The ground game is making a comeback in the NFL. As defenses sell out to stop the pass by playing lighter boxes, offenses are leaning back into the run — and fantasy managers who invested in running backs are reaping the rewards.
Who are the best running backs in fantasy football for Week 6? Here’s how PFN’s Consensus Fantasy Rankings stack this week’s RB options.
Offense
QB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings
Defense
DT Rankings | EDGE Rankings | CB Rankings | SAF Rankings
Special Teams
Kicker Rankings
1) Saquon Barkley | PHI (vs. CLE)
This is the kind of a running back outlook fantasy managers dream of.
Saquon Barkley, fantasy’s RB1 by PPR points per game, is coming off his bye, getting future Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson back in the starting lineup, and facing the Browns as a 10-point home favorite.
Sure, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith’s pending returns will reduce Barkley’s target share, but he only caught six passes while Philadelphia’s star receivers were sidelined. Barkley should handle 20+ carries against Cleveland and receive multiple scoring opportunities.
2) Derrick Henry | BAL (vs. WAS)
Derrick Henry scored early in the Ravens’ Week 5 win over the Bengals, but his fantasy day wasn’t truly saved until he broke loose for a de facto game-winning 51-yard run in overtime.
Henry had posted at least 150+ rushing yards in each of the previous two games while scoring three total touchdowns. He’s found the end zone in every contest this season.
Opposing teams have been able to run on the Commanders, even when Jayden Daniels and Co. are blowing them out. It’s hard to imagine Washington getting up big enough that Henry isn’t involved. More likely, he should be in for 20+ carries again.
3) Bijan Robinson | ATL (at CAR)
Bijan Robinson’s offensive snap rate dipped below 70% in each of the past two weeks, but there are reasons to be encouraged about his outlook.
For one, Robinson was battling injuries in both weeks. A shoulder injury in Week 4 and a groin issue in Week 5 limited him during practice and likely led the Falcons to exude caution, especially with viable RB Tyler Allgeier on the roster.
Robinson isn’t listed on Atlanta’s Week 6 injury report and is facing a Panthers defense that can’t stop anyone on the ground or through the air. This could be Robinson’s breakout performance and might be your last chance to buy low in fantasy.
4) Jordan Mason | SF (at SEA)
Jordan Mason lost a fumble at the Cardinals’ 8-yard line on Sunday, effectively costing the 49ers their Week 5 game. Still, there’s been no indication that Kyle Shanahan is about to turn away from the third-year grinder.
Mason still isn’t catching passes but has San Francisco’s RB workload on lock. Christian McCaffrey is expected to be sidelined for several more weeks, while 49ers RB2 Isaac Guerendo is averaging fewer than six offensive snaps per game.
Seattle has a middle-of-the-pack run defense, but it will be missing several key contributors on Thursday night. Uchenna Nwosu and Byron Murphy II have already been ruled out, while Boye Maye and Derick Hall are questionable.
5) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at DAL)
If the Lions only had one capable running back, that player would be atop this week’s fantasy RB rankings.
The Cowboys are the most advantageous opponent for any rushing offense in the NFL. Dallas is giving up 0.17 EPA per rush through the first five weeks of the season. Only three teams have allowed that level of efficiency to opposing passing offenses.
Jahmyr Gibbs could have a field day as a road favorite coming off a bye week. His backfield mate also makes our top 10 this week.
6) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. BUF)
Breece Hall has a chance to explode in Week 6. Maybe Robert Saleh’s firing and Nathaniel Hackett’s demotion will spark the Jets’ offense on Monday night, but we’re high on Hall because of his Week 6 opponent.
The Bills have been getting demolished by running backs in the passing game. No defense has allowed more fantasy points per game (35.28) to running backs than Buffalo, and much of that production has come through the air. Injuries at the second and third level of the Bills’ defense have hindered their ability to stop RBs from catching passes.
Hall has rushed for 27 yards over the two weeks, so it’s understandably hard to trust him. But he should rebound on MNF.
7) Alvin Kamara | NO (vs. TB)
Alvin Kamara couldn’t get anything going against the Chiefs on Monday night, but the workload isn’t a concern for the veteran Saints RB. He took 19 of New Orleans’ 21 running back opportunities in Week 5, ceding just two carries to backup Jamaal Williams.
Kamara (hip/hand) didn’t practice but was outside with the rest of the Saints’ roster on Wednesday. New Orleans was likely giving its star running back an extra day of rest, but we’ll check back to confirm.
8) Josh Jacobs | GB (vs. ARI)
Although Josh Jacobs had handled 82.4% of the Packers’ red-zone RB rushes and all of their running back attempts inside the 10, he didn’t score his first touchdown until Week 5.
Without scoring touchdowns, Jacobs has been hard to trust this season despite having a secure grasp on Green Bay’s backfield workload. Per TruMedia, Jacobs ranks ninth in expected fantasy points (74.0) among running backs but just 24th in actual fantasy scoring (59.5).
9) David Montgomery | DET (at DAL)
No running back has been better at keeping his team on schedule than David Montgomery. His 52.4% rushing success rate ranks first among running backs with at least 40 carries this year. The Bengals’ Chase Brown is the only other RB creating positive EPA (expected points added) on more than half of his rushing attempts.
Montgomery gets to face the same appetizing matchup against the Cowboys as Gibbs — it’s just a matter of who will get the more valuable touches. For what it’s worth, Gibbs is out-snapping Montgomery by 20+ percentage points inside the red zone.
10) James Conner | ARI (at GB)
James Conner is still playing as well as ever. Through five weeks, the 29-year-old ranks top 10 among running backs in yards after contact per attempt and attempts per broken tackle. Conner is more than capable of generating his own yardage at this point in his career.
Admittedly, you’d like to see more from him in the receiving game. Conner averaged 3.5 games in 2022 and 2.1 in 2023, but he’s down to 1.6 receptions per contest this season.
11) James Cook | BUF (at NYJ)
James Cook (foot/toe) did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, instead spending time on a stationary bike during yesterday’s session open to the media. Two missed practices are cause for concern.
Ray Davis and Ty Johnson are next up on the Bills’ RB depth chart. They’d likely split carries — and battle Josh Allen for work on the ground — if Cook doesn’t play. The Jets are a difficult matchup as is; Gang Green is allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position.
12) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (vs. SF)
Kenneth Walker III dominated touches over Zach Charbonnet for the second straight week, receiving 13 opportunities to Charbonnet’s seven in Seattle’s loss to the Giants on Sunday.
The 49ers have become something of a run funnel this season. Their defense has been better at stopping opponents through the air than on the ground. San Francisco cut DT Arik Armstead this offseason, while DT Javon Hargrave, Jordan Elliott, EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos, and LB Dre Greenlaw are injured.
Kyle Shanahan’s team ranks just seventh-worst in rushing success rate allowed.
13) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (at BAL)
Brian Robinson Jr. is battling a knee injury and played a season-low 34% of Washington’s offensive snaps against Cleveland in Week 5.
He did not touch the ball in the second half, but that was by design. Head coach Dan Quinn said Robinson “came out well” after the Commanders’ victory. However, we still have questions entering Week 6 after Robinson didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice.
Assuming he suits up, you have to put Robinson in your lineup. He’s played at least 55% of the Commanders’ offensive snaps in all four of his healthy games, earning 15+ opportunities (rushes plus targets ) in each contest.
14) Tony Pollard | TEN (vs. IND)
Although Tony Pollard saw his offensive dip incrementally from Weeks 2 through 4 before the Titans’ Week 5 bye, he’s still the club’s clear RB1 ahead of Tyjae Spears. Pollard received 22 rushes and two targets in Tennessee’s Week 4 win over the Dolphins and now faces one of the best RB matchups in fantasy football.
The Colts have been getting gashed on the ground all season. Joe Mixon and Josh Jacobs went for 150+ yards in Weeks 1 and 2, and Tank Bigsby crossed the 100-yard threshold against Indy last week.
DeForest Buckner, the Colts’ best defensive lineman, has been on injured reserve with a sprained ankle since Week 2. Indy will be without WR Michael Pittman Jr. on Sunday and could be missing RB Jonathan Taylor and WR Josh Downs. This game could be tighter than expected, giving Pollard plenty of chances to run the ball.
15) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (vs. ATL)
The Panthers are giving second-round rookie RB Jonathon Brooks (knee) all the time he needs to return from the NFI list, allowing Chuba Hubbard to dominate touches as the club’s RB1.
Hubbard has been incredibly efficient through five weeks, ranking fifth in rushing yards over expectation. He’s a bit above league average in explosive run rate, but Hubbard’s real value is not going backward.
Only 10.3% of his attempts have gone for zero or negative yardage, the best rate among running backs with at least 40 carries this season.
16) D’Andre Swift | CHI (vs. JAX [London])
D’Andre Swift looked like one of the NFL’s worst value signings over the first three weeks of the season, but the Bears’ free agent addition has turned things around over the past two games.
Swift totaled 285 scrimmage yards and scored two touchdowns in Chicago’s wins over the Rams and Panthers. It helps that the Bears have condensed their backfield rotation by completely eliminating Khalil Hebert, who hasn’t played an offensive snap since Week 3. Swift is only facing touch competition from Roschon Johnson.
17) Najee Harris | PIT (at LV)
From a talent perspective, it’s hard to get too excited about Najee Harris. He’s been the NFL’s fifth-worst RB in rushing yards over expectation per attempt this season.
With Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson sidelined over the past few weeks, Harris has largely had the Steelers’ backfield to himself. Yet, he still finished as just the RB31 and RB30 over Pittsburgh’s last two games.
Warren returned for a limited practice on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Justin Fields’ designed rushes have been steadily creeping up. Fields handled a designed rush attempt on 16.7% of Pittsburgh’s plays in Week 5, his highest rate since Week 1.
18) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE (vs. HOU)
Rhamondre Stevenson took a helmet to the calf during New England’s Week 5 loss to the Dolphins but returned to Sunday’s game. While he’s not practicing on Wednesday, we’ll need to monitor Stevenson’s participation throughout the week to determine whether he’s dealing with a significant injury.
Stevenson split offensive snaps with fellow RB Antonio Gibson in Week 5 but received 16 opportunities to Gibson’s seven.
The Patriots’ offense should get a boost from rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who will make his first NFL start in Week 6. New England can’t get much worse than it was with Jacoby Brissett under center.
19) Zack Moss | CIN (at NYG)
Zack Moss departed last Sunday’s game multiple times with an ankle injury. Although NFL Network reported that he isn’t battling a severe issue, Moss didn’t practice on Wednesday.
If he can’t suit up against the Giants, Chase Brown would become a rock-solid RB2 with RB1 upside against the Giants on Sunday night.
Cincinnati won’t want to give touches to third-stringer Trayveon Williams, so Brown would see a massive workload. Brown ranks third among all running backs with 4.07 average yards after contact, per TruMedia; Moss is 46th.
20) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (vs. CHI [London])
Travis Etienne Jr. injured his shoulder in Week 4 and appeared limited in Week 5. He was out-snapped by fellow RB Tank Bigsby for the first time this season (23-22). Etienne was limited on Wednesday as he continues to deal with his shoulder issue.
Bigsby posted 101 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries in Week 5 and could continue to cut into Etienne’s workload. Bigsby leads all NFL running backs with 6.47 yards after contact per rush and is second in explosive run rate (17.6%), rushing for 12+ yards at more than double the league-average clip.