With the first round of byes taking place this week, fantasy football managers won't have the services of three of last week's top five running backs. Bijan Robinson and Josh Jacobs are every-week starters when they're on the field, but Kenneth Gainwell of the Pittsburgh Steelers (134 total yards, 2 TDs) was a surprise member of the fantastic five.
The reduced positional depth allows a pair of rookie running backs to creep into this week's top 10. The Las Vegas Raiders' Ashton Jeanty finally had his breakout game last Sunday and could be a fixture atop the ranks going forward. Meanwhile, Omarion Hampton of the Los Angeles Chargers is a sneaky selection after he was the RB7 a week ago.
WEEK 5 BYES: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Pittsburgh
(Rankings by Elisha Twerski, whose complete Week 5 rankings for every position will be updated up until kickoff on Sunday.)
Fantasy football Week 5 running back rankings
(*- double-check status before kickoff)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) at CIN
- De'Von Achane (MIA) at CAR
- Jonathan Taylor (IND) vs. LV
- Christian McCaffrey (SF) at LAR
- James Cook III (BUF) vs. NE
- Omarion Hampton (LAC) vs. WAS
- Derrick Henry (BAL) vs. HOU
- Ashton Jeanty (LV) at IND
- Saquon Barkley (PHI) vs. DEN
- Breece Hall (NYJ) vs. DAL
- Kyren Williams (LAR) vs. SF
- Quinshon Judkins (CLE) vs. MIN
- Woody Marks (HOU) at BAL
- Kenneth Walker III (SEA) vs. TB
- Javonte Williams (DAL) at NYJ
- Alvin Kamara (NO) vs. NYG
- Travis Etienne Jr. (JAC) vs. KC
- Cam Skattebo (NYG) at NO
- Rachaad White (TB) at SEA
- J.K. Dobbins (DEN) at PHI
- Jordan Mason (MIN) at CLE
- Chuba Hubbard (CAR) vs. MIA
- David Montgomery (DET) at CIN
- TreVeyon Henderson (NE) at BUF
- Tony Pollard (TEN) at ARI
- Chase Brown (CIN) vs. DET
- Zach Charbonnet (SEA) vs. TB
- Isiah Pacheco (KC) at JAC
- RJ Harvey (DEN) at PHI
- Nick Chubb (HOU) at BAL
- Kareem Hunt (KC) at JAC
- Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) at BUF
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) at LAC
- Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) at LAC
- Bhayshul Tuten (JAC) vs. KC
- Ollie Gordon II (MIA) at CAR
- Justice Hill (BAL) vs. HOU
- Emari Demercado (ARI) vs. TEN
- Kendre Miller (NO) vs. NYG
- Blake Corum (LAR) vs. SF
- Rico Dowdle (CAR) vs. MIA
- Brian Robinson Jr. (SF) at LAR
- Miles Sanders (DAL) at NYJ
- Devin Singletary (NYG) at NO
- Zavier Scott (MIN) at CLE
- Brashard Smith (KC) at JAC
- Jeremy McNichols (WAS) at LAC
- Jerome Ford (CLE) vs. MIN
- Tyjae Spears (TEN) at ARI
- Ray Davis (BUF) vs. NE
- Ty Johnson (BUF) vs. NE
- Antonio Gibson (NE) at BUF
- Kyle Juszczyk (SF) at LAR
- Dylan Sampson (CLE) vs. MIN
- Zamir White (LV) at IND
- Sean Tucker (TB) at SEA
- Samaje Perine (CIN) vs. DET
- Dylan Laube (LV) at IND
- DJ Giddens (IND) vs. LV
- LeQuint Allen Jr. (JAC) vs. KC
- Julius Chestnut (TEN) at ARI
- Isaiah Davis (NYJ) vs. DAL
- Alec Ingold (MIA) at CAR
- A.J. Dillon (PHI) vs. DEN
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Week 5 fantasy football RB rankings: Best starts at running back
Reporting by Steve Gardner, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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