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Fantasy Football: Week five position by position rankings breakdown

By A.J. Fagerlin

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce #87 after scoring a second quarter rushing touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with tight end Travis Kelce #87 after scoring a second quarter rushing touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Mark Ingram #21 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against Inside linebacker Darron Lee #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter during the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – SEPTEMBER 22: Running back Mark Ingram #21 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against Inside linebacker Darron Lee #50 of the Kansas City Chiefs in the first quarter during the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Running Backs

  1. Christian McCaffrey CAR vs JAC
  2. Dalvin Cook MIN vs NYG
  3. Ezekiel Elliott DAL vs GB
  4. Mark Ingram BAL vs PIT
  5. David Johnson AZ vs CIN
  6. Alvin Kamara NO vs TB
  7. Nick Chubb CLE vs SF
  8. James Conner PIT vs BAL
  9. Le’Veon Bell NYJ vs PHI
  10. Leonard Fournette JAC vs CAR
  11. Melvin Gordon LAC vs DEN
  12. Marlon Mack IND vs KC
  13. Aaron Jones GB vs DAL
  14. Derrick Henry TEN vs BUF
  15. Joe Mixon CIN vs AZ
  16. Devonta Freeman ATL vs HOU
  17. Austin Ekeler LAC vs DEN
  18. Jordan Howard PHI vs NYJ
  19. David Montgomery CHI vs OAK
  20. Wayne Gallman NYG vs MIN
  21. Damien Williams KC vs IND
  22. Sony Michel NE vs WAS
  23. Carlos Hyde HOU vs ATL
  24. Chris Thompson WAS vs NE
  25. Miles Sanders PHI vs NYJ
  26. Phillip Lindsay DEN vs LAC
  27. Josh Jacobs OAK vs CHI
  28. James White NE vs WAS
  29. Ronald Jones III TB vs NO
  30. Tarik Cohen CHI vs OAK
  31. Matt Breida SF vs CLE
  32. Rex Burkhead NE vs WAS
  33. Devin Singletary BUF vs TEN
  34. Peyton Barber TB vs NO
  35. Frank Gore BUF vs TEN
  36. Adrian Peterson WAS vs NE
  37. Jaylen Samuels PIT vs BAL
  38. Ito Smith ATL vs HOU
  39. Tevin Coleman SF vs CLE
  40. LeSean McCoy KC vs IND
  41. Duke Johnson HOU vs ATL
  42. Raheem Mostert SF vs CLE
  43. Giovani Bernard CIN vs AZ
  44. Latavius Murray NO vs TB
  45. Dexter Williams GB vs DAL

Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook have been the cream of the crop of fantasy running backs this year, and although both have matchups that are just okay, they should still come out on top in week five.

The one player that could threaten those two for the number one back of the week could be Ezekiel Elliott. The Packers defense has been terrible against the run, allowing 30+ .5 PPR fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in their past three games. The Green Bay game plan may be to stop Zeke and make Dak beat them, but that may be easier said than done.

Mark Ingram continues to be overlooked in the conversation for top fantasy running backs. So far this year he has had a couple monster games and a couple just okay games, but his fantasy points per game average is right there with the best of them. The Steelers have not been good against opposing running backs, and this could be another “boom” week for Ingram. I have him as a top-five play this week.

David Johnson has a great matchup against the Bengals this weekend. A week ago, James Conner got back on track against the abysmal Cincinnati defense, both on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield. With Johnson being an even more versatile back, he is due for a big day on Sunday, and is also a top-five running back in my mind.

Melvin Gordon is back this week and is atop the Chargers depth chart. Facing a Broncos defense that has struggled mightily against the run, you want the lead Chargers back in your lineup. But will it be Gordon? Or will it be Austin Ekeler? Head Coach Anthony Lynn has stated that he feels he doesn’t have to “play him too much” so he may be on a bit of a pitch count for week five. But the matchup is too good and the player is too talented to not be started in season-long fantasy.

Other running backs who could have better than usual games include James Conner and Jaylen Samuels vs BAL, Devonta Freeman vs HOU, Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders vs NYJ, and Sony Michel/James White/Rex Burkhead vs WAS.

Running backs that may have been drafted in the first round that I would still start but would temper expectations due to the matchup include Alvin Kamara vs TB, Le’Veon Bell vs PHI, and Nick Chubb vs SF. I expect Josh Jacobs to struggle mightily against the Bears stout defense, and Aaron Jones, Wayne Gallman, and Phillip Lindsay/Royce Freeman all have less than optimal matchups for week five.

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