Week 5 Fantasy Rankings: Running back

Tony Fortier-Bensen

Week 5 Fantasy Rankings: Running back image

Was it a surprise that the top three running backs last week were Le'Veon Bell, Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott? Not really. Was it a surprise that the rest of the top 10 consisted of two Jets players (Bilal Powell, Elijah McGuire), a third-round rookie (Alvin Kamara) and player that barely anyone has even heard of (J.D. McKissic)? Most certainly. Mix in some big injuries (Dalvin Cook, Chris Carson, Ty Montgomery) and bye weeks (Falcons, Broncos, Saints, Redskins), and you have a tough-to-compile set of Week 5 RB rankings.

There will undoubtedly be more surprises in Week 5, but we're hoping that this time we can predict some of them. Jay Ajayi hasn't been able to do anything against the weak Jets and Saints defense, and he faces another matchup (vs. Titans) that looks extremely favorable on paper. Can he make it three straight disappointments or will the third time be a charm? Latavius Murray is back into a starting role again, and we believe he can produce this week like he did last year. 

WEEK 5 RANKINGS:

Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST  | Kicker

Right when the RB situation in Seattle was looking clear, it gets even more muddled up with Carson's injury. Eddie Lacy did the best, but that's likely because Thomas Rawls was inactive. This week, C.J. Prosise is expected to return, and this McKissic guy might even find some reps now. The same can be said for Baltimore and their new guy Alex Collins overtaking previous new guy Buck Allen. Overall, the RB rankings can be dicey with so much flunctuation, but with several starters on the sidelines this week, we have to make due with what we can. Also, we'll be keeping a watchful eye on the Ezekiel Elliott legal situation, and we'll fix our rankings accordingly.   

Reminder: We'll update our rankings throughout the week and add player analysis, so please check back often. And check out the agonizing ways you could lose in Week 5.

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Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings: RBs

These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues

1 Le'Veon Bell, Steelers vs. Jaguars
2 Leonard Fournette, Jaguars @ Steelers
3 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Packers. A ruling is expected "soon" according to Pro Football Talk on Zeke's court case and six-game suspension.  If the stay on the injunction is lifted, Elliott begans his suspension and Alfred Morris is likely the No. 1 back in Dallas. If the stay remains, then Elliott continues playing.
4 Todd Gurley, Rams vs. Seahawks
5 Kareem Hunt, Chiefs @ Texans
6 Carlos Hyde, 49ers @ Colts
7 Jay Ajayi, Dolphins vs. Titans.  Ajayi struggled against the Jets and Saints back-to-back weeks.  In another favorable matchup, he should be higher than his current ranking, but the past two performances are too fresh to forget.  He's still a must-start, but fantasy owners should be keep a close eye on Ajayi.
8 LeSean McCoy, Bills @ Bengals
9 Melvin Gordon, Chargers at Giants.
10 DeMarco Murray, Titans @ Dolphins
11 Bilal Powell, Jets @ Browns.  Powell finally broke out as many anticipated before the season.  The Browns defense has been sneaky good against RBs in fantasy this year, but Powell should still be considered a must-start this week.
12 Frank Gore, Colts vs. 49ers.  
13 Lamar Miller, Texans vs. Chiefs.
14 Jordan Howard, Bears vs. Vikings.  With second-overall pick Mitchell Trubisky starting now, it wouldn't be surprising if the Bears turned to a run-heavy offense this week.  Howard would be the most likely beneficinary of that before Tarik Cohen.
15 Jonathan Stewart, Panthers @ Lions.
16 Mike Gillislee, Patriots @ Bucs.
17 Latavius Murray, Vikings @ Bears. With Dalvin Cook out for the year, Murray is launched into the starting tailback for Minnesota.  This isn't the first time Murray is the lead back.  Back in 2016 with Oakland, he had 12 touchdowns and 788 rushing yards, and the year before, he had 1,066 rushing yards with six touchdowns.  He's a must-start now.
18 Ameer Abdullah, Lions vs. Panthers.  It appears Abdullah is finally expanding in his role as the No. 1 back in Detriot.  His teammate Theo Riddick only play in 18 of the team's 70 offensive snaps in Week 4, and Abdullah out-touched him in both rushes and targets en route to a career-best 94 rushing yards.  The Panthers are a tough task, but if Abdullah's volume stays the same, he'll make up for it.
19 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Bills
20 Isaiah Crowell, Browns vs. Jets
21 Marshawn Lynch, Raiders vs. Ravens
22 Christian McCaffrey, Panthers @ Lions.
23 LeGarrette Blount, Eagles vs. Cardinals.  After two subpar RBs, the Arizona rush defense was tested with Ezekiel Elliott and Carlos Hyde, struggling against both.  Blount is fresh off a 16-carry, 136-yard performance, and he should continue that level of play at home this week.
24 Wendell Smallwood, Eagles vs. Cardinals.  Despite only 10 carries and 34 yards, Smallwood managed to steal a rushing TD.  He has more value in PPR leagues, but he'll get his fair share of touches on the ground, as well.
24 Duke Johnson Jr., Browns vs. Jets.  Johnson leads the Browns in targets, receptions and receiving yards.  The Jets have given up 49-plus receiving yards or more three out of four games to backs.  Johnson is a strong flex play this week.
25 Tarik Cohen, Bears vs. Vikings.  In PPR leagues, Cohen should still sustain value with checkdowns, screens and short passes in general from Mitchell Trubisky in his NFL debut.  The running game may be dominated by Howard this week, like it has been the past two weeks.
26 Alex Collins, Ravens @ Raiders.  
27 Chris Johnson, Cardinals @ Eagles
28 Doug Martin, Bucs vs. Patriots. Martin's role is unclear for his first game back from suspension. Chances are, he won't get a full complement of carries, so don't expect a huge game.
29 Thomas Rawls, Seahawks @ Rams. Rawls was a healthy scratch in Week 4, but Chris Carson's injury opens the door for Rawls.  Eddie Lacy did well (11 carries, 52 yards), but Rawls is the likely starter.  He's still in a timeshare with Lacy, C.J. Prosise and even J.D. McKissic, so being labeled No. 1 back still doesn't mean too much in Seattle.
30 Wayne Gallman, Giants vs. Chargers.  Even with Orleans Darkwa expected to play, Gallman will likely get first crack in Week 5 after a relatively solid showing last week, catching a touchdown pass and rushing 11 times for 42 yards.  He's a possible flex play against a Chargers team that has let three straight RBs rush for over 100 yards.
31 James White, Patriots @ Bucs
32 Eddie Lacy, Seahawks @ Rams
33 Aaron Jones, Packers @ Cowboys.  With Ty Montgomery (ribs) likely out and Jamaal Williams (knee) still possibly banged up, Jones could be the main back.  In an Aaron Rodgers-led offense, that can only mean good things.
34 Derrick Henry, Titans @ Dolphins.  Should Marcus Mariota not play, the Titans may turn into a conservative gameplan with lots of running.  With DeMarco Murray's lingering hamstring issue, Henry might find himself in a similar situation two weeks ago where he became the main back in the second half.
35 Elijah McGuire, Jets @ Browns
36 Buck Allen, Ravens @ Raiders Allen has more value in PPR leagues than standard leagues compared to Terrance West, but they're both behind Alex Collins after his performance.  The Ravens' offense doesn't score enough to make Allen worth much if he's running second with West and behind Collins.
37 Jerick McKinnon, Vikings @ Bears
38 Andre Ellington, Cardinals @ Eagles
39 Corey Clement, Eagles vs. Cardinals
40 Jamaal Williams, Packers @ Cowboys
41 Jacquizz Rodgers, Bucs vs. Patriots.
42 Giovani Bernard, Bengals vs. Bills
43 Theo Riddick, Lions vs. Panthers.  Riddick fell last week, only participating in 17 of 70 offensive snaps, and Ameer Abdullah had double the targets, Riddick's bread and butter.  This may be the beginning of Abdullah finally expanding his role on the team, and it may mean Riddick sees less touches, especially against a tough Panthers run-defense.
44 D'Onta Foreman, Texans vs. Chiefs
45 Jeremy Hill, Bengals vs. Bills
46 Orleans Darkwa, Giants vs. Chargers
47 Dion Lewis, Patriots @ Bucs
48 Terrance West, Ravens @ Raiders
49 Robert Turbin, Colts vs. 49ers
50 Mike Tolbert, BIlls @ Bengals
51 Matt Breida, 49ers @ Colts
52 Chris Ivory, Jaguars @ Steelers
53 Jalen Richard, Raiders vs. Ravens
54 Charles Sims, Bucs vs. Patriots
55 Shane Vereen, Giants vs. Chargers
56 Marlon Mack, Colts vs. 49ers
57 Branden Oliver, Chargers @ Giants
58 Paul Perkins, Giants vs. Chargers
57 J.D. McKissic, Seahawks @ Rams

Tony Fortier-Bensen