Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 6: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 6: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

Fantasy football owners might be surprised that in a week where Alvin Kamara is one bye, he's not even close to the top pass-catching running back who's off. That honor would go to one of this season's top breakout RBs, Cordarrelle Patterson, whose 25 receptions is among the best for a running back. Patterson's teammate, Mike Davis, is also well ahead of Kamara with 18 catches. That doesn't mean either is a better overall fantasy back than Kamara, but it does show that value can be found in some unexpected places in point-per-reception leagues. Our Week 6 fantasy RB PPR rankings try to account for all the different sources of production.

In addition to Kamara and the Falcons' backs, Elijah Mitchell and Michael Carter will be on bye this week. Of course, we know more key RBs will be unavailable, as several key guys missed last week (Chris Carson, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook), and injuries will continue to pop up throughout the rest of the season, as we saw with Saquon Barkley and Clyde Edwards-Helaire last Sunday. (Update: McCaffrey and Carson are out for Week 6.)

WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

A few backs known primarily for their PPR value are in better-than-average spots this week, as J.D. McKissic (vs. Chiefs), Nyheim Hines (vs. Texans), and Jerick McKinnon (@ Washington) have highly favorable matchups. Brandon Bolden (vs. Cowboys) and Kenneth Gainwell (vs. Buccaneers) are two more primary receiving backs with matchups against teams who have struggled against RBs specifically in the passing game. There won't be much room on the ground for these guys, but they could rack up catches and post flex-worthy numbers in full-point PPR formats. Myles Gaskin (@ Jaguars) is another guy known for his receiving ability with a favorable matchup.

WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Of course, it's tough to be a starting RB in fantasy leagues based purely on your receiving skills (like Jeremy McNichols or even Giovani Bernard), so plenty of average receiving backs are still worth playing. Darrell Henderson (@ Giants), Leonard Fournette (@ Eagles), and both Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams (vs. Raiders) all have great matchups, and Henderson has the added bonus of playing a defense that also struggled against backs in the passing game.

WEEK 6 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

Among the backs with tough matchups, Damien Harris (vs. Cowboys) is especially risky in PPR leagues since he doesn't catch many passes. Chris Carson or Alex Collins (@ Steelers) and Josh Jacobs (@ Broncos) are in the same boat. The Seahawks and Jacobs have had some decent reception totals this year, but they're all nothing more than volume-based flexes in those matchups. Ditto for Devontae Booker (vs. Rams) in relief of Barkley (ankle).

WEEK 6 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo

Things are going to be constantly evolving throughout the year at this position, but with bye weeks and injuries, chances are things will be tough for more than a few owners in your league. Sure, if you pick up someone like Damien Williams (vs. Packers) on waivers, you might have three or more viable options, but most owners are going to be scrounging for two. (Update: Williams is out for Week 6.) Volume remains key, even in PPR, so unless you have an elite pass-catching back who also gets at least six or seven carries, there's no need to get too cute with your lineup decisions.

Note:  We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement. For individual analysis of key RBs, click here.

Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 6: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on full-point PPR scoring

Rank Player
1 Derrick Henry, TEN vs. BUF
2 Najee Harris, PIT vs. SEA
3 Antonio Gibson, WAS vs. KC
4 Jonathan Taylor, IND vs. HOU
5 Austin Ekeler, LAC @ BAL
6 James Robinson, JAX vs. MIA
7 Kareem Hunt, CLE vs. ARI
8 Aaron Jones, GB @ CHI
9 Dalvin Cook, MIN @ CAR
10 Joe Mixon, CIN @ DET
11 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ NE
12 D'Andre Swift, DET vs. CIN
13 Leonard Fournette, TB @ PHI
14 Chuba Hubbard, CAR vs. MIN
15 Darrell Henderson, LAR @ NYG
16 Myles Gaskin, MIA @ JAX
17 Devontae Booker, NYG vs. LAR
18 Josh Jacobs, LV @ DEN
19 Zack Moss, BUF @ TEN
20 Melvin Gordon, DEN vs. LV
21 Chase Edmonds, ARI @ CLE
22 Darrel Williams, KC @ WAS
23 Khalil Herbert, CHI vs. GB
24 Javonte Williams, DEN vs. LV
25 Alex Collins, SEA @ PIT
26 Jamaal Williams, DET vs. CIN
27 Damien Harris, NE vs. DAL
28 Latavius Murray, BAL vs. LAC
29 JD McKissic, WAS vs. KC
30 Devin Singletary, BUF @ TEN
31 James Conner, ARI @ CLE
32 Tony Pollard, DAL @ NE
33 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI vs. TB
34 Miles Sanders, PHI vs. TB
35 Chris Evans, CIN @ DET
36 Nyheim Hines, IND vs. HOU
37 Mark Ingram, HOU @ IND
38 D'Ernest Johnson, CLE vs. ARI
39 Jerick McKinnon, KC @ WAS
40 Kenyan Drake, LV @ DEN
41 Ronald Jones II, TB @ PHI
42 AJ Dillon, GB @ CHI
43 David Johnson, HOU @ IND
44 Giovani Bernard, TB @ PHI
45 Alexander Mattison, MIN @ CAR
46 Brandon Bolden, NE vs. DAL
47 Jeremy McNichols, TEN vs. BUF
48 Sony Michel, LAR @ NYG
49 Ryan Nall, CHI vs. GB
50 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE vs. DAL
51 Malcolm Brown, MIA @ JAX
52 Phillip Lindsay, HOU @ IND
53 Larry Rountree III, LAC @ BAL
54 Joshua Kelley, LAC @ BAL
55 Le'Veon Bell, BAL vs. LAC
56 Devonta Freeman, BAL vs. LAC
57 Carlos Hyde, JAX vs. MIA

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.