Week in and week out, we see something amazing from the running back position. Perhaps the reports of the position's demise were a bit premature or exaggerated (or however that famous misquote gets infamously misquoted). RBs still hold plenty of power both on NFL fields (or terrible turfs) and in fantasy land, and our Week 6 RB PPR rankings will help steer you in the right start-or-sit decisions, find a much-needed streamer in a pinch, or cut someone loose in favor of a stronger stash.
Nobody has it 100 percent easy 100 percent of the time at RB — fantasy just doesn't work that way. Injuries rear their ugly heads, bad matchups and bye weeks come around, and sometimes guys just hit natural midseason regressions. Our job is to sort through the madness and make sense of it all.
There may only be one sure thing in today's NFL: A healthy Christian McCaffrey is the king of the running game. As fun as it is to roster CMC, you don't need the king to win every battle. Those who picked up De'Von Achane, Kyren Williams, and Zack Moss know a little something about that.
Let's pinpoint the top plays, looming breakouts, injury concerns, byes, and matchups to avoid this coming weekend. Be sure to check back throughout the week for updates to stay ahead of the game. Now, let's get to it!
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Which RBs are on bye in Week 6?
The Packers and Steelers have this week off, so be sure to bench Pittsburgh's Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren as well as Green Bay's Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Three of those four backs are strong PPR options, so their owners will likely be looking for high-upside replacements.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RBs in Week 6?
Surprise, surprise — Christian McCaffrey (@ Browns in Week 6) is the greatest, still. Even against the Cowboys, he ate — and there's no reason to believe he won't eat against a Cleveland squad that got destroyed by the Titans in Week 4. Tony Pollard (@ Chargers) should have a strong bounce-back effort against a brutal Bolts D, one that will seem like the JV team after Pollard ran into Fred Warner and the Niners on Sunday Night Football.
De'Von Achane (vs. Panthers) had been in the top three — but his unfortunate knee injury will force him out of multiple games, so Raheem Mostert jumps way up in his absence. The abysmal Carolina defense just got carved up by David Montgomery (@ Buccaneers), so Mostert should put up some eye-popping numbers.
We trust the process in Cincinnati, so we're backing Joe Mixon (vs. Seahawks) against a Seattle D that has surrendered five RB touchdowns. We also love rookie Bijan Robinson (vs. Commanders) and his deep bag of tricks — even when the team around him falters, he shines. Travis Etienne Jr. (vs. Colts) shined in London against the Bills (184 yards and two TDs!), and he should live in the top 10 most weeks. The same applies for second-year stud Isiah Pacheco (vs. Broncos) and veteran Alvin Kamara (@ Texans). Talk about mouthwatering matchups!
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RB sleepers, waiver pickups Week 6?
Welcome to relevance, Jaleel McLaughlin (@ Chiefs)! This kid better not still be on your waiver wire. If so, go out and do your best to get him if you need RB help. The rookie put up 92 yards on 13 carries after Javonte Williams went down in Week 4, then totaled 89 yards and a TD in Week 5. If Williams (hip) is out again on Thursday night, McLaughlin is the guy to play over Samaje Perine.
Someone has to step up for the Bears with Khalil Herbert (ankle) out. Roschon Johnson suffered an injury of his own in Week 5, but if he clears concussion protocol, he should get first crack at things against the Vikings. If he's out, look for D'Onta Foreman to be activated and handle the bulk of the carries, which would give him flex value.
The Commanders' Antonio Gibson (@ Falcons) continues to have PPR upside, especially in a game that should be pretty close. Both these teams have been in some shootouts, so speedy YAC-backs can come in handy. Kendre Miller (@ Texans) might also come in handy against the Texans, who perennially rank as one of the worst run defenses in the pros. Alvin Kamara can't have all the fun, can he? The same is true in Tennessee, where last week's breakout Tyjae Spears (vs. Ravens) will once again have flex upside in PPR formats.
Could this be the week that Cam Akers (@ Bears) breaks out for Minnesota? Perhaps. The Bears make RBs look good almost every time they take the field. Jerick McKinnon (vs. Broncos) could have some fun against Denver, too.
Keep an eye on the Cardinals' Emari Demercado (@ Rams), who appears to be the lead back if and when James Conner misses times with his knee injury. Demercado had some nice cuts and showed good burst against a pretty good Bengals D last Sunday, finishing with 10 rushes for 45 yards and a score. He also hauled in his only target for 12 yards. Grab him.
If you have the room, pick up Salvon Ahmed (vs. Panthers) while De'Von Achane remains sidelined with his knee injury and until Jeff Wilson Jr. (hip) is inactive. JWJ's 21-day activation window has been opened, so make sure he's not lingering on your waiver wire. Every speedster in this Miami offense has immense value.
WEEK 6 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start 'em, sit 'em
Who are the biggest potential fantasy RB busts in Week 6?
As much as we usually love Saquon Barkley (@ Bills) in PPR, we can't trust him to be an elite option if he's back from his ankle injury in Buffalo. The Bills got embarrassed by Jacksonville in London, and the Giants will be in the wrong place at the wrong time when Buffalo bounces back.
We've also knocked the Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Raiders) way down. Remember when this dude was a consensus top-10 RB at the start of the season? Now, he's lucky to net five points, he's banged up, and his offense looks historically bad (seriously — it's the worst Bill Belichick team of the 21st century). It's a NOPE from us unless we absolutely have to, and even then we're slinging trades and selling Raiders upside to potential bidders. Just start fresh, like Robert Kraft hopefully will in Foxboro.
We're starting to really temper our expectations with the Eagles' Kenneth Gainwell (@ Jets) and Ravens' Gus Edwards (@ Titans). Both have seen diminished returns as of late, and, as a result, they're garnering fewer opportunities. D'Andre Swift has looked very good for Philly, and we think Justice Hill is the more talented overall back in Baltimore. Fade Kung Fu Kenny and Gus Bus if you can.
WEEK 6 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
What are the biggest RB injuries in Week 6?
The Cardinals' James Conner exited late in the first half with a knee injury in Arizona's Week 5 game against the Bengals. Keep an eye on it throughout the week, and go grab rookie running back Emari Demercado (@ Rams) in the meantime. Cards backup Keaontay Ingram has been inactive for two weeks now with a neck injury.
Austin Ekeler (vs. Cowboys) should be back from his ankle injury this week, as he was initially a possibility to return two weeks ago but the Chargers decided to hold him out until after their Week 5 bye. Fire him up, but just know that the Cowboys serve as one of the more daunting front-seven in the NFL and Ek could be on a pitch count. We'll also be watching to see if Saquon Barkley (ankle) finally returns in Buffalo.
Javonte Williams (@ Chiefs) was listed as questionable for Week 5 with a hip injury he suffered the previous week. He ultimately sat, paving the way for increased touches by Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine. With a quick turnaround on Thursday night, we're not so sure Williams will be ready again.
The Bears' Khalil Herbert could miss close to a month due to an ankle injury he sustained in Chicago's Week 5 win over the Commanders. Roschon Johnson (concussion) is also banged up, but we tentatively expect him back for Sunday's game against Minnesota. If he's out, look for D'Onta Foreman to draw the start.
Lions rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, who popped up late last week with a hamstring injury, ended up sidelined in Detroit's crushing win over the Panthers. Given his late-week downgrade, we're not optimistic he'll return against the Buccaneers.
UPDATE (10/10): De'Von Achane's knee injury will force him out of multiple games for the Dolphins. With Jeff Wilson Jr. (midsection, finger) getting closer to a return, make sure you scoop him up. Consider grabbing Salvon Ahmed in the meantime, too.
We'll continue to update our RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for updates.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 6: Who to start, sit at running back
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Browns
2 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Chargers
3 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Panthers
4 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Seahawks
5 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Commanders
6 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Colts
7 David Montgomery, Lions @ Buccaneers
8 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Texans
9 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Broncos
10 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Cowboys
11 Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Cardinals
12 D'Andre Swift, Eagles @ Jets
13 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Patriots
14 James Cook, Bills vs. Giants
15 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Bengals
16 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Ravens
17 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Eagles
18 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Bears
19 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Falcons
20 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Bills
21 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Jaguars
22 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Saints
23 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Lions
24 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Raiders
25 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Commanders
26 Zack Moss, Colts @ Jaguars
27 Jerome Ford, Browns vs. 49ers
28 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Dolphins
29 D'Onta Foreman, Bears vs. Vikings
30 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Titans
31 Emari Demercado, Cardinals @ Rams
32 Javonte Williams, Broncos @ Chiefs
33 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Jets
34 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Titans
35 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Falcons
36 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos @ Chiefs
37 Kendre Miller, Saints @ Texans
38 Tyjae Spears, Titans vs. Ravens
39 Salvon Ahmed, Dolphins vs. Panthers
40 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ Rams
41 Cam Akers, Vikings @ Bears
42 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Broncos
43 Joshua Kelley, Chargers vs. Cowboys
44 Dalvin Cook, Jets vs. Eagles
45 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks @ Bengals
46 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots @ Raiders
47 Tank Bigsby, Jaguars vs. Colts
48 Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers vs. Lions
49 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. 49ers
50 Damien Harris, Bills vs. Giants
51 Matt Breida, Giants @ Bills
52 Rico Dowdle, Cowboys @ Chargers
53 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Broncos
54 Samaje Perine, Broncos @ Chiefs
55 Jordan Mason, 49ers @ Browns
56 Deuce Vaughn, Cowboys @ Chargers
57 Latavius Murray, Bills vs. Giants
Week 6 RB PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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