The running back position can be difficult to navigate in fantasy football and the Week 6 slate brings a flurry of tough start-or-sit decisions to the position. Rhamondre Stevenson, Emari Demercado, and Jonathan Taylor are hot names for fantasy football ahead of Sunday's games.
Stevenson has been disappointing in the lifeless Patriots' offense, Demercado will see an increased role, and Taylor is working his way back from an extended absence.
Should you start Stevenson, Demercado, or Jonathan Taylor in Week 6? Let's dive in.
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Should I Start Rhamondre Stevenson for Fantasy Football?
Stevenson has rushed 68 times for 118 yards (2.8) and one touchdown this season. He's added 12 receptions for 87 yards. Needless to say, he's been a fantasy bust up to this point and is not a must-start option.
He'll face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6, who have been a middle-of-the-pack defense against fantasy running backs. New England has scored just three points over the last two weeks, meaning Stevenson's touchdown-upside is mightily limited.
Running back production is often scarce so he remains on the fantasy radar, but his floor is low for a third straight week.
He is the RB22 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
Should I Start Emari Demercado for Fantasy Football?
James Conner was placed on Injured Reserve this week with a knee injury, making Demercado a hot waiver add heading into Week 6. However, Keaontay Ingram, who missed the last two games with a neck injury, is set to return this week against the Los Angeles Rams.
Ingram began the season as the team's RB2 and held that role for most of last season. Both backs will likely split touches, so Demercado is on the fantasy radar. However, it's tough to know how many touches he will get and if he will get red zone and goal line work. He's a risky play this week, but many fantasy managers need any fantasy-relevant running backs, so he's likely to be in plenty of starting lineups.
He is the RB25 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
Should I Start Jonathan Taylor for Fantasy Football?
Taylor returned from the Physically Unable To Perform list last week, rushing six times for 18 yards. Meanwhile, Zack Moss rushed 23 times for 165 yards and two scores. Taylor just signed a three-year, $42 million extension, so we can assume he's eventually going to see a workhorse role.
Depending on your running back options, it might be worth gambling on Taylor against the Jaguars in Week 6. Jacksonville has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season, so the former rushing champion has a wide range of outcomes.
He is the RB24 in our half-PPR consensus staff rankings.
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