Everything Just Changed At RB (Week 5 Rankings)

Ranked as RB14, Aaron Jones faces concerns regarding the Vikings' slow offense, the likely return of Justin Jefferson hurting his target share, and a historical lack of efficiency inside the five-yard line.

Alexander Mattison is a must-start and priority pickup, with a baseline expectation of over 20 touches per game and a projection of 16-19 rushes.

Mattek ranks Bijan Robinson as the number three running back, noting he could arguably be ranked second over Derrick Henry.

Blake Corum is strictly a handcuff with no path to flex value because he is not utilized in the passing game. Sean McVay prefers Kyren Williams for all long down-and-distance situations, leaving Corum with minimal fantasy utility.

Ranked as RB15, Braelon Allen is trending upward with recent efficiency and increased reception volume, effectively icing depth options like Chris Rodriguez and Amir Abdullah. However, he is currently less desirable than Mike Washington Jr. and Emanuel Wilson, who are preferred for their current usage and starting roles.

Brian Robinson Jr. is a viable flex starter option following his recent three-touchdown performance, though his overall ranking remains tempered by his broader projection.

Mattek acknowledges that his previous ranking of Bucky Irving at RB18 was an underestimation of the player's role and value.

Ranked at RB17, Cam Akers is being misused by the coaching staff as an early-down grinder rather than a pass-catcher; his target share has dropped from 13% to 8% this season, and he faces weather concerns in his upcoming matchup.

Chase Brown has an elite matchup against the Miami Dolphins and is projected to score a touchdown.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is currently ranked at RB43 in the weekly running back rankings.

Mattek expects McCaffrey's usage to trend upward in divisional games, projecting a snap rate closer to 83% with increased goal-line opportunities.

Swift is ranked in the B tier with a sky-high ceiling due to the absence of Kyle Monangai, which opens up significant rushing volume, though Roschon Johnson may snipe goal-line work.

Despite concerns about potential volume caps due to game script, the coaching staff is high on Dameon Pierce, with Nick Sirianni referring to him as a starter-level rusher, signaling a potential move into a primary early-down role.

Despite personal affinity, Dylan Laube has not been utilized as a running back in the NFL outside of two-minute situations and has not been efficient in those limited opportunities, serving primarily as a special teamer.

Ranked at RB19, Emanuel Wilson has an 'insane' role, having received 21 carries and four targets last week, with a clear path to all red zone work; Mattek suggests he is a preferred start over Braelon Allen.

George Holani is currently ranked at RB45 in the weekly running back rankings.

Ranked at number six, Cook is valued for his efficiency (averaging over six yards per carry), though his touchdown ceiling is capped by Josh Allen's rushing role.

Ranked as RB16, Jaylen Warren's 90% snap share is expected to decline as the team returns to a time-share approach upon the return of Rico Dowdle, though he remains preferred over Dowdle for fantasy purposes.

Ranked as RB11, Jeremiah Love is a strong start against the Lions. While his snap count was limited to 45% last week due to an ankle injury and Tyler Allgeier handling two-minute drill duties, he remains a high-upside play.

Despite losing some drives to Seth McGowan and playing only 71% of snaps last week, Taylor remains an A-tier start due to his consistent touchdown production.

Ranked at RB11, Jordan Love's ankle injury is trending in the right direction according to Matt LaFleur. Despite a limited 45% snap share last week, he remains a high-upside play.

Kalen Ballage is ranked at RB40 in the current running back rankings.

Keaton Mitchell is ranked at RB37, but there is an expectation to move him up in the rankings because he is expected to be trailing in his upcoming game.

Kendre Miller is ranked at RB36 and is considered a deep fantasy option who may see increased opportunity if his team is trailing.

Kenneth Gainwell is a low-priority fantasy option; his role was underwhelming prior to his injury, leading to a ranking of RB33.

Kimani Vidal is currently splitting snaps equally with Amarian Hampton, which Mattek views as an indictment of the Chargers' coaching decisions.

Kyren Williams is the clear primary back for the Rams with elite usage, trending up to 83% of snaps last week. He is utilized in all long down-and-distance situations and is heavily involved in the passing game, evidenced by 13 targets in his most recent outing.

Mattek recommends picking up and starting Mike Washington Jr., projecting him for 16-19 rushes and viewing him as a superior start to Braelon Allen and Jaylen Warren.

Ollie Gordon is a D-tier option facing a difficult matchup against a reinvented Bengals defense; his role is insecure due to potential competition from Jaylen Wright, who could take over if Gordon fails to perform.

Ranked at RB21, Quinshon Judkins is viewed as a talented player who could see his value skyrocket if he maintains high target volume against the Jets.

Raheem Sanders is currently ranked at RB46 in the weekly running back rankings.

Rhamondre Stevenson is the primary goal-line back for the Patriots, making him a touchdown-dependent fantasy start.

Rico Dowdle is ranked in the 30s, and Jaylen Warren is preferred over him even when Dowdle is active.

RJ Harvey leads all NFL running backs in target share and faces a favorable matchup against the Chargers, making him a strong fantasy consideration.

Johnson is expected to serve as the direct backup and third-down back, with potential to steal goal-line possessions from D'Andre Swift.

Tony Pollard is ranked at RB35; while he is touchdown-dependent, he has shown consistency with back-to-back 13-point games, which may warrant a slight ranking bump.

Ranked at RB24, TreVeyon Henderson's outlook is tied to the availability of Rhamondre Stevenson. He is a boom-or-bust option with a profile similar to J.K. Dobbins, relying heavily on singular big plays rather than consistent volume or target share.

Tyjae Spears is ranked at RB39 against the Green Bay Packers, with only a 17% chance of having a productive game; he is also ranked at RB44 in the broader rankings.

Will Shipley's outlook is poor due to depth chart competition and a low prop market rushing line of 29.5 yards. There is a significant risk that his workload will be diluted, potentially leaving him in a limited long-down-and-distance capacity.

Ranked at RB13, Zamir White is an excellent play if the starter is ruled out. He possesses a near-perfect relative athletic score and has demonstrated efficiency on the ground, making him a better prospect than his initial profile suggested.