Leveon is ready to go and has a great matchup in Cleveland. Which rookie runningbacks are worth the start? Which Patriots back could be worth a start? Week 1 you should start the players you know will get the best opportunity to get touches and playing time. Guys with questions or in a rotation should be considered more of a flex option until we see them in action.
AP Photo/Michael Conroy
1. David johnson
2. Leveon Bell
3. Ezekial Elliott
4. Melvin Gordon
5. Donta Freeman
6. Lesean McCoy
7. DeMarco Murray
8. Todd Gurley
9. Jordan Howard
10. Lamar Miller
11. Christian McCaffrey
12. Dalvin Cook
13. Ty Montgomery
14. Marshawn Lynch
15. Bilal Powell
16. Mark Ingram
17. Isaiah Crowell
18. Carlos Hyde
19. Robert Kelly
20. Leonard Fournette
21. James White
22. Mike Gillislee
23. Adrian Peterson
24. Jeremy Hill
25. Frank Gore
Ezekial Elliott WILL play this week. Jay Ajayi will NOT.
The Patriots backs will be difficult to predict this week. My theory is trust James White in PPR formats. Brady trusts him and he’s now a veteran. Mike Gillislee should get short yardage and goal line work. Dion Lewis is the X factor here. Who knows how they will use him. They may limit him earlier in the season. I expect Rex Burkhead to have his moments during the year. But I think he’ll be more game flow and injury based depending on other players health. If one of the other back is banged up his role could increase from week to week. So i don’t expect him to be featured much this week.
I’m not real high on Adrian Peterson this season. But week 1 in Minnesota he should be worth a RB2 / flex play. **Jaquizz Rodgers is also a solid flex this week. But he’s involved in the game that could get moved due to weather.
Rankings Based on 1/2 point per reception
