The 2021-22 NFL season has already been extremely entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that quarterbacks like Alvin Kamara and Cordarrelle Patterson 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 quarterback rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to reserve/COVID-19 list*
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
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 category.
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 | Christian McCaffrey* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB1 |
Must Start | Austin Ekeler | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB2 |
Must Start | Dalvin Cook* | vs Carolina Panthers | RB3 |
Must Start | Derrick Henry | vs Buffalo Bills | RB4 |
Starting RB1 | Najee Harris | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB5 |
Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Houston Texans | RB6 |
Starting RB1 | Darrell Henderson | vs New York Giants | RB7 |
Starting RB1 | James Robinson | vs Tennessee Titans | RB8 |
High-End RB2 | Antonio Gibson | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB9 |
High-End RB2 | Ezekiel Elliott* | vs New England Patriots | RB10 |
High-End RB2 | Aaron Jones | vs Chicago Bears | RB11 |
High-End RB2 | Kareem Hunt | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB12 |
Starting RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB13 |
Starting RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Detriot Lions | RB14 |
Starting RB2 | Nick Chubb | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB15 |
Starting RB2 | Damien Williams | vs Green Bay Packers | RB16 |
Low RB2 | Leonard Fournette | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB17 |
Low RB2 | Myles Gaskin | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB18 |
Low RB2 | Devontae Booker | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB19 |
Low RB2 | Zack Moss | vs Tennessee Titans | RB20 |
Low RB2 | Devontae Booker | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB21 |
Low RB2 | Chase Edmonds | vs Cleveland Browns | RB22 |
Flex | Melvin Gordon | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB23 |
Flex | Darrel Williams | vs Washinton Football Team | RB24 |
Flex | Chris Carson* | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB25 |
Flex | Josh Jacobs | vs Denver Broncos | RB26 |
Flex | Jamaal Williams | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB27 |
Deep League Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB28 |
Deep League Flex | Damien Harris* | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB29 |
Deep League Flex | Latavius Murray | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB30 |
Deep League Flex | Brandon Bolden | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB31 |
Deep League Flex | James Conner | vs Cleveland Browns | RB32 |
Deep League Flex | Miles Sanders | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB33 |
Deep League Flex | Tony Pollard | vs New England Patriots | RB34 |
Deep League Flex | Khalil Herbert | vs Green Bay Packers | RB35 |
Deep League Flex | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB36 |
Deep League Flex | J.D. McKissic | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB37 |
Deep League Flex | Mark Ingram | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB38 |
Deep League Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Chicago Bears | RB39 |
Deep League Flex | Nyheim Hines | vs Houston Texans | RB40 |
Deep League Flex | David Johnson | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB41 |
Deep League Flex | Jerick McKinnon | vs Washington Football Team | RB42 |
Leave on the Bench | Giovanni Bernard | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB43 |
Leave on the Bench | Sony Michel | vs New York Giants | RB44 |
Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine* | vs Detriot Lions | RB45 |
Leave on the Bench | Devin Singletary | vs Tennessee Titans | RB46 |
Leave on the Bench | Alex Collins | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB47 |
Leave on the Bench | Marlon Mack | vs Houston Texans | RB48 |
Leave on the Bench | Carlos Hyde | vs Miami Dolphins | RB49 |
Leave on the Bench | Jeremy McNichols | vs Buffalo Bills | RB50 |
Leave on the Bench | Devonta Smith | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB51 |
Leave on the Bench | Malcolm Brown | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB52 |
Leave on the Bench | Ronald Jones | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB53 |
Leave on the Bench | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB54 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenyan Drake | vs Denver Broncos | RB55 |
Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB56 |
Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB57 |
Leave on the Bench | Phillip Lindsay | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB58 |
Leave on the Bench | Ty’Son Williams | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB59 |
Leave on the Bench | Chris Evans | vs Detriot Lions | RB60 |
Leave on the Bench | Deejay Dallas | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB61 |
Leave on the Bench | Alexander Mattison | vs Carolina Panthers | RB62 |
Leave on the Bench | Travis Homer | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB63 |
Leave on the Bench | Jaret Patterson | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB64 |
Leave on the Bench | Demetric Felton | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB65 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB1 Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Even though Christian McCaffrey returned to practice last week he still missed last week’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He is questionable for this week’s game against the Vikings. If McCaffrey were to miss another game Chuba Hubbard would move up to RB18 between Myles Gaskin and Devontae Booker.
RB3 Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook was a late inactive last week against the Lions after trying out his ankle to see if he could play in it. Depending on how practice goes this week Cook could miss another game to try to play. If Cook is inactive Alexander Mattison moves up to RB11 between Aaron Jones and Kareem Hunt.
RB10 Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott hurt his lower back in the win last week against the New York Giants. He should be good to play but this is something to monitor throughout the week. If Elliott were to miss this week Tony Pollard would become the RB14 between Joe Mixon and Nick Chubb.
RB25 Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks’ running back Chris Carson missed last Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a neck injury. He has made progress and could be ready by this weekend. However, if Carson was to miss another game Alex Collins would move up to RB26 between Josh Jacobs
RB29 Damien Harris, New England Patriots
Last week Damien Harris left the game against the Texans with a chest injury. It is uncertain whether this injury is severe enough to hold Harris out this week against the Dallas Cowboys. If Harris misses this week Brandon Bolden would jump up to Harris’ spot at RB20 and Rhamondre Stevenson would move up to RB35 between Tony Pollard and Khalil Herbert.
RB45 Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals running back Samaje Perine was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday after testing positive for COVID-19. If Perine doesn’t play expect Chris Evans to be the Bengals’ change of pace back this weekend.