With running backs Jahmyr Gibbs, Aaron Jones, Ollie Gordon II, and Chase Brown all on bye, fantasy owners will need to navigate the waiver wire and make the right start/sit decisions at running back this week.
Injuries are once again a factor. Breece Hall of the Jets could return this week, as could Saquon Barkley of the Eagles. If Barkley doesn't play, stay away from all of Philadelphia’s running backs. David Montgomery with the Texans is also injured and is considered week-to-week with a groin injury.
Heading into Week 6, here are the top running back starts and sits.
Start - Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
He is coming off a bad week against the Houston Texans, but the Texans are also one of the worst matchups for running backs this season. This
week, Pollard faces the Indianapolis Colts, who have given up a lot of fantasy points to running backs. They have also given up six touchdowns to running backs; only four NFL teams have given up more. In the prior two weeks before playing Houston, Pollard had decent production. There is no reason to believe Pollard will not get back to that production.
Start - Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns
If Judkins were fully healthy, this wouldn't be much of a question. However, his status for Cleveland’s game against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday is unclear. If Judkins can play, even if he is not fully healthy, he should be in your starting lineup. His fantasy production has been inconsistent in the first five weeks, with his only breakout performance coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4.
The Ravens are a more difficult matchup. However, with KC Concepcion suffering a concussion against the Jets and likely out for this game, Judkins will see an expanded role, potentially with more targets. That could lead to more fantasy points and a solid game for fantasy owners.
Start - Woody Marks, Houston Texans
Houston isn't a strong rushing team this season, and they face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday, which isn't a great matchup for running backs. However, if one of your running backs is on bye and you need someone to plug into your lineup, Marks is a good option. Last week against Tennessee, he had 62 rushing yards and four receptions for 23 yards. Especially in PPR leagues, Marks is a decent player who can fill in for a week and may be worth keeping around on your roster if he does well.
Sit - Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals
It is officially time to put Love on the bench in all fantasy formats. He is getting some carries, but he is not just turning those opportunities into points. His season-low of 22 rushing yards against the Detroit Lions, a team that should have been an ideal matchup, is incredibly alarming. The Los Angeles Rams are a decent matchup, but not as good as Detroit should have been.
With Marvin Harrison Jr. gone, Arizona has few weapons left, making it easy for teams to stop the run. The Cardinals also aren't giving him targets, which frustrates fantasy owners. Until Arizona starts using their first-round pick, he needs to stay on the bench.
Sit - Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers
Going into the season, Hampton looked like the obvious No. 1 running back in the Chargers’ backfield. That hasn't panned out this season: Kimani Vidal got eight carries and a touchdown last game, while Hampton had only 39 total yards and didn't score. His numbers aren't bad when he finds the end zone, but Hampton isn't playing at the level fantasy owners need because of how crowded the Chargers' running back room is. Now is a good time to trade Hampton rather than start him.
Sit - J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos running back room is frustrating. Last week, Dobbins got all the carries and scored a touchdown. The week before that, RJ Harvey got a lot of points on 10 receptions. Dobbins is probably the more reliable of the two for fantasy production since he gets more carries, but Harvey is a real thorn in Dobbins’ side.
Their split backfield setup will lead to some good weeks and some bad weeks for Dobbins. He had a good game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Odds are he will not be lucky enough to have two games like that.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Fantasy Football Start’em, Sit’em in Week 6: RB Edition
