Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (RB) Week 5 Weekend Updates

by RotoBaller

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Fantasy football rankings - updated running back (RB) Week 5 rankings for 2025. Read the top-accuracy fantasy football PPR RB rankings.

In This Article hide

2. Week 5 Running Back Rankings Outlooks

3. Who Should I Start Tool

5. More Fantasy Football Analysis

The running back position has been hit hard by injuries heading into the weekend, so lineup calls are extra difficult. We're here to assist with our updated Week 5 fantasy football running back rankings for 2025. If you are looking for assistance with your start-sit calls at RB, check the rankings below to find out where key ball carriers and chain movers like Michael Carter, Emari Demercado, Rico Dowdle, David Montgomery, Cam Skattebo, Isiah Pacheco, Bhayshul Tuten, Chase Brown, and more stand for Week 5.

Our running back fantasy football rankings for Week 5 are put together by Nick Mariano. Below the rankings, you will also find key fantasy football outlooks from our RotoBaller staff, as well as the "Who to Start?" tool. Also, be sure to check our fantasy football news for this week. There are always key injuries and developments to keep track of, so check back throughout the week for updates.

Be sure to bookmark our fantasy football rankings portal and check back regularly for updates. Most importantly, our free mobile app is a must-have - download it and configure your push notifications. We deliver all the top NFL news, injuries, and fantasy analysis 24x7 with our free push notification alerts... all for free!

Editor's Note: Stay on top of your draft prep with RotoBaller’s fantasy football rankings, featuring expert analysis, ADPs, and draft insights for both PPR and non-PPR leagues.

Week 5 Running Back Rankings for Fantasy Football

Bookmark our PPR rankings, Half-PPR rankings, and standard (non-PPR) rankings

RB Tier	RB Rank	Player Name	Pos.	Overall Rank
1	1	Jahmyr Gibbs	RB	1
2	2	Christian McCaffrey	RB	2
2	3	Jonathan Taylor	RB	4
2	4	De'Von Achane	RB	5
2	5	James Cook	RB	6
2	6	Saquon Barkley	RB	8
3	7	Omarion Hampton	RB	9
3	8	Breece Hall	RB	10
3	9	Cam Skattebo	RB	11
3	10	Javonte Williams	RB	14
3	11	Kyren Williams	RB	15
3	12	Derrick Henry	RB	17
3	13	Ashton Jeanty	RB	22
3	14	Kenneth Walker III	RB	23
3	15	Alvin Kamara	RB	24
4	16	Travis Etienne Jr.	RB	25
4	17	Woody Marks	RB	28
4	18	Quinshon Judkins	RB	29
5	19	David Montgomery	RB	34
5	20	Rico Dowdle	RB	37
5	21	Jordan Mason	RB	38
5	22	J.K. Dobbins	RB	44
5	23	Chase Brown	RB	49
5	24	Rachaad White	RB	51
5	25	Tony Pollard	RB	71
6	26	Michael Carter	RB	72
6	27	Rhamondre Stevenson	RB	79
6	28	TreVeyon Henderson	RB	85
6	29	Zach Charbonnet	RB	90
7	30	Emari Demercado	RB	91
7	31	Nick Chubb	RB	97
7	32	Kareem Hunt	RB	103
7	33	Jacory Croskey-Merritt	RB	106
8	34	RJ Harvey	RB	107
8	35	Isiah Pacheco	RB	111
8	36	Sean Tucker	RB	112
8	37	Chris Rodriguez Jr.	RB	118
8	38	Justice Hill	RB	121
8	39	Kendre Miller	RB	124
8	40	Bhayshul Tuten	RB	127
9	41	Blake Corum	RB	132
9	42	Ollie Gordon II	RB	133
9	43	Zavier Scott	RB	136
9	44	Miles Sanders	RB	138
9	45	Isaiah Davis	RB	146
9	46	Devin Singletary	RB	150
9	47	Brashard Smith	RB	155
10	48	Jeremy McNichols	RB	157
10	49	Brian Robinson Jr.	RB	165
10	50	Trevor Etienne	RB	169
10	51	Jerome Ford	RB	170
10	52	Kyle Juszczyk	RB	172
10	53	Antonio Gibson	RB	175
10	54	Tyjae Spears	RB	184
10	55	Ray Davis	RB	188
11	56	Dylan Sampson	RB	194
11	57	Raheem Mostert	RB	196
11	58	Samaje Perine	RB	206
11	59	Ty Johnson	RB	210
11	60	LeQuint Allen Jr.	RB	217
11	61	Jaydon Blue	RB	219
11	62	DJ Giddens	RB	223
11	63	Hassan Haskins	RB	225
12	64	AJ Dillon	RB	229
12	65	Zonovan Knight	RB	231
12	66	Alec Ingold	RB	232
12	67	Julius Chestnut	RB	233
13	68	Tyler Goodson	RB	240
13	69	Will Shipley	RB	245
13	70	Dare Ogunbowale	RB	248
13	71	Kimani Vidal	RB	249
13	72	Tahj Brooks	RB	250
13	73	Hunter Luepke	RB	252
13	74	Isaac Guerendo	RB	253
14	75	Jaylen Wright	RB	254
14	76	Tyler Badie	RB	255
15	77	George Holani	RB	256
15	78	Zamir White	RB	257
15	79	Cam Akers	RB	258
15	80	Rasheen Ali	RB	259
15	81	Jaleel McLaughlin	RB	260
15	82	Dylan Laube	RB	261
15	83	Craig Reynolds	RB	262
15	84	Reggie Gilliam	RB/TE	263
15	85	Devin Neal	RB	265
16	86	Sincere McCormick	RB	266
16	87	Jarquez Hunter	RB	267
16	88	Tank Bigsby	RB	269
17	89	Audric Estime	RB	270
17	90	D'Ernest Johnson	RB	272

Week 5 Running Back Rankings Outlooks

Cam Skattebo, New York Giants

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is set up for another high-volume workload against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. With Tyrone Tracy Jr. still sidelined, Skattebo has cemented his role as the team's workhorse, commanding a 70.8% timeshare last week and ranking as the RB20 on the season with an average of 11.97 fantasy points per game.

He faces a Saints defense that allows the 24th-most fantasy points to running backs but has significant vulnerabilities that a high-volume back can exploit. New Orleans ranks 30th in the NFL in both points allowed per game (30.3) and red zone touchdown percentage (76.9%), setting the stage for Skattebo to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is expected to see a significant workload in Week 5 after Trey Benson (knee) was placed on injured reserve. "He's played a lot of snaps for us over the last couple years and he's going to now," general manager Monti Ossenfort said regarding Carter's expected workload.

Indeed, Carter played roughly 75 percent of the offensive snaps between Weeks 17 and 18 last season, rushing for 5.4 yards per carry in one of those games and scoring a touchdown in the other. He should face plenty of competition from Emari Demercado, but the general manager's comments indicate that the Cardinals could be headed for more of a true backfield split than people originally expected, even after Carter logged just one touch through the first four weeks of the season. Demercado is a high-end RB3/flex option, while Carter is best viewed as a mid-to-low RB3/flex.

Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals

Still, the general manager's comments indicate that the Cardinals could be headed for more of a true backfield split than people originally expected, even after Carter logged just one touch through the first four weeks of the season. Demercado is a high-end RB3/flex option, while Carter is best viewed as a mid-to-low RB3/flex.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders

Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has weekly upside because he's been so efficient and dynamic on his touches, but the role is still murky as part of a three-man committee in the Washington backfield. Croskey-Merritt is tied with third-year back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in snap share over the past two weeks without Austin Ekeler, each playing 37.4% of the snaps and earning 18 touches apiece.

Veteran back Jeremy McNichols has filled in primarily on late downs, playing 11 of 19 third and fourth-down plays over the past two weeks. Croskey-Merritt's role should continue to increase as he gets more experience. The rookie has been one of the most efficient runners in the league over his first month of NFL games. His 5.8 yards per carry ranks second best, while his 58.6% success rate is the best among all running backs.

That may not continue in a tough Week 5 matchup against the Chargers, as they have been the stingiest defense against the run. They've allowed just 10.6 PPR points per game on the season. That leaves Croskey-Merritt as a low-end flex play in Week 5.

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery is coming off his least productive game as a Lion, rushing for just 12 yards on nine carries in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns. Expect the Lions to look to get Montgomery going early in a much more favorable Week 5 matchup on paper against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cincinnati has allowed the seventh-most rushing yards and fifth-most rushing touchdowns in the NFL through four weeks. Even with the rough performance in Week 4, Montgomery is still averaging 5.7 yards per carry so far this season and has logged three rushing touchdowns. He profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 in Week 5 against Cincinnati.

Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Bhayshul Tuten (shoulder) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Friday with a shoulder ailment. Tuten hasn't missed any time yet in his rookie campaign, but if he doesn't put in a full practice on Saturday, he could be questionable to play on Monday night in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 23-year-old feels safe to be active on Monday night, but his final injury status is worth watching on Saturday. Travis Etienne Jr. is the Jags' No. 1 back, but Tuten has been involved and has already shown his big-play ability early on. Tuten has averaged seven touches a game and 39 scrimmage yards while finding the end zone two times in the last three games. Against a stout Chiefs run defense, though, Tuten will merely be a touchdown-dependent RB3/flex for fantasy managers if he's active.