Fantasy Football Week 5: RB Start/Sit Featuring Judkins and Wilson

Backup running backs were extremely successful in Week 4, and several could play prominent roles 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 top-20 running backs. Wilson, Kamara, and Gordon were injury replacements, while Monangai, Harvey, and Robinson just had standout games.

For Week 5, we could see other backup running backs in prominent roles, including TreVeyon Henderson, Tyler Allgeier, and Will Shipley. Rhamondre Stevenson (leg) and Jeremiyah 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 must-start Fantasy running back. And Allgeier would be a flex if Love is out against Detroit.

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

I do 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 past 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.

RBs to Start Projections powered by Sportsline

Emanuel Wilson

RB

SEA Seattle

• #23

Age: 27 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs SF SEA -3 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB

25th

PROJ PTS

10.1

RB RNK

15th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

190

REC

3

REYDS

39

TD

2

FPTS/G

9.5

Joe Mixon ended up not signing in Seattle, and Zach Charbonnet (knee) isn't going to play in Week 5. It will be Wilson's backfield again, and he was awesome in Week 4 against the Chargers with 21 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown on four targets for 27 PPR points. He now has 10 games in his career with double digits in carries, and he has scored at least 11.7 PPR points in seven of those outings. The 49ers are No. 8 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and a running back has scored at least 12.3 PPR points in every game this season.

Quinshon Judkins

RB

CLE Cleveland

• #10

Age: 22 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ NYJ NYJ -2.5 O/U 40

OPP VS RB

27th

PROJ PTS

11.9

RB RNK

19th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

177

REC

15

REYDS

96

TD

1

FPTS/G

12.1

Judkins had his best game of the season in Week 4 against Pittsburgh with 21.6 PPR points. He had 17 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown and six catches for 43 yards on seven targets, and I hope he continues to be heavily involved in the passing game. He now has two games in his past three outings with at least five catches and five targets, and that will enhance his Fantasy production since he's averaging just 3.0 yards per carry. He has a great matchup in Week 5 at the Jets, who have allowed 69.4 PPR points in the past two games against Jahmyr Gibbs and Kyle Monangai. Judkins should be considered a solid No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues.

Braelon Allen

RB

NYJ N.Y. Jets

Age: 22 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs CLE NYJ -2.5 O/U 40

OPP VS RB

5th

PROJ PTS

12

RB RNK

20th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

120

REC

6

REYDS

19

TD

1

FPTS/G

6.5

It was an ugly game for the Jets in Week 4 at the Bears, and New York ran just 32 plays and had the ball for only 17 minutes and 15 seconds. The positive for Allen was he was the only running back to touch the ball in the first game without Breece Hall (quadriceps) with 14 carries for 59 yards and two catches for 8 yards on two targets. Allen should dominate work again in Week 5 against Cleveland, and he's worth using as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. The Browns have yet to allow a running back to score a touchdown this season, but Bucky Irving, Chuba Hubbard and Jaylen Warren have each scored at least 13 PPR points in each of the past three games.

RJ Harvey

RB

DEN Denver

• #12

Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ LAC DEN -3.5 O/U 42

OPP VS RB

22nd

PROJ PTS

9.4

RB RNK

23rd

YTD Stats

RUYDS

49

REC

20

REYDS

132

TD

0

FPTS/G

12.7

Harvey's work in the passing game has been excellent in the past two outings against the Rams and 49ers, and he should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy running back in PPR in Week 5 against the Chargers. He should be at least a flex in all formats, and he has 16 catches for 109 yards on 17 targets in his past two games, as well as nine carries for 31 yards. Ideally, Harvey will start getting more carries as well since he looked more explosive than J.K. Dobbins in Week 4 against San Francisco. The Chargers have allowed a running back to score at least 5.5 PPR points with just their receiving totals alone in each of their past three games against Ashton Jeanty, Ty Johnson and Emanuel Wilson, and Harvey should follow suit in Week 5.

TreVeyon Henderson

RB

NE New England

• #32

Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs LV NE -3.5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB

16th

PROJ PTS

11.5

RB RNK

34th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

141

REC

1

REYDS

6

TD

1

FPTS/G

7.2

I'm speculating with this post that Henderson will be the primary running back for New England in Week 5 against Las Vegas since Rhamondre Stevenson (leg) left late in Week 4 against Buffalo and didn't practice Wednesday. Mike Vrabel said Stevenson still has a chance to play against the Raiders, but if he's out then Henderson would be a must-start running back in all leagues. Stevenson missed three games in 2025, and Henderson averaged 24.3 PPR points over that span, including two outings with at least 28 PPR points. Las Vegas has allowed two running backs to score at least 19.5 PPR points this season with Omarion Hampton in Week 2 and Kenneth Walker III in Week 4, and Henderson has the potential to be a top-10 Fantasy running back in all leagues if Stevenson is out. Sleepers (Start/Sit) Projections powered by Sportsline

Keaton Mitchell

RB

LAC L.A. Chargers

• #34

Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs DEN DEN -3.5 O/U 42

OPP VS RB

26th

PROJ PTS

7.9

RB RNK

29th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

124

REC

9

REYDS

34

TD

1

FPTS/G

7.8

We're not at the point yet where Mitchell is the best Chargers running back, but he was used that way in Week 4 at Seattle. He played more snaps than Omarion Hampton against the Seahawks (26-25), and Mitchell finished with 10 carries for 39 yards and five catches for 24 yards on six targets. He has now scored at least 11.3 PPR points in back-to-back games against the Bills and Seahawks. Mitchell's role in the passing game could expand with Ladd McConkey (foot) injured, and Mitchell is worth using as a high-end flex in all leagues in Week 5. The Broncos have allowed a running back to score at least 14.2 PPR points in every game this season, and while I still have Hampton ranked ahead of Mitchell this week, it's close between the two.

Austin Ekeler

RB

WAS Washington

• #30

Age: 31 • Experience: 10 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs NYG WAS -3.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS RB

17th

PROJ PTS

2.5

RB RNK

35th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

29

REC

1

REYDS

11

TD

0

FPTS/G

5

Rachaad White (shoulder) practiced Wednesday in a non-contact jersey, and we'll see if he can return in Week 5 against the Giants after missing Week 4 against the Colts in London. Ekeler made his 2026 debut against the Colts and had four carries for 29 yards and one catch for 11 yards on two targets, and he could work in tandem with Jacory Croskey-Merritt in Week 5. Jayden Daniels (elbow) being back should help the Commanders, and Croskey-Merritt might have a good outing as well. If White is out then I would use Ekeler as a flex, and the Giants have allowed Javonte Williams, Kyren Williams and Tony Pollard to each score at least 6.2 PPR points with just their receiving totals alone.

Tyler Allgeier

RB

ARI Arizona

• #22

Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs DET DET -5.5 O/U 54.5

OPP VS RB

19th

PROJ PTS

6.8

RB RNK

36th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

112

REC

10

REYDS

35

TD

1

FPTS/G

7.7

Jeremiyah Love (ankle) might be out or limited in Week 5 against Detroit, and we'll continue to monitor his status throughout the week. Allgeier could be the primary running back for the Cardinals, and he would be at least a flex option in all leagues if Love is out. Allgeier just had eight carries for 42 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 7 yards on two targets in Week 4 at the Giants in the game where Love was injured. And the Lions have allowed Travis Etienne, James Cook and Chuba Hubbard to score at least 14.8 PPR points already this season.

Brian Robinson Jr.

RB

ATL Atlanta

• #15

Age: 27 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs BAL ATL -3.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS RB

11th

PROJ PTS

6.2

RB RNK

37th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

194

REC

3

REYDS

21

TD

4

FPTS/G

12.1

It's time to start using Brian Robinson as a flex, even in tandem with Bijan Robinson. Brian Robinson has now scored at least 8.7 PPR points in each of his past three games against Carolina, Green Bay and New Orleans, and he has at least 10 carries in all of those outings. In his past two games against the Packers and Saints, with Michael Penix Jr. back at quarterback, Brian Robinson has 24 carries for 112 yards and four touchdowns and one catch for 5 yards on one targets. He'll likely need a touchdown to have a quality Fantasy outing against Baltimore in Week 5, but the Falcons are dominating on the ground in the past two games with Bijan and Brian. And Brian Robinson can be helpful if needed in the majority of leagues.

Woody Marks

RB

HOU Houston

• #4

Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

@ TEN HOU -7.5 O/U 37.5

OPP VS RB

14th

PROJ PTS

7.4

RB RNK

30th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

87

REC

7

REYDS

31

TD

2

FPTS/G

7.8

Marks has scored a touchdown in each of his past two games against Indianapolis and Dallas, and ESPN reported prior to Week 4 against the Cowboys that he should start getting more work over David Montgomery. That hasn't happened yet, but Marks did see a snap increase from Week 3 to Week 4. Marks is worth using as a flex option in tandem with Montgomery heading into Week 5 at Tennessee, and the Titans have allowed a running back to score at least 11.8 PPR points in each game this season. RBs to Sit Projections powered by Sportsline

Tony Pollard

RB

TEN Tennessee

• #20

Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

MATCHUP

vs HOU HOU -7.5 O/U 37.5

OPP VS RB

8th

PROJ PTS

9.8

RB RNK

24th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

221

REC

8

REYDS

24

TD

1

FPTS/G

9.7

Poll

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/fantasy-football-start-sit-em-week-5-running-back/)._