NFL: New York Jets at Chicago Bears
Oct 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) reacts after a play against the New York Jets during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Green Bay has allowed seven rushing touchdowns to running backs this season, which makes Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai a Week 5 fantasy football start ’em pick. New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is a sit ’em pick at Washington.
New Orleans has allowed a league-high 32.3 fantasy points per game to running backs (FP/G to RB) through four games, and Green Bay ranks second at 27.6. Washington has given up just 14.2 points per game to the position, the third-fewest in the NFL.
Monangai is my RB17 for Week 5, and Skattebo is RB21. Monangai faces a defense that has struggled against the run for a month, while Skattebo draws a front that didn’t allow a rushing touchdown until Week 4.
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Week 5 RB start ’em: Kyle Monangai, Bears
NFL: New York Jets at Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) gets tripped up on a run against the New York Jets | Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
Week 5: at Green Bay, 27.6 FP/game to RBs (31st)
Week 4: vs. NY Jets, 30 carries for 146 yards and 2 TDs
Monangai ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries in Sunday’s 23-12 win over the Jets. It was his second 100-yard game of the season, and he ranked fifth among running backs in rushing expected points added for the week.
His workload jumped after D’Andre Swift lost a third-quarter fumble and never returned. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Swift wasn’t sitting because of an injury, and he made it clear he liked what he saw from the second-year back.
“When you see a guy running like that, as a play caller you just want to keep feeding him,” Johnson said.
Monangai hurt his thumb late in the win, and Johnson listed him as day-to-day. Swift ranks ahead of him at RB8, but the Rutgers product has 324 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and the two are the first teammates in Bears history with 300-plus rushing yards each through four weeks.
Green Bay has allowed 455 rushing yards to backs, and Bijan Robinson ran for 194 yards at Lambeau Field in Week 3. Monangai’s Week 4 workload and a 2-2 Packers defense that keeps conceding scores on the ground make him a strong RB2 even if Swift reclaims early-down work.
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Week 5 RB start ’em: Aaron Jones Sr., Vikings
Week 5 fantasy football RB start-sit
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) looks on after the game against the Miami Dolphins | Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Week 5: at New Orleans, 32.3 FP/game to RBs (32nd)
Week 4: vs. Miami, 20 carries for 94 yards, 4 catches for 34 yards
Jones has 72 carries through four games, the most he’s recorded to start a season in his career. He also caught four passes in Sunday’s 15-10 win over Miami, his second straight game with at least four receptions.
Jordan Mason remains on injured reserve with a fractured thumb and can’t return until after Minnesota’s Week 6 bye. That leaves the 31-year-old as the clear lead back again.
New Orleans has surrendered 554 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns to running backs, both league highs. Atlanta ran 35 times for 205 yards and five touchdowns in Monday’s 45-24 win in the Superdome.
Minnesota’s line is banged up, with left tackle Christian Darrisaw in the concussion protocol and left guard Donovan Jackson likely out for the season. Still, the 4-0 Vikings face the most generous run defense in football, and Jones has RB1 upside from his RB15 ranking.
Also consider starting: RJ Harvey, Broncos at Chargers (RB25 vs. 23rd defense); Omarion Hampton, Chargers vs. Broncos (RB20 vs. 26th defense)
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Week 5 RB sit ’em: Cam Skattebo, Giants
Week 5 fantasy football RB start-sit
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) pushes back on Arizona Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning (5) USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Week 5: at Washington, 14.2 FP/game to RBs (3rd)
Week 4: vs. Arizona, 18 carries for 58 yards, 1 catch for 8 yards
Skattebo hasn’t topped 60 rushing yards in three straight games and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry. He has 302 scrimmage yards through four games and hasn’t scored since the Week 1 win over Dallas.
The former Arizona State star has at least 18 carries in three of four games, but he drew one target in Sunday’s 36-24 win over Arizona after catching three passes for 40 yards against Tennessee.
Washington has held backs to 13 catches for 89 yards and allowed 3.8 yards per carry through its first three games. The Commanders didn’t allow a rushing touchdown until Jonathan Taylor scored twice in London on Sunday. Skattebo needs a touchdown to return RB2 value in this matchup, so a comparable flex option is the safer play.
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Week 5 RB sit ’em: Tony Pollard, Titans
Week 5 fantasy football RB start-sit
Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Week 5: vs. Houston, 15.4 FP/game to RBs (9th)
Week 4: at Baltimore, 16 carries for 48 yards and 1 TD
Pollard scored his first touchdown of the season in Sunday’s 24-18 loss in Baltimore, but his 16 carries produced 48 yards. He has 221 rushing yards on 54 carries and eight catches for 24 yards through four games.
Tennessee also came away empty from the 8-yard line in the second quarter. Pollard gained 3, 2 and 1 yards before he was stuffed on a fourth-and-goal direct snap at the 2.
“Felt like we were running the ball pretty well,” Titans head coach Robert Saleh said. “That’s something I’ll definitely have a conversation with Daboll about.”
Houston has allowed 3.4 yards per carry and just 57 receiving yards to backs. The 0-4 Titans also face my top-ranked defense this week, so the Memphis product is a touchdown-dependent flex at RB26.
Also consider benching: Braelon Allen, Jets vs. Browns (RB18 vs. 5th defense); Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Vikings (RB30 vs. 1st defense)