Trent Richardson and Ryan Mathews will certainly be two of the top 8-10 running backs in Week 6 after their Week 5 performances. Mathews did not get the start on Sunday night, but he made his presence felt once he did get on the field, scoring on a 13-yard pass from Philip Rivers. Richardson scored on a 15-yard run and had more than 120 yards of total offense. Both running backs are four-down backs, and are dangerous in both the running and passing game.
Fantasy Football PPR Target Report, Week 5: Running Backs
Ryan Mathews and Trent Richardson established themselves as RB1s in Week 5 as they were the top two targeted running backs.
Harry How - Getty Images
Hitting the Bullseye
Ryan Mathews, SD
Mathews received eight targets from quarterback Philip Rivers on Sunday night, catching six balls for 59 yards. On Monday afternoon, coach Norv Turner indicated he would see a full workload in Week 6 vs. the Broncos. So much for Jackie Battle. Mathews is a top five running back going forward, assuming he doesn't start dropping the rock like he did early in the season targets
Trent Richardson, CLE
Richardson caught five of his seven targets on Sunday for 47 yards, and is now tied for third in targets among running backs with 28 thus far through Week 5. His 20 receptions rank third, while his 169 yards receiving rank fourth, among all running backs this season. He is a top 6-7 running back going forward.
Missing the Mark
Ray Rice, BAL
Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX
The Jaguars are struggling as an offense, and when they get down big, it takes MJD out of their offensive game plan. Drew was targeted just three times on Sunday, catching one ball for three yards.
Let’s take a look at the top targeted running backs in Week 5:
Player | Targets | Rec | Yd | Avg | TD |
Mathews, Ryan RB SD | 8 | 6 | 59 | 9.8 | 0 |
Richardson, Trent RB CLE | 7 | 5 | 47 | 9.4 | 0 |
Sproles, Darren RB NO | 7 | 5 | 28 | 5.6 | 0 |
Bradshaw, Ahmad RB NYG | 6 | 4 | 29 | 7.2 | 0 |
McGahee, Willis RB DEN | 6 | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 0 |
McCoy, LeSean RB PHI | 5 | 4 | 27 | 6.8 | 1 |
Brown, Ronnie RB SD | 5 | 5 | 47 | 9.4 | 0 |
Ringer, Javon RB TEN | 5 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 0 |
Turner, Michael RB ATL | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Stewart, Jonathan RB CAR | 4 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 0 |
Ogbonnaya, Chris RB CLE | 4 | 3 | 54 | 18 | 0 |
Powell, William RB ARI | 4 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 |
Forte, Matt RB CHI | 4 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 0 |
Peterson, Adrian RB MIN | 3 | 3 | 15 | 5 | 0 |
Bush, Michael RB CHI | 3 | 2 | 26 | 13 | 0 |
Jones-Drew, Maurice RB JAC | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Charles, Jamaal RB KC | 3 | 3 | 21 | 7 | 0 |
Mendenhall, Rashard RB PIT | 3 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 0 |
Rice, Ray RB BAL | 3 | 1 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
Thomas, Pierre RB NO | 2 | 2 | 40 | 20 | 0 |
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