X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Week 6 Running Back Depth Charts for Fantasy Football

Anthony C takes a look at the Week 6 NFL running backs (RB) depth charts for each NFL team and analyzes the potential value of starters and backups alike for your 2016 fantasy football squad.

Week 5 of the 2016 NFL season showcased a pair of the league's elite rushers finishing first and second in fantasy points scored at the running back position for last week's slate of games. David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott accounted for 29.5 and 29.1 points respectively in standard scoring formats and they are both beginning to justify their first round ADPs in the preseason rankings.

With byes and injuries removing some of the league's top options at the position, the active fantasy owner must monitor the waiver wire and rely on a solid bench to fill the running back spot in their starting lineup. Check out how it could all shape up in the Week 6 edition of Running Back Depth Charts for Fantasy Football, but first, here are the teams on their bye.

  • Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces weekly DFS contests. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

2016 Running Back Depth Charts for Week 6

AFC East

Baller Stability Rating Team Name Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Stable Bills LeSean McCoy Mike Gillislee Jonathan Williams N/A
Questionable Dolphins Arian Foster (Q) Jay Ajayi Kenyan Drake, Damien Williams N/A
Stable Patriots LeGarrette Blount James White (PPR) Brandon Bolden Dion Lewis (O)
Stable Jets Matt Forte Bilal Powell Troymaine Pope N/A

-The Miami Dolphins cut ties with Isaiah Pead on Tuesday which could indicate that Arian Foster, who missed the past three weeks with a hamstring injury, is on track to make a Week 6 return. If Foster indeed plays on Sunday, he should be considered a mid-range RB2 option with greater upside in PPR formats. Monitor Foster's status leading up to kickoff for an official designation. However, if Foster sits out this week against the Steelers, Jay Ajayi will likely draw the start but would have minimal value for fantasy football purposes as he remains TD dependent for value.

-Tom Brady's return to the Patriots considerably impacted New England's running back landscape moving forward. LeGarrette Blount, who started the year on fire, scored a touchdown but garnered fewer touches. For James White, he out-produced Blount in total yards, targets, receptions and most importantly in fantasy points scored in PPR leagues finishing with 12.9. In standard formats, Blount just barely edged out White 9.7-to-8.9. Until Dion Lewis returns to action, James White should be the darling of New England's running back position. Don't sleep on Blount though. He will likely remain the early-down and goal-line back and should still be a solid fantasy option moving forward.

AFC North

Baller Stability Rating Team Name Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Questionable Ravens Terrance West Kenneth Dixon Buck Allen N/A
Stable Bengals Jeremy Hill Gio Bernard Rex Burkhead N/A
Stable Browns Isaiah Crowell Duke Johnson George Atkinson III N/A
Stable Steelers Le'Veon Bell DeAngelo Williams Fitzgerald Toussaint N/A

-Week 5 brought upon the NFL debut of Kenneth Dixon for the Baltimore Ravens, but he played second fiddle to an emerging Terrance West. Dixon was thought to be the running back who would be the savior of Baltimore's backfield, but if last Sunday was any indication, the Ravens already had their starter in the form of West. He nearly broke the 100-yard rushing plateau against the Redskins finishing with 95 yards on 11 carries and is gaining momentum on a weekly basis since the team benched and parted ways with Justin Forsett. Dixon should be lingering on the fantasy bench in case West's success is just an anomaly, but tread lightly on starting the rookie until he can produce quite a bit more than a half of a point as he did in his first career game.

-It is crystal clear that Le'Veon Bell is the featured back in Pittsburgh, and it's not even close. In Week 5, Bell accounted for 15.4 and 24.4 fantasy points in standard and PPR scoring formats respectively while DeAngelo Williams put up a goose egg (zero points) on one touch. Williams' fantasy value appears to be fading rapidly, but don't cut him loose just yet as Bell could succumb to injury once again as he did in 2015.

AFC South

Baller Stability Rating Team Name Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Stable Texans Lamar Miller Alfred Blue Tyler Ervin N/A
Stable Colts Frank Gore Josh Ferguson Robert Turbin N/A
Questionable Jaguars T.J. Yeldon Chris Ivory Denard Robinson N/A
Stable Titans DeMarco Murray Derrick Henry Antonio Andrews N/A

-Penny for your thoughts? Robert Turbin was a surprising healthy scratch in Week 5 for the Colts which opened the door for Josh Ferguson and Jordan Todman to see increased playing time. Todman was invisible against the Bears, but Ferguson appeared to play the role of the change of pace back to the ageless Frank Gore. If Turbin is designated as inactive again in Week 6, Ferguson should be considered Gore's handcuff and could become an upside stash for later in the year.

AFC West

Baller Stability Rating Team Name Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Stable Broncos C.J. Anderson Devontae Booker Kapri Bibbs N/A
Stable Chiefs Jamaal Charles
Spencer Ware
Charcandrick West N/A
Questionable Raiders Latavius Murray (Q) DeAndre Washington Jalen Richard N/A
Stable Chargers Melvin Gordon Dexter McCluster (PPR) Kenneth Farrow N/A

-The Oakland Raiders could see a changing of the guard atop their running back depth chart sooner rather than later. Latavius Murray did not play last week as he is dealing with a toe injury and appears to be losing touches as the season progresses to the team's pair of rookie backs, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington. Oakland could be employing a by-committee approach to their running back position by mid-season led by Murray, but Richard and Washington are likely on track to see a tremendous increase in their respective workloads. This backfield could be considered volatile relatively fast, so fantasy owners should proceed with caution.

NFC East

Baller Stability Rating Team Name Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Stable Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott Alfred Morris Lance Dunbar N/A
Stable Giants Orleans DarkwaRashad Jennings (Q) Bobby Rainey (PPR) Paul Perkins Bobby Rainey
Questionable Eagles Ryan Mathews Darren Sproles (PPR) Wendell Smallwood N/A
Stable Redskins Matt Jones Chris Thompson Rob Kelley N/A

-The Eagles, who looked like they would utilize an RBBC approach to their backfield before their Week 5 bye, reversed track in Week 6 against the Lions. Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles were both featured while Kenjon Barner and Wendell Smallwood did not see a single touch. Mathews looks like he is the stable No. 1 rusher in Philadelphia with Sproles assuming his usual role as the primary receiver out of the backfield. However, Mathews is injury-prone which could open the door for Barner or Smallwood to step right back into fantasy relevance at any point of the year.

NFC North

Baller Stability Rating Team Name Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Questionable Bears Jordan Howard Ka'Deem Carey, Jeremy Langford (O) Joique Bell N/A
Stable Lions Theo Riddick (PPR) Justin Forsett, Dwayne Washington (Q) Zach Zenner Justin Forsett
Stable Packers Eddie Lacy (Q) James Starks Jhurell Pressley N/A
Stable Vikings Jerick McKinnon Matt Asiata Ronnie Hillman N/A

-The Detriot Lions were short-handed at the running back position in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles as Dwayne Washington was inactive with foot and ankle injuries. Theo Riddick had an outstanding showing versus the Eagles, but he is not considered as an every-down back. The Lions had a void at the position and filled it with veteran Justin Forsett, who was recently cut by the Ravens. Forsett will likely step into the every-down role vacated by Ameer Abdullah and Washington while Riddick resumes what he does best - catch the football out of the backfield. Forsett could play an integral role on the Lions as the season progresses and he should be scooped up off of the waiver wire and stashed on the bench in case he breaks out.

NFC South

 Baller Stability Rating  Team Name  Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Stable Falcons Devonta Freeman Tevin Coleman Terron Ward N/A
Questionable Panthers Cameron Artis-Payne, Jonathan Stewart (O) Fozzy Whittaker Mike Tolbert Cameron Aris-Payne, Fozzy Whittaker
Stable Saints Mark Ingram Travaris Cadet (PPR) Tim Hightower Travaris Cadet (PPR)
Stable Buccaneers Doug Martin (O) Jacquizz Rodgers Peyton Barber Jacquizz Rodgers

-The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed Charles Sims on the injured reserve list on Monday just before their contest against the Carolina Panthers. With Doug Martin also out, Jacquizz Rodgers drew the start and the vast majority of the touches at the running back position finishing Week 5 with 12.9 fantasy points in standard leagues and 17.9 in PPR. Martin is on track to return from his hamstring injury following Tampa Bay's Week 6 bye, but Rodgers could still play a significant role in the offense. Rodgers should be added and owned in deeper fantasy leagues but will see his value peak in PPR scoring formats.

NFC West

Baller Stability Rating Team Name Primary Running Back Backup or Handcuff Long-shot Candidate(s) Waiver Wire Watch
Stable Cardinals David Johnson
Andre Ellington
Stepfan Taylor N/A
Stable Rams Todd Gurley Benny Cunningham Malcolm Brown N/A
Stable 49ers Carlos Hyde Shaun Draughn Mike Davis N/A
Stable Seahawks Christine Michael C.J. Spiller, Thomas Rawls (O) C.J. Prosise N/A

-The Seattle Seahawks are coming off of their Week 5 bye and are heading into a favorable home matchup for their running backs against the Atlanta Falcons. Christine Michael is Seattle's No. 1 rusher but the question marks come about when considering his handcuff. For right now, C.J. Spiller is in that role with Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise both on the mend from their respective injuries. Upon Rawls and Prosise's return, however, Seattle's backfield could once again become questionable. Start Michael with confidence on Sunday as the Falcons could be in for a long day on the defensive side of the ball.

Anthony Cervino is a primary contributor for Rotoballer and a lead NFL News Desk writer. For additional content, visit his archive or follow him on Twitter @theRealnflguru.


Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Moises Ballesteros

Now The Triple-A Batting Average Leader
Yordan Alvarez

Exits Monday's Win Early
Raisel Iglesias

Notches Fifth Save Monday
JP Sears

Fans Seven In Monday's Win
Josh Hader

Earns Eighth Save Of Season Monday
Jose Altuve

Hits Two-Run Homer Monday
Los Angeles Chargers

Tre Harris Expected To Fill X Role For Chargers
Charlie Condon

Visiting A Hand Specialist On Monday
Bailey Ober

Extends Quality-Start Stretch To Four In Monday's Win
Los Angeles Chargers

Quentin Johnston Needs To Earn His Spot In Training Camp
Noelvi Marte

Stays Hot With RBI Triple Monday
Los Angeles Chargers

Hassan Haskins The Leader For No. 3 RB Job
Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers Plan For 1-2 Punch At RB With Omarion Hampton, Najee Harris
Zebby Matthews

Strikes Out Five In Latest Start At Triple-A
New England Patriots

Patriots View TreVeyon Henderson As A Three-Down Back
Cleveland Browns

Browns View Quinshon Judkins As A Potential Bell-Cow Back
Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks Plan To Develop Jalen Milroe As A QB
Bubba Chandler

Tosses Five Shutout Innings In Latest Start
Jordan Lawlar

Surging At Triple-A
Tennessee Titans

Titans Unlikely To Pick Up Treylon Burks' Fifth-Year Option
Cleveland Browns

Browns Apply Unrestricted Free-Agent Tender To Elijah Moore
Cleveland Browns

Browns Agree To One-Year Deal With Diontae Johnson
Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Could Reunite With Amari Cooper
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Sign Robert Woods To One-Year Deal
Nick Maton

Outrighted To Triple-A
Josh Rojas

To Begin Rehab Assignment On Tuesday
Tyler Gilbert

To Serve As Opener On Tuesday
Ryan Weathers

Tosses Three Shutout Innings In First Rehab Start
Keider Montero

Sent Back To Minors
Steven Matz

To Start On Wednesday Against Reds
Kris Bryant

To Have "Follow-Up Scans"
Gary Sánchez

Orioles Place Gary Sanchez On Injured List
Tomoyuki Sugano

Records Career-High Eight Strikeouts
Jimmy Butler III

Officially Active For Game 4
Isaiah Stewart

Uncertain For Game 5
Michael Porter Jr.

Expected To Play In Game 5
Russell Westbrook

Questionable For Tuesday Night
Jaylen Brown

Back On The Injury Report
Jrue Holiday

Out Again On Tuesday Night
Bennedict Mathurin

Questionable For Game 5
Damian Lillard

May Not Play Next Season
Johnathan Kovacevic

To Remain Out Tuesday
Brenden Dillon

Unavailable Tuesday
Luke Hughes

Not Ready To Return For Game 5
Darius Garland

Remains Out On Monday
Ross Colton

Remains Out On Monday
Oskar Bäck

Oskar Back Returns To Stars Lineup Monday
Miro Heiskanen

To Miss Game 5
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go For Game 4
Cleveland Browns

Browns Decline Kenny Pickett's Fifth-Year Option
New York Giants

Giants Won't Pick Up Evan Neal's Fifth-Year Option
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Ikem Ekwonu
Philadelphia Eagles

Dallas Goedert Could Remain An Eagle
Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Could Still Add Wide Receiver Help Prior To 2025 Season
Cleveland Browns

Shedeur Sanders Struggled During Pre-Draft Process
Buffalo Bills

Elijah Moore Visiting With Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars

Emmanuel Ogbah Signs With Jaguars
New Orleans Saints

Derek Carr Undergoes MRI Exam
William Byron

Ends With A Strong Top-Five Finish At Talladega
Ryan Blaney

Bad Luck Continues With Talladega Crash
Kyle Larson

Has A Career-Best Performance At Talladega
Ian Machado Garry

Gets Back On Track With UFC Kansas City Win
Brad Keselowski

Talladega Run Ends Early After Crashing
Carlos Prates

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Zhang Mingyang

Still Undefeated In The UFC
Anthony Smith

Retires After UFC Kansas City Loss
Giga Chikadze

Takes Unanimous Decision Loss
Giga Chikadze

Takes Unanimous-Decision Loss
David Onama

Extends Win Streak At UFC Kansas City
Michel Pereira

Drops Decision At UFC Kansas City
Abus Magomedov

Extends His Win Streak
Nicolas Dalby

Gets Finished For The First Time
Randy Brown

Gets Back In The Win Column
Ikram Aliskerov

Gets First-Round TKO Finish At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Gets TKO'd At UFC Kansas City
Ivan Demidov

Has Historic Outing In Game 4
Timo Meier

Records Two Points Sunday
Andrei Svechnikov

Nets Hat Trick In Game 4 Win
Leon Draisaitl

Caps Off Four-Point Effort With First Postseason Overtime Goal
Connor Hellebuyck

Gets Pulled Again
Alexandre Carrier

Fails To Finish Game 4
Tyler Tucker

Makes Early Exit Sunday
Chase Elliott

Recovers from Speeding Penalty to Finish Fifth
Joey Logano

Finishes Last at Talladega After Disqualification for Missing Spoiler Brace
Ryan Preece

Loses Talladega Race First in Photo Finish Then in Post-Race Inspection
NASCAR

Poor Toyota Strategy Arguably Cost Bubba Wallace Winning Chances at Talladega
Christopher Bell

Unhurt After Hard Contact with Inside Retaining Wall
Jaylen Brown

Available For Game 4
Darius Garland

Questionable For Game 4
Jaden Ivey

Making Progress
Frederik Andersen

Exits Game 4 With Injury
Jake Neighbours

Shines On Sunday With Three Points
Jordan Binnington

Makes 30 Saves In Game 4 Victory
Patrik Laine

Not Expected To Play In Game 4
Sam Montembeault

Labeled Day-To-Day
Aliaksei Protas

Considered A Game-Time Decision Sunday
Logan Thompson

A Game-Time Call Sunday
Chase Elliott

Is One OF The Top Overall DFS Picks Of The Week
Joey Logano

Could Joey Logano Finish A Race With A Top Finish At Talladega?
NASCAR

DFS Players Should Like Bubba Wallace For Talladega This Week
Christopher Bell

Should DFS Players Roster Christopher Bell At Talladega?
Austin Cindric

Is Austin Cindric Worth Rostering For Talladega DFS Lineups?
Shane Van Gisbergen

Is A Solid, Safe, DFS Choice For Talladega Lineups
Austin Dillon

Is Austin Dillon A Viable DFS Play At Talladega This Week?
Josh Berry

Qualifies Too High At Talladega To Be Worth Rostering In DFS
Michael McDowell

Should DFS Players Take A Shot On Michael McDowell At Talladega?
Noah Gragson

Could Be A Sneaky DFS Play For Talladega
Denny Hamlin

Probably Qualified Too Well for DFS Consideration
Kyle Larson

Increasingly Undervalued Due to His Crashing, but Still a Great DFS Option
Jimmy Butler III

Ruled Out On Saturday
Isaiah Stewart

Questionable For Sunday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 4
Jrue Holiday

Won't Play On Sunday
Mitchell Robinson

Questionable For Game 4 Versus Detroit
Michael Porter Jr.

Available On Saturday Night
Russell Westbrook

Won't Suit Up For Game 4
Darius Garland

Won't Suit Up For Game 3
Darius Garland

Unavailable For Pregame Warmup
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF