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Week 5 is a tough one for running backs and we’ve done our best to provide you with top notch info on who to count on.
Week 5 - RB rankings
Rank | Running Back | Team | Opponent | High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Running Back | Team | Opponent | High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s |
1 | Todd Gurley | LAR | at SEA | Seattle has allowed the 6th most rushing yards to opposing RBs this year. |
2 | Alvin Kamara | NO | WSH | Fantasy's RB1 tumbles to the 2 spot in a tough matchup with a stout Washington run defense. |
3 | Melvin Gordon | LAC | OAK | Oakland's given up the 3rd most rushing yards to RBs this year. |
4 | Christian McCaffrey | CAR | NYG | NYG comes in at No. 4 in rushing yards allowed and CMC is the focal point of this offense. |
5 | Ezekiel Elliot | DAL | at HOU | Volume keeps Elliot afloat in a tough matchup, surrounded by a bad Dallas supporting cast. |
6 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | at CAR | A volume-based ranking in a tough matchup. |
7 | James Conner | PIT | ATL | Conner is 10th in the league in RB receptions and ATL is the all-giving defense for pass-catching RBs. |
Lower-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s | ||||
8 | Kareem Hunt | KC | JAX | It's a tough matchup but Hunt is running hard and getting lots of work inside the 5-yard line. His passing game volume is increasing as well. |
9 | T.J. Yeldon | JAX | at KC | Kansas City has given up the 5th most rushing yards on the year and can't stop anything through the air. Yeldon is locked-in for 20+ touches against them. |
10 | Sony Michel | NE | IND | Michel should see a high volume of work against a Colts defense allowing over 100 rushing yards per game, on a short week. |
11 | Marshawn Lynch | OAK | at LAC | Marshawn is breaking tackles right and left, looking like vintage Beastmode. It's possible he's game-scripted out of this one but he's too hot to ignore right now. |
12 | David Johnson | ARI | at SF | Given SF's assumed offensive ineptitude, ARI should be able to stay competitive. That means a high-volume of sub-optimal touches for DJ. |
High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB2s | ||||
13 | Joe Mixon | CIN | MIA | Assuming he's able to go, Mixon should have a secure workload against the 13th worst run defense in the league. |
14 | Carlos Hyde | CLE | BAL | 2018's RB6 drops to 14 given the tough matchup and last week's explosive plays from Nick Chubb. |
15 | Tevin Coleman | ATL | at PIT | Until we get confirmation that Devonta Freeman will immediately resume operating as ATL's No. 1 RB, I'm sticking with Coleman in this plus matchup. |
16 | Dalvin Cook | MIN | at PHI | Cook will need to be featured in the passing game as a safety valve against Philly's ferocious pass rush. |
17 | Phillip Lindsay | DEN | at NYJ | The electric playmaker will look to keep his hot streak rolling against a mid-tier run defense (barring another ejection). |
Lower-Floor/High-Ceiling RB2s | ||||
18 | Matt Breida | SF | ARI | Breida gets the NFL's 2nd worst run defense in Week 5. His limited touch-count shouldn't hold him back too much. |
19 | Chris Thompson | WSH | at NO | Gamescript should favor Thompson over Adrian Peterson in what's likely to be a shootout. |
20 | Javorius Allen | BAL | at CLE | Allen is the Ravens' lead back at this point in time. His passing game usage elevates his floor. |
21 | Mark Ingram | NO | WSH | 10 touches in the Saints offense is enough to produce RB2 numbers. |
22 | Aaron Jones | GB | at DET | Jones looked good last week and now faces the NFL's worst run defense, albeit in a timeshare. |
23 | Jay Ajayi | PHI | MIN | Usage keeps Ajayi in the RB2 discussion, even in a tough matchup. |
24 | Royce Freeman | DEN | at NYJ | He's somewhat touchdown dependent but they love him at the goal-line. |
Low-Floor/High-Ceiling RB3s | ||||
25 | Nyheim Hines | IND | at NE | Hines has a low floor but easily could finish as a high-end RB2 in a possible shootout this week. |
26 | Adrian Peterson | WSH | at NO | New Orleans has been very good against the run this year and Peterson is fairly one-dimensional. |
27 | Devonta Freeman | ATL | at PIT | Tevin Coleman's effectiveness and the rise of Ito Smith have left a banged up Freeman in limbo. |
28 | James White | NE | IND | White's passing game usage should decrease with the return of Julian Edelman. If Gronk is confirmed OUT, White could rise in the rankings. |
29 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | OAK | Ekeler maintained his role in the offense last week. It's possible he sees a little extra work as the Chargers close out their inevitable win. |
30 | Dion Lewis | TEN | at BUF | Lewis saw 9 targets last week and Mariota appears to have turned the corner in his ulnar nerve recovery. |
31 | Ty Montgomery | GB | at DET | With Cobb and Allison banged up, it's likely TyMont gets a little more work through the air. |
32 | Lamar Miller | HOU | DAL | A starting RB is a starting RB, right? Right?! |
33 | Alex Collins | BAL | at CLE | The talented runner is stuck in fumble-purgatory. |
34 | Kerryon Johnson | DET | GB | Johnson is easily Detroit most talented runner but Matt Patricia is deadset on trying to imitate Bill Belichick with a committee approach. |
35 | Chris Carson | SEA | LAR | Hopefully you were able to trade him after his Week 3 explosion. |
36 | Bilal Powell | NYJ | DEN | Powell should function as a safety valve against the Broncos' pass rush. |
RB4s | ||||
37 | Isaiah Crowell | CLE | DEN | He gets the goal-line work after Powell brings them down the field. |
38 | Frank Gore | MIA | at CIN | Gore got the start last week over Kenyan Drake. |
39 | Alfred Morris | SF | ARI | Morris could fall into the endzone against the Cardinals paltry defense. |
40 | Derrick Henry | TEN | at BUF | Similar to Morris, Henry has a shot at accidentally scoring. |
41 | LeSean McCoy | BUF | TEN | McCoy is impossible to count on at this point. |
42 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | MIA | Gio might need to be higher on this list. He's got a good shot at 10 touches this week. |
43 | Jalen Richard | OAK | at LAC | Richard will likely see some 2nd-half work as the Raiders trail the Chargers in LA. |
44 | Jordan Wilkins | IND | at NE | Wilkins could see around 10 touches if the Colts keep things close. |
45 | Corey Grant | JAX | at KC | Grant has a good shot to see some passing game work with Fournette out. |
46 | Duke Johnson Jr. | CLE | BAL | Hue might accidentally use him. |
47 | Jamaal Williams | GB | at DET | Williams is guaranteed playing time given his pass pro prowess. He is not, however, guaranteed touches. |
48 | Theo Riddick | DET | GB | Riddick will get work this week as DET tries to keep pace with GB. |