As we get into the meat of the NFL schedule, bye weeks are in full effect again. Week 5 leaves some prominent running backs on the shelf and deciding on replacements could be the difference between a win and a loss. Some NFL teams are getting deep into the roster due to injuries and others are trying out stopgap players. Of course this means that fantasy owners are doing the same thing. If you feel like your roster is too thin right now, check out the RB waiver wire picks for the week. Otherwise, let's get right into the rankings for week 5.
Key Players On A Bye:
Adrian Peterson MIN, Chris Ivory NYJ, Jonathan Stewart CAR, Lamar Miller MIA, Jonas Gray MIA
Injury Concerns:
Andre Ellington ARI Questionable, Tevin Coleman ATL Out, LeSean McCoy BUF Doubtful, Karlos Williams BUF Questionable, Lance Dunbar DAL Out For Season, Joique Bell DET Questionable, Marshawn Lynch SEA Questionable, Fred Jackson SEA Questionable
Elite Tier - Must Starts
1.Eddie Lacy GB vs. STL
2.LeVeon Bell PIT @SD
3.Jamaal Charles KC vs. CHI
4.Justin Forsett BAL vs. CLE
5.Matt Forte CHI @KC
This season, St. Louis has not shown the ability to play strong defense on a consistent basis. I think that Lacy, who is getting healthier, will feast on them. Bell is going to have to play a big role again without Big Ben in the lineup. Charles goes up against a bad bears team, I think that the Bears put up some points however and Charles may not see as many opportunities as owners would like. Luckily, he should make it up in the passing game. Forsett broke out in a big way last week and I think this will continue as Steve Smith is out for the forseeable future. Look for the Ravens to rely on the run game more. Matt Forte is a big part of what the Bears do on offense whether running or catching passes. He should have a nice day versus a suspect KC defense.
Strong Plays - Reliable, But A Notch Below
6. Todd Gurley STL @GB
7. Dion Lewis NE @DAL
8. Arian Foster HOU vs. IND
9. Jeremy Hill CIN vs. SEA
10. Devonta Freeman ATL vs. WAS
11. LeGarrette Blount NE @DAL
12. Latavius Murray OAK vs. DEN
Gurley showed up in a big way in week 4 and I look for that to continue against a Packers team that can be beaten on the ground. I like the matchup for Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount against a Cowboys team that is a sinking ship. Arian Foster should have more luck in week 5 than he had in his season debut, the workload should be there. Jeremy Hill faces a tough task, but he has a nose for the end zone. Devonta Freeman would be tough to bench right now, particularly against an awful Redskins team (although they aren't the worst against the run). Murray had a rough week and goes against a tough Denver defense, but he is too talented to not put up some points.
Week 5 Ranks: Quarterback / Wide Receiver / Tight End
Risk/Reward - Potentially Shaky
13. Alfred Morris WAS @ATL
14. Mark Ingram NO @PHI
15. Karlos Williams BUF @TEN Questionable
15a. Anthony Dixon BUF @TEN (If Williams is out)
16. Joseph Randle DAL vs. NE
17. Marshawn Lynch SEA @CIN Questionable
18. Frank Gore IND @HOU
19. Carlos Hyde SF @NYG
20. DeMarco Murray PHI vs. NO
Alfred Morris appears to have regained control of the Redskins backfield and they head into a tasty matchup with Atlanta's terrible run defense. Ingram faces a stout Philly front, but he should do enough to be a RB2. Whoever starts for Buffalo should have a decent stat line, right now it looks like it might be Dixon. Randle may not get a lot of carries as the 'Boys should be behind in a hurry, but he should catch a few passes with Dunbar out for the season. Lynch looks like he should play this week, but keep an eye on the injury news as the week progresses. Gore is never a great choice, but he faces a weak Houston team in a division matchup. I hate to have Hyde this far down the list, but the 49ers are horrible on offense right now. Murray is still looking for his breakout game, at this point I'm not convinced that it is coming.
Question Marks - RB2 Upside
21. Doug Martin TB vs. JAC
22. Danny Woodhead SD vs. PIT
23. Ronnie Hillman DEN @OAK
24. Giovani Bernard CIN vs. SEA
25. Chris Johnson ARI @DET
26. Duke Johnson Jr. CLE @BAL
27. C.J. Anderson DEN @OAK
28. Melvin Gordon SD vs. PIT
29. Andre Ellington ARI @DET
30. T.J. Yeldon JAC @TB
Doug Martin keeps getting carries despite being an uninteresting option. Woodhead should outdo Gordon in this game as the Steelers are easier to beat through the air, despite the beating they took from Justin Forsett. Hillman may have the upper hand in the Denver backfield, but for now the split should not be too uneven. Bernard continues to have value despite speculation that Hill would dominate the backfield. Chris Johnson stays ahead of Ellington for one more week due to lingering injury concerns. Duke Johnson Jr. may be a good play due to his pass catching ability and Baltimore's bad pass defense. Yeldon has not broken out yet, and probably will not due to a weak offensive line.
Flex Appeal - Usable In A Pinch
31. Rashad Jennings NYG vs. SF
32. Darren McFadden DAL vs. NE
33. Ameer Abdullah DET vs. ARI
34. Ryan Mathews PHI vs. NO
35. C.J. Spiller NO @PHI
36. Thomas Rawls SEA @CIN
37. Charles Sims TB vs. JAC
38. Darren Sproles PHI vs. NO
39. Matt Jones WAS @ATL
40. Antonio Andrews TEN vs. BUF
Jennings has just not had a ton of value this year for the Giants, but the skills are still there. McFadden may pick up some slack left by Lance Dunbar's injury. Abdullah goes from one nightmare matchup to another as he faces Arizona in week 5. Mathews still looks to get more involved in the Philly offense as Murray is calling for touches as well. I'm not sold on Spiller after one big play, but NO should look to get him the ball more. Rawls touches will be dependent on Lynch's injury status. Sims is a decent play in PPR, otherwise he is a low end flex. Sproles always has the ability to take one to the house, but his touches are limited, like everyone else's in Philadelphia. Matt Jones is back to the bench, he has had one decent performance this year. Andrews faces the Buffalo defense, I'm not interested.
Tough Sledding - Let Them Be Someone Else's Problem
41. Isiah Crowell CLE @BAL
42. Bishop Sankey TEN vs. BUF
43. Reggie Bush SF @NYG
44. David Johnson ARI @DET
45. Shane Vereen NYG vs. SF
46. Christine Michael DAL vs. NE
47. Khiry Robinson NO @PHI
48. Andre Williams NYG vs. SF
49. James Starks GB vs. STL
50. Lorenzo Taliaferro BAL vs. CLE
