Week 5 of the fantasy football season has arrived, and it’s more important than ever to know which players deserve a place in your starting lineup. Considering player talent, recent form, and matchups, we’ve put together our PFSN consensus Week 5 RB rankings.
These rankings were last updated at 8:00 AM ET on Sunday, October 05, 2025.
Week 5 RB Fantasy Rankings
1) Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers (at LAR)
2) Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions (at CIN)
3) Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts (vs. LV)
4) James Cook | Buffalo Bills (vs. NE)
5) De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins (at CAR)
6) Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DEN)
7) Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)
8) Omarion Hampton | Los Angeles Chargers (vs. WAS)
9) Ashton Jeanty | Las Vegas Raiders (at IND)
10) Quinshon Judkins | Cleveland Browns (vs. MIN (London))
11) Cam Skattebo | New York Giants (at NO)
12) Javonte Williams | Dallas Cowboys (at NYJ)
13) Breece Hall | New York Jets (vs. DAL)
14) Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams (vs. SF)
15) Jordan Mason | Minnesota Vikings (vs. CLE (London))
16) Kenneth Walker III | Seattle Seahawks (vs. TB)
17) J.K. Dobbins | Denver Broncos (at PHI)
18) Travis Etienne Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. KC)
19) Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers (vs. MIA)
20) Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints (vs. NYG)
21) Chase Brown | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. DET)
22) Tony Pollard | Tennessee Titans (at ARI)
23) David Montgomery | Detroit Lions (at CIN)
24) Rachaad White | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at SEA)
25) Woody Marks | Houston Texans (at BAL)
26) Rhamondre Stevenson | New England Patriots (at BUF)
27) TreVeyon Henderson | New England Patriots (at BUF)
28) Michael Carter | Arizona Cardinals (vs. TEN)
29) Sean Tucker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at SEA)
30) Isiah Pacheco | Kansas City Chiefs (at JAX)
31) Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Washington Commanders (at LAC)
32) Kareem Hunt | Kansas City Chiefs (at JAX)
33) Zach Charbonnet | Seattle Seahawks (vs. TB)
34) Nick Chubb | Houston Texans (at BAL)
35) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | Washington Commanders (at LAC)
36) Bhayshul Tuten | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. KC)
37) Ollie Gordon II | Miami Dolphins (at CAR)
38) RJ Harvey | Denver Broncos (at PHI)
39) Emari Demercado | Arizona Cardinals (vs. TEN)
40) Rico Dowdle | Carolina Panthers (vs. MIA)
41) Kendre Miller | New Orleans Saints (vs. NYG)
42) Justice Hill | Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)
43) Tyjae Spears | Tennessee Titans (at ARI)
44) Jeremy McNichols | Washington Commanders (at LAC)
45) Blake Corum | Los Angeles Rams (vs. SF)
46) Miles Sanders | Dallas Cowboys (at NYJ)
47) Ty Johnson | Buffalo Bills (vs. NE)
48) Zavier Scott | Minnesota Vikings (vs. CLE (London))
49) Antonio Gibson | New England Patriots (at BUF)
50) Brashard Smith | Kansas City Chiefs (at JAX)
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Betting on good players is the most straightforward strategy in fantasy football, and Chuba Hubbard is precisely that. The Carolina Panthers offense has struggled to find its feet early in 2025, as Bryce Young looks to make the most of his young receiving corps.
Hubbard has seen his usage decline as a result, as Carolina plays from behind more often than not; when they were ahead in Week 3, a blowout win had a similar effect. Hubbard also has zero rushing touchdowns this year and hasn’t found the end zone since Week 2.
That’s unlikely to continue, though, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hubbard back to his best in the coming weeks. He remains the team’s clear RB1 and started the year with two top-10 finishes.
Two bad weeks and the fact that he plays for Carolina will be enough for many owners to listen to offers ahead of Week 5.
Should You Start or Sit Judkins in Week 5?
Judkins ranks seventh at the position in gain rate (87.8%) and second in yards per carry after first contact. He’s already one of the hardest running backs in the sport, and it would seem that the Browns finally opened their eyes to that last week.
After messing around with a few Joe Flacco attempts, Cleveland called Judkins’ number on the doorstep in Detroit, and he paid it off. We saw some glimpses of creativity after that, including a play-action screen pass where he was the focal point for the entire play and picked up 16 yards in the process.
The Browns haven’t scored more than 17 points in a game with Judkins this season, and that’s going to continue to be a limiting factor, but the versatile skill set and unquestioned role give him a top 20 floor in any given week with the potential for more.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Cheat Sheet.
Should You Start or Sit Woody Marks in Week 5?
Did we just witness a changing of the guard?
Woody Marks certainly looked to provide this limited offense with something that it has been missing last week in the shutout win over the Titans (21 touches for 119 yards and two scores), and the versatility has my attention. That said, it was a game against lowly Tennessee, so let’s not get too crazy.
Marks held a 5-4 carry edge over Nick Chubb in the first quarter last week and picked up a fourth-and-short situation later in the first half. Houston is clearly interested, and a matchup with a Ravens defense that is limping in could be a nice spot to soft-launch their rookie as their lead back.
I’ve got Marks 10 spots higher than Chubb this week at the RB position, and that puts him firmly in the flex conversation, ahead of Isiah Pacheco and Breece Hall.
