When you look at the projections below, you'll see Eno Benjamin projected as a top 15 running back, which pretty clearly means we aren't projecting James Conner to play on Sunday. That shouldn't be too big of a surprise, since Conner left Week 5 with a rib injury and hasn't practiced on Wednesday or Thursday in preparation for Week 6. What may be a bigger surprise is that I wouldn't mind flexing Benjamin even if Conner plays.

If Conner starts Week 6, you have multiple outs. For one, Conner could leave early again -- he's already done it twice this year. It's also possible that after a week being limited, the team chooses to lighten Conner's workload. But I wouldn't completely rule out Benjamin receiving a higher percentage of the touches even if Conner is 100%.

  • Week 6 previews: QB | WR | TE

Benjamin has been more efficient than Conner by just about every measure this year. He's been better per catch, per carry, and per target. All told, he's been a full yard better per touch. Some of that could have to do with the situations in which they've been employed, but the eye test will tell you that Benjamin looks better moving with the football as well.

Considering the Cardinals/Seahawks game has the second-highest over/under on the slate and the Seahawks have given up the firth-most Fantasy points to running backs this season, I'd be happy with Benjamin as a flex even if he got 40% of the team's opportunities. One way or another, I'm fine with betting on that being the case. Plan on Benjamin being in your lineup this week.

Now let's get to the rest of the Week 6 RB Preview:

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Week 6 RB Preview

RB Preview
Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play in Week 6 at this time. Here's what it means:

Rashaad Penny RB
CAR Carolina • #28
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Kenneth Walker should be a must-start running back rest of season.
Damien Harris RB
BUF Buffalo • #22
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Rhamondre Stevenson is a top 10 running back in all formats this week.
James Conner RB
ARI Arizona • #6
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.
Eno Benjamin is a No. 2 running back if both James Conner and Darrel Williams are out.
Nyheim Hines RB
CLE Cleveland • #22
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.
If Hines and Jonathan Taylor both miss Week 6, Deon Jackson and Phillip Lindsay are both in play as flexes.
RB Preview
Numbers to know
  • 100 -- Rhamondre Stevenson played 100% of the RB snaps once Damien Harris went down in Week 5.
  • 6 -- Just six touches for A.J. Dillon in Week 5. After a strong Week 1, he's been a ghost since then and probably not worth starting at this point. 
  • 0 -- The Patriots have yet to surrender a rushing touchdown to a running back.
  • 49 -- Receptions for running backs versus the Chiefs, easily the highest in the league. And 350 receiving yards are also the most in the league by 76 yards. 
  • 47 -- Nick Chubb leads running backs with a 47% avoided tackle rate.
  • 5.74 -- Yards after contact per rush for Kenneth Walker III, the second highest in the league behind D'Andre Swift. 
  • 298 -- Rushing yards for Josh Jacobs in the last two games.
RB Preview
Matchups that matter
Matchups that Matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
Tyler Allgeier RB
ATL Atlanta • #25
Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs SF SF -5.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS RB

4th

PROJ PTS

6.9

RB RNK

35th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

184

REC

2

REYDS

25

TD

0

FPTS/G

5.7
Jeff Wilson RB
MIA Miami • #23
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ ATL SF -5.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS RB

21st

PROJ PTS

14.3

RB RNK

12th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

375

REC

8

REYDS

70

TD

2

FPTS/G

12.5
James Robinson RB
NO New Orleans • #26
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ IND IND -2 O/U 42

OPP VS RB

19th

PROJ PTS

11.1

RB RNK

27th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

286

REC

8

REYDS

45

TD

4

FPTS/G

13
Eno Benjamin RB
NO New Orleans • #26
Age: 25 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ SEA ARI -3 O/U 51

OPP VS RB

27th

PROJ PTS

12.9

RB RNK

17th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

136

REC

12

REYDS

97

TD

1

FPTS/G

8.3
Devin Singletary RB
NYG N.Y. Giants • #26
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ KC BUF -3 O/U 54

OPP VS RB

30th

PROJ PTS

11.3

RB RNK

20th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

171

REC

18

REYDS

145

TD

1

FPTS/G

10.7
Tony Pollard RB
TEN Tennessee • #20
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ PHI PHI -5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB

14th

PROJ PTS

9.9

RB RNK

29th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

248

REC

7

REYDS

71

TD

2

FPTS/G

10.2
RB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Week 6 Adds (RB Preview)
Mike Boone RB
CAR Carolina • #34
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ LAC LAC -5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB

32nd

RB RNK

34th

ROSTERED

53%

YTD Stats

RUYDS

58

REC

5

REYDS

58

TD

0

FPTS/G

3.3
As long as Latavius Murray is inactive, I'd project 8-12 touches for Boone against a Chargers defense that has not been good against the run.
Joshua Kelley RB
TEN Tennessee • #25
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs DEN LAC -5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB

9th

RB RNK

38th

ROSTERED

20%

YTD Stats

RUYDS

104

REC

7

REYDS

56

TD

1

FPTS/G

5.9
Kelley has some short term value as the RB2 alongside Austin Ekeler, but his real appeal is the longterm upside if something happens to Ekeler.
Stashes (RB Preview)
Jaylen Warren RB
PIT Pittsburgh • #30
Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs TB TB -8 O/U 44

OPP VS RB

2nd

RB RNK

43rd

ROSTERED

34%

YTD Stats

RUYDS

52

REC

2

REYDS

3

TD

0

FPTS/G

2.5
Even Mike Tomlin has acknowledged that they need to play Jaylen Warren more. It appears Warren has taken over the third-down role, and he could see even more work moving forward. He's certainly the most explosive Steelers' back this season.
RB Preview
DFS Plays
Top DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
Rhamondre Stevenson RB
NE New England • #38
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ CLE CLE -3 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB

29th

PROJ PTS

16.7

RB RNK

7th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

372

REC

13

REYDS

71

TD

1

FPTS/G

12.7
I received a text from one of my colleagues late Monday night expressing concern that Stevenson was his No. 1 running back this week. Well, he's in my top five as well, so I don't believe it's that outlandish. Stevenson should see 20-plus touches in a good matchup and he's still priced like a No. 2 running back.
Contrarian DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
Jeff Wilson RB
MIA Miami • #23
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ ATL SF -5.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS RB

21st

PROJ PTS

14.3

RB RNK

12th

YTD Stats

RUYDS

375

REC

8

REYDS

70

TD

2

FPTS/G

12.5
Until it becomes widely recognized that Wilson is getting nearly 20 touches a week and producing excellent efficiency on those touches, I'm going to keep riding him. It's all the better that we can do so as a contrarian play.
RB Preview
Heath's Projections