Two rookies, big expectations

Jeremiyah Love and Quinshon Judkins open the season as the young backs fantasy managers drafted hoping for a breakout. Both draw hard Week 1 matchups.

Love is cleared to play

The third overall pick is expected to suit up for his regular-season debut after an ankle injury in his preseason debut put that in doubt.

But he is the RB2

Arizona lists Love behind Tyler Allgeier to start the year. With Allgeier as the starter, expect a split backfield while Love works his way back to full health.

Touches still coming

Being second on the depth chart does not mean being invisible. Love should still get a decent share of the work in the opener.

The receiving angle

Love's value in PPR and half-PPR comes from catching passes out of the backfield, not from carries he is not getting yet.

Game script helps him

The Cardinals are expected to trail the Chargers, and a pass-heavy script puts Love on the field for more snaps.

Competition for targets

Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. all want the ball. Love should still see enough looks out of the backfield to matter.

Judkins gets the volume

Cleveland is set to feed Judkins against Jacksonville. He averaged 18.2 touches per game last season and the opener should look the same.

“Judkins is set for a workhorse amount of carries in the Cleveland Browns' season opener.”

Jacksonville is the problem

The Jaguars finished second best against opposing running backs last season, holding them to 18.3 fantasy points per game.

A bad offense around him

The Browns rank last among all teams in expected points for Week 1. Few goal-line chances plus a negative game script caps what the volume can produce.

The verdict

In PPR and half-PPR, take Love for the receiving upside. In standard leagues, Judkins' workload is too heavy to bench, tough defense and all.

“In standard formats, Judkins' heavy workload is too good to pass up.”