The peaks and valleys of the running back position make finding reliable production in your fantasy football lineup a tough task. What makes that task a bit easier is understanding exactly which RBs have the best matchups heading into the upcoming slate of NFL games.
Here are some RBs who have great fantasy matchups in Week 5.
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Fantasy Matchups Week 5: Target These RBs
Breece Hall vs. Denver Broncos
One of the best fantasy strategies at the RB position every week has been to simply start a running back who is playing against the Denver Broncos. Here is a list of some of the fantasy points from running backs who have played the Broncos through the first month of the season.
De’Von Achane: 51.3 fantasy points (233 total yards and four TDs)
Raheem Mostert: 45.2 fantasy points (142 total yards and four TDs)
Brian Robinson: 28.9 fantasy points (129 total yards and two TDs)
Khalil Herbert: 22.2 fantasy points (122 total yards and a TD)
Just in case you are wondering, Denver is giving up an average of 41 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs this season.
Now would be a good time to mention that New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh mentioned earlier this week that the team will no longer be limiting RB Breece Hall’s touches anymore moving forward.
Jets’ HC Robert Saleh told reporters that the team will not be limiting RB Breece Hall’s workload any longer.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 4, 2023
If the Broncos’ struggles continue against opposing rushing attacks in Week 5, then Hall should be in starting consideration at your RB2 spot this week.
I currently have Hall inside my top 20 at the RB position this week against Denver.
Joe Mixon vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t been operating at maximum potential through the first four games of the season, but Joe Mixon has still been heavily involved and relatively efficient with his feature role in the backfield in 2023.
He’s rushed for a minimum of 56 yards and carried the ball at least 13 times every game this season.
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The Arizona Cardinals are giving up an average of 29.1 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season, which is the third most in the league through the first four games.
With Joe Burrow still ailing from a calf injury, expect another busy day at the office from Mixon against a defense that has surrendered a lot of fantasy points to opposing backs.
David Montgomery vs. Carolina Panthers
Fantasy managers who drafted David Montgomery with hopes he would fill the Jamaal Williams role from last season — a role that produced 17 rushing TDs last season — have been very pleased with the results.
Despite missing Week 3 due to a thigh injury, Montgomery has the second-most rushing TDs (five) in the league through the first four games of the season.
His Week 5 matchup against the Carolina Panthers’ defense could be another big day at the office for Montgomery. The Panthers have allowed an average of 27.5 fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Not to mention, opposing backs have scored seven touchdowns against this Panthers’ defense through four games.
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If the Panthers’ offense continues to struggle to produce points, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Montgomery top the 20-carry mark in a game for a third time this season on Sunday.
Montgomery is a top-10 play at the running back position this week, even with his lack of involvement in the passing game through the first month of the season.