Fantasy Football: Jaylen Warren And 7 More Running Backs To Start In Week 1

Get your fantasy football Week 1 lineup right with Jaylen Warren and seven other running backs you should start for a strong opening week.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs the ball in the first half against the Buffalo Bills in a 2024 AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Week 1 is finally here, and it's time to set our fantasy lineups. After a long summer of research and drafting, now is the time it all pays off. However, we still have to put the right players in our lineups. These are the running backs you should be starting this week. 

De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Do not bench Achane because of fears over a calf injury that the team has said was precautionary all along. If he plays, you should have him in your starting lineup. He should be locked and loaded as a top 10 running back this week. 

Dolphins RB De’Von Achane, who has been dealing with a calf injury, is returning to practice today and is on track to play Sunday vs. the Colts.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2025

Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) carries the ball before the game against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Have no fear about the expected return of Najee Harris. Hampton practiced in and learned the offense all summer, while Harris was sidelined with an eye injury. Even if Harris plays, we expect Hampton to see the vast majority of the work in the Los Angeles Chargers offense, and that will continue throughout the season. 

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

We understand the temptation to wait to see Henderson's role in the New Patriots offense, but don't miss the breakout. He's their best playmaker, and his play will dictate that they can't take him off the field. Henderson is electric and is going to be a big-play machine.  

Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs

The fears of Kareem Hunt have faded away this summer, and it has become clear that Pacheco is the clear starting running back in Kansas City. We don't expect him to get all the touches like he was in line to get before getting hurt in 2024, but we do expect him to get around 70% of the rushing work. 

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) warms up before the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It feels like every year we forget about Montgomery, and all he does is go out there and score touchdowns. That's why we expect him to go out there and score touchdowns. The Jahmyr Gibbs hype is warranted, but Montgomery is not going away. 

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers made it clear during the preseason that Warren is the starter in Pittsburgh. That could very well change as we progress deeper into the season, but it's not going to change over the next five days. He is a safe start until Kaleb Johnson seizes that backfield.  

JK Dobbins, Denver Broncos

This is a similar situation to what we are seeing in Pittsburgh. Fantasy owners are excited about RJ Harvey, but JK Dobbins is going to start the season as the starter. Harvey has struggled in pass protection and has been running behind Dobbins all summer. Again, Harvey could take over this backfield at some point, just not Week 1. 

Braelon Allen, New York Jets

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (0) looks on prior to the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. | Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

This is for deeper leagues, but if you're searching for a flex, then you can plug in Allen. We expect the Jets' backfield to be close to an even split between Allen and Breece Hall on rushing downs, with Allen getting the goal-line work.