Fantasy Football RB Rankings: Week 5

The running back group is thin this year, meaning you might be in a tough spot at times this season. At least you have my rankings to help you out. Thankfully, the byes this week won't do much damage to the RB spot. I list the top 45, because beyond that, there aren't many players worth owning.

Byes: Miami Dolphins & Oakland Raiders

Updated: Oct. 2

Other Rankings: QB, RB, WR, TE, DEF

Rank & Player Opponent Notes
1. DeMarco Murray, DAL HOU Murray is on pace to break the single season rushing record.
2. Le'Veon Bell, PIT @JAC An amazing matchup this week for Bell.
3. Marshawn Lynch, SEA @WAS Lynch still has some Beast Mode in him. The Seahawks could feed him early and often against Washington.
4. Matt Forte, CHI @CAR Forte has a good matchup this week.
5. Gio Bernard, CIN @NE Bernard is the Bengals' go-to back this year.
6. LeSean McCoy, PHI STL McCoy hasn't been great, but he's one of those players you can't afford to sit.
7. Rashad Jennings, NYG ATL Jennings' poor production against the Redskins shouldn't be held against him. The Giants cut back on his carries after a big week and they pulled him quickly because they were up comfortably.
8. Eddie Lacy, GB MIN Don't panic and move Lacy. Just be patient. He'll bounce back.
9. Jamaal Charles, KC @SF Charles is back in the lineup and back to being a RB1.
10. Andre Ellington, ARI @DEN Ellington has put up solid numbers, despite not scoring a touchdown. I bet that changes this week.
11. Arian Foster, HOU @DAL The issue with Foster is his health.
12. Reggie Bush, DET BUF With Joique Bell likely out this week, Bush's value goes up.
13. Frank Gore, SF KC Gore is a high-end RB2 this week.
14. Montee Ball, DEN ARI Ball struggled last week and fumbled, but the Broncos kept feeding him. That's a good sign for the rest of the season.
15. Zac Stacy, STL @PHI Stacy had his best game his last time out and is coming off a bye.
16. Doug Martin, TB @NO Martin (finally) played last week, but he's still a risky RB2.
17. Khiry Robinson, NO TB With Ingram out, Robinson will get most of the carries.
18. C.J. Spiller, BUF @DET He's worth a play when healthy.
19. Alfred Morris, WAS SEA Really tough matchup this week for Morris.
20. Matt Asiata, MIN @GB Asiata has been solid in lieu of the Patterson.
21. Ben Tate, CLE @TEN It looks like Tate will play this week.
22. Fred Jackson, BUF @DET He'll get some touches, but his maximum value won't be reached unless Spiller goes down.
23. Ahmad Bradshaw, IND BAL Despite getting fewer carries than Richardson, Bradshaw is the more productive fantasy back.
24. Donald Brown, SD NYJ Brown was awful against the Jaguars (my bad there). It doesn't get easier this week with against Jets.
25. Bishop Sankey, TEN @CIN I think Sankey will get more carries than Greene from now on.
26. Chris Ivory, NYJ SD Ivory has seen more touches than Johnson so far.
27. Shane Vereen, NE CIN Vareen, like the rest of the Patriots offense, has struggled this season. I think he sees more time against the Bengals.
28. Justin Forsett, BAL PIT It looks like Forsett is the starter. I don't really trust him yet though.
29. Darren Sproles, PHI STL Sproles didn't touch the ball much last week, but I think you can get by with him in deeper leagues as a flex.
30. Stevan Ridley, NE CIN The Patriots and Ridley haven't done much on offense thus far.
31. Trent Richardson, IND BAL Richardson has looked like a complete bust.
32. Steven Jackson, ATL @NYG Jackson is on his last legs. He'll be phased out of the offense in the near future.
33. Toby Gerhart, JAC PIT Gerhart isn't very good. Don't believe me?
34. Jerick McKinnion, MIN @GB McKinnon might have usurped Asiata as the starter.
35. Chris Johnson, NYJ @SD You know the risks of playing Johnson. He'll do a lot or barely anything.
36. Pierre Thomas, NO TB Thomas is really only a PPR option, but Travaris Cadet got most of the work against the Cowboys in passing situations. I'm not sure if that continues.
37. Knile Davis, KC @SF With Charles back, Davis' value drops.
38. Isaiah Crowell, CLE @TEN With Tate back, Terrence West and Isaiah Crowell fall to backups. I think Crowell will see more carries than West though.
39. Darrin Reaves, CAR CHI With Williams and Stewart out, Reaves is the No. 1 back in Carolina. For now.
40. Jeremy Hill, CIN TEN He's a handcuff for Bernard. He does vulture a few touchdowns though.
41. Shonne Greene, TEN CLE I suspect he's finally been surpassed by Sankey.
42. Lorenzo Taliaferro, BAL @IND He might be the most talented back on the roster.
43. Theo Riddick, DET BUF With Bell likely out, Riddick should see an uptick in carries.
44. Bernard Pierce, BAL @IND I think Pierce has fallen out of favor.
45. Joique Bell, DET BUF Bell has a concussion and I don't think he'll play this week.

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