Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is a perennial fantasy star. (Getty)
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Despite the shift to the pass-heavy style the NFL has shifted to, the running back is still the lifeblood of a fantasy football team.
If you’re in a standard, season-long fantasy league, you need to get yourself a workhorse back. One that can take 25 carries per game and get into the endzone. How many of them are left in the league in 2015? Eh, it’s not too many. But they are out there.
And we’re going to find out who rises to the top as the NFL season kicks off Thursday night in New England when the Patriots host the Steelers.
All 32 teams are on the schedule in Week 1, so ranking the backs is a tougher task. Though we all kind of know who the usual suspects are that will land in the top 10.
Each week we’ll be doing fantasy football rankings for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and defenses/special teams. Bookmark our fantasy football rankings 2015 page to keep up-to-date on the latest projections and rankings so you know you who to start and who to sit.
Keep reading to see our Week 1 running back rankings:
1. Eddie Lacy, Packers, at Bears
2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings, at 49ers
3. DeMarco Murray, Eagles, at Falcons
4. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs, at Texans
5. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks, at Rams
6. Matt Forte, Bears, vs. Packers
7. Jeremy Hill, Bengals, at Raiders
8. Lamar Miller, Dolphins, at Redskins
9. CJ Anderson, Broncos, vs. Ravens
10. LeSean McCoy, Bills, vs. Colts
11. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers, at Jaguars
12. Justin Forsett, Ravens, at Broncos
13. Carlos Hyde, 49ers, vs. Vikings
14. Chris Ivory, Jets, vs. Browns
15. Doug Martin, Buccaneers, vs. Titans
16. Andre Ellington, Cardinals, vs. Saints
17. Latavius Murray, Raiders, vs. Bengals
18. Mark Ingram, Saints, at Cardinals
19. Rashad Jennings, Giants, at Cowboys
20. Frank Gore, Colts, at Bills
21. TJ Yeldon, Jaguars, vs. Panthers
22. Alfred Morris, Redskins, vs. Dolphins
23. Melvin Gordon, Chargers, vs. Lions
24. Joseph Randle, Cowboys, vs. Giants
25. Tevin Coleman, Falcons, vs. Eagles
26. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers, at Patriots
27. Alfred Blue, Texans, vs. Chiefs
28. Ameer Abdullah, Lions, at Chargers
29. Bishop Sankey, Titans, at Buccaneers
30. Giovani Bernard, Bengals, at Raiders
31. Joique Bell, Lions, at Chargers
32. Danny Woodhead, Chargers, vs. Lions
33. Ryan Mathews, Eagles, at Falcons
34. Isaiah Crowell, Browns, at Jets
35. Shane Vereen, Giants, at Cowboys
36. Brandon Bolden, Patriots, vs. Steelers
37. Denard Robinson, Jaguars, vs. Panthers
38. Roy Helu, Raiders, vs. Bengals
39. Tre Mason, Rams, vs. Seahawks
40. Darren McFadden, Cowboys, vs. Giants
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