As NFL bye weeks start, fantasy football running backs become much shakier propositions week-to-week.
Two weekly starters in the Falcons' Bijan Robinson and Packers' Josh Jacobs will take vacation in Week 5, but their fantasy managers have hope in finding helpful replacements.
Scroll for how we're lining up running backs for Week 5 fantasy leagues with our RB fantasy player rankings.
Week 5 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Half-PPR Cheat Sheet
Fantasy RB Week 5 Rankings
These running back player ranks will be updated Tuesday to account for Week 4 Monday Night Football players and teams with Week 5 matchups against MNF competitors.
Please note these reflect point-per-reception (PPR) fantasy football scoring.
| Rk | Tr | Running backs | TM | OPP | Week 5 Value | Chg ↕️ |
| 1 | 1 | James Cook | BUF | NE | Elite RB1 | |
| 2 | 1 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | @CIN | Elite RB1 | |
| 3 | 1 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | @LAR | Elite RB1 | |
| 4 | 1 | De'Von Achane | MIA | @CAR | Elite RB1 | |
| 5 | 2 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | LV | RB1 | |
| 6 | 2 | Omarion Hampton | LAC | WAS | RB1 | |
| 7 | 2 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | DEN | RB1 | |
| 8 | 2 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | MIN | RB1 | |
| 9 | 3 | Derrick Henry | BAL | HOU | RB1/RB2 | ⬆️ 4 |
| 10 | 3 | Javonte Williams | DAL | @NYJ | RB1/RB2 | |
| 11 | 3 | Travis Etienne | JAX | KC | RB1/RB2 | |
| 12 | 3 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | @IND | RB1/RB2 | |
| 13 | 3 | Breece Hall | NYJ | DAL | RB1/RB2 | |
| 14 | 4 | Alvin Kamara | NO | NYG | Strong RB2 | |
| 15 | 4 | Jordan Mason | MIN | CLE | Strong RB2 | |
| 16 | 4 | Kyren Williams | LAR | SF | Strong RB2 | |
| 17 | 5 | Kenneth Walker | SEA | TB | RB2/Flex | |
| 18 | 5 | Cam Skattebo | NYG | @NO | RB2/Flex | |
| 19 | 5 | Woody Marks | HOU | @BAL | RB2/Flex | ⬆️ 4 |
| 20 | 5 | Rico Dowdle | CAR | MIA | RB2/Flex | |
| 21 | 5 | Chase Brown | CIN | DET | RB2/Flex | |
| 22 | 5 | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | @PHI | RB2/Flex | |
| 23 | 5 | Rachaad White | TB | @SEA | RB2/Flex | |
| 24 | 5 | David Montgomery | DET | @CIN | RB2/Flex | |
| 25 | 6 | Tony Pollard | TEN | @ARI | Flex | |
| 26 | 6 | RJ Harvey | DEN | @PHI | Flex | |
| 27 | 6 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | @BUF | Flex | |
| 28 | 6 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | @JAX | Flex | |
| 29 | 6 | Nick Chubb | HOU | @BAL | Flex | |
| 30 | 6 | Emari Demercado | ARI | TEN | Flex | |
| 31 | 7 | Michael Carter | ARI | TEN | Flex | ⬆️ 7 |
| 32 | 7 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | TB | Flex | |
| 33 | 7 | Trevor Etienne | CAR | MIA | Flex | ⬆️ 9 |
| 34 | 7 | Jaydon Blue | DAL | @NYJ | Flex | |
| 35 | 7 | Justice Hill | BAL | HOU | Flex | |
| 36 | 7 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | @BUF | Flex | |
| 37 | 7 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | @LAC | Flex | ⬆️ 8 |
| 38 | 7 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX | KC | Flex | |
| 39 | 7 | Kendre Miller | NO | NYG | Flex | |
| 40 | 8 | Sean Tucker | TB | @SEA | Flex/Bench | |
| 41 | 8 | Zavier Scott | MIN | CLE | Flex/Bench | |
| 42 | 8 | Kareem Hunt | KC | @JAX | Flex/Bench | ⬆️ 10 |
| 43 | 8 | Brashard Smith | KC | @JAX | Flex/Bench | |
| 44 | 8 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | @ARI | QUE | |
| 45 | 8 | Chris Rodriguez | WAS | @LAC | Flex/Bench | |
| 46 | 8 | Isaiah Davis | NYJ | DAL | Flex/Bench | |
| 47 | 9 | Blake Corum | LAR | SF | Flex/Bench | |
| 48 | 9 | Jerome Ford | CLE | MIN | Flex/Bench | |
| 49 | 9 | Brian Robinson | SF | @LAR | Flex/Bench | |
| 50 | 9 | Ollie Gordon | MIA | CAR | Flex/Bench | |
| 51 | 9 | Devin Singletary | NYG | @NO | Flex/Bench | |
| 52 | 10 | Dylan Sampson | CLE | MIN | Bench | |
| 53 | 10 | George Holani | SEA | TB | Bench | |
| 54 | 10 | Antonio Gibson | NE | @BUF | Bench | |
| 55 | 10 | Samaje Perine | CIN | DET | Bench | |
| 56 | 11 | Julius Chestnut | TEN | @ARI | Bench | |
| 57 | 11 | Ray Davis | BUF | NE | Bench | |
| 58 | 11 | Hassan Haskins | LAC | WAS | Bench | |
| 59 | 11 | Jeremy McNichols | WAS | @LAC | Bench | |
| 60 | 11 | Raheem Mostert | LV | @IND | Bench | |
| 61 | 11 | Will Shipley | PHI | DEN | Bench | |
| 62 | 11 | Tyler Badie | DEN | @PHI | Bench | |
| 63 | 11 | Dare Ogunbowale | HOU | @BAL | Bench | |
| 64 | 12 | LeQuint Allen | JAX | KC | Bench | |
| 65 | 12 | Dylan Laube | LV | @IND | Bench | |
| 66 | 12 | DJ Giddens | IND | LV | Bench | |
| 67 | 12 | Cam Akers | MIN | CLE | Bench | |
| 68 | 12 | Isaac Guerendo | SF | @LAR | Bench | |
| 69 | 12 | Jacardia Wright | SEA | TB | Bench | |
| 70 | 12 | Tank Bigsby | JAX | KC | Bench | |
| 71 | 13 | Zamir White | LV | @IND | Bench | |
| 72 | 13 | Dameon Pierce | HOU | @BAL | Bench | |
| 73 | 13 | Ty Johnson | BUF | NE | Bench | |
| 74 | 13 | Tahj Brooks | CIN | DET | Bench | |
| 75 | 13 | AJ Dillon | PHI | DEN | Bench | |
| 76 | 13 | Hunter Luepke | DAL | @NYJ | Bench | |
| 77 | 13 | Rasheen Ali | BAL | HOU | Bench | |
| 78 | 13 | Alec Ingold | MIA | @CAR | Bench | |
| 79 | 13 | Ulysses Bentley | IND | LV | Bench | |
| 80 | 13 | Jacob Saylors | DET | @CIN | Bench | |
| 81 | 13 | Craig Reynolds | DET | @CIN | Bench | |
| OUT | -- | Tyrone Tracy | NYG | @NO | OUT | -- |
| OUT | -- | Bucky Irving | TB | @SEA | OUT | -- |
| OUT | -- | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | MIA | OUT | -- |
| OUT | -- | Tyler Goodson | IND | LV | OUT | -- |
| INACTIVE | -- | Jaylen Wright | MIA | @CAR | INACTIVE | -- |
| INACTIVE | -- | Miles Sanders | DAL | @NYJ | INACTIVE | -- |
| INACTIVE | -- | Devin Neal | NO | NYG | INACTIVE | -- |
| INACTIVE | -- | Raheim Sanders | CLE | MIN | INACTIVE | -- |
| IR-R | -- | Aaron Jones | MIN | CLE | IR-R | -- |
| IR-R | -- | Trey Benson | ARI | TEN | IR-R | -- |
| IR-R | -- | Braelon Allen | NYJ | DAL | IR-R | |
| IR-R | -- | Ty Chandler | MIN | CLE | IR-R | |
| IR | -- | James Conner | ARI | TEN | IR | |
| IR | -- | Najee Harris | LAC | WAS | IR | |
| IR | -- | Austin Ekeler | WAS | @LAC | IR | |
| BYE | -- | Bijan Robinson | ATL | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Josh Jacobs | GB | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Jaylen Warren | PIT | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | D'Andre Swift | CHI | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Emanuel Wilson | GB | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Nathan Carter | ATL | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Kyle Monangai | CHI | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Chris Brooks | GB | BYE | BYE | |
| BYE | -- | Kaleb Johnson | PIT | BYE | BYE |
FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 5 Start-Sit | Week 5 Sleepers | Week 5 Busts | Week 5 Waiver Wire
Which fantasy running backs have a Week 5 bye?
Replace these RBs before your matchup:
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons
- Josh Jacobs, Packers
- Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers
- D'Andre Swift, Bears
Find top bye-week fill-in running backs on the Week 5 fantasy waiver wire.
Top injured fantasy running backs OUT for Week 5
Bucky Irving (foot), Buccaneers
Sean Tucker is the better play in non-PPR games, as he'll likely assume most of the between-the-tackles (and presumably goal-line) work. Rachaad White retains PPR utility and should have 15-plus touches.
Chuba Hubbard (calf), Panthers
Rico Dowdle looks in line for a huge workload, with Trevor Etienne likely mixing in on receiving opportunities and passing downs.
Who are the top running backs for fantasy Week 5?
We'll accommodate the big names who need MNF results to be ranked eventually, but we'll highlight outside of James Cook, Christian McCaffrey, and Jonathan Taylor two emerging rookies: Omarion Hampton and Quinshon Judkins.
Both bruisers are quickly ascending to RB1 in their respective backfields and are now entrenched as every-week starters.
As you move further down, Ashton Jeanty's resurgent 3-touchdown Week 4 puts him back in the Week 1 conversation, though a tough matchup with the Indianapolis Colts awaits.
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Which RB sleepers should I start in Week 5?
Houston Texans RB Woody Marks is a must-add and a matchup-hyped play for Week 5 as he looks to be taking at least the majority share of backfield work from Nick Chubb. Marks has a chance to get in space and make big plays against a weakened, injury-riddled Baltimore Ravens defense.
The Chiefs may look more increasingly toward Brashard Smith for a punch out of the backfield, and the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense might be tougher than many think, prompting Patrick Mahomes to target Smith in space.
With Lamar Jackson (hamstring) being replaced by Cooper Rush under center, , Baltimore will most likely use more of Justice Hill on receiving chances out of the backfield.