Overall, the running back position has become much more complex for fantasy football managers to navigate in recent years. Many teams are opting to take a committee approach to their backfields. Others are simply riding the hot hand on a week-to-week basis. Of course, injuries always hit this position hard and will always lead to several viable fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em options.
As we enter Week 5, all of the above scenarios are playing out in backfields across the NFL. We also have the start of bye weeks to contend with. For those facing tough decisions at the position, we are here to help! Let’s jump into our Week 5 discussion of fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em for RBs.
Wide Receivers — Week 5 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Tight Ends — Week 5 Fantasy Football Start/Sit
Fantasy Football Start ’em, Sit ’em: Week 5 RBs
Start: Jahmyr Gibbs Fantasy Outlook vs. Panthers
ECR Rank: 28
It’s always fun to zig when others zag when it comes to fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em decisions. When it comes to the Detroit Lions backfield, managers have a golden opportunity to do just that in Week 5. The sky is falling for all of the bozos who tied their championship hopes and dreams to rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs. Last week saw the Lions spoonfed David Montgomery 32 carries in his return from a one-game injury absence while Gibbs only received eight.
The thing is, even with Montgomery in the lineup, Gibbs still has the potential to produce in fantasy given his role in the passing game. One would also be reasonable to anticipate a bump in carries for the Alabama product in Week 5 after Montgomery’s workhorse game last week. Clearly, the Lions are committed to using both players, even if the split isn’t what people had wrongfully anticipated coming into the season.
If there was ever a matchup for both players to eat, this would figure to be it. The Carolina Panthers enter Sunday’s tilt allowing the fourth-most PPR points to opposing backs on a per-game basis. In other words, Week 5 is not the time to panic bench Gibbs.
Start: Jaleel McLaughlin Fantasy Outlook vs. Jets
ECR Rank: 32
First and foremost, we must clarify that including Jaleel McLaughlin in the positive section of this week’s fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em column is largely contingent on Javonte Williams being held out of Sunday’s game. When Williams got knocked out of last week’s game with a quadriceps/hip flexor injury, it was McLaughlin, not Samaje Perine, who led the Denver Broncos backfield.
Anyone who had listened to Sean Payton should’ve seen this development coming. Denver’s head coach had previously given rave reviews about the Youngstown State product and expressed a desire to get him more involved. With Williams missing Wednesday’s practice, it appears McLaughlin could be trending toward being the Broncos’ top option out of the backfield in Week 5.
Now, a matchup against the New York Jets may concern some managers. Well, let’s just say that this defense isn’t exactly as great as public perception might lead one to believe. In fact, the Jets have allowed 148.0 rushing yards per game thus far, the fifth-most of any defense. If McLaughlin garners enough touches, he could very well matriculate RB2-caliber production.
Check out TrophySmack today to get the best fantasy football trophies, belts, rings and draft boards in the industry! Use promo code FLURRY for a free championship ring with a trophy, or get a nice discount!
Sit: Miles Sanders Fantasy Outlook vs. Lions
ECR Rank: 26
There was hope in Carolina that the acquisition of Miles Sanders might lessen the blow of trading away superstar RB Christian McCaffrey last season. Through four games, this notion has proven to be little more than a pipedream. Rather than putting up the RB2 caliber numbers that so many had hoped for, Sanders has done very little on the ground. If not for a couple of decent receiving efforts, his production to date would be even more disappointing.
Sanders played a season-low 43% of the Panthers’ offensive snaps last week. He continues to nurse a groin injury that he carried into the start of the season. His lack of efficiency last week resulted in Chuba Hubbard seeing the lion’s share of the snaps out of the backfield. On top of all this, Sanders must contend with a Detroit Lions defense that enters Week 5 allowing the fifth-fewest PPR fantasy points per game to opposing RBs.
Sit: Rhamondre Stevenson Fantasy Outlook vs. Saints
ECR Rank: 27
Just as the Fantasy Football by Committee crew warned of before the season began, the New England Patriots backfield has hardly been a one-man show. As a result, Rhamondre Stevenson has failed to deliver on all of the preseason expectations that so many others had for him. Stevenson has not played more than 73% of the team’s offensive snaps in any game. While he has outsnapped Ezekiel Elliott in each of the first four games, both players are seeing their fair share of work.
What’s even more concerning is the lack of productivity for the Patriots’ rushing attack as a whole. New England ranks just 24th in the NFL with 93.5 rushing yards per game through four weeks. Stevenson himself has failed to rush for more than 59 yards in a single game despite seeing 12+ carries in each contest to date. The Pats’ offensive line is a disaster and is a big reason why Stevenson is only averaging 2.73 yards per carry, over two fewer compared to last year.
Stevenson’s fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em prospects are pampered even further by a matchup against a New Orleans Saints defense in Week 5 that comes in allowing the eight-fewest PPR points per game to opposing RBs. Check out our fantasy football rankings to see if you have a better option.
