Week 1 NFL DFS RB Breakdown: Top Cash Game and Tournament Picks

Nailing the running back spots is essential for constructing a solid DFS lineup. It’s a bit easier to project than the receivers, where touchdowns and big plays are going to result in weekly variance. The workloads for the top running backs are much more stable, so they’re typically more consistent fantasy producers.

However, that also results in some of the heaviest chalk you’ll see across the industry. How do you handle those players each week?

In this piece, I highlight running backs who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.

As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.

And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.

Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:

Top NFL DFS Cash Game Options

De’Von Achane ($6,900 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel)

How you choose to approach Achane will likely be one of the biggest decisions at running back in Week 1. Achane has been an elite fantasy producer ever since stepping on an NFL field, and that continued in 2024 when Tua Tagovailoa was healthy. He averaged 22.5 PPR points per game in 11 games with his starting quarterback under center, compared to just 8.7 when he was out.

Part of that stems from the offense as a whole playing better. The Dolphins averaged 24 points per game with their starting quarterback last year, but that figure dropped to just 13 without him. Tagovailoa was also not afraid to lean on his star running back in the passing game, targeting him on 25.1% of his routes run. Alvin Kamara was the only high-usage RB with a better figure last season, giving Achane an elite weekly floor and ceiling.

With Tagovailoa under center to start the year, $6,900 seems like a slam dunk for Achane. However, the only caveat is that Achane is not 100% healthy at the moment. He’s currently dealing with a calf injury, and while he’s expected to play through it, there’s no guarantee he’s as effective as usual. He could also end up splitting touches more than expected with rookie Ollie Gordon.

Still, the matchup vs. the Colts might be too good to ignore. They allowed the ninth most PPR points per game to opposing RBs last season, and the total in this game sits at 46.5 points. The Dolphins are slim 1.5-point underdogs, so both teams are expected to do some scoring.

Ultimately, Achane ranks first at the position in projected DraftKings Plus/Minus using the Sean Koerner projections. There’s definitely some risk here, but as long as Achane is in the lineup, there’s no reason to expect much different than usual.

Ashton Jeanty ($7,000 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel)

While Achane gets the top spot on DraftKings, Jeanty gets that designation on FanDuel. He’s priced at a paltry $6,400, resulting in a 97% Bargain Rating and making him just the 15th-most-expensive player at the position. Not too shabby for a guy who was routinely drafted as a top-five running back in fantasy drafts this offseason.

Jeanty’s situation might not be ideal – the Raiders are probably going to lose more than their fair share of ball games – but he should make up for it through sheer volume. He’s going to be a true bell-cow right out of the gates, handling most of the rushing, receiving, and goal-line responsibilities.

Jeanty will take the field as a slight underdog in New England in Week 1, but the spread is currently less than a field goal. The Patriots were also a strong matchup for opposing running backs last year, allowing the seventh most PPR points per game to the position. They were 21st in rush defense EPA, so it’s a solid spot all things considered.

Ultimately, this price tag is just way too cheap for a player of Jeanty’s caliber. Don’t expect him to be priced below $7k much longer, so let’s take advantage while we can.

Chase Brown ($6,600 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel)

After Zack Moss went down with an injury in Week 8 last season, Brown became one of the busiest running backs in the entire league. He played on 86% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps, and he amassed 90% of their carries and a 14% target share. He had 100% of their opportunities from inside the five-yard line, and he averaged 22.0 PPR points per game from Week 9 through 16. Only Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs averaged more points at the position over that time frame.

Not much has changed in the Bengals’ backfield since last year. Samaje Perine is still around to steal some occasional work on passing downs, but that’s about it. They didn’t add anyone in the draft until Tahj Brooks in the sixth round, so Brown figures to be extremely busy once again.

That’s great news for fantasy players. The Bengals had one of the most productive offenses in football last season, and basically everyone from last year is back in the fold. They should pick up right where they left off, which should make Brown a top-flight fantasy RB. He’s priced at a slight discount compared to some of the other stud runners on this slate, making him an excellent value proposition.

Now available: our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.

Top NFL DFS Tournament Options

Christian McCaffrey ($7,300 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel)

McCaffrey would’ve been a no-doubt slam-dunk selection at his current price tags back in 2023. The 49ers’ offense was setting records for efficiency, and McCaffrey was at the heart of everything they did. He led the league with more than 2,000 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns, and he added 67 receptions for good measure. It’s why he was the unquestioned top pick in fantasy drafts heading into last year.

Of course, we know how things turned out last season. McCaffrey was barely able to suit up for the 49ers, and when he did, he didn’t look like the same player. He averaged just 4.0 yards per carry, and he didn’t score a touchdown in any of his four games.

With a full offseason in the books, can he return to his former glory? He got strong reviews out of training camp, so he appears to be fully healthy for the time being. A healthy McCaffrey at these prices is undoubtedly a risk worth taking, especially in tournaments. His ceiling projection is slightly behind Bijan Robinson’s in our NFL Models, but it should shock no one if McCaffrey ends up as the top scorer at the position.

Editor’s note: CMC (calf) was added to the 49ers’ injury report after this article was published.

James Conner ($6,100 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)

Conner is someone I wrote about extensively last year. He was quietly one of the cheapest workhorse backs in football. He had just under 60% of the team’s carries, and that number would be far higher if you excluded Kyler Murray’s carries. Conner got the lion’s share of the RB opportunities, including earning a target on 20% of his routes run. Conner was also the clear focal point of the run game around the goal line, so he had zero weaknesses in his profile.

Don’t expect much to change in 2025. Trey Benson could take on a slightly larger role in his second season, but Conner still figures to be the lead dog. He played on seven of the first eight snaps before exiting during the preseason, while Benson was still fighting it out with the backups.

Conner is simply too cheap for his projected workload, especially in a fantastic matchup vs. the Saints. The Cardinals are currently listed as 6.5-point favorites, making them the second-largest on the main slate. Since landing in Arizona, Conner has averaged 18.98 DraftKings points and a +7.44 Plus/Minus in 10 games when favored by more than four points (per the Trends tool). The Saints were 30th in rush defense EPA last season, so it’s a great spot for Conner to do some damage.

Bucky Irving ($7,100 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel)

Irving found himself in a timeshare with Rachaad White to start his rookie season, but he took control of the Bucs’ backfield by the end of the year. He had at least 12 carries in eight of his final nine games, with the lone exception being a game that he exited early due to injury. He had at least 15 carries in his final five contests (including the playoffs), and he even started to cut into White’s role in the passing attack. Irving was targeted on 23% of his routes run from Week 10 on, so he’s another complete player.

The big reason for Irving’s emergence is that he was really freaking good. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 7.5 yards per target, both of which outpaced his backfieldmates. Ultimately, there’s no reason to expect any less work for Irving moving forward.

Irving gets an excellent matchup to start the season vs. the Falcons. They were a below-average defense last year in terms of rush defense EPA, and this game is tied for the highest total on the slate. The Bucs are implied for a healthy 24.75 points, and Irving has the sixth-highest optimal lineup rate on DraftKings and fifth-highest on FanDuel at the position.

Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Options With Upside

Alvin Kamara ($6,300 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)

The Saints have the potential to be a trainwreck this season. It doesn’t get much grosser than a QB competition between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, and it appears as though Rattler won by default.

That said, things can’t get much grosser for New Orleans than they were last season, and Kamara still put together a useful fantasy season. He remains one of the best in the business at catching passes out of the backfield, leading all backs with a 22% target share last year.

That gives Kamara an excellent PPR floor, but he also has slate-breaking upside. The Saints may not score enough for that to come to fruition in 2025, but Kamara still had two games with more than 30 DraftKings points for a subpar Saints squad last season.

Bijan Robinson ($8,000 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel)

Robinson is tentatively considered the top running back in fantasy heading into this season. While there are plenty of guys who are willing to fight him for that claim, his combination of workload, age, and talent makes him the safest bet in 2025.

However, it feels like he’s flying a bit under the radar for Week 1. The Falcons are home underdogs vs. the Buccaneers, and Tampa did have a solid run defense last year. However, that didn’t stop him from scoring 23.6 DraftKings points in their second meeting last season. Robinson had a stretch of more than 20 DraftKings points in 10 of his final 12 games, and he owns the top ceiling projections in our NFL Models.

Kenneth Walker ($5,900 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel)

Walker is someone who is popping as undervalued in Sim Labs. He’s currently projected for less than 3% ownership on DraftKings, despite checking in at a reasonable $5,900 salary. It results in a 77% Bargain Rating, and his matchup against the 49ers is potentially excellent. They took a massive step back defensively last year, especially on the ground. They were 29th in rush defense EPA, and they allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game to the position.

TreVeyon Henderson ($5,500 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel)

It remains to be seen what Henderson’s workload looks like in his first professional contest. Rhamondre Stevenson is still around for the Patriots, so at best, this looks like a 50/50 proposition.

However, there’s no denying his talent. He turned his first touch during the preseason into a touchdown, taking the kickoff back 100 yards to the house.

The Patriots don’t have many offensive weapons, so Henderson could quickly become a featured player. He’s worth considering as a punt play at just $4,700 on FanDuel.

Pictured: Christan McCaffrey

Photo Credit: Imagn