I have a 2001 2.5L with 120K. I left work a couple days ago, drove about 15 minutes and stopped at the grocery store. When I came back out, it fired for a second then would just crank. Gas squirted out the schrader valve when I checked for pressure. After about 20 minutes or so it finally started and ran fine. Stopped at the P.O. and when I came out it would not start again, just cranked. Had to leave it sit and my wife came and got me. About 3-4 hours later I went back, tried again to start it, but just cranked. There was 12V to the pump relay so I switched the pump relay for another I was sure worked. Also had power to fuse and fuse was good. Still would not start. Also I could not get any gas out of the Schrader valve.
I went back in the morning and the first time I turned the key it would not start, but on 2nd try, it started right up and has worked since.
This problem happened about a month ago to my wife and we ended up having it towed to a garage. Of course by the time they checked it, it started right up. They kept it a couple of days but it started every time for them.
Does this sound like the fuel pump or could it be something else?

 

First No Start with gasoline at schrader valve would read like Crank sensor or Exhaust side coil pack, only exhaust side spark plugs get spark when starter motor is active, intake side starts at around 400 RPM

But Second time is fuel pump for sure
2001 rangers ran 65psi fuel pressure, so "some pressure" may not have been enough pressure the first No Start.

Fuel pump runs for 2 seconds each time key is turned ON
You can hear it HUMMMM in the cab, IF you listen for it.
That's the telltale if it happens again, key on, key off, repeat as much as you need to confirm pump on or No Pump

Hard to say on just the provided symptoms that it IS the fuel pump going out, but would be the "best" guess for now