Week 1 running back lineups are a minefield, and this year’s crop of committees, camp injuries and surprise depth-chart shakeups makes it more treacherous than usual. The names topping ADP charts all summer aren’t automatically the safest bets, while a few backs buried behind messy headlines are quietly stepping into feature roles nobody’s talking about yet.
Get ahead of the herd this week, and you could steal a Week 1 win before anyone else even notices the opportunity. Here are three running backs to trust with confidence and three you need to leave on your bench.
Week 1 Start ‘Em Running Backs
, Browns vs. Jaguars
Judkins rushed 230 times for 827 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 26 catches for 171 yards, a workload befitting a true lead back. Reports out of Cleveland camp indicate he is expected to carry a high-volume role again in 2026. His severe ankle and fibula injury from last year reportedly wasn’t as dire as it first appeared, and he has been trending well in recovery. Against a Jacksonville defense breaking in new pieces, Judkins profiles as a strong RB2 with true bell-cow volume upside.Watch sports LIVE with
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars vs. Browns
Tuten was sent home from practice with an illness, but reports indicate nothing points to a longer absence, and he is expected to suit up. As a rookie, Tuten carried 83 times for 307 yards and five touchdowns while adding 10 catches for 79 yards and two more scores, a wide-ranging line that shows both rushing and receiving juice. Jacksonville’s backfield includes Chris Rodriguez and LeQuint Allen, but Tuten’s role has trended toward the early-down and explosive-play option. Facing Cleveland in the opener, Tuten offers rare touchdown equity for a Week 1 flex, especially in a game that could turn into a control type of game from Jacksonville who’s looking to build on their success last season., Texans vs. Bills
specifically to upgrade its ground game, and he arrives with 33 rushing touchdowns over his past three seasons. Woody Marks is expected to split early-down work, but Montgomery’s history as a bruising goal-line scorer makes him a strong touchdown bet regardless of overall touch share. Buffalo’s defense will be tested trying to slow Montgomery, and oddsmakers already view Houston as a threat to knock off the Bills. Even in a committee, Montgomery projects as a high-floor RB2 thanks to his red-zone role.Week 1 Sit ‘Em Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins, Broncos vs. Chiefs
Dobbins is technically ready to go, but Denver’s backfield is a crowded three-man committee including RJ Harvey and Jonah Coleman, and the group’s appeal is low in a brutal matchup against Kansas City. Splitting touches against a stingy Chiefs defense leaves little margin for a strong fantasy day. Dobbins remains a name worth rostering, but Week 1 is the wrong week to trust him as a confident starter.MarShawn Lloyd, Packers at Vikings
Lloyd has been named Green Bay’s presumptive starter with Josh Jacobs on the commissioner’s exempt list, but his track record is a major red flag. He has played in exactly one regular-season game across his first two NFL seasons because of persistent injuries. Kaleb Johnson and Chris Brooks both remain ready to capitalize if Lloyd struggles to stay on the field or loses efficiency. Opportunity alone does not guarantee production, and until Lloyd proves he can handle a full workload without breaking down, treat him as a risky RB2 rather than a locked-in starter.Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs. Bears
Chuba Hubbard carries Week 1 risk after a hamstring-limited preseason and an uncertain workload alongside Jonathon Brooks. Even if he starts, Carolina may manage his touches, lowering his touchdown and reception ceiling. With Chicago’s defense presenting a tougher matchup, Hubbard profiles as a touchdown-dependent flex rather than a confident fantasy starter.Related:
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