The 2022 NFL season has been full of drama and excitement. In just five weeks, we have seen multiple key injuries to stud running backs and countless young players stepping up in their places. With health, bye weeks, and tough matchups all factoring into this week's docket, it will be imperative to check for updates to our Week 6 fantasy RB rankings right up until game day.
We're missing at least five key backs with the Lions (Jamaal Williams and D'Andre Swift), Raiders (Josh Jacobs), Texans (Dameon Pierce), and Titans (Derrick Henry) on bye this week. Moreover, we're missing the top-two RB matchups, as Detroit's and Houston's putrid run defenses won't be available to pick on.
Our top 10 looks like a throwback, with veterans Saquon Barkley (vs. Ravens in Week 6), Dalvin Cook (@ Dolphins), Leonard Fournette (@ Steelers), and Christian McCaffrey (@ Rams) all playing well to start the 2022 season. Nick Chubb (vs. Patriots) might be the most dominant so far, but his ranking takes a slight hit because of his matchup.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Joining those guys in the must-start conversation is Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Browns), who will see a usage spike with Damien Harris (hamstring) ailing. Rookie Kenneth Walker III — who broke loose for a long TD in Week 6 — also gets a big bump with Rashaad Penny (leg) likely to miss the rest of the season. These could be league winners given how often their teams run.
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Speaking of run-heavy teams with key injuries, the Broncos' Melvin Gordon III (@ Chargers) remains a weekly must-start with Javonte Williams (knee) out for the season. Continue locking in San Francisco's Jeff Wilson Jr. (@ Falcons), too. Handcuffs Mike Boone (@ Chargers) and Tevin Coleman (@ Falcons) also have some potential flex value in thin weeks like this.
WEEK 6 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Could this be the week James Conner (@ Seahawks) finally breaks out for the Cardinals? First, he'll have to shake off a rib injury, but if he plays, he has major upside against a Seattle defense that has surrendered nearly 700 yards and four TDs to RBs this season. If Conner is out, Eno Benjamin figures to take over and be worth an RB2/flex spot. The same is potentially true for Indy's Deon Jackson (vs. Jaguars) if Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and Nyheim Hines (concussion) can't go.
WEEK 6 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Continue to start James Robinson (@ Colts), but consider playing second-year back Travis Etienne Jr. this week, too. The Colts have been abysmal without Shaq Leonard (back, concussion), and Etienne is coming off his best game of the season. You probably don't want to play both Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson, but a favorable matchup against Chicago should help one -- likely Robinson -- have a flex-worthy day.
WEEK 6 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
A few players make the top 36 but give us pause. Miles Sanders (vs. Cowboys) faces the daunting task of running against Dallas, but it could be a little easier if Micah Parsons is banged up. Similarly, Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard (@ Eagles) will have a tough go against Philly's front-seven. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Bills) will be a volatile flex against Buffalo, and Breece Hall (@ Packers) is a high-upside PPR play but a slightly lower-floor standard-league start. We do like him better than Michael Carter in all formats, though. We don't want anything to do with a similar situation in Atlanta (vs. 49ers), especially with Damien Williams (ribs) potentially coming back to crash the Tyler Allgeier-Caleb Huntley party.
A few more backs are even tougher to trust because of middling play. Despite taking over the Rams' backfield, Cam Akers (vs. Panthers) has been brutal all season, and now he faces an underrated Panthers D. Najee Harris (vs. Buccaneers) can't even get garbage-time touches and now draws one of the toughest matchups of Pittsburgh's season. Kareem Hunt's ceiling keeps lowering, and a date with the Patriots will make it even lower. It's tough to sit these backs in 12-team leagues, but in 10-team leagues, they're on the chopping block.
As always, be sure to roster any available handcuffs. If Fournette goes down, Rachaad White (@ Steelers) could win you some weeks. The same applies with Joshua Kelley (vs. Broncos) should the injury-prone Ekeler get hurt. If Najee Harris becomes the second Harris to miss time, Jaylen Warren (vs. Buccaneers) will see his stock skyrocket. Any Edwards-Helaire ding would launch Isiah Pacheco (vs. Bills) season. ("Pacheco season" — that sounds even more alluring than fall foliage and pumpkin spice lattes.) In future weeks like this, backs like that could even have deep-league flex value.
Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.
Week 6 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues
Rank Player
1 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Ravens
2 Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Dolphins
3 Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ Steelers
4 Nick Chubb, Browns vs. Patriots
5 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Broncos
6 Christian McCaffrey, Panthers @ Rams
7 Joe Mixon, Bengals @ Saints
8 Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Bengals
9 Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Jets
10 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Browns
11 Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Cardinals
12 Eno Benjamin, Cardinals @ Seahawks
13 Devin Singletary, Bills @ Chiefs
14 Melvin Gordon III, Broncos @ Chargers
15 James Robinson, Jaguars @ Colts
16 Jeff Wilson Jr., 49ers @ Falcons
17 AJ Dillon, Packers vs. Jets
18 JK Dobbins, Ravens @ Giants
19 David Montgomery, Bears vs. Commanders
20 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Vikings
21 Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Cowboys
22 Darrell Henderson Jr., Rams vs. Panthers
23 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs vs. Bills
24 Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys @ Eagles
25 Deon Jackson, Colts vs. Jaguars
26 Breece Hall, Jets @ Packers
27 Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Buccaneers
28 Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars @ Colts
29 Khalil Herbert, Bears vs. Commanders
30 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Bears
31 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. 49ers
32 Michael Carter, Jets @ Packers
33 Mike Boone, Broncos @ Chargers
34 Phillip Lindsay, Colts vs. Jaguars
35 Tony Pollard, Cowboys @ Eagles
36 Kareem Hunt, Browns vs. Patriots
37 Caleb Huntley, Falcons vs. 49ers
38 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Steelers
39 Chase Edmonds, Dolphins vs. Vikings
40 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Cowboys
41 Mark Ingram, Saints vs. Bengals
42 Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs vs. Bills
43 Tyrion Davis-Price, 49ers @ Falcons
44 Zack Moss, Bills @ Chiefs
45 Kenyan Drake, Ravens @ Giants
46 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Bears
47 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Bills
48 DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks vs. Cardinals
49 J.D. McKissic, Commanders @ Bears
50 Latavius Murray, Broncos @ Chargers
51 Samaje Perine, Bengals @ Saints
52 Joshua Kelley, Chargers vs. Broncos
53 Malcolm Brown, Rams vs. Panthers
54 Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Dolphins
55 Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Buccaneers
56 Sony Michel, Chargers vs. Broncos
57 James Cook, Bills @ Chiefs
58 Matt Breida, Giants vs. Ravens
Week 6 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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