We are one month into the NFL season, and it’s time to start making decisions for Week 5 of fantasy football. Bye weeks have now begun, meaning numerous key running-backs including Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Tony Pollard, and JK Dobbins are all on bye this week. Let’s take a look at Week 5 running-back rankings and analysis.
Fantasy Football Week 5 Running-Back Rankings
Tier 1: Stud RB1s
1. Derrick Henry
2. Jordan Mason
3. Kyren Williams
4. Alvin Kamara
It’s pretty difficult not to rank Derrick Henry as the number one Week 5 fantasy football running back after he torched the Buffalo Bills for 199 rushing yards and two touchdowns. King Henry and Lamar Jackson should continue to exploit defenses with their dual-threat rushing attack. Meanwhile, Jordan Mason gets the best matchup of the week against a Cardinals defense that has allowed 125 rushing yards per game so far this season.
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Kyren Williams will continue to thrive as the only focal point of the Rams offense, with both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua remaining out with injuries. Williams has proven Blake Corum truthers wrong and has at least one touchdown in every game so far this season. Alvin Kamara has been the most pleasant surprise once again and currently ranks as the number one overall fantasy player (including quarterbacks) in half-PPR formats. Kamara and the Saints take on the Chiefs at Arrowhead in Week 5 in what should be a must-watch contest.
Tier 2: Low-end RB1s
5. Bijan Robinson
6. Kenneth Walker III
7. Josh Jacobs
8. James Cook
9. Breece Hall
10. Aaron Jones
11. James Connor
12. Joe Mixon
Bijan Robinson falls out of tier 1 for Week 5 as we’ve yet to see a true breakout performance from the second-year running-back. Robinson has yet to eclipse 20 fantasy points and only has one touchdown on the season. He is also dealing with a hamstring injury on a short week, as the Falcons face the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football. Meanwhile, James Cook and the Buffalo Bills are set up to have a bounceback performance against the Texans in what should be a high-scoring affair. Joe Mixon should also have a solid game in his return from injury against a Bills defense that just conceded over 200 rushing yards to Derrick Henry and the Ravens in Week 4.
Tier 3: Solid RB2s
13. Travis Etienne Jr.
14. Brian Robinson Jr.
15. Devon Achane
16. Rhamondre Stevenson
17. Chuba Hubbard
18. D’Andre Swift
Travis Etienne Jr. and the Jaguars have struggled mightily on offense so far this season. However, they face the Colts in Week 5 in what has proven to be a fantasy goldmine for production this year. Etienne should see a lot of opportunities this week in a matchup where the Jaguars are betting favourites (-3). D’Andre Swift had a massive performance in Week 4 after a rough start to the season, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown while also tallying 7-72 in the air. While the Chicago Bears running-back room was a brutal committee through the first three weeks, it seems that Swift may have finally proven his worth as the lead-back and should see more opportunities moving forward.
Tier 4: RB3s or FLEX value
19. Jerome Ford
20. Devin Singletary
21. Kareem Hunt
22. Najee Harris
23. Zack Moss
24. Bucky Irving
Jerome Ford should lead the way once again for the Cleveland Browns, who face the Washington Commanders in Week 5. Similar to the Colts, the Commanders defense has been vulnerable to both the run and pass all season, allowing over 120 rushing yards per game. Kareem Hunt makes his way back into the top-24 running-back rankings with his return to the Chiefs, as he looks to have asserted himself as Isiah Pacheco’s primary replacement. With the significant injury to star wide receiver Rashee Rice in Week 4, expect the Chiefs to lean more heavily on the run for the remainder of the season.
Main Image: Tommy Galligan – USA Today Sports
