As the “bell cow” role gets closer and closer to extinction every year, there is not a position in fantasy football filled with as much intrigue and importance as running back. Every week is a minefield; between committees, injuries and game scripts.
In this article, I’ll try to ease the burden of your mind a little bit. Take the pressure off, if you will.
Here are the touch projections for the Top 40 RBs in fantasy football in Week 5, with carries and targets isolated for those in both standard and PPR formats.
RB Touch Projections for Week 5
Generated October 06, 2026 at 10:19 AM ET
| Rank | Player | Team | Opp | Proj Touches | Proj Car | Proj Tgt | Opp Run D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | ARI | 25.0 | 19.1 | 5.9 | B |
| 2 | Chase Brown | CIN | MIA | 24.1 | 18.2 | 6.0 | B |
| 3 | Aaron Jones Sr. | MIN | NO | 23.4 | 18.9 | 4.5 | A+ |
| 4 | Javonte Williams | DAL | TB | 22.8 | 18.8 | 4.0 | F |
| 5 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | NE | 21.3 | 16.0 | 5.3 | B- |
| 6 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | PIT | 21.3 | 17.8 | 3.5 | B- |
| 7 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | BAL | 21.2 | 17.6 | 3.6 | B- |
| 8 | James Cook III | BUF | LA | 20.8 | 15.9 | 4.9 | D |
| 9 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | NYJ | 20.5 | 15.0 | 5.5 | B+ |
| 10 | Kyren Williams | LA | BUF | 19.8 | 15.4 | 4.4 | B+ |
| 11 | D’Andre Swift | CHI | GB | 19.7 | 17.5 | 2.3 | A |
| 12 | Derrick Henry | BAL | ATL | 19.6 | 18.0 | 1.7 | F |
| 13 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | IND | 19.5 | 15.1 | 4.4 | B+ |
| 14 | Bucky Irving | TB | DAL | 19.0 | 12.6 | 6.5 | A+ |
| 15 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | SEA | 18.7 | 13.8 | 4.9 | F |
| 16 | Will Shipley | PHI | JAC | 17.3 | 10.0 | 7.2 | F |
| 17 | Braelon Allen | NYJ | CLE | 17.3 | 14.2 | 3.1 | B- |
| 18 | David Montgomery | HOU | TEN | 17.3 | 14.4 | 2.8 | B- |
| 19 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAC | PHI | 17.0 | 15.0 | 2.0 | B+ |
| 20 | Cam Skattebo | NYG | WAS | 16.9 | 14.0 | 2.9 | B- |
| 21 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | LV | 16.8 | 13.7 | 3.0 | A |
| 22 | Omarion Hampton | LAC | DEN | 15.9 | 12.2 | 3.7 | B+ |
| 23 | J.K. Dobbins | DEN | LAC | 15.7 | 11.2 | 4.5 | B |
| 24 | Jeremiyah Love | ARI | DET | 15.2 | 11.8 | 3.4 | B+ |
| 25 | Emanuel Wilson | SEA | SF | 15.0 | 13.6 | 1.4 | D |
| 26 | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | NYG | 14.9 | 12.3 | 2.6 | A |
| 27 | MarShawn Lloyd | GB | CHI | 14.7 | 11.3 | 3.4 | B+ |
| 28 | Alvin Kamara | NO | MIN | 14.6 | 10.5 | 4.2 | C |
| 29 | Tony Pollard | TEN | HOU | 13.9 | 9.4 | 4.5 | D |
| 30 | Woody Marks | HOU | TEN | 11.4 | 9.3 | 2.1 | B- |
| 31 | RJ Harvey | DEN | LAC | 11.1 | 5.8 | 5.3 | B |
| 32 | Kyle Monangai | CHI | GB | 10.2 | 9.4 | 0.8 | A |
| 33 | Ollie Gordon II | MIA | CIN | 8.6 | 7.3 | 1.3 | B+ |
| 34 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | LV | 8.4 | 6.5 | 1.9 | A |
| 35 | Tyler Allgeier | ARI | DET | 8.0 | 6.2 | 1.8 | B+ |
| 36 | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | JAC | PHI | 7.9 | 7.8 | 0.1 | B+ |
| 37 | Rico Dowdle | PIT | IND | 7.5 | 5.6 | 1.9 | B+ |
| 38 | Kendre Miller | NO | MIN | 7.3 | 5.8 | 1.6 | C |
| 39 | Kaelon Black | SF | SEA | 7.3 | 6.2 | 1.0 | F |
| 40 | Kenny Gainwell | TB | DAL | 7.2 | 3.2 | 4.1 | A+ |
– Proj Car / Proj Tgt — Projected rushing attempts and receiving targets. Game script adjusts the split: favored teams get up to 12% more carries, underdogs get up to 15% more targets.
– Opp Run D — Matchup grade for the RB from A+ (softest defense) to F (toughest), based on blended 2025 + 2026 rush yards, YPC, and TDs allowed.
– Projections — Built from blended per-game rates (35% 2025 / 65% 2026), adjusted for matchup, game spread, DK team totals, and depth chart role. Out/IR players excluded with touches redistributed. Q/D volume reductions apply Fri-Sun only (after official designations).
Will Shipley, Eagles at Jaguars | 17.3 Projected Touches
You know the Fresh Price of Bel-Air meme where Will is looking around at an empty living room? Well, that’s Will Shipley this week in the Eagles’ RB meeting. Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is considered week-to-week, and I doubt the team will have him travel to London if there’s even a doubt about his availability. Tank Bigsby (core) also got hurt in Week 4, and the former Jaguar has already been placed on the IR. That leaves Shipley, though I’m sure Jaydon Blue or Carson Steele will be getting elevated from the practice squad to supplement the Clemson product. Couple concerns here. Firstly, Shipley only has one career game with double-digit touches, all the way back in Week 18 of his rookie campaign in 2024. Second, even if Shipley does see 16-20 touches in Week 5 out of sheer necessity, will volume equate to production? Philadelphia was just held to 172 total yards of offense. The team is beat-up beyond belief. Now, it’ll travel across the Atlantic Ocean to face a Jacksonville defense that sits sixth in EPA per play? Seems like an underwhelming fantasy situation to me.
Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Vikings | 14.6 Projected Touches
I’ll admit it. Going into Monday Night Football, I didn’t think Kamara had anything left in the tank. I’m honestly still not sure if he does, but regardless, after a two-touchdown performance, the veteran is going to have to be treated like a fringe RB2 ahead of Week 5. By success rate, Kamara has possibly been the NFL’s least efficient running back since the beginning of 2025. That won’t change because he averaged 4.8 yards per touch versus the Falcons, yet it’s impossible to ignore seven targets and a 100% monopoly on red zone running back carries. I fully expect Kendre Miller and CJ Donaldson to remain involved in this committee, but all evidence points to Kamara being the guy at the top of the depth chart — even if that likely never translates into a snap share above 50% in a single contest.
Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins vs. Bengals | 8.6 Projected Touches
This projection feels like it’s underselling Gordon just a little bit. Yes, the second-year back only saw nine carries in Sunday’s 15-10 loss to the Vikings, but this is where some context really helps. Not only did Gordon maximize those nine rushing attempts to the tune of 100 rushing yards and a touchdown, but it’s crucial to note that Miami was held to only 39 offensive snaps in Week 4. The Dolphins are dead-last in the NFL in plays per game (52.5) — and points per game (11.5) — but that total feels especially low and not something that will be repeated again this season. Gordon also saw 22 snaps to Jaylen Wright’s 12, and that’s after Wright was listed as a the starter. I’m not naive enough to think this offense is suddenly going to be Gordon in a “bell cow” role, but the former Doak Walker Award winner has clearly been the more productive option since De’Von Achane went down with injury. Of the two, Gordon’s also has the typical physique required of an every-down back. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t flirt with 15 touches against the Bengals.
