NFL Week 5 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em RBs: Jaylen Warren, Emanuel Wilson Headline List

The most noteworthy RB injury from Week 5 was Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (hamstring) being forced to leave early during their 24-20 loss to the Rams. With him now being considered week-to-week, fantasy managers who drafted him could be in a tough spot.

As we adjust to injuries heading into Week 5, some backs are primed to exploit favorable matchups. Others might struggle against tough opponents.

Below, let's list some NFL Week 5 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em candidates for the RB position, including picks to consider on PrizePicks for Jaylen Warren, Emanuel Wilson, and more. Keep this analysis in mind when making your Week 5 fantasy football decisions.

Make your NFL Week 5 predictions and picks on PrizePicks now.

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Start: Steelers RB Jaylen Warren

Game: Colts vs. Steelers – Sunday, October 11, 1 p.m. ET

Jaylen Warren PrizePicks Projections: 0.5 Anytime TDs (Goblin)

Steelers RB Rico Dowdle (toe) has missed two straight games, paving the way for more work for Jaylen Warren. He's capitalized, rushing 34 times for 220 yards the last two weeks. He also combined for 6 receptions for 82 yards. The key was that he logged 56 and 67 offensive snaps, respectively, in those games. When Dowdle was healthy in Week 1, Warren logged just 25 snaps.

Dowdle is making progress in his return, potentially making him an option for the Steelers in Week 5. Even if he does come back, though, Warren has certainly made a case to remain an important part of the offense.

He has a great matchup against the Colts, who rank 23rd in the NFL in rush EPA/play allowed, per RBSDM. They've also allowed the third-most yards per target (7.70) to RBs, according to RotoWire. Even if Dowdle returns, Warren is worth starting in most fantasy leagues.

Add Jaylen Warren + Steelers to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.

Start: Seahawks RB Emanuel Wilson

Game: 49ers vs. Seahawks – Sunday, October 11, 4:25 p.m. ET

Emanuel Wilson PrizePicks Projections: 60.5 Rush Yards, 16.5 Rush Attempts, 10.5 Rec Yards

With Seahawks RB Jadarian Price (chest) landing on IR, Emanuel Wilson was tasked with a heavier workload in Week 4. He played well in a 30-23 win for the Seahawks, rushing 21 times for 81 yards and 1 TD while also recording 3 receptions for 39 yards and another score.

Wilson logged a season-high 36 offensive snaps, which was encouraging for his prospects to remain in a prominent role moving forward.

Reinforcements could be on the way soon for the Seahawks. RB Zach Charbonnet (knee) has practiced on a limited basis, but he won’t return for Week 5. There were reports that the team was planning to sign RB Joe Mixon, but the Seahawks decided not to after he underwent a physical.

Wilson very well could receive plenty of work this week against a 49ers team that is missing several players on defense, including DE Nick Bosa (calf).

Add Emanuel Wilson + Seahawks to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now.

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Sit: Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins

Game: Broncos vs. Chargers – Sunday, October 11, 4:05 p.m. ET

J.K. Dobbins PrizePicks Projections: 50.5 Rush Yards, 13.5 Rush Attempts, 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)

J.K. Dobbins produced an underwhelming stat line in a 24-14 loss to the 49ers last week, rushing 11 times for 40 yards. He also posted 2 receptions for 12 yards, playing only 21 offensive snaps. By comparison, fellow Broncos RB R.J. Harvey had 30 offensive snaps on his way to rushing 7 times for 25 yards. He made more of an impact in the passing game, though, finishing with 10 receptions for 68 yards.

The veteran Dobbins has played 22 or fewer offensive snaps in three of four games, finishing with 40 or fewer rushing yards in each of them. He's also still looking for his first TD of the year.

The Chargers are a disappointing 0-4, but they rank 13th in rush EPA/play allowed. Teams have run against them with the third-most frequency in the NFL, but they've limited their opponents to just 3.8 yards per carry. A less-than-favorable matchup for a RB who's already in a timeshare means that Dobbins is someone to sit in fantasy.

Add J.K. Dobbins + Broncos to win to your PrizePicks lineup now.

Sit: Saints RB Alvin Kamara

Game: Vikings vs. Saints – Sunday, October 11, 1 p.m. ET

Alvin Kamara PrizePicks Projections: 0.5 Anytime TDs (Demon)

In the first game since RB Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) landed on IR, Alvin Kamara led all Saints RBs with 28 snaps. The good news was that he had 2 TDs and caught 5 passes for 35 yards. However, he only ran for 23 yards on 7 rushing attempts.

He isn't as elusive as he was during his prime, forcing just 2 missed tackles this season, per Pro Football Focus. While an increased workload is encouraging for Kamara, a Week 5 matchup against the Vikings makes him a risky fantasy option.

On their way to a 4-0 record, the Vikings have given up just 1 rushing TD. They rank second in rush EPA/play allowed and have ceded a total of only 13 receptions to RBs. Minnesota has also allowed only 4.55 yards per target to the position. This isn’t shaping up to be the week to feel confident in starting Kamara.

Add Alvin Kamara + Saints to cover the spread to your PrizePicks lineup now.

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Warren has an excellent matchup that he can exploit in Week 5, while Wilson may continue to benefit from injuries on the Seahawks. On the other side of the coin, Dobbins has limited upside as he remains in a timeshare with Harvey. Kamara is primed for more work with Etienne out, but a difficult matchup against the Vikings makes him a scary proposition in fantasy.

Don’t wait until Week 5 kickoff — make your NFL picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right. Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.

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