Top 10 Running Back Studs - Best Fantasy Football RB Performances Including Travis Etienne, Breece Hall, Alvin Kamara and more

Week 5 had its own interesting twists and turns in the running back landscape and it was a little easier to finish in the Top 10 compared to weeks past with the Browns, Bucs, Chargers, and Seahawks on a bye. Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. had a monster game over in London and Zack Moss of the Colts continues his fantastic 2023 campaign even with incumbent RB Jonathan Taylor back with the team after having recently signed an extension.

The good news going forward is that we should have Chargers RB Austin Ekeler back for Week 6 after he's been nursing a lower-body injury. The Steelers and Packers are the only two teams on a bye in Week 6, but once we get to Week 7, there will be plenty more teams on a bye. The bye weeks always make the roster and start/sit decisions in the fantasy football landscape that much harder.

Let's take a look and see who the top backs were. Here are the Week 5 Top 10 RBs based on half-PPR fantasy scores (excluding Monday Night Football). For those of you who are in need of some real-time stats, bookmark our live fantasy scoreboard to your browser. You'll get live updates, top performances, and more – because who doesn't love some live fantasy action?

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Top 10 Running Backs Of The Week

Here are the top 10 running back from Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season in half-PPR scoring:

1. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Remember all that talk over the summer of rookie RB Tank Bigsby splitting backfield carries with Etienne? All of that seems silly now. In 3 out of 5 weeks, Etienne has finished as an RB9 or better and appears to be one of the best RB values of the fantasy season. The Jaguars offense has been inconsistent, but Etienne has been much better for fantasy in games the Jaguars have won compared to the ones they have lost.

On Sunday in London, Etienne had 26 carries for 136 yards and 2 TDs on top of 5 targets where he finished with 4 receptions for 48 yards. It was an impressive performance from Jacksonville, who ran roughshod over the jetlagged Bills defense. Is there something to be said for the Jaguars staying in London for an extra week while Buffalo had only gotten to London on Thursday? We can safely view Etienne as a middling RB1 with upside the rest of the way. He's had a few goal line carries taken away by Bigsby, but otherwise as long as this Jaguars offense is humming Etienne will be just fine.

2. Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts

After Jonathan Taylor was activated off injured reserve and signed to an extension earlier this week, Moss became an afterthought in fantasy football. Nonetheless, with Taylor still shaking off the rust, Moss had himself a day on Sunday in a Colts victory. He rushed 23 times for 165 yards and 2 TDs to go with 2 receptions for 30 yards. Moss greatly disappointed during his time in Buffalo, but now appears like a man re-born in his new home. Unfortunately, his fantasy upside is going to be capped while Taylor gets back to form, but he is one of the best handcuffs in the entire fantasy landscape. Moss is worth keeping on your roster in the deepest of formats and would be a must-start if Taylor were to miss any time.

3. Breece Hall, New York Jets

Just give this man the ball please! Hall had his promising rookie season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL in Week 7 of 2022. The good news was it was a clean tear of the ACL with successful surgery. This lead many in the fantasy community to fade Hall and understandably so, but he has looked great so far in 2023 despite having limited usage. Fellow RB Dalvin Cook hasn't looked great with his touches and while the Jets offense has struggled without QB Aaron Rodgers, it's pretty clear that their best path going forward is through Hall. On Sunday, he carried the ball 22 times for 177 yards and 1 TD, and caught all 3 of his targets for 17 yards.

Hall can be viewed as a high-end RB2 with upside for the rest of the season. QB Zach Wilson has been inconsistent, but the Jets still sit at 2-3 and have the potential to fight for a playoff spot. Hall is one of the most talented RBs in the league and could be an awesome value for fantasy if he continues seeing more touches. His talent is something special and hopefully the Jets realize they need to feed him the rock.

4. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Another week, another incredible performance from the Dolphins rookie RB. Despite his limited touches, Achane continues to be ultra efficient with them. On Sunday, he had just 11 carries for ran for 151 yards and 1 TD including a 76-yard score. He also had 1 reception for 14 yards. Miami's offense under Mike McDaniel has the most yards gained through 5 weeks in a single season in NFL history! If you have any pieces of this Dolphins offense on your fantasy team, you have to be quite pleased. Fellow RB Raheem Mostert still lingers in the background, but Achane should be viewed as a high-end RB2 with major upside the rest of the way. You don't want him having big games on your bench.

5. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

A player who continues to be a thorn in the side of all Jahmyr Gibbs fantasy managers, Monty had himself a day on Sunday after Gibbs was inactive with an injury. The humorous part about it is that Monty has been the Lions RB1 seeing the bulk of the carries even with a healthy Gibbs in the lineup. Detroit now sits at 4-1 on the season, and Monty is appearing like a great value. He was inactive during Week 3 with a quad injury, but otherwise Monty has been an RB13 or better in three out of four weeks.

On Sunday, Monty carried the ball 19 times for 109 yards and 1 TD, but he saw 6 targets and finished with 2 receptions for 20 yards. Monty is best viewed as a high-end RB2 with upside the rest of the way. He is going to continue to need to see consistent volume each week to be viable for fantasy, but it's pretty clear that head coach Dan Campbell views him as the lead back in Detroit's offense. Jahmyr Gibbs is pretty darn talented to the human eye, it's not always about what we think, it's about what the team thinks. The Lions love Montgomery.

6. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

After serving a 3-game suspension to start the season, Kamara has finished as a Top 12 RB in both of his games back. Fellow RB Jamaal Williams is still on injured reserve and rookie RB Kendre Miller hasn't done a lot whole with his touches as he's been coming back from injury. With Derek Carr preferring to check-down and throw to the flat, the outlook bodes well for Kamara the rest of the way. On Sunday in a complete blowout of the Patriots, Kamara carried the ball 22 times for 80 yards and 1 TD while catching all 3 of his targets for 17 yards. He may not be a complete workhorse type of back between the tackles, but Kamara is in a prime spot to receive all of the high-value touches in this offense.

7. Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos

After RB Javonte Williams was inactive on Sunday, it paved the way for McLaughlin. The undrafted rookie RB from Youngstown State ran the ball 9 times for 68 yards and caught 3 of his 4 targets for 21 yards and a TD. We still don't know what to expect from Denver's offense yet, but McLaughlin would be a Week 6 waiver target if Williams were to continue to miss any time. Samaje Perine is still a threat to get plenty of touches in the Broncos backfield, but Denver's defense is still bad and they will continue to need to keep scoring for fantasy.

8. Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans

A player who was recommended as a pickup in my weekly waiver wire stash article, it has become pretty clear that the Titans front offense and coaching staff love Spears after drafting him in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft. Sunday was the first time that he saw the end zone in his career, but starting RB Derrick Henry has been slow to get going this season and the Titans offense has been anything but good for fantasy. On Sunday, Spears had 7 rushes for 34 yards and 1 TD and caught 4 of his 5 targets for 35 yards. He could potentially have standalone upside for fantasy as a pass catcher, but Tennessee's offense needs to get better. Right now this isn't a good unit by any means, but Spears is worth rostering in all formats.

9. Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins

Are we at a point now where we might see two running backs from the same offense both finish as RB1s in fantasy? It's still early but on a points per game basis, Mostert and Achane are both in the Top 6! On Sunday, Mostert had 10 carries for 65 yards and a TD while seeing 2 targets and finishing with 2 receptions for 13 yards. This Dolphins offense is as high-powered as they come right now and if you have Mostert or Achane, both of them need to be in your lineup every week. Coming up the Dolphins play the Panthers, Eagles, Patriots, and Chiefs before heading to a bye in Week 10. There is still a chance that Achane overtakes Mostert by season's end, but right now you have to keep playing him and worry about that later.

10. D'Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles

One of the most talented backs in the league, Swift has been putting it all together for the Eagles this season as he has stayed healthy. On Sunday, Swift had 17 carries for 70 yards on top of 6 receptions for 38 yards. He was vultured in the red zone from QB Jalen Hurts at the goal-line right before the end of the first half, but sadly that is going to be the downside of being a RB in the Eagles' offense for fantasy. Swift is just so explosive as a runner and has great vision. While getting consistent goal line carries for Swift could be an issue, we have to feel encouraged for fantasy purposes that he is seeing so much receiving volume. Swift should be viewed as a low-end RB1 with upside every week.

Looking Forward to the Rest of 2023

How did your teams fare in Week 5? If you have any potential trade questions, as well questions involving waivers or start/sit, be sure to follow us here at RotoBaller with up-to-date fantasy news and team reports.

Are there any running backs not on this list who you expect to bounce back in Week Six? If you have any FAAB or waiver questions as well, feel free to get at me on Twitter.

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