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It can be tough enough to find healthy running backs, and now we are into bye weeks with the Falcons, Jets, Saints, and 49ers off. We'll count on Damien Williams again this week in Chicago, along with Joe Mixon in a prime matchup, rising Zack Moss among others.
Jamey Eisenberg's Week 6 Start 'Em & Sit 'Em calls for running backs are here to help you find lineup solutions. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' running back preview for more help with matchup notes, numbers to know and more.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
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Mixon gave us a scare last week when he almost didn't play against the Packers with his ankle injury, but he got out there with 10 carries for 33 yards and a touchdown, along with one catch for 2 yards. We'd like to see him more involved in the passing game, and maybe that happens this week at Detroit if Samaje Perine isn't cleared off the reserve/COVID-19 list. But even if Perine plays, this should be a quality outing for Mixon against the Lions, who are No. 4 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Detroit has allowed a running back to score a touchdown (10 in total) in all but one game this year.
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I'll bite on Gaskin playing well again after his breakout performance last week. You can say it was just the game plan to use him in the passing game because you can't run on Tampa Bay, which is why he had 10 targets and finished with 10 catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns. But he also averaged 5.0 yards per carry on just five carries, and he needs to touch the ball at least 15 times for the Dolphins to be successful. Forget Malcolm Brown and Salvon Ahmed, Gaskin is Miami's best offensive player. The Dolphins might feed him targets again if DeVante Parker (shoulder) remains out with Will Fuller (finger) sidelined. And the Jaguars have allowed a running back to score a touchdown (nine in total) in all but one game this year. You can even consider Brown a sleeper if you think he can vulture a touchdown this week.
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Fournette came up big as the Start of the Week against Miami in Week 5. I said he would score his first touchdown of the season, and he did, along with 12 carries for 67 yards and four catches for 43 yards on five targets. He's now scored at least 16 PPR points in consecutive games, and the Eagles likely won't slow him down this week. Philadelphia has allowed three running backs in a row -- Ezekiel Elliott, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Chuba Hubbard -- to gain more than 100 total yards, and the Eagles have given up four total touchdowns to running backs in the past three weeks.
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Moss has started to distance himself as the best running back in Buffalo, which is what I expected to happen this season. He played a season-high 74 percent of the snaps in Week 5 at Kansas City compared to 26 percent for Devin Singletary. Moss failed to score for the first time against the Chiefs, but he still managed 11 PPR points, which will hopefully remain his floor. He should do much better against the Titans, who have allowed a running back to score a touchdown in four games in a row.
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Sleepers
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It feels like we're on the cusp of a big game for Williams, who has scored at least 11 PPR points in two of his past three games. He has three catches in three games in a row, and you're starting to see some explosive plays, including a 31-yard run in Week 4 against Baltimore and a 49-yard run in Week 5 at Pittsburgh. Melvin Gordon remains a problem for Williams, and Gordon is worth using as a flex this week. But hopefully Williams breaks out against the Raiders, who have allowed four total touchdowns to running backs in the past three games. And the Chargers and Bears backfields had over 130 rushing yards and 150 total yards against Las Vegas in the past two games.
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Dillon has consecutive games with at least 12 total touches, and he was heavily involved in the passing game in Week 5 at Cincinnati with four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown on four targets. Coach Matt LaFleur praised Dillon's hands after the game and said "we've got to continue to find ways to get him the ball." That hopefully doesn't come at the expense of Aaron Jones, but Dillon has flex appeal this week against the Bears. Chicago has allowed three running backs to catch at least four passes in the past three weeks.
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McKissic is worth using as a flex this week with the chance Washington is chasing points against the Chiefs. And he could benefit with Curtis Samuel (groin) not expected to play, along with Logan Thomas (hamstring) out. McKissic has at least 16 PPR points in two of his past four games, and the Chiefs have allowed two running backs to catch six passes in their past three games. Antonio Gibson is a No. 2 running back in all leagues, but McKissic can be useful in PPR given the matchup.
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The Cowboys are third in receptions allowed to running backs, and the Patriots could be chasing points this week. And if Damien Harris (ribs) isn't 100 percent then maybe Bolden takes on more work aside from just the passing game. He has taken over for James White (hip), and Bolden has 10 catches in the past two games on 10 targets. Three running backs (Austin Ekeler, Rodney Smith and Devontae Booker) have already scored at least nine PPR points with just their receiving totals alone against Dallas this year. Bolden is a quality flex play in PPR.
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Sit 'Em
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I hope the usage we got from Sanders last week is a sign of things to come because he had 16 total touches against the Panthers and played 75 percent of the snaps. But he's now gone four games in a row with nine PPR points or less, and he should struggle to run against the Buccaneers like most teams do. If the Eagles keep him involved in the passing game -- he had five catches on five targets in Week 5 but only 6 yards -- then he could have some success this week since Tampa Bay is No. 2 in receptions allowed to running backs. But we could see Kenneth Gainwell as the one catching passes in this matchup, which is why Sanders is just a flex at best.
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The best approach with the Ravens backfield is likely to stay away, and the only chance Murray will help your Fantasy roster this week is if he finds the end zone. Baltimore will continue to rotate three running backs, and in Week 5 against the Colts it was Murray, Ty'Son Williams and Devonta Freeman. Murray actually caught a season-high two passes against Indianapolis, but he managed just 30 total yards for the game. Now, there have been four running backs to gain more than 100 total yards against the Chargers (Gibson, Tony Pollard, Edwards-Helaire and Nick Chubb), but Murray has topped out at 59 yards in a game this season. At best, he's a flex play in non-PPR leagues.
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Harris hurt his ribs in Week 5 at Houston, but he's expected to play this week against Dallas. At best, he should be considered a flex option, with his value higher in non-PPR leagues. The Cowboys just allowed their first touchdowns to a running back last week when Devontae Booker scored twice, and Harris could be limited in his production if New England is chasing points. Bolden is the better Patriots running back this week in PPR, and Harris could also lose carries to Rhamondre Stevenson, especially if Harris is at less than 100 percent.
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Chris Carson (neck) might return this week, and if he does then you can slot him here in this posting. But if Collins starts again for the Seahawks then I would only use him as a flex option. Pittsburgh has yet to allow a touchdown to a running back, including matchups with Mixon and Aaron Jones. And Seattle is going with Geno Smith in place of the injured Russell Wilson (finger), which could be bad for the entire offense. Collins had 17 total touches in Week 5 against the Rams with Carson out, and he scored eight PPR points. I would expect similar production this week against the Steelers if Collins starts again.
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Bust Alert
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Booker is starting for the injured Saquon Barkley (ankle), and Booker was worth adding in all leagues where available. But I would only consider him a flex option at best this week against the Rams. While he scored twice against the Cowboys in Week 5, he only managed 58 total yards, including three catches. The Giants could be a mess offensively this week if Daniel Jones (concussion) is out, along with Kenny Golladay (knee), Sterling Shepard (hamstring) and Darius Slayton (hamstring). Booker might be the focal point of the Rams defense, and it could be a rough outing for him even with the increased workload.
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