The 2022-23 NFL season has already been extremely entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that running backs like Derrick Henry and Dameon Pierce will be out this week. On top of that injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It is always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 6 running back rankings.
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and causes a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
Must Start | Saquon Barkley* | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB1 |
Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB2 |
Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs Denver Broncos | RB3 |
Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor* | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB4 |
Starting RB1 | Nick Chubb | vs New England Patriots | RB5 |
Starting RB1 | Alvin Kamara | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB6 |
High-End RB2 | Leonard Fournette | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB7 |
High-End RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Cleveland Browns | RB8 |
High-End RB2 | Breece Hall | vs Green Bay Packers | RB9 |
High-End RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs New Orleans Saints | RB10 |
High-End RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Washington Commanders | 9.0 pts |
High-End RB2 | Dalvin Cook | vs Miami Dolphins | RB12 |
High-End RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs New York Jets | RB13 |
Starting RB2 | James Conner* | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB14 |
Starting RB2 | Raheem Mostert* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB15 |
Starting RB2 | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB16 |
Low RB2 | Kenneth Walker Jr. | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB17 |
Low RB2 | J.K. Dobbins | vs New York Giants | RB18 |
Low RB2 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | vs Buffalo Bills | RB19 |
Low RB2 | Melvin Gordon* | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB20 |
Low RB2 | Miles Sanders | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB21 |
Low RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB22 |
Low RB2 | Devin Singletary | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB23 |
Low RB2 | Najee Harris | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB24 |
Flex | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB25 |
Flex | Cam Akers | vs Carolina Panthers | RB26 |
Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs New England Patriots | RB27 |
Flex | James Robinson | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB28 |
Flex | Tony Pollard | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB29 |
Flex | J.D. McKissic | vs Chicago Bears | 2.0 pts |
Flex | Mike Boone* | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB31 |
Deep League Flex | Rachaad White | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB32 |
Deep League Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs New York Jets | RB33 |
Deep League Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Chicago Bears | 12.0 pts |
Deep League Flex | Eno Benjamin | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB35 |
Deep League Flex | Nyheim Hines* | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB36 |
Deep League Flex | Tyler Allgeier | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB37 |
Deep League Flex | Chase Edmonds | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB38 |
Deep League Flex | Michael Carter | vs Green Bay Packers | RB39 |
Deep League Flex | Antonio Gibson | vs Chicago Bears | 8.3 pts |
Deep League Flex | Alexander Mattison* | vs Miami Dolphins | RB41 |
Leave on the Bench | Darrell Henderson | vs Carolina Panthers | RB42 |
Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Buffalo Bills | RB43 |
Leave on the Bench | Tevin Coleman | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB44 |
Leave on the Bench | Khalil Herbert | vs Washington Commanders | 7.5 pts |
Leave on the Bench | James Cook | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB46 |
Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine* | vs New Orleans Saints | RB47 |
Leave on the Bench | DeeJay Dallas | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB48 |
Leave on the Bench | Pierre Strong Jr. | vs Cleveland Browns | RB49 |
Leave on the Bench | Caleb Huntley | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB50 |
Leave on the Bench | Latavius Murray | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB51 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB52 |
Leave on the Bench | Tyrion Davis-Price | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB53 |
Leave on the Bench | Isiah Pacheco | vs Buffalo Bills | RB54 |
Leave on the Bench | Zack Moss | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB55 |
Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Denver Broncos | RB56 |
Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB57 |
Leave on the Bench | Jaylen Warren | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB58 |
Leave on the Bench | Avery Williams | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB59 |
RB1 Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley was limited in practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury. If Barkley cannot play this week against the Baltimore Ravens then Matt Breida will join the list at RB31 between Mike Boone and Rachaad White Gary Brightwell will join the list at RB51 between Caleb Huntley and Latavius Murray.
Indianapolis Colts Running Backs: RB4 Jonathan Taylor & RB36 Nyheim Hines
Jonathan Taylor has been dealing with an ankle injury over the past few weeks while Nyheim Hines suffered a concussion last week. If both are inactive this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars then Deon Jackson will slot in as RB22 between Travis Etienne Jr. and Devin Singletary. Phillip Lindsay would then join the list at RB37 between Tyler Allgeier and Chase Edmonds.
If Taylor is inactive while Hines is active then Hines will slot in at RB23 between Devin Singletary and Najee Harris. Jackson will slot in at RB35 between Brian Robinson Jr. and Eno Benjamin. Phillip Lindsay would slot in at RB50 between Pierre Strong Jr. and Caleb Huntley.
If Taylor is active this week while Hines is inactive then Deon Jackson slots in at RB41 between Alexander Mattison and Darrell Henderson. Lindsay would slot in at RB56 between Joshua Kelley and Kyle Juszczyk.
RB14 James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner suffered a rib injury last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. If he misses this week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks then Eno Benjamin will slot in at RB17 between Kenneth Walker III and J.K. Dobbins.
RB15 Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins
Raheem Mostert was limited in practice Thursday because of a knee injury. If Mostert was to miss this week’s game against the Miami Dolphins then Chase Edmonds moves up to RB22 between Travis Etienne Jr. and Devin Singletary. Myles Gaskin would join the list at RB41 between Alexander Mattison and Darrell Henderson.
Denver Broncos Running Backs: RB20 Melvin Gordon & RB31 Mike Boone
Melvin Gordon was limited in practice Thursday because of neck and rib injuries. Mike Boone was limited in practice on Thursday because of a foot injury. If neither Gordon nor Boone can play against the Los Angeles Chargers Latavius Murray would become the RB23 between Devin Singletary and Najee Harris.
If Gordon is active and Boone is inactive then Gordon moves up to RB18 between Kenneth Walker Jr. and J.K. Dobbins. Murray would move up to RB38 between Chase Edmonds and Michael Carter.
If Gordon is inactive but Boone is active then Boone will move up to RB25 between Ezekiel Elliott and Cam Akers. Murray would move up to RB37 between Nyheim Hines and Tyler Allgeier.
RB41 Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison was limited in practice on Thursday with a shoulder injury. If Mattison was to miss this game then Dalvin Cook would boost up to RB10 between Breece Hall and Joe Mixon. Kene Nwangwu would be Minnesota’s change of pace back.
RB47 Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals
Samaje Perine was limited in practice on Wednesday because of an abdomen injury. If he was to miss this week’s game against the New Orleans Saints then Chris Evans would be the backup running back to Joe Mixon.
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