Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.
Fabs’ Top 10 Running Backs
1. Christian McCaffrey at Rams
2. Austin Ekeler at Titans
3. Derrick Henry vs. Chargers
4. Nick Chubb at Steelers (Mon.)
5. Bijan Robinson vs. Packers
6. Tony Pollard vs. Jets
7. Josh Jacobs at Bills
8. Saquon Barkley at Cardinals
9. Joe Mixon vs. Ravens
10. Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Dolphins
Week 2 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES
Week 2 Start ’Em: Running Backs
Junfu Han/USA TODAY Sports
Start of the Week
David Montgomery vs. Seahawks (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Montgomery was Detroit’s top back a week ago, playing 55 snaps while touching the ball 21 times and scoring a touchdown and 13.4 points. He’ll be in the RB2 conversation this week, as the veteran will go up against a vulnerable Seahawks rushing defense that surrendered three touchdowns on the ground to the Rams running backs last week.
Start ’Em
James Conner vs. Giants (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Conner was mostly held in check last week, rushing for just 62 yards with no touchdowns in a loss to Washington. I think he’ll rebound this week, though, as Conner will face a Giants defense that allowed two touchdowns to Tony Pollard Sunday night. Conner is also seeing volume (51 snaps, 19 touches), so he remains a viable No. 2 runner.
James Cook vs. Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Cook scored just 10.3 points in the season opener, but that was against the Jets formidable defense. The good news is that he dominated the snaps and touches in the contest. The Raiders have struggled against enemy running backs, allowing the fifth-most PPR points overall and the second-most points scored via receptions since last season.
Rachaad White vs. Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox): White scored just 6.9 fantasy points last week, but there was good news, too. He played 54 snaps (no other Bucs back had more than 10), and White dominated the touches (19). He should remain on the RB2 or flex starter radar this week against the Bears, who have allowed 25 touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points to backs since last year.
Jamaal Williams at Panthers (Mon. 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Williams was held in check by a tough Titans run defense last week, scoring just 7.2 fantasy points. He did see 49 offensive snaps and 20 touches in the game, however, and this week’s matchup in Carolina makes him a viable starter. Their defense allowed a combined three touchdowns to Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier last week.
More Starts
Dameon Pierce vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Tyler Allgeier vs. Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Deon Jackson at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
DFS Bargains (DraftKings)
Dameon Pierce vs. Colts ($5,600)
Rachaad White vs. Bears ($5,500)
Deon Jackson at Texans ($4,900)
Week 2 Sit ’Em: Running Backs
Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports
Sit of the Week
Cam Akers vs. 49ers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Akers was a huge dud last week, as he lost work to Kyren Williams and averaged a gross 1.3 yards per rush in a win over the Seahawks. Williams also played 53 snaps in the game, compared to Akers’s 28. The Niners have also allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs dating back to last season, so Akers is a major risk and should be benched.
Sit ’Em
Javonte Williams vs. Commanders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Williams will be tough to bench in most fantasy leagues, but I would temper expectations. He split snaps with Samaje Perine (29 apiece) and he had just five more touches in a loss to the Raiders. This week, Williams faces a Commanders defense that’s surrendered the second-fewest PPR points to opposing running backs since last season.
Dalvin Cook at Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Cowboys defense has been tough on running backs, allowing just six touchdowns and the third-fewest points to the position since last season. That includes giving up just 9.3 points to Saquon Barkley in the opener. Cook led the Jets backs with 16 touches in the opener, but he averaged just 2,5 yards per rush and scored a mere 8.9 points.
Khalil Herbert at Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): I’m not giving up on Herbert after one week, but it was a bit concerning that he was second in snaps behind Roschon Johnson and had just five more than D’Onta Foreman. This week he faces a tough Buccaneers run defense that’s allowed the sixth-fewest points to runners since the start of last season. At best, Herbert is more of a risk-reward flex starter.
Antonio Gibson at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Gibson appears to have fallen far behind Brian Robinson on Washington’s depth chart, as he played 18 fewer snaps and saw 16 fewer touches than his backfield mate in Week 1. Couple that with a bad matchup against the Broncos, who held Josh Jacobs to a mere 48 rushing yards and 9.1 points, and Gibson is clearly a player to avoid.
