Week 5 RB Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Starts, Sleepers, Sits and Chests

Backup running backs had tremendous success in Week 4, and several could play a prominent role again in Week 5. Let’s see which backup running backs you can trust as Fantasy starters for this week.

In Week 4, Kyle Monangai (No. 4 with 28 PPR points), Emanuel Wilson (No. 6 with 27 PPR points), Brian Robinson Jr. (No. 8 with 25.7 PPR points), Alvin Kamara (No. 9 with 22.8 PPR points), RJ Harvey (No. 10 with 19.3 PPR points) and Ollie Gordon II (No. 16 with 18 PPR points) all finished as as top 20 running backs. Wilson, Kamara and Gordon were replacing injuries, while Monangai, Harvey and Robinson were coming off remarkable games.

For Week 5, we got to see other backup running backs play important roles, including TreVeyon Henderson, Tyler Allgeier, and Will Shipley. Rhamondre Stevenson (leg) and Jeremiah Love (ankle) are dealing with injuries, while Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and Tank Bigsby (abdomen) are out.

As you’ll read below, I’m excited to see what Henderson can do if Stevenson is out for Week 5 against Las Vegas, and he would be a go-to Fantasy running back. And Allgeier would be a flex if Love was knocked out against Detroit.

Shipley makes me nervous, given all the injuries in Philly. And I’m not excited about Kamara and Gordon having strong encore performances in Week 5, but both should be considered flex options.

I expect Wilson to have a dominant game for Seattle against San Francisco. And Harvey is worth using as at least a flex option against the Chargers given his role in the passing game.

Robinson is worth using as a flex against Baltimore since he has four touchdowns in his last two games. I also like other backup running backs as at least flex options in Braelon Allen, Keaton Mitchell, Woody Marks and potentially Austin Ekeler. Monangai (thumb) would also be at least a flex option if he plays against Green Bay.