Fantasy Football Week 5 Running Back Start/Sit: Joe Mixon, D'Andre Swift, De'Von Achane, Zack Moss and More

Start

Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

If Mixon returns from his ankle injury in Week 5, do not hesitate to get him right back in your lineup. Not only does this team need him on the field, but he will be matched up against the Buffalo Bills, who have allowed the most fantasy points to running backs this season.

Derrick Henry shredded their defense last week and we expect Mixon to have himself a nice day as well. However, this is a situation you will have to monitor to make sure he does return this week. He was close to returning in Week 4, so he should have a great shot to be on the field. If he does not play, we do not recommend starting Cam Akers as anything more than a questionable flex option. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

After a hot start to the season, fantasy owners are beginning to sour on Stevenson, who is coming off back-to-back subpar outings. To make matters worse, reports came out this week suggesting that he could be benched due to his fumbling issues.

We are here to tell you to stick with him for at least one more week. Ever since Tua Tagovailoa got hurt, all teams have been doing when going against the Dolphins is running it over and over. This is because it only takes about six points to beat them. That is who he plays this week and he will see a ton of volume and thrive. Understand going forward that he is a matchup-based RB2 and this is a great matchup on Sunday.  

D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

Swift had been all but written off before exploding in Week 4. Don't be shocked if he does in again this week against the Carolina Panthers. They are allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position this season. After his big performance last week, the coaching staff should have rejuvenated confidence in Swift and will go back to him as their RB1. Get him back in your lineups. 

Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts

It sounds like Jonathan Taylor is going to miss Week 5. It's important to make sure he's out before plugging Sermon into your starting lineup. However, going off the assumption that JT will be sidelined, Sermon is a running back we want in our lineups this week.

Both the matchup and game script should be ideal this week. It looks like Anthony Richardson will be returning this week, which makes it easier to run and causes the team to lean more toward the early-down back than the pass-catcher. They are playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs this season.

The Jags just so happened to be ranked dead last in our power rankings, which is why the Colts will be able to run the ball a ton in the second half of this game. They will have the lead and will have no reason to risk Richardson making a big mistake or getting injured. Things are lined up nicely for him this week. 

Sit

De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Achane has been another casualty of the Tua injury. Teams are stacking the box and he does not have the strength to break tackles. He is a back who needs to get the ball in space and make people miss. That hasn't been an option without Tua. The hope was that he would still get plenty of targets to offset the lack of rushing, but that wasn't the case either with Tyler Huntley under center. This is yet another Dolphin we are avoiding until Week 8 if possible. 

Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

Dowdle is the lead back in a messy committee. He's a mediocre player in an even worse rushing attack. This week he goes up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. There is very little to like here. We don't even like him as a flex option this week. 

Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals

Moss has a terrible matchup against the Baltimore Ravens this week, but that's not the main reason he's listed here. The bigger concern is that with each passing week, Chase Brown is slowly taking his job. One of these weeks is going to be the full takeover and we don't want to be caught holding the bag when that happens. The horrible matchup does make this an easier decision though. If you have to start a Bengals' rusher this week, we'd suggest Brown over Moss.