The fantasy football landscape got a bit of a surprise when consensus RB1 overall Christian McCaffrey was ruled inactive for Week 1, which definitely makes the fantasy outlook entering Week 2 a bit more wide open atop the weekly rankings board.
Here is a closer look at my fantasy football RB rankings for Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season.
Top 50 Fantasy RB Rankings
FIND MORE POSITIONAL RANKINGS: QB | WR | TE | K | DEF | Flex | SF
1) Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts (at GB)
2) Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers (at MIN)
3) Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams (at ARI)
4) Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. ATL)
5) Breece Hall | New York Jets (at TEN)
6) Joe Mixon | Houston Texans (vs. CHI)
7) Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens (vs. LV)
8) Isiah Pacheco | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. CIN)
9) Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions (vs. TB)
10) Kenneth Walker III | Seattle Seahawks (at NE)
11) Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints (at DAL)
12) J.K. Dobbins | Los Angeles Chargers (at CAR)
13) Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons (at PHI)
14) James Cook | Buffalo Bills (at MIA)
15) Rachaad White | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at DET)
16) Najee Harris | Pittsburgh Steelers (at DEN)
17) James Conner | Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAR)
18) Jerome Ford | Cleveland Browns (at JAX)
19) Brian Robinson Jr. | Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)
20) Tony Pollard | Tennessee Titans (vs. NYJ)
21) Rhamondre Stevenson | New England Patriots (vs. SEA)
22) De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins (vs. BUF)
23) Travis Etienne Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. CLE)
24) Raheem Mostert | Miami Dolphins (vs. BUF)
25) Aaron Jones | Minnesota Vikings (vs. SF)
26) David Montgomery | Detroit Lions (vs. TB)
27) D’Andre Swift | Chicago Bears (at HOU)
28) Josh Jacobs | Green Bay Packers (vs. IND)
29) Devin Singletary | New York Giants (at WAS)
30) Zack Moss | Cincinnati Bengals (at KC)
31) Ezekiel Elliott | Dallas Cowboys (vs. NO)
32) Chase Brown | Cincinnati Bengals (at KC)
33) Jaleel McLaughlin | Denver Broncos (vs. PIT)
34) Javonte Williams | Denver Broncos (vs. PIT)
35) Zamir White | Las Vegas Raiders (at BAL)
36) Jordan Mason | San Francisco 49ers (at MIN)
37) Jaylen Warren | Pittsburgh Steelers (at DEN)
38) Tyjae Spears | Tennessee Titans (vs. NYJ)
39) Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers (vs. LAC)
40) Austin Ekeler | Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)
41) Gus Edwards | Los Angeles Chargers (at CAR)
42) Rico Dowdle | Dallas Cowboys (vs. NO)
43) Zach Charbonnet | Seattle Seahawks (at NE)
44) Blake Corum | Los Angeles Rams (at ARI)
45) Jaylen Wright | Miami Dolphins (vs. BUF)
46) Ty Chandler | Minnesota Vikings (vs. SF)
47) Jeff Wilson Jr. | Miami Dolphins (vs. BUF)
48) Samaje Perine | Kansas City Chiefs (vs. CIN)
49) Justice Hill | Baltimore Ravens (vs. LV)
50) Bucky Irving | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at DET)
51) Trey Benson | Arizona Cardinals (vs. LAR)
The Top RBs To Start in Week 2
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts
This ranking may seem aggressive after Jonathan Taylor’s disappointing Week 1 fantasy performance, but hear me out for a second.
The Green Bay Packers defense just let Saquon Barkley go off for over 100+ total yards and three TDs, and that was with a dynamic dual-threat quarterback under center in Jalen Hurts.
Additionally, the Packers’ defense allowed the fourth-most total yards to an opposing offense and allowed the third-most points of any defensive unit from Week 1.
Now throw in a game script that could favor a running back with quarterback Jordan Love officially out for Week 2, and we could be talking about a monster day at the office for Taylor. He was the only running back on the roster to even touch the ball in Week 1.
I’m expecting a big day from Taylor in Week 2.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Most fantasy managers assumed Gus Edwards was best positioned to lead this Los Angeles Chargers backfield after signing a multi-year deal while J.K. Dobbins came off of another season-ending injury last year. However, Dobbins’ debut in a powder blue uniform produced 135 rushing yards and a score on just 10 rushing attempts in Week 1.
Is it reasonable for fantasy managers to still be a bit skeptical about this performance — which saw him produce 236.8% over expectation in Week 1 — before automatically rolling him into their starting lineup in Week 2? Sure, but I believe it to be foolish to outright dismiss this overwhelmingly encouraging performance.
An eye-opening 30% of Dobbins’ carries went for over 10+ yards, and he was on the field for 59% of the offensive snaps. Edwards saw one more carry than Dobbins against the Las Vegas Raiders but produced 109 fewer rushing yards. Additionally, Edwards was only on the field for 40.7% of the offensive snaps, which suggests Dobbins was the preferred option in Week 1.
The pass-catching role appears to be firmly in favor of Dobbins, after running 16 routes to Edwards’ five in the season opener.
Now factor in a matchup against a Carolina Panthers offense that was atrocious on the offensive side of the football in Week 1 and just lost star DT Derrick Brown for the season, and we could be looking at another big day for Dobbins in a favorable game script in Week 2.