2012 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings: Week 5

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.