller Cook at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds.
The Bills are favored by 6.5 points in this Week 1 matchup and are projected to have a high point total of 48.5 this week. Don't be surprised if the Bills offense can take advantage of a porous Cardinals defense that has the worst defensive line in the league.
Jalen Wright (Miami Dolphins vs. Jaguars, 22%)
Two rookies are recommended for this week's RB Sleeper List, and their potential to score touchdowns with a stronger offense is what earned each of them a spot on this list. Dolphin The NBA drafted Wright in the fourth round this year. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound running back from Tennessee is a phenomenal 40 yard dash: 4.38 secondsHe had a strong preseason and will no doubt catch the attention of head coaches and fantasy managers with plays like these:
This backfield is in disarray, and head coach Mike McDaniel admit The players will “decide who gets the ball, how often and how much time they play,” which certainly suggests the possibility of a hot-hand approach.
Given Wright's combination of size and speed, he could be a fixture starting in Week 1. After all, any Dolphins running back could call home with just one carry, and if they find themselves in an immediate pinch looking for a deep sleeper in Week 1, they could do with no worse option than the rotation (and potential goal-line option) of one of the league's most run-oriented and efficient offenses.
Fantasy Football: Standard RB Rankings for Week 1
Kate Magziuk is the editor. Yahoo Fantasy contributor Co-organizer of Rock On Dynasty Football podcast. He also serves as editor-in-chief of SB Nation's exclusive show “Behind The Steel Curtain.” Pittsburgh Steelers Blog. Previous contributors to Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld, 4for4 Football, and more.
