Week 2 is here, and one week of football has already changed how people feel about their running backs. Ian Hartitz ranks his top 48 backs for Week 2, sorts them into six tiers, and stops after every tier for a bigger question about the position. First up: everyone who drafted Christian McCaffrey at RB3 should take a step back and chill out. The 49ers gave him 18 combined carries and targets in Week 1, in Australia, while he was dealing with cramps, and they still look like one of the best offenses in the NFL.
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Week 2 is here, and one week of football has already changed how people feel about their running backs. Ian Hartitz ranks his top 48 backs for Week 2, sorts them into six tiers, and stops after every tier for a bigger question about the position. First up: everyone who drafted Christian McCaffrey at RB3 should take a step back and chill out. The 49ers gave him 18 combined carries and targets in Week 1, in Australia, while he was dealing with cramps, and they still look like one of the best offenses in the NFL.
Also in here: Jahmyr Gibbs opens at RB1 after 33.6 PPR points without an explosive play, Bijan Robinson leads the entire league at a 53% target share, Bucky Irving lands at RB19, Travis Etienne at RB24, and the tier six handcuffs worth stashing are all available in at least 65% of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
THE SIX TIERS
Tier 1: Elite talents with fantasy-friendly workloads
Tier 2: Top 15 options with a little cause for concern
Tier 3: Clear lead backs you should be starting
Tier 4: We are saying there's a chance
Tier 5: Your opponent is not scared that you're starting this guy
Tier 6: Handcuffs and bad flex plays
THE KEY QUESTIONS
Which backs had a true workhorse role in Week 1? Every team's RB1, RB2 and RB3 is on screen with snap share, rushes and targets, so you can pause on your own situation.
Who has the best and worst on-paper matchups for Week 2? Using 2025 plus Week 1 of 2026, the Seahawks, Jaguars, Texans, Chiefs, Patriots and Broncos have been toughest on running backs, and the Bengals, Cowboys and Bills have been the softest.
Which backs benefit in the passing game against zone-heavy defenses? Last week's reception overs went two for three, and Ian names this week's targets.
Which defensive fronts stood out in Week 1? Measured by time to pressure rather than pressure rate, because the question is how fast they get there.
Who did the most with their touches in Week 1? Touchdowns, explosive plays and tackles avoided divided by carries and targets, so the 30-touch backs do not run away with it.
Which under-rostered handcuffs should you stash?
Ian's full rankings and tiers are in the draft kit, linked at the top of this description. Promo code IAN40 takes 40% off.
New every week: QB, RB, WR and TE rankings and tiers, the injury show on Friday, the Sunday night review show, and Beyond the Box Score on Monday.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro and this week's questions
0:23 Tier 1: Elite talents with fantasy-friendly workloads
5:45 Key question: which backs had a true workhorse role in Week 1
6:51 Tier 2: Top 15 options with a little cause for concern
10:42 Key question: the best and worst on-paper matchups for Week 2
11:45 Tier 3: Clear lead backs you should be starting
15:49 Key question: which backs benefit against zone-heavy defenses
16:44 Tier 4: We are saying there's a chance
23:18 Key question: which defensive fronts stood out in Week 1
24:14 Tier 5: Your opponent is not scared of this guy
26:15 Key question: who did the most with their touches in Week 1
27:03 Tier 6: Handcuffs and bad flex plays
28:40 Last question: the best under-rostered handcuffs to stash
29:24 Wrapping up