Week 5 Running Back Rankings: Todd Gurley Cracks Fantasy Football Top 10
Our Week 5 running back rankings feature plenty of familiar faces, but there’s a newcomer in their midst: St. Louis Rams rookie Todd Gurley.
So just how high did Gurley jump after last Sunday’s impressive effort? Check out our top 10 running backs below to find out.
1. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 5 Opponent: San Diego Chargers
2015 Stats: 41 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs
Bell has paid huge dividends so far to fantasy owners who waited out his two-game suspension. Bell is the focal point of this Steelers offense, and even with a not-so-great matchup Monday night against the Chargers, he’s the top running back on the board in Week 5.
2. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
Week 5 Opponent: Chicago Bears
2015 Stats: 59 carries, 306 yards, 4 TDs
Charles isn’t far behind. The Chiefs running back arguably has been the most consistent runner in fantasy so far this season, and it’s hard to see that changing in a home matchup against the lowly Bears.
3. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
Week 5 Opponent: Kansas City Chiefs
2015 Stats: 84 carries, 367 yards, 1 TD
Plenty of fantasy points should be scored by running backs in this game. Forte is averaging 24.3 touches per game, and while he’s only scored one touchdown, that very well could change against a Chiefs defense that allowed four touchdowns to the Cincinnati Bengals last weekend.
4. Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens
Week 5 Opponent: Cleveland Browns
2015 Stats: 66 carries, 274 yards, 0 TDs
Forsett and the Ravens’ ground game finally came to life last week. Expect Baltimore to go back to the ground game again with top wideout Steve Smith Sr. on the shelf and a matchup against Cleveland’s horrible run defense.
5. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers
Week 5 Opponent: St. Louis Rams
2015 Stats: 50 carries, 230 yards, 1 TD
Hang in there, Lacy owners. The production will come. Lacy showed promise with a 90-rushing-yard performance in Week 4, and a home matchup against an erratic Rams run defense bodes well for a potential 100-yard performance out of the Alabama product.
6. Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons
Week 5 Opponent: Washington Redskins
2015 Stats: 66 carries, 252 yards, 7 TDs
Freeman has been a force over the last two weeks, but take note: The Redskins have given up the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season in standard leagues, and there’s a chance that rookie Tevin Coleman will come back this week, too.
7. Arian Foster, Houston Texans
Week 5 Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
2015 Stats: 8 carries, 10 yards, 0 TDs
The Texans’ offense was all out of sorts in Foster’s first game back last week. Expect more of a Foster-esque performance Thursday night against a weak Colts run defense that he’s historically had success against in the past (258 total yards and two TDs in two games last season).
8. Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams
Week 5 Opponent: Green Bay Packers
2015 Stats: 25 carries, 155 yards, 0 TDs
Welcome to the show, kid. Gurley had his breakout performance against a stout Arizona Cardinals defense last Sunday, and as long as they don’t fall into too big of a hole, the Rams should feed him plenty against the Packers in Week 5.
9. Karlos Williams, Buffalo Bills
Week 5 Opponent: Tennessee Titans
2015 Stats: 42 carries, 226 yards, 3 TDs
Williams kept his touchdown streak alive last Sunday by hauling in a late touchdown pass. He also suffered a concussion and is day to day, but if he plays, he’s a top-10 back against the lowly Titans with LeSean McCoy likely on the bench again.
10. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
Week 5 Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
2015 Stats: 38 carries, 128 yards, 0 TDs
Lynch sat out Monday night with a hamstring injury, but the hope is he’ll be ready to go in Sunday’s Week 5 showdown against the Bengals. He’ll have his fair share of touches if he plays, so fire him up with confidence despite the unsavory matchup.
Thumbnail photo via Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports Images
