Week 2 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

Christian McCaffrey ($7,500 DraftKings, $8,900 FanDuel)

Well, it seems as though McCaffrey is healthy enough to play. He gave fantasy managers a scare after popping up on the injury report before Week 1, but that didn’t stop the 49ers from giving him a monster workload. He had 22 carries vs. the Seahawks, and he played on 75% of the team’s snaps. McCaffrey ultimately wasn’t all that efficient with his carries – he averaged just 3.1 yards per attempt – but the volume was extremely encouraging for his prospects moving forward.

Of course, the rushes are just half of the equation with McCaffrey. He’s one of the best in the business at catching passes out of the backfield, and McCaffrey had elite usage in that department in Week 1. He was targeted on a ridiculous 34% of his routes run, good for a 30% target share overall. Ultimately, no RB had a higher percentage of their team’s pass attempts than McCaffrey vs. the Seahawks.

All that usage gives McCaffrey an elite floor and ceiling. He had 23.2 DraftKings points in Week 1, despite his ineffectiveness as a runner and zero touchdowns. It makes him an absolute bargain at just $7,500. McCaffrey has only had a comparable salary on 15 previous occasions, and he’s averaged 23.94 DraftKings points and a +6.00 Plus/Minus (per the Trends tool).

If anything, McCaffrey could be even busier in Week 2. The team is currently down starting quarterback Brock Purdy, and Mac Jones is slated to start in his absence. The 49ers could choose to lean on the run game and dump-offs to McCaffrey out of the backfield, especially as three-point road favorites in New Orleans. Overall, he has the top median and ceiling projections on DraftKings in our NFL Models, and he ranks first in projected Plus/Minus as well.

Jahmyr Gibbs ($7,400 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel)

Gibbs is another top-flight fantasy RB, and he grades out very similar to McCaffrey across the board. While he has a bit more competition for carries – David Montgomery handled 52% of the Lions designed rush attempts in Week 1 – he’s an elite pass-catcher at the position. He was targeted on 36% of his routes run vs. the Packers, and he caught all 10 of his targets for 36 yards.

Gibbs didn’t display his trademark effectiveness vs. Green Bay, but that was an extremely difficult matchup. Things should be a bit better for him in Week 2 vs. the Bears. Chicago was 26th in rush defense EPA last season, and the Vikings’ RBs had some success against them last week. Jordan Mason averaged 4.5 yards per attempt, while Aaron Jones caught three passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions are currently favored by six points in this contest, and Gibbs has historically done some of his best work as a moderate favorite. He’s averaged 20.36 DraftKings points and a +6.19 Plus/Minus when favored by 3.5 to 7.0 points.

Pairing Gibbs and McCaffrey isn’t easy, but it is doable. There’s plenty of value available at receiver, so you can spend up for a pair of RBs on this slate.

Chase Brown ($6,800 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)

Brown is still solidifying his standing as a fantasy RB1, but it’s getting harder to doubt his credentials. He was an absolute monster for the Bengals down the stretch last season. After Zack Moss went down with an injury, Brown played on 85% of the team’s snaps. He handled 88% of their designed rushing attempts, and he amassed a 13% target share. He was one of the busiest RBs in the league, and he responded with an average of more than 20 PPR points per game.

Brown picked up basically right where he left off from a utilization standpoint. His snaps were slightly down, but no other Bengals’ RB received a single carry. Brown had 21, although he managed just 43 yards. He also maintained a 14% target share, so he was a featured player once again.

Brown struggled to get anything going vs. the Browns, but he’s simply too cheap for his potential volume. That’s particularly true in an elite Bengals offense that should set up plenty of scoring opportunities.

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

Top NFL DFS Tournament Options

Kyren Williams ($6,300 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)

Williams is another player who seems underpriced for his workload. He played on 81% of the Rams’ snaps last week, and he garnered nearly all of their RB touches. Williams had 18 carries vs. the Texans, while backup Blake Corum only had one. Williams wasn’t quite as involved in the passing game, but he still ran a route on 53% of the team’s dropbacks. That at least gives him some potential in that department.

While the Rams mustered just 14 points last week vs. a strong Texans’ defense, they could find a bit more success in Week 2. They’re taking on the Titans, and they’re currently listed as 5.5-point road favorites. Williams has had drastic splits as a favorite and an underdog, which is not surprising as a between-the-tackles grinder. He’s averaged 19.74 DraftKings points and a +4.93 Plus/Minus when laying points, so he should be busy on Sunday.

Tony Pollard ($5,900 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel)

Pollard is one of the cheapest “bell-cow” backs in the league, especially at just $5,900 on FanDuel. As a result, he has the second-best projected Plus/Minus on that site.

Tyjae Spears is currently on IR, giving Pollard minimal competition for touches in the backfield. He played on 89% of the team’s snaps in Week 1 and handled 86% of the designed rush attempts.

The only real concern is the Titans’ offensive efficiency. They managed just 12 points in Week 1, and they failed to score a single touchdown. The good news is that the Broncos have one of the toughest defenses in football, so there will be better matchups ahead. The Rams were 20th in rush defense EPA last season, so it’s a much better spot for the Titans to get Pollard going.

De’Von Achane ($6,900 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel)

It’s only been one week, but alarm bells are going off in Miami. The Dolphins looked absolutely horrendous in Week 1 vs. the Colts, and it’s possible they’re headed for a disastrous season. The defense got most of the flak – they allowed Indianapolis to score on all seven of their possessions – but the offense wasn’t much better. They had the second-fewest points and third-fewest yards in Week 1, which is a far cry from what we’ve come to expect from the Dolphins’ offense.

The one positive is that the game was at least on the road. The Dolphins have historically been a much better home team, especially early in the season. Achane specifically has averaged a Plus/Minus of +5.18 at home on DraftKings, including a ridiculous +15.15 mark in September and October.

There’s obviously no guarantee that trend holds true this season, but the Dolphins are slight favorites against the Patriots. They were 21st in rush defense EPA last year, and they allowed the seventh-most PPR points per game to the position.

Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Options With Upside

Derrick Henry ($8,200 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)

Henry was unstoppable for the Ravens in Week 1, at least until a costly fumble in the fourth quarter cost his team the game. Still, his fantasy managers weren’t complaining. Henry finished with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and no RB had more fantasy points in Week 1.

Henry is expected to be popular on FanDuel – where his lack of pass-catching upside is less of a big deal – but he could fly a bit under the radar on DraftKings. He’s projected for less ownership than most of the other top backs, but his ceiling is just as high. Henry is in possibly the best spot of the week from a game script standpoint, with the Ravens listed as the biggest favorites of the week at 11.5 points.

J.K. Dobbins ($5,600 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel)

Head coach Sean Payton is notorious for easing rookies into the regular season, and that was the case in 2025. The team used a second-round pick on R.J. Harvey, but it was Dobbins who carried most of the load in Week 1. He garnered 62% of the rushing attempts, including most of the short-yardage work. Harvey only had 23% of the designed rushing attempts, while Tyler Badie mixed in on passing downs.

Harvey still seems like the most promising option in the backfield, but Dobbins looks like the guy for the time being. He stands out as one of the most undervalued options at the position in tournaments for Week 2. He has the second-largest gap between his projected ownership and optimal lineup rate in Sim Labs on DraftKings, so there’s a good chance he’s overlooked.

Javonte Williams ($5,800 DraftKings, $6,300 FanDuel)

Dobbins looks similar to Dobbins on paper. There are some questions about his talent level, but he’s the guy in the Cowboys’ backfield for the time being. He had 15 carries in Week 1 vs. the Eagles, which he turned into 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Unlike Dobbins, Williams at least doesn’t have a talented rookie breathing down his neck. Jaydon Blue was inactive for Week 1, leaving Miles Sanders as his only real competition for touches. Sanders is arguably even less impressive than Williams, so it’s hard to imagine him passing him in the pecking order.

Williams also gets a strong matchup in Week 2 vs. the Giants. They were gashed by rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Week 1, and they allowed two rushing touchdowns overall. The Cowboys are sizable six-point favorites in this matchup, so it’s another opportunity for them to establish their run game.

Travis Etienne ($5,700 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel)

The Jaguars’ backfield figured to be a headache all season, but they made things a lot easier earlier this week. They traded away Tank Bigsby, leaving Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten to split the workload.

Etienne was the clear top guy in Week 1, garnering 57% of the team’s designed rush attempts. It’s also possible that number would’ve been bigger if not for the game vs. the Panthers turning into a blowout. Etienne looked as good as he ever has vs. Carolina, racking up 143 yards on just 16 carries. If he can continue to produce remotely close to that level, he’s going to have a stranglehold on this backfield.

Etienne is currently priced like the lead back in a committee, but that may not ultimately be the case. Like Dobbins and Williams, he’s showing up as undervalued in Sim Labs.

Pictured: Christian McCaffrey
Photo Credit: Imagn