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2012 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Week 5

By: Athlon Sports | 10/4/12, 6:03 AM EDT

Each week during the NFL season, we will rank enough players at each position to appease everyone from those in 8-team leagues to 16-team leagues, those that can start two QBs, two TEs, three RBs and four WRs. We cut out the rest, because if you're looking at who the 50th-best running back or the 17th-best kicker is for that week, you need more help than any Web site can give you.

Dallas, Detroit, Oakland and Tampa Bay are on bye.

2012 NFL Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings — Running Backs

Rk Player Team OPPONENT Notes
1 Arian Foster HOU at NYJ (Mon.) Jets gave up 254 rushing yards to 49ers last week.
2 Ray Rice BAL at KC Could have field day against Chiefs.
3 Marshawn Lynch SEA at CAR Panthers allowing most fantasy points to RBs.
4 Adrian Peterson MIN vs. TEN Almost back to being a Top 10 RB.
5 LeSean McCoy PHI at PIT Should get another heavy workload vs. Steelers.
6 Jamaal Charles KC vs. BAL Ravens D not as fearsome as past years.
7 Frank Gore SF vs. BUF Bills allowed two Patriots to rush for 100+ last week.
8 Maurice Jones-Drew JAC vs. CHI Bears D has been solid against rush.
9 Reggie Bush MIA at CIN Didn't do a lot against Cardinals, but key is knee is OK.
10 Ryan Mathews SD at NO May finally break through against Saints.
11 Trent Richardson CLE at NYG More than held his own against Ravens last week.
12 Matt Forte CHI at JAC Limited, but still had impact on MNF vs. Cowboys.
13 Alfred Morris WAS vs. ATL Had first 100-yard game against Tampa Bay.
14 Chris Johnson TEN at MIN CJ finally got loose (141 yards) against Texans.
15 Stevan Ridley NE vs. DEN Even with Bolden's big day, ran for 100+ and 2 TDs.
16 Michael Turner ATL at WAS Busted out in a big way last week, encore?
17 Cedric Benson GB at IND Has one rushing TD so far.
18 BenJarvus Green-Ellis CIN vs. MIA Dolphins have been good against the rush so far.
19 Willis McGahee DEN at NE Rib issue didn't slow him down (112, TD) vs. Raiders.
20 Darren Sproles NO vs. SD  
21 Ahmad Bradshaw NYG vs. CLE Didn't do much but still got majority of work over Brown.
22 Steven Jackson STL vs. ARI (Thurs.) Questionable (groin) vs. Cardinals, game-time decision.
23 Fred Jackson BUF at SF Got more carries, targets than Spiller last week.
24 Ryan Williams ARI at STL (Thurs.)  
25 C.J. Spiller BUF at SF Shoulder seems OK, but now in timeshare with Jackson.
26 DeAngelo Williams CAR vs. SEA Had most carries of any Panther back against Atlanta.
27 Donald Brown IND vs. GB  
28 Michael Bush CHI at JAC Opportunities could decrease as Forte gets healthier.
29 Rashard Mendenhall PIT vs. PHI Expected to start, but will share carries.
30 Jonathan Stewart CAR vs. SEA Returned, but crowded backfield limits impact.
31 Shonn Greene NYJ vs. HOU (Mon.)  
32 Ben Tate HOU at NYJ (Mon.) Texans not really limiting Foster's workload so far.
33 Kendall Hunter SF vs. BUF  
34 Pierre Thomas NO vs. SD  
35 Jackie Battle SD at NO More touches than Mathews last week, will it continue?
36 Mark Ingram NO vs. SD  
37 Jacquizz Rodgers ATL at WAS  
38 Daniel Thomas MIA at CIN  
39 Brandon Bolden NE vs. DEN One-week wonder or is there a timeshare in NE?
40 Andre Brown NYG vs. CLE Didn't get a lot of chances with Bradshaw back.
41 Isaac Redman PIT vs. PHI Should get his chances even with Mendenhall back.
42 Shaun Draughn KC vs. BAL  
43 Ronnie Hillman DEN at NE Finally got some consistent playing time, more coming?
44 Robert Turbin SEA at CAR Had 45 yards on just six carries last week.
45 Bernard Pierce BAL at KC  
46 Daryl Richardson STL vs. ARI (Thurs.) Will start if S. Jackson (groin) can't go.
47 Bilal Powell NYJ vs. HOU (Mon.)  
48 Toby Gerhart MIN vs. TEN Not getting many chances with AP back.

Rankings are based upon Athlon Sports' standard scoring system:

OFFENSIVE SCORING
All touchdowns are 6 points
1 point for 25 yards passing
1 point for 10 yards rushing/receiving
Receptions are .5 points
Interceptions/fumbles are minus-2 points

Additional Week 5 Positional Rankings

Quarterbacks
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Defense/Special Teams

Week 5 Start or Sit

Week 5 Waiver Wire

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