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MUST START Running Backs For Week 1! (DO NOT SKIP) welcome back to the fantasy endgame and welcome back NFL Football week one is here so you need to know who's going to be in your starting lineup for running backs we're going to go game by game break down all the matchups tell you which running back should be in your lineup and who should be on your bench for now the great thing about week one you have a lot of running backs you don't have to worry about no buys no injuries yet so here are the must starts if you drafted these running backs just put them in there Christian mcaffrey beon Robinson Bree Hall Jonathan Taylor saquin Barkley Jamir Gibbs Derrik Henry Isaiah Pacho Kiren Williams Travis ien and Devon hen and while you're setting those lineups don't forget to set your Underdog line too for those pick thems NFL week one picks are live and right now if you sign up for the very first time on Underdog fantasy make sure you use promo code endgame because that gets you the new customer special for week one Travis Kelce go higher than half a yard that's right he gets one yard in week one you win that pick and you still have a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 check out Underdog fantasy and use promo code endgame the first game of week one Ravens at Chiefs: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 it's going to be a good one we get the Ravens at the Chiefs on Thursday night now the good news is if you have the starting running back for either of these teams you know you're starting them should we have any interest in the backups let's start in Baltimore looks like it's going to be Justice Hill is he startable no I mean you have to be in a crazy deep I don't even know what kind of scoring setting League to consider Justice Hill in your lineup fine as a handcuff but not as a starter in your fantasy lineup no it way deep to even consider him I don't even know if he's rostered in a lot of 12 team leagues I know there was some talk about him in the preseason getting what did har about say starters touches just forget all that Justice Hill right now is still just a handcuff and in Kansas City there is a little bit of Buzz here because behind Pacho it's not generic Prince he was cut and C who knows his playing status Carson steel is going to be the rb2 in Kansas city is this going to be one of those out of nowhere sleepers that helps win your league probably not uh again you have to be in some ridiculously deep insane League to even consider Carson Steel in your fantasy lineup in week one yeah oh look at last round stash sure go for it but let's see what happens if he even gets on the field in week one all right then we're Packers at Eagles: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 going to be treated to a Friday game that's right Packers at Eagles should be another good one Sequon Barkley is a must of course but what about Josh Jacobs the new rb1 in Green Bay you probably drafted him as a starter does that mean he's an auto start this week I think he pretty much is like borderline must start this week AJ Dylan on season ending IR Marsha Lloyd we don't even know if he's going to be healthy for week one it isn't the best matchup of course Eagles good defense good run defense but at the same time Josh Jacobs should be a Workhorse in this game I think you got to roll with him I agree um and it's funny cuz I was worried about Jacobs in terms of staying healthy looks like he's the only healthy guy out there in that back field he's going to get all the touches pretty much I think you've got to start him now they do have an rb2 and they probably will give some touches to Emanuel Wilson but is he even on the radar no again this is this is yeah fine if you want to stash him as as the backup I mean I don't even know Marshon Lloyd might eventually be the backup whenever he's healthy but no don't start Emanuel Wilson please no I don't think he's even worth considering Panthers at Saints: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 now to the Sunday slate let's start with the Panthers at the Saints looks like the leading running back right now for Carolina is chuba hubard is chuba hubard going to have enough juice in fantasy to be startable barely because again not a great match up against the Saints run defense chuba hubard even last year as a starter was just kind of okay so I don't think he's a guy you have to start this week but if you need like a deep Flex or you know maybe you need an rb3 maybe your league starts a lot of running backs I think he's doable startable if you need them but pretty much it yeah I know we're optimistic about this Carolina offense this year new coaching staff but I need to see it first road game decent not a great defense but still do I really know that Carolina's going to be able to establish the run I would rather bench tuuba hub for now and then miles Sanders remember him he's still around but is he even going to be a factor how much are we going to see him on the field well if preseason was any indication not much cuz in that last preseason game with the starters he only got two snaps out of 12 there is no way I'm starting miles Sanders no way I'm rostering mil Sanders even in baseball I don't think I have a single share I think we can move on cuz as soon as Jonathan Brooks comes back the Panthers will forget about him and then Alvin Kamar I mean used to be a no doubter I don't think we can say that anymore but how strongly do you feel about him in this match up you got to feel very strongly about him this week the Panthers defense not a scary run defense by any stretch Kendry Miller on I he should get the bulk of the touches here I'm sure he'll probably get vultured by Tamm Hill at some point but he's going to get receiving work he should be at least somewhat efficient in this game I think if you got Kamar you're rolling with him yeah you just said the magic word that I worry about with Kamar all year really is he's going to get vultured near the goal line sometimes but he's got that floor he will catch passes the Saints offense doesn't have a lot of receiving threats so I think as a floor play lowend rb2 he's fine and then speaking of vultur Jamal Williams could he play that role could he have maybe some upside for a standard League or something maybe in a standard League or a touchdown only league and you hope he falls into the end zone but that's really it I'm not starting Jamal Williams no he doesn't look like the same guy from years ago Jamal Williams doesn't really even need to be rostered in most fantasy leagues next up we got Vikings at Giants: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 the Vikings KS at the Giants whole new backfield for these teams let's start in Minnesota Aaron Jones might have to carry the load there depending on that quarterback situation how it shakes out so how do you feel about him against this Giants defense you got to feel good I mean I'm not too worried about Tai Chandler I'm not worried about the Giants defense at all he actually still looked like he had some juice last year so I think Aaron Jones you got him you start him I feel great about him in this matchup not worried about the Giants defense Giants offense Giants anything yeah Aon Jones right now pre-season fully intact and healthy I'm starting him for sure and you said you're not worried about Ty Chandler assume that means you don't have any thoughts of maybe starting him anywhere no I I will say like we've talked about some guys Justice Hill Carson steel like that I would start him over those guys but that's pretty much about it I I'm not starting Tai Chandler right still just a stash and a handcuff for now and the replacement for sequan in New York is Ste single ter is he at least going to get enough volume to viable I honestly view him exactly how I view chuba hubard it's not a bad matchup against uh this Vikings defense he's probably going to be the lead back in a very bad offense like floor play if you're really desperate so he's startable but I don't love it I think I probably like him better than chuba hubber because uh the rb2 situation behind him is very unsettled still uh the passing offense led by Daniel Jones is very unsettled so I think sing gets a lot of touches in this this game I'm not scared of the Vikings defense so I think he's a lowend rb2 that you could start not my favorite but he's not a bad choice all right now Patriots at Bengals: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 let's talk about New England facing Cincinnati in the jungle start with rre Stevenson still to do everything back for the Patriots do you have confidence with him under this new regime well I don't know if I have confidence in the new regime and I certainly don't have confidence in the offensive line but I have confidence in rre Stevenson this week because I have very little confidence in this Bengals run defense I know he's going to catch plenty of passes in this game maybe he doesn't have a huge ceiling cuz will he find the end zone or not I don't know but I still think ra mandre is going to have a very high floor in this game so I think if you have ra Andre you should feel confident starting him right the great thing about mandre is that he's definitely going to be the Workhorse there he's probably going to catch a ton of passes just out of necessity but the floor is high I think rushing wise also cuz he's going to get fed they do not want to have to sit back and pass the ball with Drake May or jacobe Brett or whoever if they don't have to and so while like you said not a super high ceiling right now in underdog if you look at his pick it's 56 and2 yards rushing he can easily get that so right now I'm taking that pick and again if you're new to Underdog you combine that with the new special for customers get Travis Kelce just getting one yard I mean that's an easy Duo there where you can win instantly just make sure again if you are new to underdog you sign up use promo code and game that gets you that special pick plus deposit match again 50% deposit match up to $1,000 for your first deposit now the Pats do have Antonio Gibson you think he might carve out enough of a role here against that inferior run defense I mean he's going to have a role he's probably going to catch some passes but again one of these guys you should not need to put Antonio Gibson in your lineup week one I'm not doing it h yeah Gibson feels like one of those guys I'm just not falling for it ever again and being in this offense makes me even more out on him that'll be very interesting to see what the Bengals do with that backfield maybe 50/50 split so let's talk about Zach Moss first and foremost I think he's the technical starter is he starting in any year fantasy teams not if I don't have to one thing about this Patriots team is they actually are a good run defense and I'm not confident in how many touches Zach Moss is going to get I do think he'll be the lead back but I don't know if he's going to have enough touches here for me and it's not a great matchup I'm going to sit Zach Moss if I can this week well here's the weird thing is that the fact that the Patriots are really no good I don't expect them to be good at all if you hadn't noticed makes me a little bit down on the Bengals I don't think they're really going to be able to light up the scoreboard this is just going to be probably a lows scoring game in general so I think Moss is fine as like a floor play but I want more upside than that in week one and then of course there's the fact that he's also competing with Chase Brown who does have more explosiveness I'm a little more more interested in him but I also feel like I don't want to have to start him right now he really should be your rb3 anyways right yeah or worse I mean yeah if I'm not starting Zach Moss I'm definitely not starting jaas Brown this Steelers at Falcons: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 week all right then we waste no time with a Revenge game Steelers at Falcons aka the Arthur smithb so how will he deploy Naji Harris in his first game as the Steelers offensive coordinator probably very frustratingly like I can see Naji Harris getting like the bulk of the carries actually performing pretty well in this Zone blocking scheme and then getting vultured by you know Cordo Patterson or whoever at the goal line but I think niji will at least be solid not my favorite start this week but not my least favorite so if you need him go ahead and roll him out well I had more interest in Naji when I thought Jaylen Warren was going to be completely out apparently he's going to play but before we talk about him let's just say I'm still very skeptical Nai and general for the obvious reason I don't know that I feel like they'll compete with the Falcons in a road game here uh I would really rather sit Naji I'd rather play a guy like Devon single ter over him now what about Jaylen Warren we all thought he was going to be out at least one maybe two weeks regular season apparently he's playing though you should probably be concerned you should be concerned not only because of that but like I just said I think Nai actually fits Arthur Smith's run scheme better than Jaylen Warren I mean yeah he'll catch some passes he'll probably have a run or two where everybody's like oh my gosh Jaylen Warren is so much more explosive give him the ball more but at the end of the day he probably won't score enough fantasy points for your fantasy lineup I'm not starting them yeah Warren to me is always one of those uh players that everyone expects to do more he never really does at least not for Fantasy now I I want to avoid this committee if I can and then this year will Tyler aler have Standalone value besides beon obviously you're starting Bean but can you also start aler maybe I mean there's some Rumblings that he might get like significant touches but I'm not banking on that in week one I'm not starting out year no you really shouldn't need to and I don't think his value is going to be nearly what it was last year this team's going to pass more Bean is going to be deployed fully I really hope so no to aler another Texans at Colts: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 division rivalry Texans at the Colts should be a good one only two running backs really to talk about here if you got JT you're starting him but what about Joe Mixon yeah I think Joe Mixon if you drafted him you're probably starting them Colts defense is going to be very good this year so it may not be Joe mixon's best game but I think if you've got Joe Mixon unless you're just stacked at running back you're probably starting him well I'm not drafting a lot of Joe Mixon but if I am yeah I'm treating him as my rb2 cuz that's where you had to take him and really no reason to avoid him this week so if you got Mixon then start him all right now time Cardinals at Bills: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 for Arizona at Buffalo we start with James Connor still the starter there is he starting for your fantasy teams definitely I know you look you see bills you think oh good defense but this is not the same bills defense I mean they're not going to be the worst but they're not going to be a lead anymore James Connor going to be a Workhorse I think if you got Connor you're starting Connor yeah I mean the only concern might be if Buffalo just lights it up on offense and you know game script goes against Arizona being able to run I'm not too worried about that Connor is still going to get so many touches he'll still catch some passes touch on upside I think Connor should be a strong start and then there's Trey Benson the rookie I mean usually rookies get played slowly into things is that how you're feeling it's going to work here in Arizona definitely not starting Trey Benson in week one yeah exactly hold on to him but don't start him yet and then in Buffalo you got James Cook drafted pretty early in a lot of leagues does that make him a borderline must start yes it's a great matchup I mean this Cardinals defense might be better than it was last year but it's still not going to be very good he's going to be the lead back here it's still going to be a good Buffalo offense you got to start James Cook agree I have high hopes for cook this season not worried for any reason in this matchup strong start and then his backup Ray Davis drawn some really R reviews in the preseason but is that enough to make him fantasy viable already no again a rookie running back week one not trusting him no no me either no reason to roll out a guy like Davis just yet all right next Titans at Bears: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 up is the Titans at the Bears let's talk about another committee looks like Tony Pard and Tai Spears might be a time share here how do you feel first about Pard I feel a little bit better about par than Spears it looks like he's the onea in this back field but Bears defense is going to be really good this year I worry the touches aren't going to be there for him so I can't put him in that like go ahead and start him category but if you need him this week I think he's fine yeah I'm a little nervous as well I agree with everything you said Pard is probably going to be the leader in touches here but uh I I just don't want to have to start him because I don't feel a high ceiling I think he almost has to either catch a lot of passes or break off a big run I don't want to depend on that just yet so I'm benching Pard if I can afford to and as far as Tai Spears obviously I I can't say much better about him I like Spears but I don't like the idea of starting him exactly if I'm not super high on PO I can't be that high on Spears I'm benching Spears and could the Bears deploy a three-headed monster at running back we'll see let's start with DeAndre Swift going to be the starter but is he going to get enough touches that you definitely feel like you should start him this is the big unknown of this backfield I don't feel strongly either way here I mean again I can only put Swift in the if you absolutely need him category cuz I'm not sure how this backfield is going to shake out yeah he's definitely got upside I'm not too concerned about the other two backs in Chicago but I don't feel like you have to start him he's more again kind of like that low-end rb2 type and then khil Herbert still there as a bear made the cut any interest in him I mean I barely feel good about Swift I can't feel good about Herbert no yeah exactly we'll be interesting to see if he even gets on the field much and then ran Johnson some people kind of high on he didn't really do a lot to stand out this preseason either any chance no if I'm not doing Herbert and I'm barely doing Swift no to Johnson agree all right now the Battle Jaguars at Dolphins: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 of Florida we got Jacksonville at Miami You Know Travis ettien is still in that mus start category but tank bsby seems to be getting more involved is he going to get enough touches to make him fantasy relevant probably not will he get more touches than last year almost certainly will it be enough for your fantasy team in week one almost certainly not I'm not starting tank bsby no again one of those strong stashes handcuffs but that's it now we did say Devon hen is a must start almost feels like a slap in the face to Raheem moard who happened to lead league in rushing touchdowns last year look does he still have enough to make him a fantasy starter definitely I mean you know where you're getting here with Raheem moard if he doesn't score any touchdowns you're probably going to be like oh man why did I start Raheem moer but if he scores two touchdowns and you don't start him you're going to be kicking yourself it's not a terrible matchup I think if you got moer unless you know you already have two better running backs you can start them yeah I I feel he's been disrespected during draft season I mean there's no guarantee that hn gets more touches than mostard I think mostard still has to be considered a very good rb2 and then they have another talented running back Jaylen Wright but he's a rookie and he's the third on the team we can't start Jaylen Wright can we no I think two Dolphin running backs are enough I'm not starting jna right Broncos at Seahawks: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 Broncos at Seahawks let's talk javante Williams I know you're highing him in the preseason are you high enough that you're going to say you got to start him in week one I'm not going to say you have to start him in week one because again you should have drafted javante Williams hopefully not as your rb2 but if you did and he is your best number two running back I feel fine about him this week so if you need to fire him up he should be good well I don't think he's going up against a fearsome defense but Road game in Seattle not a great venue and again I've been super high in Seattle's offense this year and super low on Denver I'm worried about the game script here but I will say you can start javante as long as you have realistic expectations and then there's Jalil mlin looks like he is the rb2 now in Denver with SMI Peron getting cut is mlin going to have a big enough role probably not I mean this is we're getting back into like very desperate territory here not starting mlin no definitely not starting mlin at all now the other side we got Kenneth Walker we've been talking him up as well this pre season how strongly do you feel about him I feel pretty strong about him I will say I think the Broncos defense is going to be much better this year than it was last year I mean last year remember the Broncos were one of the worst run defenses like historically that we've ever seen but I still think Kenneth Walker is the Workhorse I think he's going to catch more passes than we think so if you got Kenneth Walker start him yeah I I think he's as close to a must start for me out of anybody on this list as you know we have because I feel like this Seattle team's just going to roll Denver so if I have him I'm putting him in it's been a quiet off season for Zack shanet should he be quietly sitting on your bench yes I think he's still a great handcuff to have on your bench but not in your starting lineup right right I I think at this point his only value is if walk does get hurt but he's not yet Raiders at Chargers is it going to Raiders at Chargers: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 be all zamir white in this game I think it will be I mean Chargers not scaring me on defense at all against zamir white I think zamir White's going to get a ton of touches I'm not worried about the Chargers offense you know lighting up the Raiders or anything so yeah if you guys a your white start him grief very strong start I understand doesn't have the high ceiling in the PPR League he doesn't catch a ton of passes whatever if I have zamir white I want to fire him up and see what he can do and then it'll be curious to see what the Chargers do in this backfield we feel like Gus the bus is going to lead the way but how strong of a start is Gus Edwards especially if you're talking about a PPR League not as strong of a start in a PPR league but I still think he has plenty of touchdown upside against this Raiders defense this week so again you shouldn't need Gus Edwards this week I mean he was drafted probably as your rb3 rb4 but if for some reason you do I think he'll be a fine start yeah actually I don't have Gus too far lower then zamir white going to get touches like you said a lot of touchdown upside I think he could be a strong rb2 if you waited on rb2 then welcome back JK Dobbins are we going to see him Dazzle are we going to see more of the same which is just injury after injury well let's hope no more injuries but the problem is this guy has had two devastating injuries in the span of like two and a half three years I'm not doing it with JK Dobbins like maybe he'll prove me wrong I hope he does but I'm not doing it yeah let's not buy into the preseason hype look you want to stash him and see what happens that's okay but do not start him right now the Cowboys Cowboys at Browns: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 will be taking on the Browns in Cleveland well we don't know what the Dallas backfield exactly is going to look like we know Rico D is going to be a part of it do you think that he kind of pulls away as the lead back here he might but I don't think it matters this week I mean we're talking about potentially the best defense in the NFL and a guy who might be you know losing some touches to Zeke maybe D cook at some point we don't know I can't start Rico D this week no we definitely have to wait and see what happens here I mean Rico showed in flashes but we can't trust him in fantasy not right now and then I think it's safe to say we're not going to love on Zeke too much is there a universe where you're starting Zeke Elliot week one in fantasy again if you're in a touchdown only league and you're just desperately hoping he trips over the goal line and scores sure other than that no yeah even then you could probably find better touchdown dependent running back somewhere else so it's a hard no to Zeke and I have a feeling it might be a yes on a guy you've been talking up Jerome Ford who might have the backfield all to himself can he do it against this Dallas defense yeah let's see Jerome Ford this week uh no Nick chub no nahim Hines uh no Deontay Foreman who was cut Pierre strong strong Jr the only other running back on the roster and the Cowboys defense for as good as it is is terrible against the Run yeah I'm starting Jerome Ford if I got him I I think Jerome Ford is almost a must start all those reasons you mentioned look Dallas defense might not be what it was last year with Dan Quinn gone and donon Bland their top corner is hurt so don't be surprised if Ford eats but now that he's the rb2 there in Cleveland does Pierre strong Jr have any value I mean he probably has some value cuz it's not like derome Ford is going to play every snap and get every touch but not enough value to start him no I I definitely don't think so and I honestly don't think he needs to be owned anywhere because if something happens to Ford they'll probably just go add a different running back next we have the Commanders at Buccaneers: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 commanders at the Buccaneers let's talk Brian Robinson Jr looks like the lead back here where does he rank for you as far as running backs I would say pretty good I mean you look you say bucks oh tough run defense but they weren't that good last year against the Run not like we saw in the past where they were an absolute shutdown run defense I think there will be chances for him here I don't know if he has the highest ceiling but I think he has an okay floor so he's startable if can eat him I think he's definitely startable don't love him this week but he's always going to be kind of right there in the cus right between rb2 rb3 Type in a 12-man league so he's startable depending on what your roster looks like what about Austin egler are we going to see a Revival or is he just going to be relegated to sporadic usage I think sadly the latter I mean look maybe he'll come back to life this week but do you really want to trust it in your fantasy lineup in week one already sit Austin Eckler this week yeah I think we definitely have to sit him because all you're hoping for is a few screen passes that's all you're getting that's not going to help you win all right now we got Rashad white in a home game here against Washington good enough spot that you're starting him no questions asked yeah I mean are we scared of this Washington defense I'm not I I still think he's going to get the majority of the touches he's going to catch a ton of passes you got Rashad why you start him yeah he has to be a strong start I know we've heard a lot of noise about the rookie Bucky Irving looking good fitting this new scheme but he's still a rookie running back wasn't drafted super early it's going to be all Rashad white for now so strong start Bucky Irving I mean maybe it'll happen for him at some point but you cannot consider him in week one no yeah it might happen at some point but probably not week one and then the Rams at Lions: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 Sunday slate ends with a rematch of a playoff game the Rams at the Lions so you know that if you have kir Williams you should still be good is Blake Korum going to see action right away to make him fantasy relevant he'll probably see action right away but I don't think it'll be enough to make him fantasy relevant not starting Blake Corum no I mean this kind of just follows along with what we've said for all these rookie running backs none of them really should have much value the first week of the season and then Detroit side yeah jir Gibbs you don't have to sweat him but what does that mean for Monty is David Montgomery now someone who's more of a bench running back or do you still think he's got enough value I think he has enough value we know he's always got a chance to score a touchdown he's going to be involved he's doesn't have that pass catching so in your PPR leagues he's going to be more volatile right if he doesn't score you're probably going to wish you hadn't started them but it's not a scary match up against the Rams I think for the most part if you have David Montgomery you're probably starting him yeah he's kind of a tricky one like you said it really depends on how this game goes for Detroit but they're at home they score Lots I think Monty still has enough upside he should be a pretty strong rb2 and then Monday Jets at 49ers: Fantasy Football 2024 Start Em Sit Em Running Backs Week 1 night we got the Jets at the 49ers New York definitely hoping it's not a repeat of last year's season opener so you know you got Bree Hall you got Christian mcaffrey you are happy but do the backups have value looks like the backup to CMC is Jordan Mason yeah Elijah Mitchell season ending IR so Jordan Mason will be the backup to handcuff to Christian mcaffrey if you watched our 10 Secrets video you already knew that though so high upside handcuff but not start worthy in week one no no I mean honestly without an injury none of the 49ers running backs whoever it is should have value but definitely someone to keep on your bench does the same go for bril and Allen I'm going to assume it does yeah high-end handcuff only not startable there you go with the NFL season just getting started it can be really hard picking between all the players you drafted you don't know who to start or sit at any position that's 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