This is a big week for Breece Hall and Bijan Robinson. Both running backs need to step up in a big way. Thankfully, both have great matchups in Week 6.
Hall gets to face the Bills, who are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Seven running backs have scored at least 12.5 PPR points against Buffalo this season, including four in the past two games.
Hall has scored a combined 10.5 PPR points in the past two games against Denver and Minnesota after he scored at least 18.3 PPR points in each of the first three games. He's due for a big outing, and I expect him to deliver against Buffalo.
Hall faced the Bills twice last season, and he scored at least 15.7 PPR points in each outing. I like Hall as a top-10 running back in all leagues.
Robinson is also a top-10 running back in all leagues with his matchup against the Panthers, who are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Eight running backs have scored at least 12.1 PPR points against Carolina this season, including four in the past two games against Cincinnati and Chicago.
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Robinson has seen his Fantasy production decline in every game since Week 2 when he went from 16.2 PPR points to 10.7 PPR points in Week 5 against Tampa Bay. He has one touchdown this season.
But he should get the chance to dominate the Panthers, and I hope he takes advantage of this matchup. And the same goes for Hall against the Bills.
I don't have to tell you to start these guys. But here are the other running backs to start in Week 6, as well as the ones to avoid.
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RBs to Start
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I like Brown as a No. 2 running back this week against the Giants even though Zack Moss will play despite an ankle injury. And Moss can be considered a flex this week as well. We're starting to see the upside of Brown the past two games against the Panthers and Ravens when he's had at least 15 total touches in each outing, and he scored at least 16.4 PPR points both times. This isn't an easy matchup against the Giants, but three running backs have already scored at least 13.1 PPR points against them this season. I'm hopeful that Brown gets the lead role against the Giants, and it would be great if he could take over the Cincinnati backfield for good.
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After three miserable games, Swift has been a star in the past two outings against the Rams and Panthers with at least 20 PPR points in each contest. He has 23 total touches in each game, and he's totaled at least 120 total yards and a touchdown both times. We'll see how long this lasts, but he has another favorable matchup in Week 6 against the Jaguars, who are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Five running backs have scored at least 13.6 PPR points against Jacksonville, including Dare Ogunbowale and Trey Sermon in the past two games. Swift has top-10 upside in this game in London.
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Williams just had his best game of the season in Week 5 against Las Vegas with 111 total yards, which included five catches for 50 yards on six targets. That's now three games this season with at least four receptions, and he has consecutive outings with at least 18 total touches. The Chargers run defense has been tough, but they have struggled with pass-catching running backs. Three running backs in four games have caught at least four passes, and all three (Alexander Mattison, Chuba Hubbard and Najee Harris) scored at least 11.6 PPR points. I like Williams as a No. 2 Fantasy running back in Week 6.
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It's getting harder to recommend starting Harris each week, but this is another great matchup, especially if Jaylen Warren (knee) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) remain out. That said, Harris has faced Indianapolis and Dallas the past two games and scored 10.3 PPR points against the Colts and 9.7 PPR points against the Cowboys. He's yet to score a touchdown, and his best game was 13.6 PPR points in Week 3 against the Chargers. But this week, he's facing a Raiders defense that will be without Christian Wilkins (foot), and Las Vegas has allowed a running back to score at least 15.5 PPR points in every game this season. If there was ever a week for Harris to step up it's now, and I would start him as a No. 2 running back in all leagues.
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We'll see how the touches are split between Bigsby and Travis Etienne this week, but both could be useful as No. 2 running backs against the Bears. First, we have to see what happens with Etienne and his shoulder injury, but the Jaguars should continue to ride the hot hand with Bigsby as a rusher. He had seven carries for 90 yards in Week 4 at Houston and then exploded for 13 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns and one catch for 28 yards in Week 5 against Indianapolis. If Etienne is out then Bigsby would have top-10 upside, but he's no worse than a flex if Etienne plays. The Bears are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and four running backs this season, including three in a row, have scored at least 18.4 PPR points.
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Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Brian Robinson Jr. (knee) is considered a game-time decision for Week 6 at Baltimore, and if he's out then Ekeler is worth using as a No. 2 running back, with Jeremy McNichols as a flex. This is a tough matchup against the Ravens, who are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. But Ekeler and McNichols would get a boost in touches if Robinson can't play, and both have done well this season in secondary roles. Ekeler has scored at least 11.5 PPR points in three games in a row, and he had 97 total yards in Week 5 against Cleveland. And McNichols has three touchdowns in his past two games, including 15 carries for 112 yards over that span. McNichols will likely need to score to help your Fantasy roster, but this could be Ekeler's best game of the season if Robinson is out.
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While Derrick Henry should be great in Week 6 against Washington, I'm hoping the Ravens have to pass a lot in this matchup. That would allow Hill to have a bigger role in the passing game. The Commanders have already allowed two running backs to catch at least five passes in a game this season, and Hill could be useful this week if Baltimore and Washington get into a shootout. Hill has two games this season with six receptions, and I like him as a flex option in PPR.
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The Jets have struggled to run the ball in the past two games against Denver and Minnesota, but things should improve in Week 6 against Buffalo. The Bills are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and hopefully Breece Hall and Allen will get back on track. Four running backs in the past two games have scored at least 12.7 PPR points against Buffalo, and seven running backs for the season have scored at least 12.5 PPR points. Hall is a must-start running back in all leagues, and I like Allen as a flex.
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RBs to Sit
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Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is out for Week 6 at Tennessee, which means Sermon will make another start. And he did well in Week 5 at Jacksonville with 18.3 PPR points, which included a rushing touchdown and six catches for 25 yards on six targets. But the matchup against the Jaguars was favorable, and trying to run against the Titans is a tougher task. D'Andre Swift, Josh Jacobs and De'Von Achane have each scored 5.9 PPR points or less against Tennessee, and Sermon would be a flex option at best this week, even with Taylor out again.
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Mattison had a season-high 17 total touches in Week 5 at Denver with Zamir White (groin) out, but Mattison managed just 61 total yards, including two catches, and he scored 10.1 PPR points. We'll see if White returns in Week 6 against the Steelers, but even if Mattison remains the starter he should just be a flex option at best in the majority of leagues. The Steelers are No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and only two running backs have scored touchdowns against Pittsburgh so far this season.
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Ford scored at least 15.5 PPR points in two games this season, but he also scored 10 PPR points or less in three outings, including Week 5 at Washington. Even though Nick Chubb (knee) remains out for Week 6, I'm still hesitant to trust Ford. This isn't an easy matchup against the Eagles, who have allowed only one touchdown to a running back this year. I like Ford as a flex option as best in the majority of leagues in Week 6.
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Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Dowdle has taken over the Cowboys backfield, which is awesome. He's scored at least 13.1 PPR points in each of his past two games against the Giants and Steelers, and he's creeping into No. 2 running back territory. But this week against the Lions, Dowdle could struggle given the matchup since Detroit is No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Kyren Williams and Kenneth Walker III each scored at least 14.4 PPR points against the Lions, but Detroit also held Rachaad White and James Conner to a combined 6.8 PPR points. I would only use Dowdle as a flex option at best in most leagues for Week 6.
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Who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising running back could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 5 Fantasy projections for every position, plus see which RB comes out of nowhere to crack the top five, all from the model that has outperformed experts big-time.