Top 40 Running Backs for PPR Fantasy Football Week 5
Jonathan Taylor gets going, Derrick Henry continues his consistency, but what about Nick Chubb and D'Andre Swift? Should we be worried with their inconsistencies?
The most important position in Fantasy Football is the Running Back position, and having a productive and consistent one(or two) is crucial to winning Fantasy Football leagues.
Again these rankings are not only based on production but also matchups. Austin Ekeler would be higher this week if he was not playing the Browns and their elite defense. I want all of you guys to win your fantasy Football Leagues and more importantly your matchups this week so here you go.
Derrick Henry, Tennesee Titans, Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
Henry is coming off of another monster fantasy week and he could get 200 yards rushing against the Jaguars and their atrocious defense.
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings, Opponent: Detroit Lions
Dalvin Cook has been everything we have expected him to be in Fantasy Football, but he is coming off of a down week where he only put up 6.4 fantasy points.
Don’t worry though, Cook will more than make up for that when he gets you over 20 fantasy points this week against a horrid Lions defense.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints, Opponent: Washington Football Team
Kamara is coming off of a 12 fantasy point game, but the Saints haven’t had two straight bad games all season long. When the Saints play well, Kamara puts up at least 16 fantasy points and they should be able to be the Washington Football Team and have one of their “on games” despite their inconsistencies.
Regardless, you have to start Kamara, but he is possibly the biggest boom/bust player this week simply because of his inconsistencies.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts, Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Taylor is coming off of his first true “first round” performance where he put up 20.4 fantasy points and was a beast in both the passing game and the run game. Taylor will have another fantastic week in a must-win game for the Colts against the Ravens, who have been very up and down on the defensive end.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers, Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
Jones is one of those guys you can always count on. Jones is consistently involved in all aspects of the Packers offense and the Bengals haven’t had a consistent defense all year long so expect the Packers to exploit that and for Jones to be a huge part of that.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers, Opponent: Cleveland Browns
Ekeler is coming off of a huge 30 point fantasy performance against the Raiders where he caught a touchdown, rushed for 117 yards, and a touchdown as well. He is a fantasy beast when he is healthy, and health has been a concern for him his whole career.
However, Ekeler has possibly the toughest assignment of any Running Back this week when he plays the Browns, who only allowed 34 yards to Dalvin Cook and 54 rush yards in total. Start him, but if he has an off week don’t be disappointed.
Ezekiel Elliot, Dallas Cowboys, Opponent: New York Giants
Elliot has burst back into the Cowboys’ offense as both a big-time rusher and receiving target. Elliot has been used in so many different ways by Kellen Moore, Mike McCarthy, and the Cowboys and that benefits fantasy owners of Elliot tremendously. Ellio should be able to dominate the run game again this week against the New York Giants. Start him with confidence.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns, Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Chubb is always going to get you 80+ rushing yards no matter who he is up against. The issue for Chubb remains that Kareem Hunt is used a lot more in the passing game, therefore producing as many fantasy points as Chubb a lot of the time.
Unless Chubb can be used in the Red-Zone a lot again, then his fantasy production will not be good again this week. Hopefully, the Browns start to use him more in the offense as a whole because he isn’t a bad receiving option either.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants, Opponent: Dallas Cowboys
Barkley has had back-to-back weeks with 20+ fantasy points and that shouldn’t change against the Cowboys unless Micah Parsons has a big game and shuts him down completely.
Barkley is finally on the right track after his gruesome injury last season. If Daniel Jones can pass the ball very well early on, it will only open up the run game for Barkley. He should get you around 12-16 fantasy points this week.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team, Opponent: New Orleans Saints
Antonio Gibson is still not used in the Washington offense as much as he should be used. However, his production every week is still great because of his ability to run for big yards and catch a lot of passes. Start Gibson but understand that if the Saints have one of their “on” days then he could be due for limited production.
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions, Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
D’Andre Swift is bound to have a bounceback week against an awful Vikings defense. I expect Swift to go off for over 80 rushing yards with 50 receiving yards and a touchdown as well. Start him as your RB1, RB2, or your Flex, just make sure you start him!
Cordarelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons, Opponent: New York Jets
Is this too high or too low for one of the best PPR players in all of Fantasy Football? Patterson is coming off of a 36 fantasy point week and should get a lot of touches against the Jets this weekend as well. Start him every week until he stops producing at this level.
James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars, Opponent: Tennesee Titans
The Titans are up and down on defense but James Robinson is coming off of back-to-back two touchdown weeks and should continue to be the biggest part of this Jaguars offense. Start him with confidence.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs, Opponent: Buffalo Bills
Edwards-Helaire is coming off of two productive weeks in a row, but it remains to be seen how good he can be against a good Bills defense. Will he even be a part of the offense this weekend? Sometimes Edwards-Helaire is a big part of the offense and sometimes he is non-existent in the offense. He is the biggest boom/bust player this week.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers, Opponent: Denver Broncos
Harris is one of the best players in all PPR leagues this season because of his ability to catch a ton of passes to go along with his obvious rushing abilities.
However, he is going up against a dominant Broncos defense and I don’t know if he will be able to keep up his production to the level he has been this weekend. I think Harris will pick up a touchdown and get you 12-16 fantasy points, but another week over 20 is not likely against this Broncos defense.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns, Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Hunt is the RB2 in the running game, but the RB1 in the passing game making him very valuable in PPR leagues. Hunt should catch 6-8 passes and run 10 times which could get you a ton of fantasy points if he gets a touchdown.
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals, Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
Edmonds is coming off of a week where he ran for 120 yards. He would have had over 23 fantasy points had he gotten a touchdown, but regardless, he has stepped up and been consistent in almost every single game this season. He is bound to at least get 11 fantasy points and could go off for an even bigger day.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks, Opponent: Los Angeles Rams
Carson had his worst fantasy performance in a long time last weekend against the 49ers only producing 4.1 fantasy points. Regardless, he is bound to have a bounceback week against a Rams team that just gave up 216 rush yards to the Cardinals. Start him.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers, Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
Hubbard was barely used in the second half of last weekend’s game against the Cowboys because the Panthers were so far behind they just passed the rest of the game. Either way, Hubbard is bound to get 12-16 fantasy points this week since I believe that the Panthers will be ahead most of this game.
Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills, Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
Moss is a sure thing to produce at least 12 fantasy points every single week. This week should be no different as Moss is going up against a horrendous Chiefs defense. Start him at flex if you don’t have players higher on this list. Moss is even a legitimate RB2 this week.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers, Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
Mitchell should be back as the 49ers RB1 and even though they are using a committee, it is always a positive to be the 49ers lead back, especially when you have a Rookie QB starting for you. Mitchell should get you at least 10 fantasy points but also no more than 15 because of the committee running game by the 49ers.
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders, Opponent: Chicago Bears
Jacobs is coming off of a bad performance in his first week back from injury and who knows if he will be able to be a bigger part of the offense against the Bears. I think that Jacobs’ biggest asset is his ability to catch the ball and he is a big boom/bust player going into this weekend because of the inconsistencies in Jacobs’ performances and the Raiders offense.
Damien Williams, Chicago Bears, Opponent: Las Vegas Raiders
Williams is going to be starting for David Montgomery and he should have a very productive day. Williams is obviously not close to being as good as Montgomery, but the Raiders allow a lot of rush yards and that should benefit Williams tremendously.
Damien Harris, New England Patriots, Opponent: Houston Texans
Harris is the New England’s RB1 and should have a very good week against the Houston Texans, who have one of the worst run defenses in the league. You can start Harris knowing you will get at least 11 fantasy points from him this weekend.
Darell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams, Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
Henderson and the Rams are playing an awful run defense in Seattle, but I do think that Matthew Stafford will exploit the Seahawks’ secondary and pass a ton, limiting Henderson’s production a little bit at least.
Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Opponent: Miami Dolphins
Fournette and the Bucs are playing the Dolphins and I think Tom Brady will throw way more than they run, meaning Fournette could have limited opportunities to score a TD or run for big yardage.
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts, Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Hines was a beast in the passing game until last weekend where he only picked up 1 fantasy point due to Jonathan Taylor being more involved in the passing game. Either way, Hines is the epitome of boom/bust every week and could get you 15 fantasy points or 0 fantasy points.
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals, Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
Conner scored a nice touchdown against the Rams and really had a good week. If you don’t have anyone higher on this list to play, Conner may be a solid option against an injury-ridden 49ers defense.
Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills, Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
Singletary is unplayable every week in my mind. Zack Moss rushes more now in the Red-Zone and he catches more passes. Singletary only gets the snap before the Bills get to the Red-Zone making his touchdown outlook virtually non-existent each week.
Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons, Opponent: New York Jets
Mike Davis is the obvious #2 in the offense behind Cordarelle Patterson, but he still gets most of the running snaps on the team and that could produce a touchdown. I would sit him if you have someone better, but he could do something against the Jets.
Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Opponent: Carolina Panthers
Sanders is the RB1 for the Eagles, but he hasn’t been used much at all this season. I would sit him if you have any depth on your bench at the Running Back position.
Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions, Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
Jamaal Williams could actually have a huge week if used correctly. The Vikings have an awful defense and Williams is a common target for Jared Goff in the passing game. He is the RB2 behind D’Andre Swift (who is bound to have a great day) so it is tough to tell how many snaps Williams will have. Huge boom/bust player for Week 5.
Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins, Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Gaskin recorded a remarkable 0 fantasy points last week against the Colts last weekend and he hasn’t done anything all season long. He is a must-sit in every league.
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys, Opponent: New York Giants
Mr hit or miss Tony Pollard looks All-Pro one week and nonexistent in the offensive scheme the next week. No one really knows how Pollard will be used this week against the Giants, so I would sit him.
Trey Sermon, San Francisco 49ers, Opponent: Arizona Cardinals
Sermon is bound to share snaps with both Elijah Mitchell and Kyle Juszczyk but if he is given some snaps close to the Red-Zone. Either way, he needs to be sat in all leagues this week.
Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles, Opponent: Carolina Panthers
Gainwell is coming off of a 20 point fantasy performance as Hurts has targeted Gainwell a fair amount in back-to-back weeks. Gainwell is still the #2 rusher behind Miles Sanders, but if he remains a big target in the passing game, it is worth a look to start him next week. Not this week though since he has been so inconsistent.
Melvin Gordon III Denver Broncos, Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers should be good enough on defense to stop the Broncos’ run game, but Gordon has been good when given enough snaps. I would sit him, but be aware of Gordon’s consistent production.
Malcolm Brown, Miami Dolphins, Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brown shared snaps with Myles Gaskin, but neither of them got going in the run game. As a result, I would stay away from Brown completely.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team, Opponent: New Orleans Saints
McKissic is probably going to get at least two receptions in the passing game, but Antonio Gibson is coming off of two really good weeks in a row, so who knows how many snaps McKissic will even get. He is a boom/bust player this week but I would sit him.
Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens, Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
Murray could have a big week, but Lamar Jackson is probably going to be the primary rusher on every run. Unless Murray breaks away and runs for a touchdown, Murray’s production is very limited considering he doesn’t catch passes and he isn’t going to be the primary rusher.