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Fantasy Football: Week 6 running back rankings

By Alex Butler
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) is chased down by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Carroll Phillips (59) on a carry in the second quarter on October 4 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) is chased down by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Carroll Phillips (59) on a carry in the second quarter on October 4 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Todd Gurley is my top fantasy football running back for Week 6, followed by Kareem Hunt, Melvin Gordon, Saquon Barkley and James Conner.

Christian McCaffrey, Joe Mixon, Sony Michel, Ezekiel Elliott and Jordan Howard are also in the top 10 of my weekly rankings

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Don't forget to take Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, Kerryon Johnson, LeGarrette Blount and other New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions players out of your lineups in Week 6, as those teams are serving byes.

Even though the pool is somewhat watered down due to those bye weeks and injuries, there are several emerging talents and players with great matchups in my Week 6 running back rankings.

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If you are needy at the position, check out my waiver wire add/drops for Week 6.

Here are my Top 30 options at the position this week.

FULL TOP 30 WEEK 6 RANKINGS BELOW

TOP SHELF

Gurley obviously should never leave your lineup, regardless of matchup. This week the No. 1 running back in fantasy football has a matchup against the Denver Broncos, a unit that has allowed the second-most rushing yards to running backs this season. The Broncos have also allowed five rushing scores and the eighth-most fantasy points to the position. Start the Los Angeles Rams stud with confidence and expect fireworks.

Los Angeles Rams QB Jared Goff (R) hands off to Todd Gurley II in the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders on September 10 at the Coliseum in Oakland. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI

New England Patriots rookie Sony Michel is making the most of his opportunity, despite sharing the backfield workload with James White. Michel is my No. 8 option for Week 6, landing in RB1 territory with a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs and Michel has gone for more than 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in back-to-back games. Most encouragingly, he also has an average of 22 touches in his last two games.

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SNEAKY PLAYS

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard is my No. 10 option at the position in Week 6, landing in RB1 territory in most formats. Howard's usage has not been overly encouraging but I expect a bounce-back performance in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins, a unit allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs through five weeks. He is a matchup dependent play and should be in lineups this week.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson is my No. 12 option at the position in Week 6, landing in low-end RB1 range. Carson missed Week 4, but has back-to-back starts with more than 100 rushing yards. In Week 5, he went off for 116 yards on 19 carries. He looks like the top guy in the Seahawks backfield and has shown an ability to produce when he gets the bulk of the carries. This week he battles the Oakland Raiders, a unit allowing the fourth-most rushing yards, tied for allowing the third-most rushing touchdowns and allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

LONGSHOTS

Baltimore Ravens running back Alex Collins is a low-end RB2 for me this week against the Tennessee Titans, a unit allowing the sixth-most rushing yards this season to opposing running backs. The Titans have not allowed a touchdown to running back this season but that could change in this matchup as Collins has found the end zone in three of his five starts in 2018.

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RANKNAMETEAMOPPONENT
1Todd GurleyLos Angeles Ramsat DEN
2Kareem HuntKansas City Chiefsat NE
3Melvin GordonLos Angeles Chargersat CLE
4Saquon BarkleyNew York Giantsvs. PHI
5James ConnerPittsburgh Steelersat CIN
6Christian McCaffreyCarolina Panthersat WAS
7Joe MixonCincinnati Bengalsvs. PIT
8Sony MichelNew Orleans Saintsvs. KC
9Ezekiel ElliottDallas Cowboysvs. JAX
10Jordan HowardChicago Bearsat MIA
11David JohnsonArizona Cardinalsat MIN
12Chris CarsonSeattle Seahawksat OAK
13T.J. YeldonJacksonville Jaguarsat DAL
14Devonta FreemanAtlanta Falconsvs. TB
15Carlos HydeCleveland Brownsvs. LAC
16Marshawn LynchOakland Raidersvs. SEA
17Isaiah CrowellNew York Jetsvs. IND
18James WhiteNew England Patriotsvs. KC
19Chris ThompsonWashington Redskinsvs. CAR
20Dalvin CookMinnesota Vikingsvs. AZ
21LeSean McCoyBuffalo Billsat HOU
22Alex CollinsBaltimore Ravensat TEN
23Aaron JonesGreen Bay Packersvs. SF
24Phillip LindsayDenver Broncosvs. LAR
25Alfred MorrisSan Francisco 49ersat GB
26Adrian PetersonWashington Redskinsvs. CAR
27Tevin ColemanAtlanta Falconsvs. TB
28Austin EkelerLos Angeles Chargersat CLE
29Kenyan DrakeMiami Dolphinsvs. CHI
30Ronald JonesTampa Bay Buccaneersat ATL

If you are looking to roll the dice at RB2 or flex in a deeper league, take a look at Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Ronald Jones. While Jones has been an inactive for most of the Buccaneers' games this season, he should start seeing more work as the other Tampa Bay running backs have underperformed. If there was a week to go off, this is it. The Buccaneers are facing the Atlanta Falcons, a unit that has allowed the second-most rushing scores and fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Jones fits just inside my rankings at No. 30, but I would only throw him into your lineup if you are desperate. He has a moderately high ceiling but a very low floor due to his unknown workload.

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