The 2022-23 NFL season has already been extremely entertaining. It has shown fantasy trends that have started to develop and show what could happen the rest of the season. Already some players have proven to be fantasy relevant while some fantasy stars have been alarmingly disappointing to this point. Injuries have started to mount up this season. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the Week 5 fantasy football running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 category.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Saquon Barkley | vs Green Bay Packers | RB1 |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs Cleveland Browns | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Derrick Henry | vs Washington Commanders | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Nick Chubb | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Joe Mixon | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB6 |
| High-End RB2 | Leonard Fournette | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB7 |
| High-End RB2 | Jonathan Taylor* | vs Denver Broncos | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Alvin Kamara* | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs New York Giants | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Dalvin Cook | vs Chicago Bears | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | Jamaal Williams | vs New England Patriots | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | David Montgomery* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | James Robinson | vs Houston Texans | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Najee Harris | vs Buffalo Bills | RB16 |
| Low RB2 | Miles Sanders | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB17 |
| Low RB2 | Dameon Pierce | vs Jacksomville Jaguars | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs Carolina Panthers | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Breece Hall | vs Miami Dolphins | RB21 |
| Low RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Detroit Lions | RB22 |
| Flex | James Conner | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB23 |
| Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB24 |
| Flex | Damien Harris | vs Detroit Lions | RB25 |
| Flex | J.K. Dobbins | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB26 |
| Flex | Antonio Gibson | vs Tennessee Titans | RB27 |
| Flex | Melvin Gordon | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB28 |
| Flex | Raheem Mostert | vs New York Jets | RB29 |
| Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB30 |
| Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB31 |
| Flex | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Houston Texans | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Rashaad Penny | vs New Orleans Saints | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Chase Edmonds | vs New York Jets | RB35 |
| Deep League Flex | J.D. McKissic | vs Tennessee Titans | RB36 |
| Deep League Flex | Tony Pollard | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB37 |
| Deep League Flex | Cam Akers | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB38 |
| Deep League Flex | Tyler Allgeier | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB39 |
| Deep League Flex | Khalil Hebert | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Darrell Henderson | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs Miami Dolphins | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mike Boone | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Isiah Pacheco | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rex Burkhead | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rachaad White | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Nyheim Hines | vs Denver Broncos | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Chicago Bears | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Brian Robinson* | vs Tennessee Titans | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Caleb Huntley | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Eno Benjamin | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Walker III | vs New Orleans Saints | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justice Hill | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Craig Reynolds | vs New England Patriots | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mark Ingram | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Carolina Panthers | RB59 |
| Leave on the Bench | Sony Michel | vs Cleveland Browns | RB60 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dontrell Hilliard | vs Washington Commanders | RB61 |
| Leave on the Bench | Latavius Murray | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB62 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zack Moss | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB63 |
| Leave on the Bench | James Cook | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB64 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB65 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB8 Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Johnathan Taylor did not participate in practice Tuesday because of an ankle injury. There is a realistic chance that Taylor could miss Thursday’s game against the Denver Broncos. If Taylor does miss this game then Nyheim Hines bumps up to RB37 between Tony Pollard and Cam Akers. Darius Jackson would join the list at RB47 between Rashaad White and Alexander Mattison. Phillip Lindsay could be an interesting DFS play Thursday night.
RB9 Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara was a last minute scratch Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Kamara was held out two of the past three games with a rib injury. If Kamara was to miss this game against the Seattle Seahawks Mark Ingram should lead the backfield now that Latavius Murray was poached by the Broncos. Ingram will move up to RB28 between Melvin Gordon and Raheem Mostert. Tony Jones Jr. would be Ingram’s backup and join the list at RB53 between Jerick McKinnon and Kenneth Walker.
RB14 David Montgomery, Chicago Bears
David Montgomery missed last week’s game against the New York Giants with an ankle and knee injury. He is still considered day-to-day at this point. If Montgomery misses this week against the Minnesota Vikings then Khalil Herbert moves up to RB15 between James Robinson and Najee Harris.
RB49 Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders
This is the week that Brian Robinson is expected to make his NFL debut after getting shot in the knee during the end of the preseason. Ron Rivera said that it looks “very promising” that Robinson will play this week against the Tennessee Titans. However, Robinson does miss this week agains the Titans then Antonio Gibson’s and J.D. McKissic’s values don’t change.
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