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About 176 years ago Neptune was discovered by Johann Gottfried Galle. Well here in 2021, I have discovered a running back that I am quite optimistic about for the foreseeable future. His name is Javonte Williams and I speculate the second half of this season will be his to take a hold of. I say this as someone very bullish on Melvin Gordon III. Denver is currently in the top half of the league in rushing attempts, average yards per carry, longest rush (70 yards), and rushing touchdowns (and yet they only have two fumbles). Javonte’s 2021 rookie season has been a progression – 7 carries in Week 1, 12 in Week 2, 13 in Week 3, and 14 last week. The North Carolina product is rewarding Denver with some epic runs.
Notes for Week 5
- New York Jets vs. Atlanta looks like it could showcase a lot of running.
- Injuries to Darrell Henderson, David Montgomery, Joe Mixon, and Damien Williams have me concerned.
- My gut feeling tells me Tennessee, Arizona, Buffalo and Denver all go run-heavy this week.
- We should see some tandem work with Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt, Ezekiel Elliott/Tony Pollard, Jonathan Taylor/Nyheim Hines and Javonte Williams/Melvin Gordon III.
Week 5 RB Rankings Fantasy Football
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Team | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Derrick Henry | Ten | @Jax | Always solid |
| 2 | Alvin Kamara | NO | vs.Was | Always solid |
| 3 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | vs.Cle | Favorable matchup |
| 4 | Najee Harris | Pit | vs.Den | Favorable matchup |
| 5 | Dalvin Cook | Min | @Det | Tough matchup |
| 6 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | @Dal | Fully Healthy? |
| 7 | Aaron Jones | GB | @Cin | 15+ touches in three of four games |
| 8 | Nick Chubb | Cle | @LAC | TDs or 100+ Rush Yards seems the norm |
| 9 | Ezekiel Elliott | Dal | vs.NYG | Four TDs in last three games |
| 10 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC | vs.Buf | Favorable matchup |
| 11 | D'Andre Swift | Det | @Min | Solid workload |
| 12 | James Robinson | Jax | vs.Ten | Stock is ticking up |
| 13 | Darrell Henderson Jr. | LAR | @Sea | Tough matchup |
| 14 | Jonathan Taylor | Ind | @Bal | 100 yards and 1 TD last week |
| 15 | Leonard Fournette | TB | vs.Mia | Tough matchup |
| 16 | Antonio Gibson | Was | vs.NO | 10+ fantasy points in three of four games |
| 17 | Joe Mixon | Cin | vs.GB | Ankle sprain |
| 18 | Chase Edmonds | Ari | vs.SF | First 100+ rush yard game of the year last week |
| 19 | Kareem Hunt | Cle | @LAC | Solid last 2 weeks |
| 20 | Javonte Williams | Den | @Pit | Favorable matchup |
| 21 | Damien Harris | NE | @Hou | Formulating into a pass catching RB |
| 22 | Chris Carson | Sea | vs.LAR | A committee is starting to form with him and Alex Collins |
| 23 | Chuba Hubbard | Car | vs.Phi | Darnold stealing his TDs |
| 24 | Kenyan Drake | LV | vs.Chi | Only 1 Rush attempt last week |
| 25 | Cordarrelle Patterson | Atl | vs.NYJ | Tough matchup |
| 26 | Melvin Gordon III | Den | @Pit | Favorable matchup |
| 27 | David Montgomery | Chi | @LV | Doubtful to play |
| 28 | Nyheim Hines | Ind | @Bal | Hines shines every other game |
| 29 | Josh Jacobs | LV | vs.Chi | Somewhat TD dependent these days |
| 30 | Latavius Murray | Bal | vs.Ind | Rush TDs in three of four games |
| 31 | Jamaal Williams | Det | @Min | Beast mode run last week |
| 32 | Mike Davis | Atl | vs.NYJ | Tough matchup |
| 33 | James Conner | Ari | vs.SF | Increased usage |
| 34 | Zack Moss | Buf | @KC | 3 Rush TDs in 3 weeks of playing |
| 35 | Damien Williams | Chi | @LV | Knee Injury |
| 36 | Tony Pollard | Dal | vs.NYG | 60+ rush yards in three of four games |
| 37 | Miles Sanders | Phi | @Car | Favorable matchup; feeling like a lost cause though |
| 38 | Devin Singletary | Buf | @KC | Tough matchup |
| 39 | Michael Carter | NYJ | @Atl | Showed some potential last week |
| 40 | Eli Mitchell | SF | @Ari | Shoulder injury |
| 41 | Trey Sermon | SF | @Ari | Up and down |
| 42 | Christian McCaffrey | Car | vs.Phi | Injury has me cautious |
| 43 | Kenneth Gainwell | Phi | @Car | Favorable matchup |