PlayerProfiler is home to the award winning redraft rankings and tools. Our Player Rankings are second to none, and the World Famous Draft Kit contains detailed player write ups and cheat sheets to help You dominate fantasy drafts! Check it out. Below, Tyler Knaeble highlights RB fantasy pickups – the best RBs to stream in Week 5 of your fantasy football matchup.
Welcome back to RB Risers for Week 5. We have had a very fun and chaotic start to the season as it relates to the running back position. Without further adieu, let’s dive into this week’s batch of RBs.
Chase Brown – Cincinnati Bengals: 64-percent owned
We finally got the “breakout game” from Chase Brown last week against the Panthers. Brown and Zack Moss both got 15 carries each. The second-year back turned his carries into 80 yards and two touchdowns. Moss had just 51 yards, but did have a receiving touchdown. Brown has received more and more carries as the season has gone along, and I think we can continue to see this similar trend of being in a “1A/1B” type of backfield, rather than Moss dominating the touches.
Obviously if Brown is available in your leagues, you should be scrambling to pick him up, but I’d even go a step further. For me, Brown is definitely a trade target in redraft and dynasty leagues. In his first game where he gets a substantial opportunity, Brown has a 20-plus point fantasy performance. That being said, it may be tough sledding this weekend, as the Ravens have allowed the third-least amount of points to RBs this season. Brown is definitely still a trade target, but I’d temper expectations for this week.
Justice Hill – Baltimore Ravens: 26-percent owned
Justice Hill had his best game of the season on Sunday Night Football, totaling 96 yards and a touchdown. While Hill may not get much opportunity on the ground (thanks Derrick Henry), he makes up for it with his receiving role. Hill is currently tied for No. 5 in receptions among RBs with 16. That makes him more than viable in PPR leagues as a weekly streaming option. Also, I think there is some hidden handcuff upside with him as well.
In years past, when Baltimore running backs have been injured, we have seen Hill step up. However, Gus Edwards was always been the next guy up given his early-down profile, leaving Hill cornered in his pass catching role. This year though, the only two healthy RBs on the roster are Henry and Hill. Keaton Mitchell is still recovering from his ACL injury and rookie Rasheen Ali has been on IR. Hill does indeed have handcuff upside as it stands right now. He is definitely worth a roster if he’s available in your league.
Kareem Hunt – Kansas City Chiefs: 63-percent owned
Kareem Hunt coming off the street and getting 16 total touches should definitely have your interest as far as which RB in Kansas City you should be rostering goes. 69 rushing yards on 14 carries is what we in the biz call efficient. It should also be noted that Carson Steele was practically benched after he had his second straight game with a fumble. And don’t even get me started on Samaje Perine. If Perine was going to be a thing, he wouldn’t have only had five carries in a game where they desperately needed an RB to step up.
Maybe Steele ends up getting his starting job back, but it definitely seems like Hunt is in pole position to keep the job if and when Isiah Pacheco comes back. The Chiefs have New Orleans on Monday Night and what better way to go into your Bye than a nice ground-and-pound win where Kareem Hunt has two touchdowns. Hunt is the guy to own/trade for. No one else.
See this week’s waiver wire pickups: Waiver Wire Week 5: 2024 Fantasy Football Must-Add Players, Deep Sleepers, and Bye Week Streamers
