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Week 5 of the NFL season is here, and it’s time to get your fantasy football lineups squared away. If you’re in a points per reception league, the running back position can offer some under the radar options that you won’t see in standard leagues. We’re here to break down the top 50 running backs in PPR leagues as you consider matchups for this week’s schedule.
The position starts with Christian McCaffrey, especially when we’re ranking in PPR formats. However, I was close to going with ‘Zeke at the top this week, which should speak to how strong this matchup against the Packers is. Green Bay got shredded by Jordan Howard and Myles Sanders at home last week, so Elliott’s in a perfect spot at home.
I also put David Johnson a little higher than usual this week. The three guys below him are all spectacular plays, but the Bengals defense is just so pitiful, DJ should be in line for a big week.
We’ve also got some really interesting values this week. Jaylen Samuels suddenly saw 18 touches on MNF. Ronald Jones might actually be good, after we thought he was really bad. And how will Melvin Gordon factor into the Chargers’ game plan?
Running Back (PPR) rankings, Week 5
| RK | Player | Team | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|
| RK | Player | Team | Opp |
| 1 | Christian McCaffrey | CAR | JAX |
| 2 | Ezekiel Elliott | DAL | GB |
| 3 | David Johnson | ARI | @CIN |
| 4 | Dalvin Cook | MIN | @NYG |
| 5 | Alvin Kamara | NO | TB |
| 6 | Nick Chubb | CLE | @SF |
| 7 | Leonard Fournette | JAX | @CAR |
| 8 | Le'Veon Bell | NYJ | @PHI |
| 9 | Austin Ekeler | LAC | DEN |
| 10 | James Conner | PIT | BAL |
| 11 | Joe Mixon | CIN | ARI |
| 12 | Chris Carson | SEA | LAR |
| 13 | Todd Gurley | LAR | @SEA |
| 14 | Mark Ingram | BAL | @PIT |
| 15 | Derrick Henry | TEN | BUF |
| 16 | Aaron Jones | GB | @DAL |
| 17 | Wayne Gallman | NYG | MIN |
| 18 | Devonta Freeman | ATL | @HOU |
| 19 | Phillip Lindsay | DEN | @LAC |
| 20 | James White | NE | @WAS |
| 21 | Marlon Mack | IND | @KC |
| 22 | Jaylen Samuels | PIT | BAL |
| 23 | Carlos Hyde | HOU | ATL |
| 24 | Sony Michel | NE | @WAS |
| 25 | Jordan Howard | PHI | NYJ |
| 26 | LeSean McCoy | KC | IND |
| 27 | Carlos Hyde | HOU | CAR |
| 28 | Darrel Williams | KC | IND |
| 29 | Melvin Gordon | LAC | DEN |
| 30 | David Montgomery | CHI | @OAK (London) |
| 31 | Royce Freeman | DEN | @LAC |
| 32 | Ronald Jones | TB | @NO |
| 33 | Josh Jacobs | OAK | CHI (London) |
| 34 | Chris Thompson | WAS | NE |
| 35 | Miles Sanders | PHI | NYJ |
| 36 | Matt Breida | SF | CLE |
| 37 | Tarik Cohen | CHI | @OAK (London) |
| 38 | Frank Gore | BUF | @TEN |
| 39 | Rex Burkhead | NE | @WAS |
| 40 | Nyheim Hines | IND | @KC |
| 41 | Raheem Mostert | SF | CLE |
| 42 | Tevin Coleman | SF | CLE |
| 43 | Peyton Barber | TB | @NO |
| 44 | Adrian Peterson | WAS | NE |
| 45 | Duke Johnson | HOU | ATL |
| 46 | Gio Bernard | CIN | ARI |
| 47 | Devin Singletary | BUF | @TEN |
| 48 | Ito Smith | ATL | @HOU |
| 49 | Dion Lews | TEN | BUF |
| 50 | Malcolm Brown | LAR | @SEA |