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Week 5 Running Back Rankings & Matchups Analysis

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.

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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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Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.




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