The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that running backs like Aaron Jones and Najee Harris 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.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve 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 not be 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 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 cause 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.
Rankings
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Cleveland Browns | RB1 |
| Must Start | Austin Ekeler* | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Kyren Williams | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Bijan Robinson | vs Washington Commanders | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Saquon Barkley* | vs Buffalo Bills | RB6 |
| High-End RB2 | Tony Pollard | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB7 |
| High-End RB2 | Alvin Kamara | vs Houston Texans | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Kenneth Walker III | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs New England Patriots | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs New York Jets | RB12 |
| Starting RB2 | Isiah Paceco | vs Denver Broncos | RB13 |
| Starting RB2 | Derrick Henry | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB14 |
| Starting RB2 | James Cook | vs New York Giants | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Raheem Mostert | vs Carolina Panthers | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB17 |
| Low RB2 | Alexander Mattison | vs Chicago Bears | RB18 |
| Low RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB19 |
| Low RB2 | Breece Hall | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Jerome Ford | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB21 |
| Flex | Dameon Pierce | vs New Orleans Saints | RB22 |
| Flex | Brian Robinson | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB23 |
| Flex | Jonathan Taylor | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB24 |
| Flex | Emari Demercado | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB25 |
| Flex | Miles Sanders | vs Miami Dolphins | RB26 |
| Flex | Zack Moss | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB27 |
| Flex | Rachaad White | vs Detroit Lions | RB28 |
| Deep League Flex | Rochon Johnson* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Tyjae Spears | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | Jahmyr Gibbs* | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Gus Edwards | vs Tennessee Titans | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB34 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cam Akers | vs Chicago Bears | RB35 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr.* | vs Carolina Panthers | RB36 |
| Leave on the Bench | Justice Hill | vs Tennessee Titans | RB37 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs Washington Commanders | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Chuba Hubbard | vs Miami Dolphins | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kendre Miller | vs Houston Texans | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs New York Jets | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Zach Charbonnet | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jaleel McLaughlin | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dalvin Cook | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Latavius Murray | vs New York Giants | RB48 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kareem Hunt | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB49 |
| Leave on the Bench | Devin Singletary | vs New Orleans Saints | RB50 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Denver Broncos | RB51 |
| Leave on the Bench | Salvon Ahmed | vs Carolina Panthers | RB52 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB53 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rico Dowdle | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB54 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tank Bigsby | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB55 |
| Leave on the Bench | Joshua Kelley | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB56 |
| Leave on the Bench | Keontay Ingram* | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB57 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Cleveland Browns | RB58 |
| Leave on the Bench | Elijah Mitchell* | vs Cleveland Browns | RB59 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB2 Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler missed the past two games with an ankle injury. After sitting out last week with the bye Ekeler is expected to make his return this week. If Ekeler misses Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys Joshua Kelley moves up to RB34 between Ezekiel Elliott and Cam Akers.
RB6 Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley has missed the past three games with an ankle sprain. There is a chance he returns this week. If Barkley misses Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills Matt Breida will become the RB25 between Emari Demercado and Miles Sanders. Gary Brightwell becomes the RB50 between Kareem Hunt and Devin Singletary.
RB29 Rochon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Rochon Johnson suffered a concussion last week against the Washington Commanders. It is unclear if he will be ready to go this week. If Johnson misses Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings D’Onta Foreman becomes the RB30 between Tyjae Spears and Jahmyr Gibbs.
RB31 Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs missed last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers with a hamstring injury. It is unclear if he will be ready for this week. If Gibbs misses Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Craig Reynolds becomes the RB39 between Chuba Hubbard and Kendre Miller.
RB36 Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins
Jeff Wilson Jr. started the season on injured reserve because of a knee injury. He could make his season debut this week. If Wilson Jr. misses Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers Salvon Ahmed will become the RB37 between Justice Hill and Tyler Allgeier.
RB57 Keontay Ingram, Arizona Cardinals
Keontay Ingram was inactive last week due to a neck injury. If healthy he could see an increased role with James Conner out. If Ingram misses Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams Tony Jones Jr. becomes the RB59 below Elijah Mitchell.
RB52 Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell missed the past two games with a knee injury. If Mitchell misses Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns Jordan Mason becomes the RB59 below Kyle Juszczyk.
Players that are currently not expected to play
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
De’Von Achane suffered a knee injury last week against the New York Giants that could hold him out for a few weeks. It will be hard to replicate the production Achane has given Miami early in his career. But Miami will feature all three of their running backs including Jeff Wilson Jr. who is returning from injury.
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals placed James Conner on Injured Reserve on Tuesday. He will miss at least the next four games. Arizona is expected to feature a running back by committee approach featuring Emari Demercado, Keontay Ingram, and Tony Jones Jr.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
Khalil Herbert is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain. Rochon Johnson will likely lead Chicago’s backfield while Herbert misses time. He’ll be followed by D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer.
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/fantasy-football/fantasy-football-running-back-rankings-week-6/2023/10/11/
