NFL Week 5 Fantasy Rankings: Running Backs
True to form, the position of running back has already been a maddening one in the early going of the 2014 season. Top pick Adrian Peterson is suspended indefinitely and unsure to return, while Lesean McCoy, Matt Forte, Eddie Lacy, and, until this week, Jamaal Charles, have all underperformed their lofty draft status.
In their place stand a few regarded backs that had question marks heading into the season. Marshawn Lynch was supposed to be breaking down after the insane workload the Seahawks had heaped upon him for several years, DeMarco Murray had a concerning injury history, and Le’Veon Bell was supposed to be part of running back committee with backup LeGarrette Blount.
But as we’ve seen timeless times before, speculation often turns out to be just that. Murray has stormed to out to the NFL rushing lead, Lynch has played like he always has, and Bell is a close second to Murray.
Beyond that, however, a gaggle of undrafted and surprise backs have come out of the woodwork amidst injuries and inconsistency. Backs like the Vikings’ Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon and the Ravens’ Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro has all filled in admirably, and even more surprise players could begin filling up the stat sheet in Week 5.
That makes the always-volatile position even more unpredictable as usual. With few guarantees in place, here are the Week 5 rankings for running backs:
1 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | vs. Hou |
2 | Le’Veon Bell | PIT | at Jac |
3 | Matt Forte | CHI | at Car |
4 | Giovani Bernard | CIN | at NE |
5 | Jamaal Charles | KC | at SF |
6 | Eddie Lacy | GB | vs. Min |
7 | Lesean McCoy | PHI | vs. StL |
8 | Marshawn Lynch | SEA | at Was |
9 | Rashad Jennings | NYG | vs. Atl |
10 | Zac Stacy | STL | at Phi |
11 | Andre Ellington | ARI | at Den |
12 | Matt Asiata | MIN | at GB |
13 | Frank Gore | SF | vs. KC |
14 | Ahmad Bradshaw | IND | vs. Bal |
15 | Arian Foster | HOU | at Dal |
16 | Montee Ball | DEN | vs. Ari |
17 | Alfred Morris | WAS | vs. Sea |
18 | Jeremy Hill | CIN | at NE |
19 | Reggie Bush | DET | vs. Buf |
20 | Khiry Robinson | NO | vs. TB |
21 | Bishop Sankey | TEN | vs. Cle |
22 | Chris Ivory | NYJ | at SD |
23 | Justin Forsett | BAL | at Ind |
24 | Doug Martin | TB | at NO |
25 | Fred Jackson | BUF | at Det |