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FanDuel Fantasy Football Value Rankings: Strategy, lineup for Week 5

By Mike Dente

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers fends off linebacker K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers fends off linebacker K.J. Wright #50 of the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 15: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 15: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at AT&T Stadium on January 15, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Running Back Value Rankings

  1. Ezekiel Elliott (vs. GB) – $8,900
  2. Le’Veon Bell (vs. JAC) – $9,500
  3. Todd Gurley (at LAR) – $7,800
  4. Kareem Hunt (at HOU) – $9,000
  5. Leonard Fournette (at PIT) – $7,600
  6. Carlos Hyde (at IND) – $7,200**
  7. Bilal Powell (at CLE) – $6,600
  8. DeMarco Murray (at MIA) – $6,400
  9. LeGarrette Blount (vs. ARI) – $5,900
  10. Melvin Gordon (at NYG) – $7,100
  11. Jay Ajayi (vs. TEN) – $7,300**
  12. LeSean McCoy (at CIN) – $8,200
  13. Ameer Abdullah (vs. CAR) – $6,000
  14. Alex Collins (at OAK) – $5,700
  15. Frank Gore (vs. SF) – $6,000
  16. Isaiah Crowell (vs. NYJ) – $6,100
  17. Elijah McGuire (at CLE) – $5,200
  18. Thomas Rawls (at LAR) – $4,800
  19. Jonathan Stewart (at DET) – $5,700
  20. Lamar Miller (vs. KC) – $6,500
  21. Joe Mixon (vs. BUF) – $5,900
  22. Duke Johnson (vs. NYJ) – $6,000
  23. J.D. McKissic (at LAR) – $4,500
  24. Christian McCaffrey (at DET) – $6,200
  25. Derrick Henry (at MIA) – $5,800
  26. Andre Ellington (at PHI) – $5,400
  27. Giovani Bernard (vs. BUF) – $5,700
  28. Marshawn Lynch (vs. BAL) – $6,100
  29. Wayne Gallman (vs. LAC) – $5,200
  30. Theo Riddick (vs. CAR) – $5,200
  31. Javorius Allen (at OAK) – $5,100
  32. Shane Vereen (vs. LAC) – $4,900
  33. Wendall Smallwood (vs. ARI) – $5,900**
  34. Aaron Jones (at DAL) – $5,900
  35. D’Onta Foreman (vs. KC) – $5,100
  36. Jalen Richard (vs. BAL) – $5,100
  37. Corey Clement (vs. ARI) – $4,500
  38. Eddie Lacy (at LAR) – $4,600
  39. Austin Ekeler (at NYG) – $4,500
  40. Chris Johnson (at PHI) – $5,700
  41. Ty Montgomery (at DAL) – $7,500**
  42. Jeremy Hill (vs. BUF) – $5,500
  43. Jamaal Williams (at DAL) – $5,800
  44. Chris Ivory (at PIT) – $4,700
  45. Orleans Darkwa (vs. LAC) – $5,100
  46. Marlon Mack (vs. SF) – $4,700
  47. Mike Tolbert (at CIN) – $4,700
  48. Terrance West (at OAK) – $5,400
  49. Matt Breida (at IND) – $5,500**
  50. Charcandrick West (at HOU) – $5,400
  51. DeAndre Washington (at OAK) – $5,100**
  52. Paul Perkins (vs. LAC) – $4,900**
  53. Branden Oliver (at NYG) – $5,300**
  54. Kerwynn Williams (at PHI) – $5,200
  55. James Conner (vs. JAC) – $5,000

RB Strategy Talk

No explanation needed for the top five regular studs. Just outside of the top five, I like Carlos Hyde quite a bit this week. His hip is said to be doing better and he has scored double-digit fantasy points in every game this season. This is one of the few matchups where he could see 20+ carries since the 49ers should be battling in a close game throughout.

Once you get outside of the top 12, you start running into a lot more question marks. There are still some nice upside plays, but the floors just aren’t quite as safe. This could be one of the better weeks to spend heavy on running back to assure you get two full-time starters. If you do decide to go the cheap route there are options. Alex Collins, Frank Gore, and Ameer Abdullah are some starters at or under the $6,000 mark.

If you want to go super-cheap, consider Thomas Rawls at $4,800. With Chris Carson out, Rawls appears to be the next in line for the bulk of the carries. Also, it is worth noting that the Seahawks face a Rams team that are allowing an NFL-worst 32.9 fantasy points per game to the running back position in PPR formats.

One of the more expensive backs I would stay away from is Ty Montgomery. The Green Bay back is dealing with a rib injury that will come down to pain tolerance. If he does play, I would expect him to be limited. On the flip side, if Montgomery is out, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams would get a bump on my rankings, but they are still hard to trust in a potential committee.

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