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Week 6 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 6

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Check out the other positions as well:

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• TE preview

Jacksonville Jaguars at Chicago Bears

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars

Bigsby looked like an elite tackle-breaker in a Week 5 win over the Colts. Perhaps the positive matchup helped. But after the win, HC Doug Pederson endorsed Travis Etienne as the lead back while praising Bigsby. We’re likely to see a split backfield here for the foreseeable future. Bigsby’s lack of receiving involvement figures will make him a low-floor option in PPR.

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

In Week 5, Tank Bigsby erupted for a career-best performance (13 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs). Still, HC Doug Pederson didn’t shy away from naming Etienne his lead back. “No. Travis is our guy,” Pederson said after the win. “Tank had a good game. That's just the way games go. Happy for Tank. Great for the offensive line, obviously, in some of those situations there. Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game today, though.” Etienne is working through a shoulder injury, but he’s on track to suit up against a beatable Chicago run D.

D’Andre Swift, Bears

After a slow start, Swift has tallied 20+ PPR points and season-highs in touches over the past two weeks. Now, he draws the third most favorable RB matchup for Week 5, per our adjusted strength of schedule.

Roschon Johnson, Bears

Johnson’s handled 29%, 25%, and 29% of Chicago’s rush attempts over the past three weeks. D’Andre Swift’s recent resurgence limits the upside, although Johnson’s been trusted to cash in several goal line attempts this season. Also note: He’s not very involved in the passing game with zero targets over the past two weeks.

Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens

Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders

Robinson (knee) missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving his status up in the air against Baltimore. Note: Robinson didn’t receive a touch in the second half of a Week 5 win over Cleveland.

Austin Ekeler, Commanders

Keep an eye on the status of Brian Robinson, who missed practice time this week with a knee injury. If he’s out, Ekeler would slot in as the 1A rusher ahead of Jeremy McNichols and carry the volume outlook of an RB2.

Derrick Henry, Ravens

Henry faces a Washington defense that’s surrendered the second-most yards before contact per attempt this season. They’ve also given up a league-high 24 runs of 10+ yards.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers

James Conner, Cardinals

Conner has been the biggest workhorse in the NFL handling over 95% of the RB touches last week for the Cardinals. He topped 100 total yards again and the Cardinals remain committed to the run. His match-up is better this week with the Packers allowing 100+ yards to four RBs this year. Conner is an RB1 this week.

Josh Jacobs, Packers

The Packers leaned heavily on Jacobs with 20 touches for 94 yards and a TD last week. The Cardinals have been a bottom five defense in fantasy points given up to RBs, so this is a potential spot for Jacobs to explode. He is an RB1 this week.

Emanuel Wilson, Packers

Wilson has filled the RB2 spot for the Packers with 7 total touches last week for 23 yards. He has one TD on the year and is very much behind Josh Jacobs in the pecking order. If the Packers get an early lead, maybe Wilson can get some garbage time work. He is an RB4 this week.

Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots

Antonio Gibson, Patriots

Gibson got the snaps last week, but Rhamondre Stevenson was too good and hogged most of the RB touches. Gibson has big play ability, but the limited touches make him risky to start. He is an RB4 this week.

Dameon Pierce, Texans

Pierce has only played in one game this season, but he was the primary back-up to Joe Mixon in that game. He did only log three rushes however. With Mixon likely out, if Pierce can indeed go despite his hamstring injury, there is some upside if he is the lead back. But, at likely less than 100%, we are looking at a high-end RB4 at best.

Cam Akers, Texans

Akers had 11 touches last week and scored a TD in the game. Being the goal line back with Mixon out gives Akers some appeal, but he is unlikely to have a massive game. He is a solid RB4.

Dare Ogunbowale, Texans

Ogunbowale led the Texans RBs with 21 touches last week for 87 yards. He is the pass catching back with Mixon out, and that role should stick. If he gets seven targets again, there is upside, but he is conservatively an RB4 this week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Irving's usage has plateaued for the time being. He's played between 32% and 43% of Tampa Bay's offensive snaps and tallied 11 or 12 opportunities (carries + targets) in three straight. Perhaps he sees more work this weekend, though, if Rachaad White's foot injury is a limiting factor. Irving gets a Saints defense ranked 13th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Rachaaad White, Buccaneers

White is battling a foot injury that he suffered near the end of last week's loss to the Falcons. He won't be at 100% if he suits up vs. the Saints this weekend, adding even more risk to a guy who hasn't finished as a top-25 PPR RB in any of his last four outings. New Orleans ranks 13th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Alvin Kamara, Saints

Although he disappointed in the box score last week, Kamara again dominated backfield work, handling 73% of Saints carries and drawing a 23% target share. With QB Spencer Rattler making his first career start, New Orleans will continue to lean on Kamara this weekend against the Bucs. Tampa Bay has played the run well this season but has allowed the third most catches and receiving yards to RBs.

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Barkley’s worst fantasy outing through the first four weeks still found him racking up 116 total yards on just 12 touches in a lopsided loss to the Bucs. Welcome back from your bye, big guy.

Jerome Ford, Browns

Ford hasn’t topped 10 carries since Week 1 and has only exceeded 3 receptions twice in five games. He’s somewhat unlucky to only have 1 TD so far. But his situation is also killing him. Ford has just three red-zone carries on the season, and his team has only reached 250 total yards once. His only hope as a 9.5-point underdog this week is that target volume smiles on him. That’s the main factor pushing him inside our PPR top 20 for the week.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard has been at least an RB2 in 75% of his games this season. The Titans run game is working and Pollard is becoming the bellcow of the offense. The Colts got lit up by the Jaguars RBs last week, so Pollard has RB1 upside this week.

Trey Sermon, Colts

Jonathan Taylor is likely to miss another game, and Sermon handled the majority of the Colts snaps at RB last week. He found the end zone while rushing 16 times for 63 yards. Without receiving work, Sermon will need a TD to be relevant. He lands as an RB3 this week.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears had 17 touches in Week 4 and found the end zone despite only 39 total yards. He is clearly behind Tony Pollard, but the potential for passing work and leaning into the run game gives Spears RB2 upside. The Jaguars dominated the Colts on the ground last week with both their RBs, so Spears settles as an RB3.

Tyler Goodson, Colts

Goodson took the receiving role at RB last week with eight touches for 57 yards. He even got a few red zone snaps and could be a desperation flex in PPR leagues. 

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos

J.K. Dobbins, Chargers

Dobbins comes off a bye following PPR finishes of RB34 and RB29. He remains a strong bet for 15+ touches – particularly with Gus Edwards batting an ankle injury. Denver, however, sits third-toughest in our adjusted fantasy points allowed metric.

Javonte Williams, Broncos

Williams hasn’t found the end zone this season, but he’s coming off a season-best RB12 finish in PPR. His usage has stabilized in recent weeks, and he should see another 12-15 touches this week vs. the Chargers. Los Angeles has shut down the run through four games, but they’ve faced some unintimidating backfields (Vegas, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Kansas City).

Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos

McLaughlin enters a neutral matchup with the Chargers. The main issue here is volume, as he’s hit 10 touches only once over the past month. Denver’s also implied for only 16.5 points.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders

Najee Harris, Steelers

Cordarrelle Patterson is out for Week 6, while Jaylen Warren is unlikely to play, per HC Mike Tomlin. So Harris should again see fantasy-friendly volume – this time as 3-point road favorites against a struggling Raiders squad. Just note: Pittsburgh is implied for a low 19.75 points.

UPDATE: Warren surprisingly enters the weekend with no injury designation. If he plays, it'll add some downside risk to Harris' outlook.

Alexander Mattison, Raiders

Pittsburgh will be without LB Alex Highsmith, but this remains a tough matchup for a struggling Vegas ground game. The Steelers have allowed only 3.7 YPC and rank second-toughest in EPA per rush. 

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

Robinson popped up on Thursday's injury report with a hamstring issue that now bears monitoring. Assuming he plays, this is a get-right spot against one of the worst run defenses in the league. The Panthers rank 30th in run defense DVOA and 31st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. They've coughed up a league-high 10 total TDs to RBs.

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Hubbard kept rolling last week with a RB3 finish in PPR points. That makes three straight top-7 finishes. He's averaging 17.3 carries and 4.3 targets per game over that span. Next up for Hubbard is a Falcons squad that ranks 3rd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. But that's largely because they've surrendered only one RB TD. Atlanta sits 20th in run defense DVOA and has allowed 4.3 yards per carry to RBs.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Allgeier still hasn't topped 10 opportunities in a game this season, averaging 6.6 carries and 1.2 targets per game. Even in a matchup vs. the Panthers' 31st-ranked RB defense, Allgeier is only a desperation RB3 or Flex play.

Miles Sanders, Panthers

Sanders has played clearly behind RB Chuba Hubbard the last three weeks, averaging just 5.0 carries and 3.0 targets per game. You're in trouble if you're starting Sanders this week.

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

Gibbs’ 14 carries in the Week 4 win over Seattle marked his smallest touch count so far this season. But he also scored twice from inside the 5-yard line. He’s had no issue on the opportunity front, regardless of game script.

David Montgomery, Lions

Montgomery sits just 25th among RBs in carry share, thanks to sharing the backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs. But that has been enough to rank him 10th in carries per game so far. He has gotten a bit lucky to score a TD in each game. But Montgomery also sits tied for fifth-most rushing from inside the 10-yard line and fourth-most rushes inside the 5.

Rico Dowdle, Cowboys

Dowdle’s backfield shares have increased over the past three weeks. He ranks 14th league wide in carry share over that span; but still just 34th among RBs in target share. Be careful not to mistake his TD catches in two straight games for a strong receiving role. This week’s matchup hurts. The Lions have seen the second-highest pass rate over expected in the league to date on defense.

Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys

Elliott’s playing time rebounded some in Week 5, from 19% and 18% the previous two weeks to 30%. But he drew just 21.4% of Dallas’ RB carries and went without a catch for the first time this season. He has clearly ceded the backfield lead to Rico Dowdle and fallen short of 20 rushing yards in four consecutive outings.

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants

Zack Moss, Bengals

Moss left last week’s game late with a foot injury that then kept him out of practice Wednesday. But he made it back to a full practice Friday and carries no game designation. Chase Brown, meanwhile, is questionable after sustaining a quad injury Thursday and remaining limited Friday. That combo of factors makes Moss a safer bet for Sunday night’s upside spot against the Giants. The host heads in as a 3.5-point underdog and ranked just 19th in total defensive DVOA. The Giants have been weaker against the pass than the run, the area in which Moss has continued playing more than Brown. Even with elevated work for a healthy Brown, Moss finished two of the past three weeks among the top 17 PPR backs.

Chase Brown, Bengals

Cincinnati added Brown to the injury report after a quad issue limited him Thursday. HC Zac Taylor on Friday called it “very minor,” according to ESPN’s Ben Baby, and said Brown would be ready to face the Giants. But then Brown put in another limited practice and got a “questionable” designation for the game. We’ll see what updates we get ahead of Sunday night’s game, but the late kick might make it hard for many fantasy managers to wait on Brown. Moss’ return to a full practice Friday and lack of a game designation sets him up as the likely touch leader for this one. But there’s still plenty of upside to Brown – who has out-scored Moss for two straight weeks – if you’re able to wait for him.

Devin Singletary, Giants

Singletary remained limited this week by the groin injury that sidelined him for the win at Seattle. HC Brian Daboll said only “we’ll see” about Singletary’s status Friday, according to ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan. Even if Singletary plays, he’ll clearly carry re-injury risk. And there’s a chance his team limits his work after rookie Tyrone Tracy ran well against the Seahawks. 

Tyrone Tracy, Giants

Devin Singletary’s questionable for Sunday night’s game after remaining limited in practice all week with his groin injury. Even if he plays, we’d expect Tracy to maintain a larger role than he played the first four weeks after his big day at Seattle. Unfortunately, the Sunday night timing means we probably won’t know Singletary’s status before you need to set your lineups. If you can afford wait, there’s enticing upside for Tracy against a Bengals D that ranks 22nd in overall DVOA and 22nd against the run. If Singletary’s active, though, we’re likely looking at a single-digit touch count for the rookie.

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

James Cook, Bills

Cook suffered a foot injury toward the end of the game against the Texans last week, so he could be limited. He has had a nice start, with top-12 finishes in three of five weeks so far. The Jets are a tough matchup, especially given the Bills’ struggles lately. Cook settles as a high-end RB2 who could be an RB1 with a tad more receiving work – if he’s healthy enough.

Breece Hall, Jets

Hall has finished in RB3 territory each of the last two weeks. With a play calling change, the Jets will likely focus on springing Hall on bigger runs and using him in the passing game. This is a great bounceback match-up with the Bills as a bottom 10 defense against opposing RBs. Hall is a solid RB1 this week.

Braelon Allen, Jets

Allen continues getting work and has been effective breaking tackles and picking up extra yardage on the ground. The Jets should lean on the ground game against the Bills, which means Allen will get some touches on his usual 30% snap count. He has a TD shot and is an RB3 this week.

Got Other Start-Sit Questions?

Matt and Jared run through some of the bigger Week 4 lineup questions in this preview show ...

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.