Welcome to the NFL DFS Week 1 RB Coach article!! With all of the confusion surrounding the fantasy football RB position this preseason, finding an NFL DFS RB to trust in Week 1 is going to be a real challenge. Of course, much of how you set up your NFL DFS Week 1 lineups depends on your risk tolerance, but this might be a good week to take a less adventurous approach and focus on NFL DFS RBs that have a defined role in their team’s offenses.

We’re going to mix it up a bit in our first NFL DFS RB Coach article. We’ll provide you with our favorite blue-chip type NFL DFS RBs from the top tier salary range, but we’ll also sneak in RBs who have a good chance of outperforming their NFL DFS salary and provide NFL DFS players with a positive return on their investment (ROI). 

 

 

NFL DFS Week 1 RB Coach for FanDuel & DraftKings Fantasy

We’ll be focusing on the DraftKings and FanDuel platforms in this column, so if you’re new to playing NFL DFS, you should familiarize yourself with some of the nuances between the two platforms. DraftKings uses full-point PPR (points per reception) scoring, has a $50,000 salary cap, and offers three-point bonuses for reaching at least 100 rushing or receiving yards. FanDuel uses half-point PPR scoring, a $60,000 salary cap, and does not offer yardage bonuses. 

As we build our Week 1 NFL DFS lineups, we’re going to be leaning heavily on our own player expectations. That’ll change as we start to see NFL teams in action and begin to see actual RB usage trends develop. As the season kicks off, the NFL DFS Week 1 RB Coach is looking to create DFS lineups with running backs who’ll not only be heavily involved in their NFL team’s offensive scheme, but who play for an NFL team favored to win and expected to have a high point total. Of course, we’ll target running backs playing against opponents who have an exploitable run defense as well. Ideally, the NFL DFS Week 1 RB Coach would like to keep it simple and play it safe to start the season, but that’s a lot easier to do in cash games compared to GPP plays. Ultimately, the obvious goal of the NFL DFS Week 1 RB Coach is to identify running backs who can provide value based on their price and expected fantasy point production.

 

 

 

NFL Week 1 Running Backs

Based on last season's trends and preseason evaluations, there are a few run defenses that the NFL DFS Week 1 RB Coach will look to target early on. 

For instance, the Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets are projected to have poor run defenses this season. On the other hand, the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, and Denver Broncos are expected to have very good run defenses. 

Preseason projections aren’t always accurate predictors of future results, but if you’re torn between choosing two similar Week 1 NFL DFS running backs, using projections can be a good way to help you with your lineup decisions. 

There’s a wide range of good options at the NFL DFS running back position for Week 1. The value tier was a bit tough to navigate this week because of the many question marks surrounding the usage of NFL DFS RBs in this group. There is a lot of talent among the RBs in this grouping, and I’m sure that I’ll be using players from this tier in the future, but I’m just not prepared to do so now.

You can choose to pay up for top-tier talent, but some hidden gems can allow you to use more of your capital on chalky quarterbacks, wide receivers, and tight ends. 

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Top Tier Picks for Week 1

Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

DraftKings: $8,200 | FanDuel: $9,300

Last season, Barkley proved just what he can do when he’s healthy and running behind a solid offensive line. Including the playoffs, he generated 2757 yards from scrimmage. Not only did Barkley average 5.8 YPC, but he also averaged a mammoth 3.8 yards before contact per attempt. Barkley takes on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, and despite Jerry Jones trying to convince himself that trading Micah Parsons will help solidify the Cowboys’ run defense, Barkley will run all over America’s Team just like he always does. Barkley is averaging 4.93 YPC in 12 career games against the Cowboys.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons

DraftKings: $8,000 | FanDuel: $8,800

Robinson is one of the safest NFL DFS Week 1 RBs to put in your lineups this week, and his price reflects it. He got off to a bit of a slow start last season, but in his final 12 games, he averaged just over 24 fantasy points per game (FPPG) and just over 20 FPPG in DraftKings and FanDuel platforms, respectively. Robinson should benefit from having Falcons QB Michael Penix under center. 

Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

DraftKings: $7,200 | FanDuel: $8,900

DraftKings’ $7200 salary feels like a bargain for an upper-echelon NFL DFS RB like Henry. He has the fifth-highest salary among NFL DFS RBs on DraftKings, but on the FanDuel platform, he has the second-highest salary. His matchup against the Buffalo Bills has one of the highest expected points totals on the slate for Week 1. I know I don’t have to sell you on starting an NFL DFS RB who spends six figures on his body maintenance, but just in case, in his six career games against the Bills, Henry averages 5.21 YPC and has scored nine total TDs.

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Mid Tier Picks For Week 1 

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

DraftKings: $6,800 | FanDuel: $8,300

With Taylor having the ninth-highest DFS salary for NFL DFS RBs on DraftKings, but the fifth-highest on FanDuel, he appears a bit undervalued on the DraftKings platform. That being said, Taylor enjoyed a big comeback season in 2024, averaging the third-most rushing yards per game among NFL DFS RBs. He finished the 2024 season strong, averaging just under 34 DraftKings FPPG and just over 33 FanDuel FPPG in his final three games of the season, and appears ready to have another big season running behind a good offensive line. His pass-catching days took a hit with QB Anthony Richardson under center and could resurface with Daniel Jones being named the Colts’ starting QB. 

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

DraftKings: $6,300 | FanDuel: $7,100

Many fantasy football managers avoided the Saints offense this preseason, and I really can’t blame them. Even recommending Kamara, a 30-year-old RB, seems kind of silly, but last season he averaged almost five receptions per game and 4.2 YPC. In the games that he and then-rookie QB Spencer Rattler played together, he averaged just under eight targets per game. Kamara caught 68 passes last season. With a full season with Rattler starting at QB, that number could go up.  

Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

DraftKings: $6,700 | FanDuel: $7,800

Jacobs takes on the Lions in Green Bay this week, and even though they had a stout run defense last season, he was able to run wild over them. In Week 9, Jacobs averaged 7.3 YPC against the Lions, and in Week 14, he rushed for three TDs against them. Jacobs loves playing in Green Bay. Last season, he averaged 4.71 YPC when playing at home and 4.13 YPC when playing on the road. 

 

 

 

NFL Week 1 DFS RB Value Picks

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans 

DraftKings: $5,700 | FanDuel: $6,000

You may be asking yourself how I could be recommending using Pollard against the tough Denver Broncos defense this week. Well, the one area in which the Broncos' defense was weak last season was defending against pass-catching RBs. They were tied for giving up the sixth most catches to NFL DFS RBs (84). Pollard is a good pass-catching back, and with rookie QB Cam Ward calling the plays, he may be looking to check down and dump off passes Pollard’s way. 

Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

DraftKings: $5,700 | FanDuel: $5,900

Pacheco fractured his ankle in the second game of the 2024 season and didn’t return to action until Week 13. Unfortunately, the version of Pacheco who finished off the 2024 season was nothing like the one who averaged 4.7 YPC during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He enters the 2025 season fully healthy, and he is clearly the lead back in the Chiefs’ backfield. In Week 1, Pacheco faces a Los Angeles Chargers defense that gave up 4.6 YPC and the fifth most catches (85) to NFL DFS RBs last season. 

Tyrone Tracy, RB, New York Giants

DraftKings: $5,600 | FanDuel: $5,900

Some fantasy football managers are concerned that 2025 fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo will swoop in and take over Tracy Jr.’s role as the Giants’ lead back. There’s a chance that might eventually happen, but with Skattebo missing a big chunk of the preseason due to a hamstring injury, Tracy Jr. will likely hold onto his lead-back role in Week 1. Tracy Jr. took many fantasy football managers by surprise when he grabbed the starting RB role from Devin Singletary last season. He averaged 77 yards from scrimmage per game in his final 12 games of the 2025 season and scored six TDs while catching 33 passes. He faces what could be an NFL DFS RB-friendly Washington Commanders defense in Week 1 that gave up 4.9 YPC to NFL DFS RBs last season.  

Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders

DraftKings: $4,800 | FanDuel: $5,200

This recommendation is not for the faint of heart. Commanders rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, or Bill as he likes to be called, was one of the most talked about NFL DFS RBs this preseason. So much speculation has gone into how the Commanders would use their RBs this season. Some reports have Chris Rodriguez handling short yardage and goal line situations, and others have Croskey-Merritt as the Commanders’ lead back. Too many of those reports leave out the fact that Ekeler scored double-digit fantasy points in nine games last season, and two of those nine games came against the New York Giants, his Week 1 opponent. Ekeler’s role probably hasn’t changed much this season. He’ll still be the Commanders’ third-down back, and he could be a sneaky value play in DFS in Week 1.

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Fades for Week 1

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

DraftKings: $7,000 | FanDuel: $6,400

Jeanty has the kind of potential generational talent that can make him one of fantasy football’s best RBs this season. The keyword is “potential”, because he has never played a down of NFL football. Despite that, DraftKings has assigned him a top-tier salary. Only six DraftKings NFL DFS RBs have a higher salary than Jeanty. He’s much more reasonably priced on FanDuel as an NFL DFS RB with the 19th-highest salary among his peers.  I may be eating my words next week, but I’d like to see Jeanty compete against a starting NFL defense before I pay a top-tier NFL DFS salary for him.

De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

DraftKings: $6,900 | FanDuel: $8,200

Achane has reportedly returned to practice this week and is allegedly on track to play Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. However, after spending almost all of the preseason nursing a calf injury, I’d rather watch him from the sidelines. Injury risk is built into his DraftKings price, but he is still the 6th most expensive NFL DFS RB on the FanDuel platform.

 

NFL Week 1 RB Play of The Week

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers

DraftKings: $6,000 | FanDuel: $6,500

Hubbard posted career highs in multiple categories, including rushing yards, receptions, and TDs, last season. If it hadn’t been for a calf strain that forced him to miss the final two games of the 2025 season, he would have been a top 12 fantasy football RB. Armed with a mid-season multi-year extension, Hubbard is ready to pick up right where he left off last season. Hubbard scored double-digit DraftKings FPPG in 11 of his 15 games last season. On the FanDuel platform, he scored double-digit FPPG in 10 of 15 games. Hubbard has a great Week 1 matchup against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that is once again expected to be one of the worst against the run.