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Kate Magdziuk shares her Week 5 running back rankings for standard scoring leagues and highlights several streaming options.
The fantasy football season has had its ups and downs through the first four weeks, but running backs have certainly had their moments. Consider the fact that seven different RBs scored 20 or more fantasy points in Week 4, with two of them (Derrick Henry, Kenneth Walker) scoring more than 29 points on the day.
Here’s a look at some RB flex plains and deep sleepers, as well as my top-60 running back rankings in standard-scoring formats.
Week 5 RB flex plays
D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears (vs. Panthers)
Those brave enough to start D’Andre Swift in Week 4 after three disastrous outings to start the season were rewarded handsomely in his breakout campaign with the Chicago Bears. He earned a monster workload against the Los Angeles Rams, totaling 165 yards on 23 touches, including one rushing touchdown. This week, the Bears will face the Carolina Panthers, currently allowing just under 25 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs (fifth-most), ranking top-seven in rushing yards per attempt (4.8) and fifth in the league with six rushing touchdowns allowed this season.
Joe Mixon, Houston Texans (vs. Bills)
This start recommendation is obviously contingent on Joe Mixon… starting. He’s missed each of the past two weeks with an ankle injury but appeared to make some progress with a limited practice session ahead of Week 4 before eventually being ruled out. Still, if he’s good to return, it should be a fruitful matchup for the veteran workhorse.
This week, the Texans will face the Buffalo Bills, whose rushing defense has been suspect this season. They’ve allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position through the first four weeks, giving up a league-high 5.7 yards per rush attempt and an 18.8% explosive run rate that ranks third highest in the league.
Week 5 RB deep sleepers
Rostership percentages in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues are indicated in parentheses.
Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots (vs. Dolphins, 17%)
It never feels like a great idea to fire up a New England Patriot in your fantasy football lineup, but if you’re in a desperate position with the start of bye weeks and injuries piling up, you could do worse than Antonio Gibson in Week 5. The Patriots are set to face the Miami Dolphins in a divisional matchup that should be surprisingly evenly matched between these two units with Tua Tagovailoa under center. Starting RB Rhamondre Stevenson is coming off an outing with a costly fumble, and Gibson is coming off a nine-touch outing for 79 yards. The Dolphins’ rushing defense is allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs, tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns allowed this year, having also lost EDGE Jaelen Phillips in Week 4 to a knee injury that could leave his status in the air for Week 5.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Colts, 12%)
Remember last August, when there was plenty of discourse that then-rookie Tank Bigsby could usurp a portion of the carries in Jacksonville’s offense? That didn’t work out… but it seems like the opportunity is finally there as the 2024 season continues to play out. Bigsby has had 73+ rushing yards in two of four games this year, and starting running back Travis Etienne suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4 that could limit him moving forward. Bigsby leads all running backs with 20+ carries with 8.1 yards per carry and 5.48 yards after contact per attempt this season while ranking fourth with a 33% missed forced tackle rate.
This week, the Jaguars have a divisional matchup against the Colts on slate, currentling
Fantasy football: Week 5 standard RB rankings
Kate Magdziuk is an editor and contributor for Yahoo Fantasy and co-host of the Locked On Dynasty Football podcast. She is also the managing editor for Behind The Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s exclusive Pittsburgh Steelers blog. Her previous bylines include Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld and 4for4 Football, among others.
