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 rankings this week.
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 | Wk5 Value |
| 1 | 1 | James Cook | BUF | NE | Elite RB1 |
| 2 | 1 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | @LAR | Elite RB1 |
| 3 | 2 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | LV | RB1 |
| 4 | 2 | Omarion Hampton | LAC | WAS | RB1 |
| 5 | 2 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | MIN | RB1 |
| 6 | 3 | Bucky Irving | TB | @SEA | RB1/RB2 |
| 7 | 3 | Travis Etienne | JAX | KC | RB1/RB2 |
| 8 | 3 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | @IND | RB1/RB2 |
| 9 | 3 | Derrick Henry | BAL | HOU | RB1/RB2 |
| 10 | 4 | Alvin Kamara | NO | NYG | Strong RB2 |
| 11 | 4 | Jordan Mason | MIN | CLE | Strong RB2 |
| 12 | 4 | Kyren Williams | LAR | SF | Strong RB2 |
| 13 | 4 | Trey Benson | ARI | TEN | Strong RB2 |
| 14 | 5 | Kenneth Walker | SEA | TB | RB2/Flex |
| 15 | 5 | Cam Skattebo | NYG | @NO | RB2/Flex |
| 16 | 5 | Tony Pollard | TEN | @ARI | RB2/Flex |
| 17 | 5 | Woody Marks | HOU | @BAL | RB2/Flex |
| 18 | 6 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | @BUF | Flex |
| 19 | 6 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | @BUF | Flex |
| 20 | 6 | Isiah Pacheco | KC | @JAX | Flex |
| 21 | 6 | Nick Chubb | HOU | @BAL | Flex |
| 22 | 6 | Emari Demercado | ARI | TEN | Flex |
| 23 | 7 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | TB | Flex |
| 27 | 7 | Justice Hill | BAL | HOU | Flex |
| 24 | 7 | Rachaad White | TB | @SEA | Flex |
| 25 | 7 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX | KC | Flex |
| 26 | 7 | Kendre Miller | NO | NYG | Flex |
| 28 | 8 | Zavier Scott | MIN | CLE | Flex/Bench |
| 29 | 8 | Brashard Smith | KC | @JAX | Flex/Bench |
| 30 | 8 | Chris Rodriguez | WAS | @LAC | Flex/Bench |
| 31 | 8 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | @LAC | Flex/Bench |
| 32 | 9 | Blake Corum | LAR | SF | Flex/Bench |
| 33 | 9 | Jerome Ford | CLE | MIN | Flex/Bench |
| 34 | 9 | Brian Robinson | SF | @LAR | Flex/Bench |
| 35 | 9 | Devin Singletary | NYG | @NO | Flex/Bench |
| 36 | 9 | Kareem Hunt | KC | @JAX | Flex/Bench |
| 37 | 10 | Dylan Sampson | CLE | MIN | Bench |
| 38 | 10 | George Holani | SEA | TB | Bench |
| 39 | 10 | Antonio Gibson | NE | @BUF | Bench |
| 40 | 11 | Ray Davis | BUF | NE | Bench |
| 41 | 11 | Jeremy McNichols | WAS | @LAC | Bench |
| 42 | 11 | Raheem Mostert | LV | @IND | Bench |
| 43 | 11 | Raheim Sanders | CLE | MIN | Bench |
| 44 | 11 | Dare Ogunbowale | HOU | @BAL | Bench |
| 45 | 12 | LeQuint Allen | JAX | KC | Bench |
| 46 | 12 | Dylan Laube | LV | @IND | Bench |
| 47 | 12 | DJ Giddens | IND | LV | Bench |
| 48 | 12 | Cam Akers | MIN | CLE | Bench |
| 49 | 12 | Jacardia Wright | SEA | TB | Bench |
| 50 | 12 | Tank Bigsby | JAX | KC | Bench |
| 51 | 13 | Zamir White | LV | @IND | Bench |
| 52 | 13 | Dameon Pierce | HOU | @BAL | Bench |
| 53 | 13 | Ty Johnson | BUF | NE | Bench |
| 54 | 13 | Devin Neal | NO | NYG | Bench |
| 55 | 13 | Tyler Goodson | IND | LV | Bench |
| 56 | 13 | Julius Chestnut | TEN | @ARI | Bench |
| 57 | 13 | Hunter Luepke | DAL | @NYJ | Bench |
| 58 | 13 | Rasheen Ali | BAL | HOU | Bench |
| 59 | 13 | Sean Tucker | TB | @SEA | Bench |
| 60 | 13 | Michael Carter | ARI | TEN | Bench |
| 61 | 13 | Ulysses Bentley | IND | LV | Bench |
| MNF | -- | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | @CIN | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Javonte Williams | DAL | @NYJ | MNF |
| MNF | -- | De'Von Achane | MIA | @CAR | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Saquon Barkley | PHI | DEN | MNF |
| MNF | -- | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | @PHI | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | MIA | MNF |
| MNF | -- | David Montgomery | DET | @CIN | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Breece Hall | NYJ | DAL | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Chase Brown | CIN | DET | MNF |
| MNF | -- | RJ Harvey | DEN | @PHI | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Rico Dowdle | CAR | MIA | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Braelon Allen | NYJ | DAL | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Ollie Gordon | MIA | @CAR | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Tyler Badie | DEN | @PHI | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Will Shipley | PHI | DEN | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Samaje Perine | CIN | DET | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Trevor Etienne | CAR | MIA | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Isaiah Davis | NYJ | DAL | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Tahj Brooks | CIN | DET | MNF |
| MNF | -- | AJ Dillon | PHI | DEN | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Jacob Saylors | DET | @CIN | MNF |
| MNF | -- | Craig Reynolds | DET | @CIN | MNF |
| INJ | -- | Tyrone Tracy | NYG | @NO | INJ |
| INJ | -- | Miles Sanders | DAL | @NYJ | INJ |
| IR-R | -- | Aaron Jones | 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 |
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.
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.
If Lamar Jackson's hamstring injury impacts his play or keeps him on the sidelines, Baltimore will most likely use more of Justice Hill on receiving chances out of the backfield.