jared-goff-1400-us.jpg
USATSI

Tony Pollard was great as the Start of the Week in Week 6 against the Colts, and he should now be cemented as a must-start running back in all leagues. He has top-10 upside heading into Week 7 against the Bills.

Against Indianapolis, Pollard had 17 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown, and he added three catches for minus-5 yards. He scored 17.8 PPR points, which was the fourth time this season in five games where he had at least 15. 2 PPR points.

Tyjae Spears (ankle) is expected to be out in Week 7 against the Bills, so Pollard should once again have the chance for 20 total touches. And Buffalo is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to running backs this season, so Pollard is in a great spot.

Eight running backs this season have scored at least 12.5 PPR points against the Bills, with four scoring at least 21.9 PPR points. This is a great week to have Pollard on your Fantasy team, and he should dominate Buffalo in Week 7.

RBs to Start
Projections powered by Sportsline
MIA Miami • #31
Age: 32 • Experience: 10 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ IND IND -3.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS RB
21st
PROJ PTS
9.2
RB RNK
20th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
89
REC
4
REYDS
28
TD
0
FPTS/G
7.9
Mostert might be the lead running back for the Dolphins in Week 7 against the Colts if De'Von Achane (concussion) is out, which would make him a must-start option in all leagues. Even if Achane plays, Mostert would be at least a flex, and he had 19 carries for 80 yards and two catches for 18 yards in Week 5 at New England, which is the game where Achane was injured. Four running backs this season have scored at least 15.1 PPR points against the Colts, including two in a row with Tank Bigsby and Tony Pollard.
WAS Washington • #8
Age: 25 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs CAR WAS -8 O/U 51.5
OPP VS RB
32nd
PROJ PTS
12.4
RB RNK
NR
YTD Stats
RUYDS
325
REC
8
REYDS
68
TD
5
FPTS/G
15.5
Robinson is expected to play in Week 7 against the Panthers after sitting out Week 6 against Baltimore with a knee injury. Carolina has allowed six running backs in the past three games to score at least 14.5 PPR points, and eight running backs have reached that total this season. It makes Austin Ekeler a flex option as well even if Robinson is active, and Robinson has scored at least 13.8 PPR points in four of five games this year. I like Robinson as a borderline No. 1 running back in all leagues in Week 7.
JAC Jacksonville • #4
Age: 22 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs NE JAC -5.5 O/U 42.5
OPP VS RB
27th
PROJ PTS
9.6
RB RNK
23rd
YTD Stats
RUYDS
297
REC
1
REYDS
28
TD
2
FPTS/G
7.6
Travis Etienne (hamstring) isn't expected to play in Week 7 against the Patriots in London, which makes Bigsby a No. 2 running back in all leagues. New England has allowed six running backs to score at least 14.1 PPR points this season, and five running backs have gained at least 77 total yards against the Patriots in the past three games. Bigsby will share touches with D'Ernest Johnson in place of Etienne, and Johnson should be considered a flex option in all leagues. But I expect Bigsby to get 15-plus touches in this matchup, and he should deliver a quality stat line in all leagues.
CIN Cincinnati • #30
Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ CLE CIN -6 O/U 42
OPP VS RB
11th
PROJ PTS
11.6
RB RNK
16th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
283
REC
12
REYDS
50
TD
4
FPTS/G
11.9
Brown is the running back to trust for the Bengals this week and hopefully for the rest of the season, and he's worth using as a No. 2 running back in all leagues in Week 7 against the Browns. Brown has scored at least 14.4 PPR points in three games in a row, and he did well in tough matchups against the Ravens and Giants in each of the past two outings. The Browns aren't an easy matchup, but the Commanders had three rushing touchdowns against Cleveland in Week 5. And four running backs this season have scored at least 12.9 PPR points against the Browns.
CLE Cleveland • #24
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs CIN CIN -6 O/U 42
OPP VS RB
20th
PROJ PTS
12.4
RB RNK
28th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
0
REC
0
REYDS
0
TD
0
FPTS/G
0
It's great to have Chubb back in action in Week 7, and he'll make his long-awaited 2024 debut against the Bengals. I'm willing to trust Chubb as a No. 2 running back in all leagues, and it helps that Jerome Ford (hamstring) is expected to be out for Cleveland in this game. The Browns offensive line has been a problem this season, but this is a great matchup for Chubb. A running back has scored at least 13.7 PPR points against Cincinnati in every game this season, and I'm sure the Browns will try to get Chubb in the end zone this week.
Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by Sportsline
DEN Denver • #33
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.
The Saints have been brutal against opposing running backs lately as Saquon Barkley, Kareem Hunt, Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving have all scored at least 18.5 PPR points against New Orleans in the past four games. Williams has been tough to trust this season, but playing the Saints on a short week could be beneficial. He will hopefully continue to get the majority of touches for the Broncos, and Williams might even score his first touchdown of the season. I like Williams as a low-end No. 2 running back in all leagues.
LV Las Vegas • #22
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.
We'll see if Zamir White (groin) can return in Week 7 against the Rams, but I like Mattison as at least a flex even if White is active. Mattison should continue to get the majority of touches for the Raiders, and he just scored 17.5 PPR points against the Steelers in Week 6. He has three games with at least three catches, and his role in the passing game could be needed after Davante Adams was just traded to the Jets. The Rams have allowed five running backs to score at least 16.3 PPR points this season, including two in a row against D'Andre Swift and Josh Jacobs.
IND Indianapolis • #31
Age: 24 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is out, but Trey Sermon (knee) is going to play. Even with Sermon active, we could see Goodson in a big role in Week 7 against Miami, and I like the setup for him. Goodson was explosive against the Titans in Week 6 with eight carries for 51 yards and four catches for 14 yards on five targets, and he has seven catches in the two games without Taylor. The Dolphins are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Goodson has flex appeal. Sermon also is worth using as a flex in this matchup, and he scored 18.3 PPR points in Week 5 at Jacksonville in the first game Taylor was out.
RBs to Sit
Projections powered by Sportsline
BUF Buffalo • #22
Age: 25 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs TEN BUF -8.5 O/U 41
OPP VS RB
9th
PROJ PTS
12
RB RNK
24th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
172
REC
7
REYDS
73
TD
1
FPTS/G
6.3
We'll see what happens with James Cook (toe) this week, and if he's able to play against the Titans. If Davis starts again for Cook then I would only use him as a flex in the majority of leagues. He was awesome filling in for Cook against the Jets in Week 6 with 20 carries for 97 yards and three catches for 55 yards on three targets. But the Titans have allowed just one rushing touchdown to a running back this year, and no running back has topped 62 rushing yards, including matchups with D'Andre Swift, Breece Hall, Josh Jacobs and De'Von Achane. Davis is a risky starter even if Cook is still out.
SF San Francisco • #49
Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs KC SF -1.5 O/U 47
OPP VS RB
1st
PROJ PTS
8.3
RB RNK
31st
YTD Stats
RUYDS
140
REC
0
REYDS
0
TD
0
FPTS/G
2
We'll see what happens with Jordan Mason (shoulder) this week, but I would only use Guerendo as a flex if Mason can't play. While Guerendo did well in place of Mason in Week 6 against Seattle, keep in mind that he had 76 rushing yards to end the game, and he didn't have a target. Prior to that big run, he had nine carries for 23 yards, and he split playing time with Patrick Taylor. The Chiefs also are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Guerendo will be tough to trust even if Mason is out. No running back has gained more than 46 yards on the ground against Kansas City, including matchups with Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, J.K. Dobbins and Alvin Kamara.
MIN Minnesota • #32
Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs DET MIN -2 O/U 50
OPP VS RB
3rd
PROJ PTS
9.5
RB RNK
29th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
147
REC
6
REYDS
42
TD
0
FPTS/G
5
We'll see what happens with Aaron Jones (hip) this week, and if he's out then Chandler will likely start in his place. Newly acquired Cam Akers could also have a role, and this could be a messy backfield against Detroit. The Lions are also No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Chandler wasn't exactly great in Week 5 against the Jets after Jones got hurt. He had 14 carries for 30 yards and two catches for 9 yards on two targets, and I would only use Chandler as a flex this week if he starts in place of Jones.
TB Tampa Bay • #7
Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs BAL BAL -3.5 O/U 49.5
OPP VS RB
4th
PROJ PTS
10.8
RB RNK
26th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
328
REC
10
REYDS
70
TD
2
FPTS/G
10
We'll see what happens with Rachaad White (foot) this week against the Ravens, but even if he's out, Irving will share touches with Sean Tucker. And this could be a messy backfield in a tough matchup against Baltimore. The Ravens are No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Tucker could get more work in the passing game then Irving. He had 18.5 PPR points in Week 6 at New Orleans, but Tucker was better with 34.2 PPR points. Even if White is out again, Irving and Tucker should be considered flex options at best, with Irving getting the slight nod if you have to decide between the two.
Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
Projections powered by Sportsline
ARI Arizona • #6
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs LAC LAC -2.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS RB
6th
PROJ PTS
13.3
RB RNK
15th
YTD Stats
RUYDS
403
REC
12
REYDS
88
TD
3
FPTS/G
13.5
Keep an eye on Conner this week because he could be dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered in Week 6 against Green Bay. He played a season-low 16 snaps against the Packers, and hopefully he'll be OK. You're probably still going to start Conner if he plays against the Chargers, but he should be considered a low-end No. 2 running back in most leagues. Along with any potential ailment, this is a tough matchup. The Chargers have allowed one rushing touchdown and two total touchdowns to running backs this season, and Conner could see plenty of attention from the Los Angeles defense if Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion) is out. I'm hopeful Conner is OK, but this could be a tough week for him in a bad matchup.

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