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Alex breaks down the top 10 running backs from Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season and the storylines surrounding each backfield. Who was the biggest surprise from another week of NFL action?
Week 5 was fun, not just for the running backs. Seven of the 13 matchups thus far have matched or surpassed 46 points, with three contests exceeding 66 (!) combined points. All of them divisional matchups between the Falcons and Buccaneers, Colts and Jaguars, and Ravens and Bengals. It's a pleasant surprise with a notable amount of fantasy assets from the Chargers, Eagles, Lions, and Titans all on bye. Perhaps offenses are beginning to wake up a bit? Maybe we should start to consider the month of September the "preseason"? I digress.
As always, another week of NFL action brings a litany of storylines, like what's up with the Bills? Buffalo was steamrolling teams through the first three weeks -- averaging 37 points per game -- but has combined for just 30 over its previous two. On the other side of the coin, rookie quarterbacks are taking the league by storm. Jayden Daniels has led the Washington Commanders to a 4-1 record, while Caleb Williams continues his unbeaten streak at home in Chicago. We even had Bo Nix play another sound game of football.
With quarterbacks and their respective air attacks showing out this week, the running back performances took a backseat. Still, there were a few nice stat lines, and some fresh new faces made an appearance in this column. With the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs still left to host the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, the one player of note not to qualify for this list is Saints stud Alvin Kamara. ICYMI, below are the top 10 fantasy running backs from Week 5 in PPR formats.
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Top 10 Running Backs of the Week (including MNF)
Here are the top 10 running backs from Week 5 of the 2024 NFL season in PPR scoring:
| Rank | Player | Team | Points |
| 1 | Tank Bigsby | JAC | 25.9 |
| 2 | D'Andre Swift | CHI | 20 |
| 3 | Rico Dowdle | DAL | 19.4 |
| 4 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | 19.2 |
| 5 | Trey Sermon | IND | 18.3 |
| 6 | James Cook | BUF | 17.9 |
| 7 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | 17.5 |
| 8 | Derrick Henry | BAL | 16.6 |
| T-9 | Chase Brown | CIN | 16.4 |
| T-9 | Josh Jacobs | GB | 16.4 |
1. Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
This week marked the second in a row that Tank Bigsby out-rushed his backfield mate Travis Etienne Jr. This time, however, the former out-touched him, too. The second-year back rushed 13 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns in the 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts -- adding 28 yards through the air on his sole reception, converting his lone target.
Bigsby ran wild against the Colts (7.8 YPC), ripping off a 65-yard highlight for one of his touchdowns. Etienne was heavily involved in the passing game -- catching 6-of-7 targets for 43 yards -- but was far less efficient on the ground, racking up 17 yards on his six carries (2.8 YPC). He had been dealing with a shoulder injury and was coming off a week of limited sessions, but so was Bigsby.
Bigsby. Bank. Bang.@tank_bigsby | #INDvsJAX on CBS pic.twitter.com/Ip8aFfmQaa
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 6, 2024
It's unclear how healthy the presumed starter is. Still, the former third-round pick's back-to-back efficient outings look like they could be turning this backfield into more of a committee than initially anticipated. He's undoubtedly earned the increased role, but an even split could have this backfield leaving fantasy managers with headaches weekly.
This duo will have a tougher task in Week 6 when they face a stout Chicago Bears defense, but Bigsby has worked his way into weekly flex consideration with upside for more.
2. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
After a dreadful first three weeks of the season, D'Andre Swift has now appeared in this column in back-to-back weeks. Swift had another strong outing Sunday when his team decimated the Carolina Panthers 36-10 for their eighth straight home victory. He toted the rock 21 times for 73 yards and a touchdown while adding 47 yards through the air, reeling in both of his targets.
It was another encouraging performance for the 25-year-old, who has 285 total yards and two TDs over his last two contests. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is quickly adapting to the league, so similar production could be in store for the former second-round pick on a more consistent basis. Regardless, anyone who stuck with him is certainly content with the recent returns.
In Week 6, Chicago will travel to the United Kingdom to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in another juicy matchup. The Georgia product will be an RB2 with upside for the contest.
3. Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys and Steelers were delayed roughly 90 minutes due to inclement weather in Week 5's penultimate matchup, but they certainly gave us a show that came down to the wire. I had been waiting for the Rico Dowdle breakout for a few weeks as he'd out-touched and out-gained backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott each outing since Week 2. On Sunday Night Football, it all came together for him.
Dowdle put together his best game in the team's 20-17 victory and he saw his largest touch count of the season, turning 20 carries into 87 yards on the ground while converting both of his targets for 27 yards and a score through the air. It's the first time in his four-year career that he's hit the 20-touch mark, and it's easily his highest output since entering the league. It was also the second week in a row he caught a touchdown.
Elliott has yet to average more than 4.0 YPC in any contest this season and hasn't rushed for more than 19 yards since the opener. Perhaps this is the performance that persuades Dallas to feature the 26-year-old more prominently in its offense.
If so, the former undrafted free agent would garner RB2 consideration. However, he gets a tough ask in Week 6 at home against the Detroit Lions. He'll be on the lower end of the spectrum for that one.
4. Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
There were reports earlier this week that Rhamondre Stevenson had lost the starting running back job in New England and that Antonio Gibson would lead the backfield heading into Week 5. Well, half of that statement was true, as Gibson did get the start and received the first touch out of New England's backfield -- a rush he took for seven yards. However, Stevenson didn't stay down long.
On the Pats' next drive, the 26-year-old was out there and received three straight touches, the third turning into a 33-yard scamper he housed for six points. Gibson would touch the ball just five more times (once through the air) for 49 total yards, while Stevenson again saw the bulk of the backfield work. He'd rush 12 times for 89 yards on the day, "adding" three yards on 4-of-4 receiving.
The shiftiness on this TD run from Rhamondre Stevenson!! 🤩
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/2BYPnH7ZFG
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024
With the news of him "losing" the starting job, he was probably benched in several leagues, but he'll be a borderline must-start option moving forward. Stevenson will be a mid-to-low-end RB2 in Week 6 against a more formidable Texans squad.
5. Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts were down starting quarterback Anthony Richardson (oblique) and running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) in this one, but they still churned out a top-10 RB performance. Trey Sermon was a fine fill-in for Taylor, rushing 10 times for 38 yards and scoring in a 37-34 shootout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He added 25 yards through the air, converting all six of his targets.
Sermon's work in the passing game was nice to see and helped aid any managers who were forced to start him this week due to Taylor's injury. However, running back Tyler Goodson was more efficient with his work on the ground and through the air. Sermon led the duo in touches (16 to eight), but Goodson was better on a per-touch basis, averaging 7.13 yards to the 25-year-old's 3.94.
This backfield may move to a more even distribution of touches moving forward while the team is down Taylor, whose status over the coming weeks is still uncertain. If Sermon continues to lead the RB room, he'll be a low-end RB3/flex option in Week 6 when Indianapolis lines up against a stout Tennessee Titans defense on the road.
6. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
James Cook had a productive day in Buffalo's 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans despite quarterback Josh Allen completing just 9-of-30 passes for 131 yards. Cook saw 20 carries, turning them into 82 yards and a score while reeling in 2-of-3 targets for 17 yards and a long gain of 24 through the air.
Aside from a poor, single-digit fantasy outing last week in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the third-year back has been one of the better picks at the position in fantasy drafts this summer. He's currently the overall RB5 in PPR formats and a weekly top option at the running back spot.
Despite one of the more challenging opponents in Week 6, Cook is a must-start option and a low-end RB1 for the divisional matchup against the Jets.
7. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Chuba Hubbard continues to enjoy a nice streak of production with an Andy Dalton-led offense in Carolina. The Panthers were handily defeated 36-10 by the Bears on the road, but Hubbard still made his mark on the game -- carrying the rock 13 times for 97 yards and a score while reeling in all four of his targets for -2 yards.
Hubbard 🏠 📱
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/vE8gYT3uLi
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 6, 2024
The 25-year-old has now recorded at least four receptions and a touchdown in three straight games and was just three yards from his third straight 100-yard effort on the ground. He's racked up 385 total yards, 13 receptions, and three TDs over his last three contests and has elevated himself to weekly must-start status with the enhanced role and efficiency.
Of note, Dalton struggled in this one and was benched late in the fourth quarter for second-year QB Bryce Young. When Young entered the contest, it was far out of reach, and head coach Dave Canales had already committed to Dalton for Week 6. However, the Panthers were bound to turn back to the Alabama product eventually, and now the 36-year-old potentially has a shorter leash.
Hubbard will get another excellent matchup his next time out in Week 6 against a Falcons defense that has allowed the most rushing yards to opposing offenses. He'll be a fringe RB1 for the contest.
8. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Derrick Henry again had a strong outing in Baltimore's electric 41-38 win over the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. Henry totaled 92 yards and a touchdown on his 15 carries (6.1 YPC) while adding four yards on his lone reception. It's his fifth game in a row with a score and he now has seven total touchdowns through five games. Sunday also marked the third time he's averaged more than six yards per carry this season.
The 30-year-old bruiser continues to dominate while running alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson, forming a nightmare of a duo for opposing defenses to account for. As a team, Baltimore is rushing for 6.1 yards per clip and leads the league in total rushing as the only team to clear 1,000 yards on the season (211.2 per game).
Henry will continue to be an elite RB1 play every week and will look to continue his touchdown streak against a surprising 4-1 Washington Commanders squad. It's another fantastic matchup for the longtime Titan, who should challenge for the overall RB1 spot against a Commanders defense allowing the second-most yards per carry in the league (5.3).
T-9. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
After being relegated to scraps through the first three weeks, Chase Brown has made the Bengals backfield into more of a 50/50 split over the last two contests. Week 5 marks his second feature in this column and the first time on the season he's out-touched running back Zack Moss.
Brown had modest production on the ground in the 41-38 loss to the Ravens, taking 12 carries for 46 yards. However, he scored a touchdown again this week -- this time through the air -- while adding eight yards on 3-of-3 receiving. Moss racked up one more target than the former and out-gained him by 20 yards on the same amount of receptions. Still, Brown has been the more explosive back and has a good bit more wiggle than the 26-year-old.
Chase Brown's TD extends the @Bengals lead to 31-21.
📺: #BALvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/Cv1trH4sBw— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
Don't let the athleticism fool you, though, as the former fifth-round pick is still a solid in-between-the-tackles runner, capable of making a decisive cut and turning it north-south. Cincinnati may continue to roll with Moss down around the goal line and in short-yardage situations as he leads the tandem with seven attempts inside the 5-yard line. Despite this, Brown has the same amount of TDs on just two rushes from the same area of the field.
Both backs will be RB3s with upside in Week 6 against a Giants defense allowing the eighth-most yards per carry (4.8). Keep an eye on this backfield over the coming weeks.
T-9. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers.
Aside from a single-digit fantasy outing in Week 3 against the Titans, Josh Jacobs has been one of the more consistent producers at the RB spot. He's been solid, if not spectacular, clearing 11.8 fantasy points in four of five games as a Packer. It feels as though he's flown under the radar a bit, but he turned in his best effort of the season in the Packers' 24-19 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Jacobs rushed for just 3.84 YPC but toted the rock 19 times, churning out 73 yards and a score with a long gain of 13. His touchdown came on a two-yard shotgun carry that went under review, and the sixth-year back caught his only target for a 21-yard gain on a sweet play off a screen pass.
It was just the second time this season that the Alabama product hit the 20-touch mark in a single outing. Still, there are likely more days like that ahead, with running back Emanuel Wilson his only competition for backfield touches. The veteran is winning that battle without a hitch, leading the duo with 98 total touches to Wilson's 40.
Jacobs is a solid, high-floor RB2 from here on out and stands an excellent chance to get into the end zone again in Week 6 against an Arizona Cardinals squad that's allowed the most rushing touchdowns (eight) through the season's five weeks.
Thanks for reading, and best of luck in all your matchups in Week 6!
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