The 2022 NFL season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 8 between the Rams and the Bills, launching millions of fantasy football leagues. The majority of leagues operate under either a PPR or half-PPR format, so fantasy mirrors the importance of real-life pa s-catching in the NFL. But in fantasy unlike on the actual field running back remains the most important position, which is why our Week 1 fantasy RB PPR rankings are so crucial.Our weekly rankings aim to a sist you in making the right RB starts and sits. Of course, the cream of the RB crop merit auto-starts no fantasy owner in their right mind would bench reigning rushing champ Jonathan Taylor (Texans), two-time rushing king Derrick Henry (vs. Giants), or PPR studs Christian McCaffrey (vs. Browns) and Austin Ekeler (vs. Raiders), among others. Basically, the top-10 backs are always going to be weekly starting lineup locks, barring injury.What about beyond that 10? The Giants' Saquon Barkley (@ Titans) has been a popular pick to return to fantasy glory under new head coach Brian Daboll, formerly the offensive coordinator of the high-flying Bills. Can Barkley do some opening-week damage against a Titans D that just lost linebacker Rashaan Evans? Tenne see allowed RBs to haul in four catches 12 different times last year, and RBs netted 50-plus receiving yards against Mike Vrabel's squad eight times.WEEK 1 FANTASY PICKS: | | Then there will always be questions of role, which usually dictates volume and in turn production. The Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott (vs. Buccaneers) enjoyed a TD-rich 2021 season, but he sometimes struggled against strong defenses like Tampa and needed to be spelled by backup Tony Pollard, who makes for a decent flex play in his own right. The Jaguars' Travis Etienne Jr. (@ Commanders) spent his entire rookie year sidelined by an Lisfranc injury, but he figures to get bell-cow work with fellow RB James Robinson still being eased back in from an Achilles' tear.WEEK 1 STANDARD FANTASY RANKINGS: | | | | | Speaking of injuries, multiple backs are either back in action or close to returning. We'll keep an eye on the Ravens' JK Dobbins (@ Jets), who would be a fantastic play against a New York squad that just allowed an NFL-most 25.7 fantasy points to RBs last season. The same goes for San Francisco's Elijah Mitchell (@ Bears), who faces off against a Chicago team that surrendered 125.1 rushing yards per game and just lost defensive stud Khalil Mack. As long as they're active, start them, though keep in mind both lose a little value in PPR leagues.WEEK 1 FANTASY PPR RANKINGS: | | | | Perhaps more notable than banged-up players: Rookies. Everyone will be watching on the status of Seattle's Kenneth Walker III (vs. Broncos) Adrian Houser Jersey , who has been dealing with a hernia. That gives veteran Seahawks back Rashaad Penny the keys to the backfield, with Penny hoping to ride momentum that saw him outscore all other backs from Week 13 through Week 18 last season. James Cook (@ Rams) should be decent for the Bills, but opening day in L.A. sounds daunting. The Texans' Dameon Pierce (vs. Colts) and Jets' Breece Hall (vs. Ravens) could have similar troubles in Week 1. Of that group, Pierce is our favorite, and we actually prefer the Bills' and Jets' veteran committee members (Devin Singletary, Michael Carter) a bit more.WEEK 1 DFS LINEUPS: | | Our rankings reflect an expected boost for "handcuffs" AJ Dillon (@ Vikings) and Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Dolphins). Both should see expanded rushing work and much more of a role as pa s-catchers, especially Stevenson. The Vikings gave up five-plus catches 13 times last season, and the Dolphins allowed seven RB catches in five different games. On the flip side, the Saints were dominant against fantasy RBs last year, but we can't recommend sitting Cordarrelle Patterson in a PPR league. Ditto for Chase Edmonds (vs. Patriots).WEEK 1 DFS: | Clevelands Kareem Hunt, a PPR legend, highlights our top sleepers for the week, as interim QB Jacoby Bri sett should be dumping off a lot against Carolinas improved front-seven. J.D. McKi sic (vs. Jaguars), Kenneth Gainwell (@ Lions), and Jerick McKinnon (@ Cardinals) are other "PPR backs" to watch, but it's tough to start them in shallower leagues in Week 1 given their relatively low ceilings. Until we see usage concerns with Antonio Gibson, Miles Sanders, or Clyde Edwards-Helaire, we advise just using them in your lineup.Overall, we'll learn a lot from Week 1, so don't get too high or too low no matter what happens. Start your studs and hope for the best.Note: We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement. For individual analysis of key RBs, click here.Rankings based on full-point PPR scoringRankPlayer1Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Texans2Christian McCaffrey, Panthers vs. Browns3Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Raiders4Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Falcons5Najee Harris, Steelers @ Bengals6Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Giants7Dalvin Cook, Vikings vs. Packers8D'Andre Swift, Lions vs. Eagles9Aaron Jones, Packers @ Vikings10Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Steelers11Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Titans12Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ Cowboys13Nick Chubb, Browns @ Panthers14James Conner, Cardinals vs. Chiefs15Javonte Williams, Broncos @ Seahawks16Antonio Gibson, Commanders vs. Jaguars17Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Buccaneers18Rashaad Penny, Seahawks vs. Broncos19Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars @ Commanders20David Montgomery, Bears vs. 49ers21Elijah Mitchell, 49ers @ Bears22Cam Akers, Rams vs. Bills23Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs @ Cardinals24Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Chargers25Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Saints26Chase Edmonds, Dolphins vs. Patriots27Damien Harris, Patriots @ Dolphins28Miles Sanders, Eagles @ Lions29Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Buccaneers30Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Panthers31AJ Dillon, Packers @ Vikings32Devin Singletary, Bills @ Rams33Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Dolphins34Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Colts35Michael Carter, Jets vs. Ravens36James Cook, Bills @ Rams37Melvin Gordon III, Broncos @ Seahawks38Kenyan Drake, Ravens @ Jets39Breece Hall, Jets vs. Ravens40Nyheim Hines, Colts @ Texans41James Robinson, Jaguars @ Commanders42Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams vs. Bills43Mike Davis, Ravens @ Jets44Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Lions45Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Eagles46J.D. McKi sic, Commanders vs. Jaguars47Rex Burkhead, Texans vs. Colts48Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers @ Bears49Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. 49ers50Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Patriots51Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Cowboys52Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Packers53Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Cardinals54Travis Homer, Seahawks vs. Broncos55Joshua Kelley, Chargers vs. Raiders56Darrel Williams, Cardinals vs. Chiefs57Boston Scott, Eagles @ Lions58Damien Williams, Falcons vs. Saints59Zamir White, Raiders @ Chargers60Mark Ingram, Saints @ Falcons Adonis Medina Jersey