Running back non-PPR rankings for Week 5 fantasy football

Final injury report

The NFL wrapped up practices on Friday most of the schedule, which brings the final injury report. The teams still completing practices over the weekend are the Broncos, Patriots, Saints, Chargers, Titans, and Bills. Saints-Chargers is a go for Monday Night Football. Broncos-Patriots is scheduled for Monday and Bills-Titans is scheduled for Tuesday so long as there are no more positive Covid-19 tests. We’ll add those six teams’ players as their final injury reports arrive.

Out: N/A
Doubtful: N/A
Questionable: RB Joe Mixon (shin), RB Buddy Howell (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (knee), RB Carlos Hyde (shoulder)

Removed from final injury report: RB Kenyan Drake (chest), RB Kareem Hunt (groin), RB Jalen Richard (ankle), RB Josh Jacobs (hip), RB Cam Akers (ribs), RB Chris Carson (knee), RB Phillip Lindsay (foot)

Wednesday injury report

The NFL returned to practice on Wednesday to get Week 5 going, and the day closed with the first injury report of the week. There were no DNPs, but some notable limited players. Browns RB Kareem Hunt is likely to play this week, but his groin injury will remain a concern. 49ers RB Raheem Mostert got in is first practice since spraining his knee in Week 2. Phillip Lindsay was back at practice in full and is on track to return to action after being inactive in Week 4.

DNP: N/A
Limited: Zack Moss (toe), Kareem Hunt (groin), Jalen Richard (ankle), Cam Akers (ribs), Raheem Mostert (knee), Chris Carson (knee), Carlos Hyde (shoulder)
Full: Kenyan Drake (chest), Darrynton Evans (hamstring), Phillip Lindsay (foot), Josh Jacobs (hip)

Surprise, surprise. We’ve had yet another week of surprising fantasy football finishes in Week 4. Joe Mixon finally found the end zone, not once, not twice, but three times, to lead all running backs in non-PPR scoring formats. Mixon had yet to score on the season and ranked as the RB38 prior to Sunday’s outing. In the coming weeks, he’ll face the Ravens, Colts and Browns, who all rank top-10 in fewest yards per attempt allowed to opposing teams.

We saw plenty of other familiar names at atop the list of best performers in Week 4, like Dalvin Cook, who has now had back-to-back weeks of 100 rushing yards or more. Melvin Gordon also made an appearance in the top-five this week, in the absence of teammate Phillip Lindsay, out with a toe injury. We should expect fewer touches for Gordon when Lindsay returns to the active lineup, possibly in Week 5.

Speaking of unexpected performers, a special shout out goes to Carolina RB Mike Davis, who has posted his second consecutive week in the top-12 in non-PPR scoring formats. In the absence of Christian McCaffrey, Davis has handled the bulk of the team’s touches, managing 277 yards and two touchdowns on 51 touches.

Injury news

The injuries continue to mount for NFL teams in 2020. Notably, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler went down with a hyperextended knee and hamstring injury. He’s been placed on injured reserve with an expected time table of 4-6 weeks. In his place, we should expect to see more of rookie Joshua Kelley and soon-to-return veteran Justin Jackson.

Nick Chubb also went down with a knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s shoot out with the Cowboys. Kareem Hunt dominated the carries, but a pleasant surprise was former UDFA RB D’Ernest Johnson. Johnson rushed 14 times for 100 yards and should likely see 10-15 touches per game in Kevin Stefanki’s run-heavy offensive scheme. There remain plenty of questions regarding how these backs will be deployed heading into Week 5. Each of these stud RBs were placed on injured reserve and will be out for at least three weeks, joining stud Christian McCaffrey.

The good news is, we can expect some of our fantasy assets back in the coming weeks. Rookies Cam Akers and Zack Moss each seem likely to return in Week 5. Akers’ presence may be more of a nuisance to Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown than anything else.

Bye weeks

In Week 5, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions will each be on bye. Naturally, only one of these teams will really have any effect on your fantasy football lineups. Packers RB Aaron Jones will be a tough loss as one of the most consistent fantasy football assets so far on the season. He ranks second in the NFL in scrimmage yards and is tied with Dalvin Cook for six total touchdowns scored on the season, the second-most in the league. Jamaal Williams saw a season-high 16 touches in Week 4 but has largely been unreliable for a consistent stream of fantasy points.

Detroit’s backfield has been a nightmare to navigate between the constant rotation of RBs Adrian Peterson, Kerryon Johnson and rookie D’Andre Swift. Peterson has led the team in rushing attempts and yards per carry, but as long as there remain two other backs to receive carries and targets, none of them will manage consistent fantasy relevance.

Streaming options

Devin Singletary, Bills

Rookie RB Zack Moss is likely to return this week from a toe injury that has keep him out of each of the Bills last two games. His usage returning from injury does remain in question, however. Though the Bills have had difficulty finding consistency in the run game (aside from QB Josh Allen), Singletary should continue to manage the bulk of the RB carries until they can get Moss going. This week, the Bills face the Titans defense, who have allowed a league-high 5.8 yards per carry.

Mark Ingram II, Ravens

Mark Ingram as a “streamer” might seem a little iffy, but there’s some reason to believe he could be of value in Week 5 despite the running back by committee in Baltimore. Ingram leads the team in rush attempts and carries within the red zone. He can break any one of those for a score. The Bengals have averaged the fourth-most rushing yards allowed to the RB position in Weeks 1-4, and if there is any offense capable of getting the rush-attack engine rolling, it’s the Ravens.