Week 1 Fantasy Football RB Rankings & Tiers: The Toughest Start/Sit Running Back Decisions (Ep. 2175)

0:00This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed Human. I'm Brett Coleman and I'm Trevor Sikama. If you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the field, check out our show NFL Pro. Every week we break down the biggest plays, trends and matchups using exclusive next-gen stats, insights and NFL content you will not find anywhere else. Whether you're new to football, a fantasy football fanag, or a die-hard fan, NFL Pro will help you analyze the game like a pro. Listen to NFL Pro on the I Heart Radio App, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. The NFL season is finally here and we are here to bring you week one ranks. Draft? Kick it out the door because it's time to look at the season and time to get those players you drafted doing some business for you. Welcome into the fantasy pros, fantasy football podcast. I'm Chris Welsh. We've got Andrew Erickson and Pat Fitzmouris as we are going to be with you every single

1:00week through the entire season walking through the ranks. Today we're going to be looking at our running back ranks for week one and week one is a little tricky guys. We've got not just like a Thursday but we've got a Wednesday so we are jumping in earlier than ever. And I'm going to give a little slight PSA to everybody. Not going to really do this any other week because I think you generally know this. If there is a time that you are going to see the biggest influx of week one rank changes from the episode that we do to the ranks page, it's going to be this week because everybody is, you know, there's a lot of people that are still in like draft mode. So I just want you guys to know is we are going to be talking about this things that let's say it becomes Tuesday afternoon. You want to take a look at the running back ranks and you go, oh guys, this is so much different than what you said. Yes, because we are going to get flooded with experts putting in their week one ranks. So the people that have the week one ranks in on fantasy pros right now, they're the hard core. They're the ones that are dedicated and locked in like these two, Pat Fitzmouric and Andrew

2:01Erickson, Fitsy. What was the feeling like just really quick and we're going to jump right into the rank? What was that feeling like actually submitting those week one ranks because the funniest part about this transition is you had all your drafts. You're like, oh, I love this guy. This guy here. This guy here. One, you trash some player that you loved in the draft season because of his week one matchup. So what was your feeling process going through your RB ranks? Yeah, that is jolting to be higher or lower on certain guys and then all of a sudden we're factoring in defenses and maybe injuries to teammates and how we feel about guys like, oh, I'm seven spots higher on this guy than I was in my draft ranking. So yeah, it's a little jolting, but feels good to start thinking about defenses again, matchups, that sort of thing. It's time to go to war with these teams we've been drafting for the last three weeks. Erickson, let me ask you this. Do you think that this is the week that what you did in the draft, you should not be as hyper focused on the matchup of week one because there are many things we don't know.

3:05We don't know the trunists of defenses and where offensive schemes are. Do you think the highest translation of where a player was drafted to where their ranked week should be this week or did you play the opposite and did you just go, yep, I like this guy is the fifth running back in drafts, but I don't like this matchup this week. So I am pushing him down to 12. I'm just using arbitrary numbers. I think in terms of like tie breakers, you usually kind of want to just go with the players that you drafted highest, but also not be bound to that where look, especially in some of these builds where you may be punched it off a running back. There are going to be some veteran running backs that we didn't necessarily like in redraft for the season long appeal, but we acknowledge, hey, week one, this is probably going to be the guy and maybe not being as high on rookie players being that a it's their first game. So I know that for an example, like I'm a guy lemon, I think that I tried to stay above consensus on him because I liked his long term outlook with the Eagles, but I'm being realistic that if I'm not expecting him to be a wide receiver three week one when he's

4:07missed so much time in training camp, even though he's facing the Washington commanders, I think that's just being a little bit too bullish. So I know that the defenses are incomplete, but we, you know, we watch football, like we know who the person I was going to be out there. So we're trying to project what these teams are going to look like, obviously accounting that we can't just copy and paste everything that happened last year in terms of, well, this team was terrible against tight ends, although the Bengals usually suck against tight ends. That isn't always carry over from year to year, but evaluate the roster, especially on the defensive side of the football and make the best educated decision. And that's obviously why we're here breaking down the ranks. I love that too. We're like, we know who the schemes and the players are. And then it'll be like Chris Rodriguez for 20 carries and week one and tuteness shut out. And then it'll be Chuba Hubbard has a huge game and what's that? Yeah. So we know, but we don't know. We'll see where it goes. We are going to be going through and giving you the big board, according to ECR for the ranks for the week. You guys can follow along. Finisprose.com slash rankings. Finisprose.com slash rankings are in a search bar. You can do fantasy pros, football rankings, week one. You can find that in here.

5:08And again, these are going to alter and change. So don't freak out if what we're talking about is a little different from what you see. If anything, this is going to give you a great barometer to what the early hardcore people have set for the ranks and then what has changed when more people come in. But let's get into it and let's look at the first visual on the big board. We've got the top 12 starting with no surprise. Jameer Gibbs comes in at number one, B. John Robinson, two Christian McAfry, three Jonathan Taylor at four, so very, very chalk to draft season. We've got Devon A. Chan at five, Sakewam Barkley at six, then the back half chase brown James Cook, Amarie Hampton, Derek Henry, Javonte Williams and Ashton Gentie. So I guess for the most part, there's nothing really insane that happens here. No big pushes down. Maybe James Cook looks like the most dramatic one that ends up pushing down. That's probably defensive matchup overall with, you know, guys like Chase Brown or I gotta be honest with you, just to throw this out like Sakewam Barkley is one of those. I just kept wanting to like push up and up going against Washington. But let's start with a huge difference between you two.

6:11That's where this one is going to go. Derek Henry comes in at ECR 10, but you guys are, now you're both RB one. So I guess I give that caveat. But one of you have some is a top five and one of you, he's barely holding on an Ericsson for you. He is barely holding on. You've got him at RB 12. So no big excitement on the matchup versus the Indianapolis Colts for you, but he's still an RB one. Yeah, still someone you're going to be starting in your lineups. I am just tempering some expectations with the big dog, Derek Henry. The Colts are expected to have both of their stud defensive tackles ready and active in a lineup. Grover Stewart to Forest Buckner. And when those guys have missed time in the past, this defense has been run over by opposing running backs to new offense for the Baltimore Ravens. This is going to be Declan Doyle's first game, calling the offensive plays with Lamar Jackson. And I have concerns about that defensive line versus interior offensive line matchup for the Baltimore Ravens creating push for Derek Henry. The Ravens have three new starters on the interior of their offensive line.

7:13Now one of them is a stud Vega, one A, the guy that they drafted this year in the first round. He's a monster, but still this is going to be the first game that they play without stud center tire of Linderbaum. Like there's a reason why the Raiders paid him so much money last year in for agency, because they needed to get someone up front to help with Kirk cousin and Fernando Mendoza. The Ravens also don't know who their starting center is still at this time. Like they still haven't actually found the guy that's actually replacing tire Linderbaum. It's been a competition between Ethan Posek and Javon Gwyn. So Declan Doyle says he feels confident in both guys. That's more of like, we'll see what happens. So I think that there is a potential for the Colts, Stevens of line to have the edge here in this matchup against the Baltimore Ravens offensive line. So for those reasons, that's why I'm just a little bit lower on Derek Henry. I'm also curious to see how they respond without their two tight ends from last year. Charlie Kohler. He was a big loss. I actually looked at last year in the last couple of years when Charlie Kohler has missed time in the past. Derek Henry's yards per carry falls from 5.6 to 4.7.

8:16And although Derek Henry, he has fended off father time up to this point last year. It was a career low for him in a luciferating. 14th lowest missed tackles, force per attempt. So if he has to create more on his own and those Colts, Stevens of tackles are getting through this into your offensive line, maybe Derek Henry has more of a modest game playing on the road. And we have on the ranks page, you can see, start sit grades, you can see projected points and then you can also see matchup ratings. And of the top 12 running backs, three are given only a two star rating. So those are the lowest of the top 12. The first two are Pigeon Robinson and Christian McCaffrey, pretty good. And then Derek Henry is the other one. So pretty low rating going down down there at the 10 ECR spot. But Vizzi, you're on the opposite end. You have a very positive take. You have got Derek Henry at four on your RB ranks for this week. Yeah, Derek Henry was a low end running back one in just about everyone's 2026 draft rankings because people are understandably reluctant to rank a 32 year old running back

9:18more aggressively than that. But a healthy Derek Henry in a one game setting. Heck yeah, I'll rank him as a high end RV one. I'm guessing that Henry is not going to be under utilized in Declan Doyle's first game as the Ravens OC. Like, do you think the boy wonder really wants to be accused of getting too cute with this play calling when he's got Derek Henry as the sledgehammer in that backfield? And I like to smash up more than Ericsson and the matchup tool for fantasy pros do. Colts, like, I think run defense could be a problem. For the Colts this year. And even with De Forest Buckner and Grover Stewart, good run stuff, good run stuff is upfront. But we don't know if De Forest Buckner can still be a play record at age 32, having missed extensive time the last couple of years. And the Colts off ball linebackers very inexperienced. I think that unit might actually be kind of a problem for them. I know in my clays unit rankings over DSPN, he gave their linebackers a three

10:19on a 10 point scale. So I kind of think Derek Henry is going to feast this week. I do like the idea of what you said where it's like, what do you think we're going to do in a new scheme? Do you think people are going to be more pissed about giving Derek Henry 25 carries or 15 carries? That's an interesting perspective for it. Coming at number two, at least on this list, this is a RB difference where one of you has got him quite a bit higher than you see are in the other does not have him as a RB one at all. And it's Javante Williams. Javante Williams comes in at 11 on this list. Now he is giving a four star rating against a giants. I really like this matchup. And Fitsy, this is a situation where you're not the high guy. You're the low guy. You don't even have Javante Williams as an RB one for this week. So talk us through it. I know the situations really good. The workload should be substantial. I know the giants were terrible against the run last year. And maybe I'll relent and move Javante up a little in my rankings for week one. But I'm not as crazy as some other people are about his outlook for the season.

11:23Javante was sort of tailing off down the stretch last year. So we average 5.2 yards per carry before the week 10 buy for Dallas, 4.3 yards per carry after the buy. He had 25 catches before the buy only 10 after the buy. Nine touchdowns in his first eight games, four touchdowns in his last eight games. So I saw a little bit of a downturn with Javante last year. He's kind of a zero in the passing game, caught some passes, but like, woefully inefficient. I'm just not quite as high on him overall. And I guess that's sort of extending to this week one matchup against big blue. All right. You said some are crazy. All right, Ericsson, Ericsson, let's talk crazy, baby. Seven, you've got Javante Williams at seven. So you guys, like I said, completely split. You are was a four spots above ECR. Fitsy is three spots below. It kind of changes the tier spot of it. What's got you positive about Javante Williams this week? And who is he jumping over?

12:24Give me like the two running backs. You have him higher than I have him out of Hampton, Cook, Chase Brown, Walker, Derek Henry, Gentie. He's ahead of all those guys. And honestly, I could move him up even higher because I think fits outline that Javante Williams is good at the start of the year. It's week one, baby. He is fresh and ready to go. So this giant's run defense was buns last year. And what do they do in this off season? They trade away Dexter Lawrence. They're best defensive tackle. So I think this is an absolute layup for Javante Williams. He has no backfield competition. The guy that we were concerned about maybe having a role in the receiving game got straight up cut from the team and Jaden Blue. Malik Davis is the backup to Javante Williams. The Dallas Cowboys owned the New York Giants. They beat them every single time that they played them except for last year when the Cowboys rested all their starters and that they were still heavy favorites entering that week 18 game. So last year he only got to face a Giants one time. 18 carries 97 yards in a touchdown. He was a top five running back that week. And I think he can be another top five running back in week one.

13:27I think we might have a little ranks episode like it's a pseudo DFS bet here. Can we do a Derek Henry versus Javante? Javante. I'll take a little bet here. Love that. OK, you guys could do a hair bet. One he has to shave your head. But we're going to have a little bet. We're going to come back to it and take a look at loser loser leaves town match. Yeah. Yeah. So not joining us on the rank show this week. Yeah, they just get booted just because of Derek Henry or Javante Williams. That's what a bad show. The final one is Ashton Gentie. We've got a couple instances of this where we've got to play a what if game. So the first what if is Ashton Gentie. Well, so this isn't what if he is 12 right now. He they're optimistic. The Raiders are optimistic that he's going to be able to play. So there's a couple of questions I have. A is 12 representative of the current situation he's in. B, if it's not, what does that rank look like? You guys both have a mid 11.

14:28So maybe the answer to that is just this is what you think if he is active for it. But I guess then the C or be have you want to look at it is is Mike Washington. You know, they said Mike the quote was Mike Washington's going to be a thing. They've they've talked about how they you know, they really like this guy. But there's an element of like when Ashton Gentie's healthy, what does he take away? And there's no question he's not healthy going into this first game. So what level does Mike Washington take away? And then here's the last one. If Gentie's not active, what is Mike Washington? So Erickson, let's start with you. I know I threw a lot at you here. Is this rank properly representative? What do you think Mike Washington can be if they're both active and then what can Mike Washington be if he is the starter? So I'll start with the last question you asked me about Mike Washington being the starter. I think that he would probably play like 70% of the snaps and they would probably mix in Dylan lobby as that pass down specialist out of the backfield. I think you should got to embrace this matchup here against the Miami dolphins.

15:31I know I sneakily like the dolphins to kind of upset the Raiders here. But the dolphins still have one of the worst rosters in the NFL. They do have some talent at linebacker and defensive line. But I still think you want to lean into this positive matchup at home for the for the Raiders with a revamped offensive line with Linda bomb with Colt Miller out there. Blocking and Mike Washington's explosiveness as a big body specimen. So he'd be someone I've been trying to get into my lineups as at least a flex play. But I think he would definitely be in the RB two ranks if not potentially even higher. So we'd see how he shakes out among just the other running mechs. But somebody that I would want to start if Ash and Jenny's not going to play. If Jenny is in, he's who I would start as a back end fantasy RB one. I think that we saw last year with the Raiders. I know it's a different coaching staff, but still is the same GM Brock Bauer. He's missed a bunch of time and then came back and people were hesitant about starting him. And he absolutely smashed in his first game back. And you would have just been like, oh, yourself.

16:31If you had missed out on a monster game from him, if Jenny's active, I think that he's going to be playing his whatever normal role in the offense would be. I think that they have too much invested in him from last year in the draft capital. And a Raiders team that is not really playing for 2026. They're playing for the future. That's why they're being so. So hesitant about playing for an Inter Mendoza. We want to make sure Cousins gets his starts with what Mendoza to learn. So I think they're playing the long game. So if Jenny is out there, I think that he is good to go. Yes, he will see some touches to Mike Washington. He will have a role in this offense. But I think that means Jenny is a back end fantasy. RB one. So I'm going to get again, I guess you guys just rank of 11. This is your building here, Fidsey. But if he's not active, where's Mike Washington? And I don't know, I guess I have more hesitation than you guys to the same point. Like they're not trying to win out there. If he's not like absolutely 100% and they're using the word optimistic, you know, four or five days before the season, like I don't know if I feel great about that. And I think we should be more hesitant.

17:32Does that take him out of a roster? Probably not. You know, maybe it's like more of an RB two. You guys are putting him as RB one. So maybe it's arbitrary. But how to break the situation down for us, Fidsey, in some of the scenarios that you think could play. I'm putting Mike Washington as a low end RB two if Jenny is out. I don't think he's going to be out. It sounds like based on just little tells from Clint Kubiak, like he kind of gave a rise smile when asked about Jenny status for a week one. I think he's going to play now, whether he gets, you know, 20 plus touches, maybe not. Maybe it's more like 12 to 15. And the rest goes to Mike Washington. That's wrong about. Yeah. But we should slow the roll on the Mike Washington hype, I think, as far as like him having any sort of stand alone value during the season. Like if anyone really thinks that Mike Washington is within 10 miles of ash and genty in terms of talent, like that's just so naive and crazy to me. Like, genty is a special cat.

18:34And Mike Washington is, you know, maybe they got themselves a quality backup. We'll see. But yeah, and like it is a favorable matchup. I mean, maybe Erickson was being a little disrespectful to rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and his mustache. But overall, I think this is probably as favorable a matchup as the Raiders are going to get this year. All right. RB ones in the book. Let's go take a look at RB two. And we're going to be taking a look at the RB twos and one specific player that might get you a little autograph action. You guys want a chance to win a Kyron Williams, who's going to show up here in a second signed Rams mini helmet. This is going to be your shot. And I actually think there are better odds on this and some of our other contests because many of our contests are come over to the YouTube, follow the YouTube, make a comment, make a comment on any video all month long. Right. That's very easy and there's mounds and mounds of people that are doing it that aren't even thinking about the contest. Well, we're going to make you do a little bit more, but that's going to make your odds even better.

19:34If you wanted to get this Kyron Williams autograph helmet, all you've got to do is leave a review on either the Apple podcast or Spotify podcast. Get a screenshot of that of that review and then email it to mailbagadfantasyproz.com. So we're making a jump through a little bit of hoops here, but less people are going to do it. Maybe and this is going to give you better odds. So again, screenshot your review on Apple podcasts or Spotify mailbagadfantasyproz.com. We'll be announcing a winner right here on the show. So make sure to turn on YouTube notifications or you can follow the podcast where we listen to us. So you can know when new episodes are up and then you can hear your name and claim that Kyron Williams autograph helmet. Speaking of Kyron Williams, let's take a look at the RB 2 board. He is not number 13, but he's right after Ken Walker comes in at 13 going up against Denver. Kyron Williams at 14 traveling to Australia. We've got Deandre Swift, Breast Hall, Travis H.in, Bucky Irving, Cam Skataboo, and David Montgomery at 20. And then the final is Jeremiah Levitt, 21, Quinchine, Chuck Kins, Jalen Warren, and Basel Tutten.

20:37So let's talk about Kyron Williams. Kyron Williams, ECR RB 14. This is another one of those instances where one of you has him as an RB 2. One of you has him as a RB 1. Maybe there's some arbitrariness to it because the RB 1 is 12. And Fitsy, let's go to you on this then because you've got him at 12. Erickson's a little bit lower than consensus in this 49ers matchup. You are a bit higher even though he's going to make way to some like, Korim, they're also traveling. Not, I don't know this means anything to anybody, but you see the 49ers have already traveled out there. The Rams aren't going until like Wednesday morning. You know, they're going like a week later to travel out, which I thought was really odd. What effect that has we're not going to know until game time. But Kyron Williams at 12, talk to us Fitsy. The NFL never stops and neither does its newest podcast. The NFL report hosted by me, Andrew Sassiliano. It is your home for everything football. Williams, drifting, sprinting for space. It all comes in trouble for him.

21:38For next season, I'm back. They got it. For the touchdown. They've done it, guys. We're tapping the biggest news stories, giving you expert analysis, fantasy previews, game picks and more. We fly around every single play. We dominate every single play. Want to hear from the league's top stars? Add to the biggest matchups? We've got you covered. That really good football team. We got to have all hands on deck. Join me at an all-star cast of analysts for everything you need to know from around the league. Get new episodes of the NFL report Monday through Friday, all season long. Listen to the NFL report podcast on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. College football will hijack your weekend, ruin your sleep and break your heart. And that's why we make the Sullivan-verbal College football show. I'm Ty Hildenbrand. He's Dan Rubenstein. How's it going? Every week, we preview the games that matter, sort through the biggest storylines and tell you what to watch before kickoff.

22:38There's a lot to keep track of. Who's for real? Which upset is hiding in plain sight? And which storyline is about to take over your group chat? And when the games are over, join us in the aftermath, too. We're going to react to what happened, talk about the biggest results. Of course, we'll cover the playoff picture. And all the little details you might have missed while flipping between like 12 games at once. Whether you know every coach and coordinator or just want to understand why everybody is yelling, we're here to help make sense of the madness. Listen to the Solid-verbal College football show on the iHeart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? I'm Tony Gonzalez. And I'm October Gonzalez. But you can call me Toby. We want you to join us on our new podcast, No Safe Words with October and Tony Gonzalez. Where we get real about marriage, parenthood, sex, divorce, and all the nitty gritty stuff we all think about, which is don't say out loud. I hate that job. You're probably just going to meet with some rich guy and he's going to whisk you away.

23:39And I'll never see you again. Ooh. This is awesome. Would you say a dealers' actor? D? I don't even know there's this thing as D. No, no, no. I mean, like, I don't even get on the sea list. Like, I'm not even average. I'm not even passing. I'm failing. Listen to No Safe Words with October and Tony Gonzalez, part of Michael Tour Podcast Network. Available on the iHeart Radio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Kyron has scored 44 touchdowns in 45 regular season games over the last three years. He's averaged at least 90 yards from scrimmage. The game each of the last three seasons. He's been RB2, RB8, and RB11, in a half point, PPR fantasy points per game in the last three years. Ram's 49ers is the Vegas total of 48 and a half that's tied for third highest. Total on the board for week one. Ram's have an implied point total of 26. What's not to like? Well, the undertaker is going to walk us through, I think, what there might not be to like. Because I think I know where he might potentially be going, which actually, to be honest with you,

24:41a game like this, a game script where you're having this big travel that you might be, if you believe you're going to be devoid on some points, they might just want to keep the ball on the ground a little bit more, which would work well. But you've got him at RB16, Erickson. So talk to us about this. Again, it's not like a big negative. Like you're benching or anything like that. But you just have less optimism for Kyron Williams this week. Well, I'm just acknowledging that he and Blake Korma just going to swap drives, right? That's what they did in the second half of last year. They were one drive and go to Kyron, one drive and go to Blake Korm. So I'm just trying to capture that in his general ranking. And the fact that I just don't think this game is going to be anywhere near 48 and a half points total. I think this is going to be a lower scoring game. You have to consider all the variables from the traveling from the different time zones. It's week one. A lot of these guys haven't played, especially on the Ram side. These guys haven't played it all in the preseason. So how fast out of the gate to they're going to be playing when they're kicking off at 10 30 a.m. local time. When was the last time any of these guys played a full, fledged NFL game that early in the morning?

25:41I think never. So I have a lot of reservations about how high flying these offices are going to be in this particular matchup. You look at the last five matchups between the 49ers and the Rams. Only two of those games have gone over 48 and a half points within regulation. One of those games needed over time for it to actually push over 48 and a half points and it was 49 points. So I like the under overall in this game. Rams defense is way better than it was last year. All of the additions that they have made and then the 49ers. It kind of remains to be seen if they'll be better, but they're going to have at least more of their guys that they didn't have last year because they had so many injuries. Now we'll see how effective those guys are coming off of all of these season ending injuries, but having someone like Fred Warner, for example, like back, like that makes the 49ers defense so, so much better, even if he's not full 100% Fred Warner. I mean, he's better than all the guys that they had last year. So overall, just down on this game from an offensive scoring environment perspective and that, you know, trickles down to, you know, the Rams running back one.

26:42Yeah, let me give you. I'm going to give my inner Ericsson in here. I love that Fred Warner is there. I love the Drake Green laws back Nick Bose might play, but the 49ers defense. Bons, booty cheeks. It's not going to be good. They are going to be worse than last year. Yeah, I do. Even with all those guys back. I think there's the potential for it to be does that they can't stop the run. They haven't been able to stop the running years. Their defensive line is bad. It is not good. I mean, maybe Boseback is going to help it, but I'm worried that their secondary is still. It's just it's all mid and average. The only spot that they really kind of shine in right now is in that like, you know, Drake Green law, Fred Warner type of spot, which like what's that going to end up helping, especially with how dangerous they are in the past is like, it's probably going to help like down the middle. You know, I just I don't know. I don't I'm worried about the 49ers defense. And if the Rams don't want to, you know, go heavy into the past game, they're going to be able to run all over the 49ers, but that doesn't mean there's going to be points left and right.

27:42That doesn't mean that that's going to be the play, but then you take series off. It's it's a weird spot. Hope I'm wrong. You know, self-heading 49ers fan defense, buns, buns. Let's talk about Bayshel Tutin. This isn't really one where there's like crazy differences, but I just think we should talk about him because this is it. Everyone, I mean, I guess you're in two camps in the draft season. You were just like Bayshel Tutins, the truth or this is all fake and it's going to be Chris Rodriguez. He comes in at ECR 24. You guys split it. Erickson, you got a bit 23. So it was an RB 2. Fits you got him a 25 that's technically an RB 3 or a flex spot, but it's, you know, it's kind of arbitrary. It's just a really bad matchup. If we look at the matchup ratings here, three running backs were given a two star rating in this 13 through 24. Ken Walker going against Denver. That's why he doesn't crack the top 12 Travis H and against Detroit and then Bayshel Tutin going up against Cleveland. So really more than like going crazy ECR Fitsy, let's start with you. What is your expectation of what we are going to see out of Tutin?

28:44Do you think draft, draftees are going to be really disappointed because we're going to see more Chris Rodriguez. Do you think we have the potential? There's a lot of whole like Chris Rodriguez looking better in past protection. Or do you think the people that have banked on him being a three down back are going to feel okay? Like what is the vibe out of there? And do you, you obviously feel a little bit more tenuous about starting him this week? Yeah, that's it. Well, I wish I had the answer key for this one. I'm cautiously optimistic. Bayshel Tutin is going to emerge as the clear lead back in Jacksonville at some point this season. I've drafted him on several teams. It's just I don't know if it happens week one. I don't know how much we're going to see of Chris Rodriguez. You know, we know we should get a favorable run friendly game script against the Browns, but that's mainly because we don't think the Browns offense is going to do anything. And you know, the Browns, Runde offense, no Porsche over like no joke. This is a pretty good Runde offense. So yeah, it's mainly just not knowing what Tutin's workload is going to be.

29:44Do you think at 25, this is a scenario? Well, I think there's probably plenty of rosters that Tutin could have been like a third running back. Bees a second running back. There's probably not a ton of discussion here, but if he was a third running back, do you think this is a situation where if someone is staring at, I mean, this isn't the wide receiver show, but if it's Bay shell Tutin or Chris Godwin, you know, Chris Godwin is like 35 on the ranks. And that's a flex spot that this is the week that you're going to lean more towards like a mid 30s wide receiver than you would want to throw a Tutin out there. Or do you think that you're still throwing them out? Yeah, and a PPR leak. I could see starting Godwin in that scenario in a flex spot. So what about half? Yeah, half is, man, I'm kind of a Godwin skeptic. I'd probably start Tutin, but it's that wrong name then. What about that? No, that was a good name to pull though, because I think that would be a dilemma for a lot of people. Erickson, you're a little bit higher. I want to get your take on it, but let me also throw this at you. Do you think Bay shell Tutin is going to be one of the top players after week one

30:47that we are talking about that you need to go trade for because of maybe a lack of six? I mean, I guess you have them at 23, but it's a bad matchup. If Chris Rodriguez did get used, you know, do you think this could be one of those players that were like, Hey, guys, it was a bad week one, but you got to go and buy on the people that are freaking out about Tutin. Or do you think he's just going to ball out? It's got a really wide range of outcomes in this particular matchup. And to your point about is he buy low? Is he sell high? There's a lot of scenarios where that comes into play too, because after this game, Jaguars I believe played the Denver Broncos. So you have scenarios of the schedule gets much tougher for the Jacksonville Jaguars. And if you layer in, oh, Chris Rodriguez was more used than Bay shell Tutin was in week one. So there's a lot of variables, obviously a lot of risk, I think, with Bay shell Tutin, but whenever I'm torn with a running back, I just try to take a zoom out approach where the Jacksonville Jaguars are heavy home favorites by more than touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. You're expecting positive gamescript. What does that mean?

31:47Good for running backs. Pass protection has been the issue with Tutin. Is this a game where we expect Trevor Lawrence to drop back to throw 40 times? I don't think so. I think that this is a spot where Tutin's in play, Deep Reliefs, Chris Rodriguez is in play as a flex starter. The Browns defense, yes, it has good pieces between getting Malik Collins back as their study of the tackle, Swessinger offensive or defense of rookie of the year last year, although he's missed a lot of training kept with an injury. The biggest thing with the Browns defense that I've noticed over the last couple of years, betting on them, attacking them in fantasy and in DFS is this unit plays way different on the road than it does at home. When the Browns defense is the home team, they just suffocate opposing offenses. But when they go on the road, they are much, much more of a leaky defense. There's also their first game without Miles Garrett. There's also their first game without Jim Schwartz. They have a new defensive coordinator. So I think that there is a weakness to this defense that this Jaguar's offense can attack in a big way. It's just a matter of how Liam Cohen is going to decide how in which running back he's going to choose.

32:48So that's the risk. But I do think that there's a lot of upside with this backfield between both running backs. I think I kind of feel like I want to be ahead on ECR for both guys just because I'm trying to invite that I think that this is a route. I think the Jaguar is going to smoke the Cleveland run, especially if it's to Sean Watts and turn in the ball over short fields. That's the way that I'm kind of reading it. There's risk, but I think that the reward is some big time upside. It's crazy to just when you stare at both those running backs. Chris Rodriguez and Basel Tutton were both like ranked top 10 in success rate last year at right. I mean, so it's like you give them the ball and that this could be a positive for Chris Rodriguez. It's like touchdown rate. Basel Tutton was one of the best in the NFL when touching the ball. His success rate was up there. Chris Rodriguez is the same thing. It's like I know they played two different roles, but like what they do on the ground can be the same thing. And if Tutton just gets volume, that's where he really plays in. The last one in this territory, I wanted to save this because this guy was actually ranked a little bit higher, but I want to talk about Jeremiah love because this is like the last one we've got to do a little what if scenario.

33:52Jeremiah love comes in at 21 on this list going against the chargers. So the question is put on my W W E D bracelet. What would Ericsson do bracelet? If Jeremiah love is active is 21 the proper rank knowing that there's going to be some type of of stand back. If he's not active, is it Tyler Algier, Sison? I'd like to know Jeremiah love and active what Algier looks like. And if Jeremiah love is active, we got to assume it's going to be a little bit banged up. Should he really be a top 24 running back? What would Ericsson do W W E D? I trust that the Cardinals are going to make the wrong decision. That's where my confidence level was with this team. So if they have him out there, he's probably not 100% and they're probably just going to screw us over because that's what they did in the preseason game where they decided to give him 14 touches and a game it didn't matter. When the plan to be that he gets 14 touches in a preseason game and then he's active and he gets seven touches and an NFL. But that's exactly what this team would do. That is not shocking at all whatsoever.

34:54And that's the issue when you're just drafting Arizona Cardinals is this organization is so dysfunctional. They can't get out of their own way. So for me, I very hesitant about Jeremiah love in week one. Hopefully the decision can just be he doesn't play. I mean, the fact that he's already 50 50 this far out to me signals that they're still not exactly sure if Algier was ever going to have a larger role in the offense. It was most likely going to be at the beginning of the season. So I wouldn't be surprised if Algier is the lead ball carrier if Jeremiah love is active. I think that Algier is just a volume play, right? They have BAM night on the roster who's just basically like a carbon copy version of Tyler Algier. But trade that sense on IR James Connor is on IR. They don't have any other running backs. They traded Kibner to the Patriots. So they don't have him available either. So I think that Algier look I get that he's not a sexy pick. But if the Cardinals move the ball against the chargers. It's a game that's indoors. It has a high over under. It just takes one pass interference to get the ball out of the way.

35:55And then they just give it to Tyler Algier and he gets where it touched down. So I think that he would probably be in that RB. I don't want to say top 24 maybe that's aggressive. Say top 30. I think if Jeremiah love doesn't play. But definitely someone that you're considering. Hey, I got to flex Tyler Algier potentially this week, especially in standard or like a half PPR format. What was love for you if he is active? I haven't right now 21 but you do have an ECR. I'm moving down. I know I again, I'm not going to be able to do that. I'm going to have to shift out a bunch of the other running backs because that's when you're just getting into committee conversations. Who is your side now though? If you're saying it's going to be active, you'd move them down. You should move them down now. Well, I'm on the show right now. Well, okay. Yeah. I go. You're saying I have support. Grandescope. Back to the lab. Yeah, yeah, yeah, get back to the lab. Get on the show. Get back to lab. 50 same thing here. Where do you have love? Do you think he's being overbaked a little bit if he's active? What does Tyler Alger look like if love is an active? I have love at RB21 and I think the only lead back who I've got behind him right now is Quinch on Judkins.

37:02He's got a really tough match up against the Jaguars. I would say that I don't think Alger is going to have standalone value if love plays because really can we trust the Cardinals to be judicious with Jeremiah Love coming off this injury when they get back to the lab. I think he gave him 14 touches in his first ever preseason game, probably not. So I've got Alger at 41 right now and if love didn't play, I'd probably just move Alger right into love spot at RB21 and move BAM night right into Alger spot at RB41. Okay. There you go. Jeremiah Love. Algera, that'll be a little bit tricky. Let's go over to our RB3s or the flex range of our bees and we'll kind of punch out a couple of these. This is the one week where like usually we would spend less time on the top and then maybe a little bit more on the bottom. Week one week and kind of do a little bit more burning churn on some of the other questions since you know we got our big guys out there. 25 through 36. You got Giderian price coming in at 25 Tony Pollard at 26.

38:05Remondre at 27 Rico Dattel Travion at 29 JK Dobbins at 30 and then the back half is Chuba Hubbard Jonathan Brooks back to back at 31 and 32 Kenny gain well, Troy Croskey Merit Rashad White and Blake Corum. What to do with Giderian price they did tell us that there might be a little bit of Halani early on he comes in at 25 you to again split it. Fitsy you have major Darian price and RV 2 and Erickson you were lower than ECR so Fitsy. Do you think obviously you do as a like an RV 2 spot but like what do you think type of output we're going to see at a Giderian price this week. Yeah and I was below consensus on price in my draft rankings but for this the here and now with nose act Charbonet Seattle wants to run the ball prices the lead runner until Charbonet gets back. And you know Charbonet was the reason I had price below consensus and draft rankings because eventually Charbonet comes back and maybe turns the Seattle backfield into a committee just as our games are starting to get more and more important in fantasy leagues.

39:09But for now I think price is going to have a pretty robust role even though we'll get some George Halani on passing down. We've gotten some encouraging reports about prices past catching ability in training camp I guess he was showing out in that area didn't really get to see that when he was at Notre Dame and look Seattle's a home favorite against New England. The Patriots run D might might only be average not great so I just I think it's going to be a favorable spot for price in week one. And the starting two star rating both of these by the way I mean going against Seattle created the first one star ratings in the top 36 that's for both the Patriots running backs. Giderian price not getting too much better with the two star rating Eric's and you were a little bit lower on him is this about the matchup against the Patriots or could this be about Halani you know ruining the party a little bit. I don't think that we would ever see Giderian price in a 90% snap roll in week one in his first NFL game.

40:11I don't think that was really ever in the cards but you know you got to take advantage of these weeks when Zach Sharp but he's not a problem for Giderian price like this is his chance to cement himself as your RB1 on the Seattle see ox. I feel like I am leaning a little bit more into hey let's get this explosive guy out there on the field for my fantasy lineup. I am a little bit lower because I think Patriots run defense is still really good because you have Christian bar more Milton Williams those guys are two of the best defensive players on the Patriots roster. However the thing that you pointed this out where if he is being used as a receiver out of the backfield like that is where the Patriots are not nearly as good at linebacker at coverage linebacker and specifically on the edge. So if they're doing outside zone stuff which is what we saw Kenneth Walker absolutely torch this Patriots defense in the Super Bowl if he is in that Ken Walker role where he's able to get to the outside get away from those two interior defense of lineman. Then you can see a giant price having a big game so I can probably move him up a little bit I did want to acknowledge the match up a little bit more against a tougher Patriots run defense but specifically to what Giderian price does well.

41:17I think that this particular Patriots defense actually works in his favor because of how he would be used as an explosive skill set on the edge. What about on the opposite end just real quick of a Ramondray versus Trayvian situation Ramondray does rank higher but they're both inside the top 30 it's the worst matchup of the week. Can they eat into each other does the match up take them out Erickson I know you're a little bit higher on Ramondray here. Fitsies decent amount lower here Ramondray versus Trayvian does Ramondray get the top not and do you think he's a trustworthy start in this bad matchup or a both a little questionable that if you cannot put Trayvian to Ramondray out this week you probably don't want to. Yeah I think that you probably prefer not to play either guy to be honest given the match up against Seattle their defense is just good all around and it's going to be a committee whether it's Ramondray with the 60 40 split or Henderson with the 60 40 split. It may just come down to well who ends up scoring the touchdown who ends up getting the ball on the red zone and given the fact that it is such a tough defense that they're going to be coming after Drake May with their fierce pass rush.

42:25I think we're probably going to see more of Ramondray Stevenson out there in this particular game now Henderson it's a matter of does he rip off the big player not ultimately that's probably going to be a lot of his fantasy value is does he have that explosive so there's more boomer bust I want to embrace those booms a little bit more when you know it's a softer defense not necessarily when you're on the road at Seattle in a hostile environment so I think that I'm trying to definitely look elsewhere than Patriots running backs. Fitsy you've got Ramondray outside the top 30 is that then Henderson is inside or a both just way down because of the matchup for you. RB 32 for Stephenson RB 35 for Henderson see it yes Seattle's Runde was number one in in DVOA last year toughest Runde offense in the league and the C. Hawks held Ramondray to 23 rushing yards in the Super Bowl only seven carries because the Patriots basically had to abandon the run they might have to ban in the run again in this one. Alright two more I got like a little side one I want to ask here this one let's just go through quick but this is because you guys have like a huge difference here.

43:29Fitsy you are close to ECR and Tony Pollard you're a little bit lower but Erickson you have plummeted Tony Pollard he comes in at 26 on ECR you did not have as a top 36 RB this week so talk to us about why you hate Tony Pollard. Because he's not a lot to play the most snaps in his own backfield he's in a 50 50 committee with Taj A Spears it's been like this every single time in the preseason during last year Tony Pollard was unplayable you can play anybody from this tights backfield last year because of the split workload between Pollard and Taj A Spears the Jets defense has been totally revamped I know the times are playing at home but they added actually decent runstop words from David Omnietta to Andre sweat the former Tennessee Titan he's a big nose tackle tomorrow day this so I think the Jets are going to be attacked more through their secondary to kind of build some confidence for cam or after kind of a shaky preseason in the offensive line for the Titans is not good so I just maybe he beats me and finishes like closer to where fits has him as like a top 30 running back but I didn't draft Tony Pollard this year and I just I don't think he has a ton of upside that so that's why I just I haven't I'm low on him fits anything on Tony Pollard for you.

44:41I share Erickson's lack of enthusiasm for Tony Pollard I mean he he did pull away from spears in terms of usage late last year when he went on that run maybe a bonus a bonus drive for Tony Pollard who met some contract incentives by hitting a thousand yards get a bunch of hundred yard games late in the season but Erickson's right it was a 50 50 times here in the preseason I think people might be underestimating how much Taj A Spears is going to be used. My brain only this is just for my reference I have to get it out or eat me alive but you became like the the character in fight club you're like I am Erickson's lack of enthusiasm so I can't even think of the penguin slide if you have seen fight club you understand it if you don't it's a horrible reference and it's stupid. Two last things when it john Thin Brooks john Thin Brooks comes in here at ECR 32 opposite ends again. I want you to start with maybe the pessimistic outlook he is not 100% confirmed there's optimism around if he can play to hover maybe looks a little bit more like he might be good to go both running back to kind of dicey here so Fitsy is this your concern he's not going to play if they're both active is to be going to take dominance what you take on Jonathan Brooks this week.

45:53Yeah love the match up against the swinging gate Chicago Bears defense but I am worried about reports that Brooks is dealing with some sort of lower body soreness we don't really have full details on what that entails. I just I think we might see a fairly even workload split between Brooks and Chuba Hubbard week one sounds like Chuba is basically ready to come back from his hamstring issue and they've just been cautious with him recently so yeah we're kind of unclear on how this backfield is going to be divided. Could be an incredible opportunity to throw this out here with that bears defense what if it's just like Chuba going to Chuba be a great sell opportunity after week one and just building back up the Jonathan Brooks just throwing that out there Erickson you've got Jonathan Brooks inside your top 24 so obviously he doesn't play you're going to change that but like if he is active you think he's going to take the primary role over Chuba. I think so but we'll see injury wise who the healthier running back leading up to that game is I know Dave can I'll talk about how it's going to be 50 50 split if he has both guys out there but when you're facing the bears defense that's maybe all you need is a 50 50 split and I know one guy has a ton of juice and it's not you about would zero explosive rushes last year.

47:04Jonathan Brooks has the juice and if they're in a negative gamescript against a high powered bears offense I think Brooks is going to be using the passing game. I keep bring up this point when I look at the Carolina Panthers receivers who else is commanding targets in this offense behind Jalen goger and team back I think Brooks is like a sleeper to be the number three target in this offense catching passes so I think that's what helps separate so even if to the hover leads the backfield and carries in week one I think Brooks could catch four or five balls out of the back that especially the Panthers are trying to catch up to a high powered bears offense so process as invite the variance with these running back in committees when you have a really good matchup. Why not just had to ask you guys he was going inside the top 30 in the mid 20s but Martian Lloyd Martian Lloyd comes in at E.C. I like 42 I think when you get the the flood of rankers in here it could move up slightly but it's a bad match up in here Erickson after him going in the top 30 is Martian Lloyd someone you even want to consider playing this week or it's like hey great you got Martian Lloyd now sit on it after you get away from the chiefs what you take on Lloyd this week.

48:11So I definitely have to do more digging into just the Vikings defense in terms of what personnel moves that they have made over the offseason because I know they've changed up a couple different things now Brian florist is always a tough out basically no matter what in this packers offensive line is not necessarily the biggest juggernaut now the scheme makes up for a lot of that so there is reasons to be optimistic about a player like Martian Lloyd and I think also a lot of fantasy management a probable position where I don't know if you can afford to bench. Martian Lloyd depending on where you ended up drafting you got him in like round six or seven he might be your RB to or your flex play so I can have to reevaluate or I have my think I had him at 31 as I was doing my first run of the rankings this is one that you definitely want to check on the site about where we've updated Martian Lloyd because again we still have a lot of. Layers of the onion to kind of peel back here but I feel like I want to get him in to line up because we're only going to get so many weeks of Martian Lloyd potentially in a feature role just given his body of work where never had more than 150 career touches in any season getting back to college constantly banged up.

49:15We got to take advantage of when Martian Lloyd is healthy and if that's week one I think that again that could be higher scoring playing in the dome at Minnesota there can be some fireworks with Lloyd. And by the way I don't know if in my brain I said the chiefs or I set it out loud but that's obviously not to Minnesota Vikings if I incorrectly said that yeah I would think 50 there's kind of a little element of my mind that's like all right if you were someone that reached for Martian Lloyd. You might not have the whole season there's only so many games you have him for and then you're just not going to play him week one like what was kind of the point maybe something for site you should have had but what does your take on Martian Lloyd against the Vikings in week one should he be starting. I think he's kind of in the flex range at RB 27 given his injury history I kind of doubt the Packers give him 20 touches I think we see some Chris Brooks maybe Pierre strong who I think is going to open the season as sort of the direct early down back up. To him and as for that match up like the Minnesota run defense was pretty tough to begin with last year and you know they sort of concentrated on beefing up up front with Kayla banks and don't.

50:20Dominique Orange big citrus two huge bodies so yeah that that run the is no joke I do not see this is a favorable match up for Lloyd. All right there you go those are a ton of running backs we're talking through there's a bunch of other really good I mean there were more guys we could have talked about I know Fitsy's big on Jordan Mason this week I highly suggest you guys want to go and take a look at the rankings you can peruse through them you can even just like highlight certain rankers if you just want to see how they're playing out the week but remember there's going to be a nice inflow. A carbon Williams autograph mini helmet which would be awesome but listen there or come and check us out on the YouTube YouTube dot com slash fantasy pros for all the in season stuff we got you covered wide receivers are coming up and quarterbacks and tight in.

51:32That'll do it for running backs though I'm Chris Welsh that's Pat Fitzmorec and Andrew Erickson thank you for hanging out with us and good luck and week one will talk to you next time right here on fantasy pros. Thanks for listening to the fantasy pros fantasy football podcast if you love the show the best free way to support us is by leaving a positive review on Apple podcasts at fantasy pros dot com slash review or on Spotify follow us on X Instagram and take talk at fantasy pros and subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube dot com slash fantasy pros. I'm Brett Coleman and I'm Trevor Sikama if you love football and want to understand what's really happening on the field check out our show NFL bro every week we break down the biggest plays trends and matchups using exclusive next gen stats insights and NFL content you will not find anywhere else.

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