2024 Fantasy Football Week 1: Start or Sit Running Backs

Each week we’ll break down running backs that should start in your fantasy lineup and running backs that would be better left on your bench. There are just a couple players like Christian McCaffrrey & Breece Hall who are matchup proof and should be in your starting lineups every week barring a major circumstance.

Running Backs to Start in Week 1:

James Cook

James Cook is our start of the week at running back as he should finish as a top 3 fantasy back on the week. The Bills shouldn’t have much of a problem handling the Cardinals in their season opener. With an easy matchup, being the work horse in the backfield, and being needed to rely on more with the losses in the passing game, all the pieces are lining up together for James Cook to have a monster performance. 

Raheem Mostert

Coming off the best season of his career, there’s concern that Mostert is going to take a significant decline this year. That might end up being the case for the year as a whole, but for now Mostert is the lead back in Miami and took the bulk of the workload in camp & preseason. Miami is going to start the year off in a shootout against Jacksonville which means plenty of red zone touches for the veteran Mostert to try to rack up touchdowns like he did last year. 

Aaron Jones

Aaron Jones had the worst year of his career since his rookie season and only ended up playing in 11 games after injuries took a toll on him. Aaron Jones gets a fresh start and a chance to turn his career around in division rival Minnesota. Jones doesn’t have any real competition to split touches with so he’ll be a 3 down back again for the first time in years. Getting an easier matchup against the struggling Giants should help give him the confidence boost he’ll need for the rest of the year. 

Running Backs to Sit in Week 1: 

Chase Brown & Zack Moss

Despite a matchup against one of the worst teams in the league, the Bengals running back room is a big question mark. It’s unknown if the Bengals will use a committee approach or let one of the two take a lead role. Regardless, we think one of the two is going to end up with a big game, but with the uncertainty of knowing who, we’d prefer a safer option to start at running back this week. 

Najee Harris

With Jaylen Warren healthy enough to play & Justin Fields most likely getting the nod at starter, Najee Harris is going to be the biggest bust of the week. Both Fields & Warren will cut significantly into how much playing time Harris gets. The Falcons also boast a surprisingly decent run defense and that’s going to hurt Harris even more. We’re fading him in all formats.