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Week 5 Running Back Rankings - Standard Leagues

Your Week 5 running back rankings bible for standard leagues.

Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Devonta Freeman did it again. Jeremy Hill got himself three touchdowns as well. Ronnie Hillman, C.J. Spiller, and Duke Johnson found themselves in the top 10. Every week has been bringing us the expected and unexpected, but mostly unexpected. What will Week 5 have in store for us?

Rank

Player

Team

Opponent

Analysis

1

Le'Veon Bell

Pittsburgh Steelers

@SD

Chargers have been getting gashed on the ground and Le'Veon looks even better than last year.

2

Jamaal Charles

Kansas City Chiefs

CHI

The Chiefs need to start giving him more carries. Alex Smith is not playing well right now, so look for Charles to gradually get bigger workloads.

3

Justin Forsett

Baltimore Ravens

CLE

Forsett finally came alive on TNF and now gets one of the league's worst run defenses.

4

Matt Forte

Chicago Bears

@KC

The Chiefs just have up 4 rushing touchdowns. Forte should get scoring opportunities against an underwhelming defense.

5

Alfred Morris

Washington Redskins

@ATL

Has regained the starting job and gets the league worst run defense this week. Falcons give up rushing touchdowns to everyone.

6

Arian Foster

Houston Texans

IND

Should get a more complete workload on TNF this week. Also gets a plus matchup against a bad Colts defense.

7

Marshawn Lynch

Seattle Seahawks

@CIN

The Seahawks are hoping to get him back against the Bengals. They sorely need him.

8

Eddie Lacy

Green Bay Packers

STL

Going up against a hot-and-cold Rams defense, being back home should help Lacy out.

9

Karlos Williams

Buffalo Bills

TEN

Slated for another full workload, he gets an easier matchup this week and will take advantage of it.

10

DeMarco Murray

Philadelphia Eagles

NO

Looked to get things going a little bit last week, only to be given 8 total carries. This might be the week the run game gets it going against a bad Saints defense.

11

Dion Lewis

New England Patriots

@DAL

Is the lead back in their offense. Should be able to attack the Cowboys linebackers in different ways.

12

Devonta Freeman

Atlanta Falcons

WAS

Is on fire, but faces the second best run defense that has only given up one rushing touchdown. Which immovable object will give way?

13

Todd Gurley

St. Louis Rams

@GB

How was that for a coming out party? He tore up a great Cardinals defense in the fourth quarter. Game flow may work against him this week, but he can be huge for fantasy owners if the game is close.

14

T.J. Yeldon

Jacksonville Jaguars

@TB

Has looked really good this year. Should be able to find the end zone against a soft Bucs defense.

15

Ronnie Hillman

Denver Broncos

@OAK

Has outplayed C.J. Anderson and will look to take full control of the starting job this week.

16

Mark Ingram

New Orleans Saints

@PHI

Love Ingram, but this is a really tough matchup. The Eagles haven't given up a rushing touchdown all year.

17

Latavius Murray

Oakland Raiders

DEN

Very tough matchup, but they did give up a long run to Adrian Peterson last week. Murray has the potential to break one, and is the every down back even if he doesn't.

18

LeGarrette Blount

New England Patriots

@DAL

If Sean Lee is out, Dallas won't be able to stop the run. Blount scored three touchdowns as the backup in Week 3. He will get plenty of goal line touches.

19

Frank Gore

Indianapolis Colts

@HOU

Is operating as the every-down back. Should bounce back nicely after a tough week last week.

20

Carlos Hyde

San Francisco 49ers

@NYG

He's been killed by the 49ers getting blown out, but this game should be more competitive.

21

Doug Martin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

JAX

Has looked good all year. If he starts scoring touchdowns consistently, watch out.

22

Joseph Randle

Dallas Cowboys

NE

May pick up some more pass game work with Dunbar out for the rest of the season.

23

Danny Woodhead

San Diego Chargers

PIT

Woodhead has been outperforming Gordon so far this year and will continue to get plenty of touches.

24

Chris Johnson

Arizona Cardinals

@DET

CJ2K is looking like the lead dog, but the return of Ellington may change the landscape a bit.

25

Jeremy Hill

Cincinnati Bengals

SEA

Going to be tough to run on them, but it was always a threat for a touchdown.

26

C.J. Anderson

Denver Broncos

@OAK

Hillman is flat out playing much better than him. Anderson will continue to get around 10 carries.

27

Ameer Abdullah

Detroit Lions

ARI

Tough matchup, but Gurley was able to run on them. Abdullah was ok in his matchup against the Seahawks. Should be a little better this week.

28

Melvin Gordon

San Diego Chargers

PIT

So much for that breakout week. Woodhead looks like the better player right now.

29

Giovani Bernard

Cincinnati Bengals

SEA

Smaller backs seem to give Seattle more trouble, so Bernard may see some success in this matchup.

30

Rashad Jennings

New York Giants

SF

Hasn't been impressive, but neither have their other running backs.

31

Andre Ellington

Arizona Cardinals

@DET

Might be eased in with Chris Johnson playing well.

32

Duke Johnson

Cleveland Browns

@BAL

Should get plenty of catches as the run game shouldn't have much room. Has forced a timeshare with Crowell.

33

C.J. Spiller

New Orleans Saints

@PHI

Showed off his playmaking ability with a walk-off 80 yard touchdown. Should get more looks against a banged up Eagles line backing corps.

34

Antonio Andrews

Tennessee Titans

BUF

May have earned the lead back job, but will face a brick wall in the Bills run defense.

35

Isaiah Crowell

Cleveland Browns

@BAL

Played very well last week, but gets a very tough matchup that plummets his value since he doesn't catch many passes.

36

Tevin Coleman

Atlanta Falcons

WAS

Aiming to return this week, but has lost his starting job with Freeman playing so well.

37

Darren McFadden

Dallas Cowboys

NE

Should get an increase in snaps with Lance Dunbar out for the reason.

38

Charles Sims

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

JAX

Two straight weeks with a receiving touchdown. Can he do it again this week?

39

Matt Jones

Washington Redskins

@ATL

Hasn't been effective since his blowup Week 2. Is operating as the backup to Morris.

40

Joique Bell

Detroit Lions

ARI

He is so bad. Will continue to get carries for no apparent reason and might score a one yard touchdown if lucky.

41

Lorenzo Taliaferro

Baltimore Ravens

CLE

Doesn't get many carries, but will be able to do damage with his limited touches against a really bad Browns run defense.

42

Ryan Mathews

Philadelphia Eagles

NO

May or may not be a better fit in Chip Kelly's system. It doesn;t matter because he's the clear backup to Murray.

43

Bishop Sankey

Tennessee Titans

BUF

Who knows what will happen in Ken Whisenhunt's backfield.

44

Andre Williams

New York Giants

SF

There were talks of him taking the starting job from Jennings, but he's just not very good.

45

Darren Sproles

Philadelphia Eagles

NO

Will always be involved in the passing game. Cue up the revenge game narrative.

46

James Starks

Green Bay Packers

STL

A fully healthy Eddie Lacy = not a lot of James Starks touches.

47

David Johnson

Arizona Cardinals

@DET

DJ is a dynamic playmaker, but there are too many mouths to feed in the Arizona backfield.

48

Khiry Robinson

New Orleans Saints

@PHI

A more involved Spiller could mean a reduced role for Robinson.

49

Theo Riddick

Detroit Lions

ARI

Will get plenty of receiving work.

50

Thomas Rawls

Seattle Seahawks

@CIN

Even with Marshawn back, he may still have a role to play with Fred Jackson now out.