Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Below are the top running back picks from Week 5 that could have a significant impact on fantasy scoring in Week 6 and beyond.
Michael Carter the new leadership is back in the Arizona Cardinalsbackfield
Fantasy managers were quick to grab Cardinals third-string running back Emari Demercado, while both James Conner and Trey Benson went on injured reserve (IR) Week 5. It turns out that Michael Carter is actually the next man in Arizona. Carter led the backfield with 18 carries and 23 touches while playing on 57.4% of the Cardinals’ offensive snaps in Week 5. Although Demercado led the team with 81 rushing yards, he had just three carries in the game, and during his stellar 71-yard rush, he fumbled the ball in front of the goal line while celebrating too early. His head coach, Jonathan Gannon, was rightfully more than angry with Demarcado after that mistake, and he could be in the doghouse during this week’s game.
It wasn’t surprising to see Carter lead the backfield in carries, as his skill set is better suited to carrying a heavier workload than Demarcado, but it was surprising to see Carter get five of the six running back targets for the team in Week 5. Additionally, he was deployed around the goal line and played inside the opponent’s five-yard line on three of the team’s four snaps.
Carter’s volume should remain steady while Benson is out for at least the Cardinals’ next three games. He should be considered a low-end RB2 fantasy starter during that span.
Upcoming matchups: at Foalsvs PackersGoodbye, op Cowboys
Zach Charbonnet remains a thorn in the side Kenneth Walker‘s side
The coaches of the Seattle Seahawks have decided that they want to heavily involve Zach Charbonnet on offense this season, and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon. In the four games Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker have played together this year, Charbonnet has played 54% of the snaps to Walker’s 42%. Walker has been much more efficient in those games, gaining 5.6 yards per carry on the ground compared to Charbonnet’s 2.8, but the red zone work should be very concerning for Walker’s fantasy managers.
Charbonnet played on 27 of 39 red-zone snaps in his four games played this season, while catching five of the team’s six rushing attempts inside the opponent’s five-yard line, including all four attempts inside the three-yard line. Walker has scored three rushing touchdowns this season, but two of those came in Week 3 when Charbonnet was out with an injury, and only one touchdown came in the four games they played together.
Walker is averaging 11.5 fantasy points per game in his games with Charbonnet this season, while Charbonnet is doing very little with his workload, scoring just nine points per game. Both hurt each other’s fantasy value, and it will be hard to trust either as long as both are healthy.
Upcoming matchups: at Jaguarsvs TexansGoodbye, op Commanders
Jacory Croskey-Merritt finally takes control Washington Commandersbackfield
It took a few weeks following Austin Ekeler’s season-ending injury, but it appears the Commanders are finally relying on their rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt to man their backfield. Croskey-Merritt recorded career-highs 14 carries, 111 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and 39 receiving yards in Week 5. He played on 48% of the team’s offensive snaps last Sunday, the first time he achieved 40% playing time in a game. Fellow backfield teammates Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols were limited to just five and two touches, respectively, in Week 5.
Croskey-Merritt has been very efficient with his workload in his rookie season, ranking first among all running backs in the NFL with 6.6 yards per carry (min. 40 rushing attempts) through the first five weeks. He scored a touchdown in all three games in which he saw at least eight carries. His breakout should continue in the coming weeks with two very favorable matchups against the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys, both of whom will give up a ton of fantasy points for the running back position in 2025.
Upcoming matches: vs. Bearsbee Cowboysbee Leaders
Rachad White plays 80% of the snaps Bucky Irving sidelined
With Bucky Irving inactive due to a shoulder injury, Rachaad White played on 80% of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive snaps in Week 5 while getting 14 of 17 carries in the backfield. White wasn’t very efficient as a rusher, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry against the Seattle Seahawks, but he came through with two rushing touchdowns and added another four receptions for 30 yards through the air. He played on 100% of the Buccaneers’ third-down snaps and nine of 11 red-zone snaps in Week 5. White finished as an RB7 that week with 23.1 fantasy points.
Irving is expected to miss at least another week, giving White another chance to help fantasy managers who took him off waivers. He will face the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday, who have allowed Kyren Williams to score 31.1 fantasy points and Travis Etienne to score 19.5 points over the past two weeks.
Upcoming matches: vs. 49ersbee Lionsbee Saints
TreVeyon Henderson plays a career-high 50% of the New England Patriots understands
It’s been a slow burn for fantasy managers who drafted TreVeyon Henderson this year, but they remain patient. The Patriots’ early second-round pick has struggled to see the field consistently through the first five weeks, but his chances should improve with teammate Antonio Gibson’s season-ending ACL injury. The Patriots were pesky, using a three-man backfield with Rhamondre Stevenson, Gibson and Henderson all season, with the three splitting carries and touches nearly even in Week 5 — Gibson already had seven touches by the time he suffered an ACL tear early in the second quarter.
Henderson ended up playing 50% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 5 after playing on just 37% of the snaps from Weeks 1-4. Unfortunately, the higher rushing share didn’t translate into more fantasy points, as he had just eight touches and Stevenson secured both rushing touchdowns in the game. Hopefully, with Gibson sidelined, Henderson will continue to earn more work in the backfield. However, it could mean more opportunities for running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who not only leads the team in the red zone and goal line this season but also dominates third-down snaps and played on 51 of the Patriots’ 77 third-down attempts in 2025.
The next few weeks will be telling for Henderson’s fantasy prospects for the rest of the season. Fortunately, he will have two favorable games against the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans in the next two weeks to prove his worth.
Upcoming matchups: at Saintsbee Titansvs Tanning
#Fantasy #Football #Week #Running #Report