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Below you will find our Week 5 Running Back rankings, to help determine your RB starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Edward Gorelik (@EdwardGorelik) and Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades).
Featured fantasy football writer Zach Wilkens also highlights some RB rankings and matchups analysis for Week 5, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 5.
You can also check out our 2015 fantasy football ranking dashboard, for more in depth rankings analysis on all positions including rookies and dynasty leagues.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
- Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs
| RotoBaller Staff Ranks |
Player Name (Team - Position) |
Zach Wilkens Rankings |
Ed Gorelik Rankings |
| 1 | Jamaal Charles KC vs. CHI | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Le'Veon Bell PIT at SD | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Matt Forte CHI at KC | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Eddie Lacy GB vs. STL | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Mark Ingram NO at PHI | 4 | 6 |
| 6 | Dion Lewis NE at DAL | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | Arian Foster HOU vs. IND | 8 | 8 |
| 8 | Justin Forsett BAL vs. CLE | 12 | 5 |
| 9 | Todd Gurley STL at GB | 7 | 10 |
| 10 | Danny Woodhead SD vs. PIT | 11 | 9 |
| 11 | C.J. Spiller NO at PHI | 10 | 13 |
| 12 | Devonta Freeman ATL vs. WAS | 15 | 11 |
| 13 | Latavius Murray OAK vs. DEN | 14 | 14 |
| 14 | Duke Johnson CLE at BAL | 13 | 16 |
| 15 | Frank Gore IND at HOU | 20 | 12 |
| 16 | T.J. Yeldon JAC at TB | 18 | 15 |
| 17 | Carlos Hyde SF at NYG | 19 | 17 |
| 18 | Giovani Bernard CIN vs. SEA | 21 | 20 |
| 19 | Chris Johnson ARI at DET | 25 | 18 |
| 20 | DeMarco Murray PHI vs. NO | 17 | 27 |
| 21 | Joseph Randle DAL vs. NE | 23 | 21 |
| 22 | Ronnie Hillman DEN at OAK | 28 | 19 |
| 23 | Ameer Abdullah DET vs. ARI | 22 | 25 |
| 24 | Shane Vereen NYG vs. SF | 24 | 24 |
| 25 | Doug Martin TB vs. JAC | 26 | 26 |
| 26 | Jeremy Hill CIN vs. SEA | 30 | 23 |
| 27 | LeGarrette Blount NE at DAL | 35 | 22 |
| 28 | Melvin Gordon SD vs. PIT | 29 | 28 |
| 29 | Rashad Jennings NYG vs. SF | 27 | 38 |
| 30 | Alfred Morris WAS at ATL | 34 | 32 |
| 31 | Isaiah Crowell CLE at BAL | 32 | 34 |
| 32 | Darren Sproles PHI vs. NO | 38 | 30 |
| 33 | C.J. Anderson DEN at OAK | 40 | 31 |
| 34 | Andre Ellington ARI at DET | 36 | 40 |
| 35 | Thomas Rawls SEA at CIN | 48 | 29 |
| 36 | Matt Jones WAS at ATL | 41 | 37 |
| 37 | Charles Sims TB vs. JAC | 44 | 36 |
| 38 | Reggie Bush SF at NYG | 39 | 41 |
| 39 | Theo Riddick DET vs. ARI | 46 | 35 |
| 40 | Chris Thompson WAS at ATL | 37 | 44 |
| 41 | Ryan Mathews PHI vs. NO | 42 | 39 |
| 42 | Roy Helu OAK vs. DEN | 31 | 63 |
| 43 | Tevin Coleman ATL vs. WAS | 33 | 52 |
| 44 | David Johnson ARI at DET | 51 | 33 |
| 45 | Antonio Andrews TEN vs. BUF | 43 | 43 |
| 46 | Darren McFadden DAL vs. NE | 45 | 42 |
| 47 | Anthony Dixon BUF at TEN | 47 | 47 |
| 48 | Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL vs. CLE | 55 | 45 |
| 49 | Andre Williams NYG vs. SF | 52 | 46 |
| 50 | Khiry Robinson NO at PHI | 50 | 48 |
| 51 | Bishop Sankey TEN vs. BUF | 49 | 49 |
| 52 | James Starks GB vs. STL | 56 | 50 |
| 53 | Dexter McCluster TEN vs. BUF | 51 | |
| 54 | Christine Michael DAL vs. NE | 53 | 61 |
| 55 | Josh Robinson IND at HOU | 53 | |
| 56 | Alfred Blue HOU vs. IND | 54 | |
| 57 | Tre Mason STL at GB | 55 | |
| 58 | Marcel Reece OAK vs. DEN | 56 | |
| 59 | Zach Zenner DET vs. ARI | 57 | |
| 60 | Fred Jackson SEA at CIN | 58 | |
| 61 | Chris Polk HOU vs. IND | 59 | |
| 62 | Benny Cunningham STL at GB | 60 | |
| 63 | Terron Ward ATL vs. WAS | 64 | |
| 64 | Jacquizz Rodgers CHI at KC | 65 | |
| 65 | Charcandrick West KC vs. CHI | 66 | |
| 66 | Jeremy Langford CHI at KC | 67 | |
| 67 | Knile Davis KC vs. CHI | 68 | |
| 68 | DeAngelo Williams PIT at SD | 69 | |
| 69 | Javorius Allen BAL vs. CLE | 70 | |
| 70 | Terrance West TEN vs. BUF | 71 | |
| 71 | Branden Oliver SD vs. PIT | 72 |
Week 5 Running Back (RB) Rankings Analysis
By Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades)
There are a couple big inactives this week in Karlos Williams and Marshawn Lynch. For the Bills that means moving to their third string RB Anthony Dixon. He’ll be backed up by Dan Herron. Dixon is a flex play and I currently have him at RB27. I don’t like his talent much at all but there is a good chance he gets a couple goal line carries.
For the Seahawks, Thomas Rawls will start once again. He didn’t do a whole lot last week and his opponent the Bengals have allowed zero rushing touchdowns to RBs. I’m avoiding him if possible at RB32.
Near the top of my rankings I guess I’m finally all in on Dion Lewis at RB8. HC Bill Belichick has shown consistent use of Lewis early in the game, and has only moved towards LeGarrette Blount in the second half when the Patriots have been comfortably ahead.
The Patriots are set to be scoring heavily once again, so even if Lewis sits after a healthy lead is established I’m expecting a big game. Similar to Week 3, the Patriots should be able to do enough damage that Blount will have his scoring opportunities as well. I have him at RB29.
Call me a fool, but I am very low on Devonta Freeman this week at RB15. At that ranking you are almost certainly still starting him, but I hate the matchup against a Redskins team that has proven themselves to be very stingy vs the run so far. In addition to that, Tevin Coleman is set to return and he will grab some of the carries as well. Don’t get me wrong, Freeman is clearly going to be the favored back after the last two weeks, but don’t be surprised if he isn’t in a workhorse role either.
Another guy I’m low on following a big week is Doug Martin whom I have at RB25. The Jags are a tough rushing defense that just don’t get enough respect. Believe it or not, they have given up fewer rushing yards RB at a lower YPC than the Seahawks. They did allow four rushing touchdowns to the Patriots, but they have handled every other rushing attack with ease so far. That makes me shy away from Martin as anything more than a flex.
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