Week 5 RB Rankings 2024

Check back every week as we rank the RBs ahead of their potential matchups. The position is as deep as ever, and you will want to know who start and who to bench based on matchup’s, projections and sometimes just gut feel.

RK	PLAYER NAME	TEAM	OPP	Blrub
1	Jordan Mason	San Francisco 49ers	vs. Arizona Cardinals	Has been pretty lights out while filling in for CMC, with 160 scrimmage yards last week, and the Niners get one of the best RB matchups possible. Arizona allows the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs on the season.
2	Derrick Henry	Baltimore Ravens	@ Cincinnati Bengals	The King is a mythical creature in a football uniform. That's the only explanation for a man his size and his age to be able reach 22 MPH like he did on that massive TD run vs. the Bills. He has one of the safest floors at the position, and we just saw how high his ceiling can go on SNF.
3	Kenneth Walker III	Seattle Seahawks	vs. New York Giants	Absolutely no limits for Kenneth Walker III in his return to action on MNF, looking unstoppable at times vs. what was the best fantasy defense against RBs, entering Week 4. Should have plenty of opportunities to steamroll over the Giants.
4	Kyren Williams	Los Angeles Rams	vs. Green Bay Packers	Kyren has one of the biggest workloads in the NFL with the current state of the Rams' battered offensive line. The Packers have allowed the fourth-most receiving yards to opposing RBs and 4.6 YPC on the ground.
5	Bijan Robinson	Atlanta Falcons	vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	The Falcons have been decent against the run to start the year, but they are one of two teams allowing over 60 receiving yards per game to opposing RBs. If Bijan can use one of his strong suits to exploit Atlanta's weak spots he could have a big day through the air.
6	Josh Jacobs	Green Bay Packers	@ Los Angeles Rams	Josh Jacobs is, again, doing everything he's asked of, but just hasn't found the end zone. The game script was completely working against him in Week 4, but Jordan Love's presence should bring about plenty of scoring opportunities for the 2022 rushing champion.
7	Alvin Kamara	New Orleans Saints	@ Kansas City Chiefs	Through four weeks of the season, the Chiefs are allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Kamara is the RB1 on the year and is averaging 25 PPR points per game, and his volume gives him a safe floor in PPR formats.
8	Aaron Jones	Minnesota Vikings	vs. New York Jets	Aaron Jones had 140 scrimmage yards last week, and gets a Jets defense that allows over 100 yards rushing per game to opposing RBs. Jones emerged as the true workhorse of the backfield, getting 25 touches on 82% of the RB snaps, as Ty Chandler was phased out.
9	Breece Hall	New York Jets	@ Minnesota Vikings	While the Broncos are among the 10 best defenses against fantasy RBs this season, the performance from Breece as the Jets sputtered in Week 4 was a big red flag. The Vikings have played possessed on defense under Brian Flores, and they are fourth-best against fantasy RBs.
10	James Cook	Buffalo Bills	@ Houston Texans	James Cook was still efficient on minimal touches in his disappointing Week 4 that can be chalked up to the entire Bills offense falling flat on its face against a good Ravens defense. The Texans allow the fewest RB receiving yards so far this season.
11	Brian Robinson Jr.	Washington Commanders	vs. Cleveland Browns	The Raiders were averaging just 50 rushing yards per game before netting over 150 vs. the Browns last week. This offense is humming, and should be a great chance for B Rob to find the end zone again, after doing so in 3-of-4 games to start the season.
12	James Conner	Arizona Cardinals	@ San Francisco 49ers	Conner bounced back last week after a disappointing Week 3, and the Niners aren't as formidable against RBs as we've come to expect. They've allowed the 13th-most points to the position, namely due to surrendering the fourth-most receiving yards to RBs this season.
13	De'Von Achane	Miami Dolphins	@ New England Patriots	I'm still holding out hope that the offense will look better after Huntley gets more reps at QB and allows the playbook to expand a bit more. The run game should always be available for the Dolphins against a Patriots offense that is among the worst in the league at getting points on the board.
14	Chuba Hubbard	Carolina Panthers	@ Chicago Bears	The Bears have an impressive defense, but they've been susceptible to the run game. Hubbard has at least 100 rushing yards and 4 catches in both games since Andy Dalton took over under center.
15	Joe Mixon	Houston Texans	vs. Buffalo Bills	Mixon has been out since suffering a Week 3 ankle injury, but is trending towards making his return to the lineup. We saw what Derrick Henry did to this Bills defense last week, and Mixon could make a splash in his return to the lineup if he is close to full strength.
16	Travis Etienne Jr.	Jacksonville Jaguars	vs. Indianapolis Colts	Etienne was outproduced by Tank Bigsby as he was the last time the third-year RB was full strength, back in week 1. Etienne had a shoulder injury in Week 4, but was able to come back to finish the game. One of the more underwhelming backs of the season hopes to bounce back vs. the Colts.
17	D'Andre Swift	Chicago Bears	vs. Carolina Panthers	I guess I'll eat my words on D'Andre Swift, who saw both his usage and efficiency make a complete 180 in Week 4, and now he gets one of the best RB matchups in the NFL, in Carolina in Week 5. The Panthers allow the second-most RB fantasy points on the season.
18	Jerome Ford	Cleveland Browns	@ Washington Commanders	While the Commanders get ragged on for their pass defense, they're no better against the run, allowing 5.4 YPC and the fourth-most rushing yards through the first month of the season. Maybe a fire lights under Ford with Nick Chubb nearing a return to the lineup.
19	Najee Harris	Pittsburgh Steelers	vs. Dallas Cowboys	Before stonewalling Devin Singletary in Week 4, who apparently left that matchup witha groin injury, the Cowboys were among the very worst rushing defenses in the NFL. Najee should get a ton of touches against this defense with Jaylen Warren and C-Pat likely sidelined.
20	Zack Moss	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. Baltimore Ravens	Despite another solid fantasy outing in Week 4, Moss saw his lowest snap share of the season, while Chase Brown finally established himself as an explosive weapon in the offense. Moss should remain the back of choice, but he gets a brutal matchup against the Ravens.
21	Kareem Hunt	Kansas City Chiefs	vs. New Orleans Saints	The Carson Steele experiment was over in a hurry after another costly fumble to start the game in Week 4, and Hunt looked better than what we last saw from him on the Browns. Not the best matchup or
22	Rachaad White	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	@ Atlanta Falcons	This Bucs backfield is proving to be among the most frustrating to project, and White and Bucky Irving had the same exact rushing totals in Week 4, while the former added better receiving work and the latter found the end zone on the ground. The Falcons are a top-10 defense vs. fantasy RBs this year.
23	Rhamondre Stevenson	New England Patriots	vs. Miami Dolphins	Coach Mayo alluded to Stevenson being on the hot seat after fumbling in all four games to start the season, but I think he's still going to get the brunt of the work against the fizzling Fins. The Dolphins have allowed the most rushing touchdowns to RBs this season, and the fifth-most fantasy points.
24	Devin Singletary	New York Giants	@ Seattle Seahawks	I'm not fully convinced Singletary is playing this week after missing Wednesday's practice with a groin injury. If he goes, Seattle is a tough matchup on the road, though they were down a couple defensive linemen in Week 4.
25	Bucky Irving	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	@ Atlanta Falcons	Bucky has been the better rusher of the two Bucs running backs, and Week 4 saw the first time White recorded a below-70% snap share, though he entered the game with an illness. If the exchange of opportunities turns into a trend, Irving will have great upside in this Bucs offense that fired on all cylinders in Week 4.
26	Trey Sermon	Indianapolis Colts	@ Jacksonville Jaguars	With Jonathan Taylor trending to miss Week 4., Trey Sermon is the next man up for Indy in a decent matchup for him to log a spot start. The Jaguars have surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points on the season, and Sermon will hopefully be able to make the most of the potential opportunity that lies ahead.
27	Chase Brown	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. Baltimore Ravens	Chase Brown had his best game of the season in Week 4, and also saw a 40% snap share, his highest on the year. He got 18 opportunities on 27 snaps, as the team rode his hot hand. Brown's explosiveness might profile better against a tough Ravens run defense and the highest projected point total on the week.
28	Braelon Allen	New York Jets	@ Minnesota Vikings	Playing behind Breece Hall, Allen will have to find the end zone to really return viable fantasy value. Despite Hall's woes in Week 4, I don't foresee Allen actually making a bigger dent in his workload than he already has.
29	Javonte Williams	Denver Broncos	vs. Las Vegas Raiders	Akin to D'Andre Swift, Javonte unexpectedly bounced back in a big way, logging his best rushing performance since Week 7 of last season. He's by no means a stable option at the position, but he gets a great matchup to build on last week, as the Raiders allow the eighth-most RB fantasy points this season.
30	Rico Dowdle	Dallas Cowboys	@ Pittsburgh Steelers	The Cowboys are having a tough time moving the ball on the ground, and Dowdle's snap share hasn't budged despite being the best option out of the backfield. The Steelers' defense has allowed the second-fewest points to opposing RBs on the year.
31	Zach Charbonnet	Seattle Seahawks	vs. New York Giants	Charbonnet's passing role gives him a decent floor in PPR formats for those that need a play in a pinch, but his upside is hard capped with Kenneth Walker III back running amok on defenses.
32	Justice Hill	Baltimore Ravens	@ Cincinnati Bengals	Justice Hill is having the best season of his career while complementing Derrick Henry in the Ravens' offense. This game has the highest projected total on the week, and we should see another healthy workload for Hill.
33	Antonio Gibson	New England Patriots	vs. Miami Dolphins	Gibson has made the most of limited work this season, and if he is in fact named the starter, he will fly up the rankings, probably somewhere mid-to-late 20s. As mentioned before, the Dolphins have become one of the best fantasy RB matchups this season.
34	Tank Bigsby	Jacksonville Jaguars	vs. Indianapolis Colts	One of my favorite stats I've heard so far is that Travis Etienne has only logged 70 yards rushing in 1 of his last 13 games, while Tank Bigsby has cleared that line twice in four weeks thiis season. Bigsby could be a league-winner if the team turns to him with the season on the ropes. He's an RB3 with upside until that happens.
35	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	New York Giants	@ Seattle Seahawks	Devin Singletary not being able to practice Wednesday with the groin injury after a long week of rest from Week 4's TNF matchup is a bad sign for his status this week. Tracy has looked good in limited run so far, but the offense will likely struggle in Seattle against the Seahawks.

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October 3, 2024, 12:28 pm