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
