With the Fantasy Football season just a few weeks away, it's time to take a look at which Running Backs would be best to start in week 1. In the last Fantasy Football Weekly posts (check out page on Facebook), we took at the top ten wide receivers and tight ends. Now let's analyze the Top 10 running backs for week 1.
1. Le'veon Bell
The worst team at stopping opposing running backs last season wasn't the Cleveland Browns, but they are the second worst team. That makes Bell, possibly the best running back in the league, by far the best fantasy running back for week 1.
2. David Johnson
In every single week except week 17 last year, David Johnson scored double digit fantasy points. That kind of consistency is very hard to find, and it will make Johnson a top five running back in every single week that he is healthy this season, regardless of matchup.
3. DeMarco Murray
The Titans running back started the season on a tear last year, scoring double digit fantasy points in his first 11 games. His production tailed off a little bit toward the end of the season, and there's always the concern that Derrick Henry takes on a greater role, but the Titans run the ball enough for Murray to once again be an elite back in 2017.
4. LeSean McCoy
Who exactly is the offensive production going to come from on the Bills?
Last season, a majority of it came from McCoy, and without Sammy Watkins and basically the entire receiving corps, the Bills will need to rely heavily on McCoy once again. LeSean wasn't great against the Jets last season, but he'll have to be if the Bills offense is going to score at all.
5. Christian McCaffrey
The 49ers were the worst run defense in football last season, and that won't change a ton this year.
That offers a chance for the Panthers starting running back, rookie Christian McCaffrey, to put up big fantasy numbers in his first regular season game with the Panthers.
6. Devonta Freeman
Freeman finished the season as the 7th best fantasy running back last season, and he has a solid chance to repeat that performance this season on a dynamic Falcons team.
Expect a decent week 1 performance from Freeman against the Bears.
7. Jay Ajayi
Ajayi broke onto the scene last season after snaring the starting job back from Arian Foster. He posted some truly huge fantasy games against the Bills and Steelers, and became one of the top running backs in the game for four weeks of the season. Unfortunately, after week 9, he was fairly inconsistent. Still, he'll be the lead dog in a Miami offense that should look to lean on him even more heavily with Jay Cutler at quarterback.
8. Todd Gurley
Gurley was terrible last season after many picked him in the top three of fantasy drafts. Now he's dropping to the second half of the second round, a much more reasonable spot for him.
In week 1, he draws a matchup against the Colts defense that he should be able to take advantage of. Expect a solid bounceback performance from Gurley, at least in week 1.
9. Melvin Gordon
The Chargers running back posted a solid fantasy season last year, and all it took was a Danny Woodhead injury. He finished the year as the 8th highest scoring fantasy running back, even with an injury that kept him out for the last four weeks of the year. I don't like his talent, but because of the volume, he's a top ten fantasy back in week 1 against the Broncos.
10. Jordan Howard
It's hard to really get a full handle on the Bears offense because there are so many unknowns, but Howard has the potential to be a really good fantasy running back this year. In week 1, he has a solid matchup against the Falcons and he will have a chance to prove that he can be a reliable fantasy back.
