With the first five weeks of the fantasy football season in the books, our teams are either moving in the right direction, in need of a spark, or hitting desperate levels. Regardless of your team's status, you know by now the importance of running backs. Our Week 6 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues will help you enjoy continued success — or reverse course and steady the ship — to cruise toward the midway point in style.
We look at everything — the week that was, the injuries, the efficiency (or lack thereof), and the most recent developments — and we turn it all into our weekly rankings. Given the fluid nature of the RB landscape, we make frequent updates throughout the week. Our goal is to keep you informed and to share our insights so you can make the best possible roster decisions each week.
Of course, the savviest of fantasy owners already started preparing for byes and injuries with the help of our Waiver Wire Watchlist, but there's still plenty of work to be done between now and the Week 6 games. The rankings, as well as the many weekly columns Sporting News' Fantasy puts out, help inform you of the sleepers and bust candidates, the high ceilings and low floors, and everything in between. In this business, just like any industry, preparedness leads to success.
Let's break down byes, upper-echelon options, high-upside sleepers, volatile bust candidates, and injuries of note. Good luck, have fun, check back often, and enjoy Week 6!
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Which RBs are on bye in Week 6?
The Packers and Steelers will be the only two teams off this week, so plan around the absences of Green Bay's Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon as well as Pittsburgh's Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RBs in Week 6?
The usual suspects at the top make their weekly appearance, including Christian McCaffrey (@ Browns in Week 6) and Tony Pollard (@ Chargers) after their teams squared off in Santa Clara on Sunday night. CMC scored a TD for a 17th straight week, while Pollard struggled a bit against the Niners' stifling defense. The volume remains for Pollard, though, so expect a big bounce-back in L.A.
Two young backs and three veterans join CMC and Pollard in the top seven. 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.
D-Mont has revived his career in Motown, turning ridiculous volume into fat weekly stats. Travis Etienne (vs. Colts) knows something about fat stats — he just turned 30 touches into 184 yards and two TDs in London. He made the Bills look silly bad, and now he draws an Indy D that surrenders 17.6 standard points per game to RBs.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RB sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 6?
We like the Bills' James Cook (vs. Giants) to bounce back after an awful trip to London. The G-Men had surrendered the fourth-most rushing yards before giving up 222 ground yards to Miami. Cook yourself up a strong day.
As we learned in Week 5, don't sleep on Zack Moss (@ Jaguars) just because Jonathan Taylor has returned. Especially with Anthony Richardson (shoulder) hurt, this Colts team relies on its running game, and Moss has never looked better.
As far as guys deeper in the rankings, look for Jaleel McLaughlin (@ Chiefs), Emari Demercado (@ Rams), and Roschon Johnson (vs. Vikings) depending on what we hear from the injury reports this week. Johnson (concussion) is the only one dealing with an injury himself, while McLaughlin's and Demercado's values depend on Javonte Williams (hip) and James Conner (knee), respectively.
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?
In standard leagues especially, things have looked pretty grim for Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Raiders). We still like the volume 'Mondre gets week in and week out, but this Patriots offense looks broken and Dante Scarnecchia ain't walkin' through Gillette Stadium's doors to fix New England's o-line. Fade Stevenson if you can.
In Baltimore, we wouldn't be surprised if Justice Hill (vs. Titans) jumps Gus Henderson on the Ravens' RB depth chart. Both will probably struggle against a Tennessee front-seven looking for redemption after a bad Week 5 against Jonathan Taylor, Zack Moss, and the Colts. We're staying away from all Ravens runners except Lamar Jackson.
WEEK 6 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
What are the biggest RB injuries in Week 6?
Austin Ekeler (ankle), Saquon Barkley (ankle), Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring), and Javonte Williams (hip) all missed their last games and figure to be questionable, at best, for Week 6. Ekeler (vs. Cowboys) and Barkley (@ Bills) are "must-starts" if they play, but Gibbs (@ Buccaneers) and Williams (@ Chiefs) will come with plenty of risk if they're active. We tentatively don't expect Gibbs or Williams to suit up, but continue to monitor these situations throughout the week.
James Conner (knee), Khalil Herbert (ankle), and Roschon Johnson (concussion) all got banged up in Week 5, and we already know Herbert will miss around a month. Johnson (vs. Vikings) figures to benefit the most if he clears concussion protocol, but if he remains out, D'Onta Foreman will likely be activated and handle the bulk of the RB touches.
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 standard RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for updates.
Fantasy RB Rankings Week 6: Who to start, sit at running back
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Browns
2 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Panthers
3 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Chargers
4 David Montgomery, Lions @ Buccaneers
5 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Seahawks
6 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Commanders
7 Travis Etienne, Jaguars vs. Colts
8 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Texans
9 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Cowboys
10 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Broncos
11 Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Cardinals
12 D'Andre Swift, Eagles @ Jets
13 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Patriots
14 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Ravens
15 James Cook, Bills vs. Giants
16 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Bengals
17 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Eagles
18 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Falcons
19 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Bears
20 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Raiders
21 Saquon Barkley, Giants @ Bills
22 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Saints
23 Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Jaguars
24 Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Lions
25 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Dolphins
26 Jerome Ford, Browns vs. 49ers
27 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Commanders
28 Zack Moss, Colts @ Jaguars
29 Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Titans
30 Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Jets
31 D'Onta Foreman, Bears vs. Vikings
32 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Jets
33 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Titans
34 Emari Demercado, Cardinals @ Rams
35 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos @ Chiefs
36 Tyjae Spears, Titans vs. Ravens
37 Salvon Ahmed, Dolphins vs. Panthers
38 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Falcons
39 Kendre Miller, Saints @ Texans
40 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals @ Rams
41 Cam Akers, Vikings @ Bears
42 Joshua Kelley, Chargers vs. Cowboys
43 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Broncos
44 Dalvin Cook, Jets vs. Eagles
45 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots @ Raiders
46 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks @ Bengals
47 Tank Bigsby, Jaguars vs. Colts
48 Damien Harris, Bills vs. Giants
49 Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Buccaneers vs. Lions
50 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. 49ers
51 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Broncos
52 Rico Dowdle, Cowboys @ Chargers
53 Matt Breida, Giants @ Bills
54 Samaje Perine, Broncos @ Chiefs
55 Jordan Mason, 49ers @ Browns
56 Deuce Vaughn, Cowboys @ Chargers
57 Latavius Murray, Bills vs. Giants
Week 6 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week
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