The running back position might be the most important to nail as you work through setting your fantasy football lineup. Outside of the very elite, every option has some level of risk, so why not check out the Week 5 fantasy RB rankings to see how I evaluate each backfield and stack up the stars?
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Which RBs Should You Start in Fantasy Football?
MORE rankings from Soppe: QB | WR | TE | K | DST
1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (vs. DAL)
2) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. HOU)
3) Tony Pollard | DAL (at SF)
4) Josh Jacobs | LV (vs. GB)
5) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (at BUF)
6) Derrick Henry | TEN (at IND)
7) James Cook | BUF (vs. JAX)
8) D’Andre Swift | PHI (at LAR)
9) David Montgomery | DET (vs. CAR)
10) Saquon Barkley | NYG (at MIA)
11) Alvin Kamara | NO (at NE)
12) Zack Moss | IND (vs. TEN)
13) Isiah Pacheco | KC (at MIN)
14) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. PHI)
15) Joe Mixon | CIN (at ARI)
16) Aaron Jones | GB (at LV)
17) De’Von Achane | MIA (vs. NYG)
18) Alexander Mattison | MIN (vs. KC)
19) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (vs. CHI)
20) James Conner | ARI (vs. CIN)
21) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. NYG)
22) Gus Edwards | BAL (at PIT)
23) Breece Hall | NYJ (at DEN)
24) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. BAL)
25) Khalil Herbert | CHI (at WAS)
26) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (vs. CAR)
27) Aaron Jones | GB (at LV)
28) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at ATL)
29) Javonte Williams | DEN (vs. NYJ)
30) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE (vs. NO)
31) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. BAL)
32) Matt Breida | NYG (at MIA)
33) Roschon Johnson | CHI (at WAS)
34) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. HOU)
35) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (vs. NO)
36) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (at DET)
37) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN (vs. NYJ)
38) AJ Dillon | GB (at LV)
39) Devin Singletary | HOU (at ATL)
40) Samaje Perine | DEN (vs. NYJ)
41) Tyjae Spears | TEN (at IND)
42) Dalvin Cook | NYJ (at DEN)
43) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (at LAR)
44) Jerick McKinnon | KC (at MIN)
45) Tank Bigsby | JAX (at BUF)
46) Antonio Gibson | WAS (vs. CHI)
47) Latavius Murray | BUF (vs. JAX)
48) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC (at MIN)
49) Justice Hill | BAL (at PIT)
50) Rico Dowdle | DAL (at SF)
51) Cam Akers | MIN (vs. KC)
52) Melvin Gordon III | BAL (at PIT)
53) Kendre Miller | NO (at NE)
54) Damien Harris | BUF (vs. JAX)
55) Gary Brightwell | NYG (at MIA)
56) Michael Carter | NYJ (at DEN)
57) Ty Chandler | MIN (vs. KC)
58) Tony Jones Jr. | NO (at NE)
59) Trey Sermon | IND (vs. TEN)
60) Jordan Mason | SF (vs. DAL)
61) Zamir White | LV (vs. GB)
62) Trayveon Williams | CIN (at ARI)
63) Ronnie Rivers | LAR (vs. PHI)
64) Deuce Vaughn | DAL (at SF)
65) Craig Reynolds | DET (vs. CAR)
66) Ameer Abdullah | LV (vs. GB)
67) D’Ernest Johnson | JAX (at BUF)
68) Kyle Juszczyk | SF (vs. DAL)
69) Emari Demercado | ARI (vs. CIN)
70) Boston Scott | PHI (at LAR)
71) Alec Ingold | MIA (vs. NYG)
72) Emanuel Wilson | GB (at LV)
73) Chase Brown | CIN (at ARI)
74) Mike Boone | HOU (at ATL)
75) Kenyan Drake | BAL (at PIT)
76) Eric Gray | NYG (at MIA)
77) Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL (vs. HOU)
78) C.J. Ham | MIN (vs. KC)
79) Ty Montgomery | NE (vs. NO)
80) Patrick Taylor Jr. | GB (at LV)
81) Tyrion Davis-Price | SF (vs. DAL)
82) Chris Evans | CIN (at ARI)
83) Salvon Ahmed | MIA (vs. NYG)
84) Chris Brooks | MIA (vs. NYG)
85) Adam Prentice | NO (at NE)
86) Reggie Gilliam | BUF (vs. JAX)
87) Hunter Luepke | DAL (at SF)
88) Jakob Johnson | LV (vs. GB)
89) Patrick Ricard | BAL (at PIT)
The Top RBs To Start in Week 5
Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
For the third time in four weeks, Josh Jacobs reached 20 touches in Week 4. The role is nothing short of elite, but this was better than what we had seen through three weeks, an encouraging sign in a plus matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
He scored his first touchdown of the season, led the team in receptions, had his longest gain of the season (21-yard catch), and posted career bests in both receiving yards (81) and targets (11).
What a blitz pickup by Josh Jacobs
Believe he sees it pre-snap. Nice footwork to get in position to pick it up. And the FINISH! pic.twitter.com/ZLeJ1oP6BP
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 27, 2023
He was also an inch away from another score in a possession that ended with an Aiden O’Connell sneak touchdown. So, there was a lot of good to come from Week 4. That said, you’re not in the clear yet.
MORE: Fantasy Football RB Week 5 Trade Targets
He is flirting with a calendar year since his last rush gaining more than 20 yards and doesn’t have a single carry (62 attempts) gaining more than 10 yards this season. He is just under two yards tall, and he is averaging just 2.7 yards per carry behind this brutal offensive line.
The Detroit Lions ran for 211 yards and three scores on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers last week, giving Jacobs matchup-winning upside in the final game of the week.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Isaiah Pacheco showing out last week wasn’t a fluke. It was only a matter of time. He has seen his carry count increase each week this season and has three plays of 30+ yards over the past three games.
His involvement in the passing attack has taken a nice step forward (five more routes run than Jerick McKinnon last week), and with no receiver stepping up, Pacheco’s role is critical to the success of this offense.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
Pacheco’s weekly finishes this season:
- Week 1: 35th
- Week 2: 25th
- Week 3: 11th
- Week 4: 7th
That’s a trend that I am buying. As long as Patrick Mahomes is leading this offense to the red zone four times a game, something he has done throughout his career, Pacheco’s role and running style make him a strong RB2 every week.