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2021 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs for Week 2

Will Nick Chubb have another big game in Week 2?

By Mark Abell
NFL: SEP 12 Browns at Chiefs Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

About 400 years ago this week, the Mayflower set sail from England. And with Week 1 behind us, we have set sail for the 2021 fantasy football season. There were a number of noteworthy performances last week, and some very lackluster ones—which probably cost a number of fantasy football managers a “W.”

A few notes for Week 2

  • Expect significant bounce-backs from Ezekiel Elliott and Aaron Jones
  • Injuries to Saquon Barkley and Raheem Mostert (out) have their stock trending down
  • A gut feeling tells me Pittsburgh, Washington, and Seattle go run-heavy in Week 2
  • We should see some tandem work with Devin Singletary/Zack Moss and Ronald Jones II/Leonard Fournette moving forward

2021 Running Back Rankings Week 2

Rank Player Team Opponent Notes
Rank Player Team Opponent Notes
1 Nick Chubb Cle Hou Browns are using their RBs heavily
2 Dalvin Cook Min @Ari Minnesota is not shy about using him generously
3 Ezekiel Elliott Dal @LAC I see a redemption game
4 Derrick Henry Ten @Sea Not overtly concerned with one rough week from Henry
5 Najee Harris Pit LV Expecting big things from him this week
6 Aaron Jones GB Det Much like Zeke, I see Jones bouncing back
7 Alvin Kamara NO @Car Carolina's defense was locked in against the Jets
8 Christian McCaffrey Car NO NO shut GB DOWN last week
9 Antonio Gibson Was NYG Gibson was just shy of 100 yards, faces a weak Giants rush defense
10 Joe Mixon Cin @Chi Mixon was used heavily last week by Bengals
11 Jonathan Taylor Ind LAR A so-so game from Taylor last week
12 Chase Edmonds Ari Min 12 attempts for 63 yards is not bad at all
13 D'Andre Swift Det @GB Swift is clearly more involved in their passing game then running
14 Miles Sanders Phi SF Miles should excel vs. 49ers defense
15 Clyde Edwards-Helaire KC @Bal Mahomes didn't use Edwards-Helaire much, will that change?
16 Damien Harris NE @NYJ Damien will be used in Cam's absence
17 Saquon Barkley NYG was Long term optimistic but he needs to get healthy
18 Austin Ekeler LAC Dal TB didn't get far on the ground last week vs. Dallas
19 Chris Carson Sea Ten Tennessee's defense didn't look too troublesome
20 Josh Jacobs LV @Pit Week 1 was very TD dependent for Jacobs
21 Kareem Hunt Cle Hou Kareem is being used but at 60-70% of Chubb
22 David Montgomery Chi Cin Bengals defense is solid against run
23 James Robinson Jax Den Denver's defensive line is solid
24 Darrell Henderson Jr. LAR @Ind Henderson had a solid week 1
25 Melvin Gordon III Den @Jax Denver is splitting Melvin and Javonte
26 Javonte Williams Den @Jax Denver is splitting Melvin and Javonte
27 Myles Gaskin Mia Buf Only 9 attempts from Myles last week
28 Trey Sermon SF @Phi Mostert out - is it Trey time??
29 Leonard Fournette TB Atl Tom Brady hardly utilized his run game last week
30 Mike Davis Atl @TB Tough matchup for Mike
31 Ty'Son Williams Bal KC Looks like Ty'Son is the targeted back for Baltimore?
32 David Johnson Hou @Cle Only a few carries but he got a receiving TD
33 Kenyan Drake LV @Pit Handcuff
34 Ronald Jones II TB Atl Tom Brady hardly utilized his run game last week
35 James Conner Ari Min Handcuff
36 Sony Michel LAR @Ind Handcuff
37 Phillip Lindsay Hou @Cle Tough matchup
38 Devin Singletary Buf @Mia Devin got most of the carries
39 Michael Carter NYJ NE 4 carries? Yikes
40 Jamaal Williams Det @GB Handcuff
41 Nyheim Hines Ind LAR Handcuff
42 Zack Moss Buf @Mia Surprise inactive for Moss last week
43 AJ Dillon GB Det Handcuff
44 James White NE @NYJ Handcuff
45 J.D. McKissic Was NYG Handcuff
46 Latavius Murray NO KC Handcuff
47 Le'Veon Bell BAL KC Flex play
48 Tony Pollard Dal @LAC Handcuff
49 Alexander Mattison Min @Ari Handcuff

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