It didn’t seem possible that Todd Gurley could maintain his pace from a season ago.
Through five weeks of the NFL season, it appears that he hasn’t missed a beat from last year’s high-producing fantasy football season.
Gurley registered a three-touchdown effort in week 5, giving him the most fantasy points among running backs this season. He’s far outdistancing the rest of the field and it doesn’t appear like it’s going to stop at any time. The Rams utilize Gurley in several ways with its potent offense and that will continue in week 6 at Denver.
Gurley is a top-tier daily fantasy player, along with a regular fantasy football starer. For the rest of the running back starters, here’s the week 6 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em guide.
Start
Devonta Freeman vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Freeman returned to action in week 5 and barely outsnapped Tevin Coleman in the loss to Pittsburgh.
Freeman has been one of the bigger disappointments so far this season, but week 6 should help him get back on track. Freeman looked healthy in the loss, so he should continue to get more work in the coming weeks.
Against Tampa Bay, he’ll find friendlier paths to navigate, with the Buccaneers allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. The Bucs have not been able to stop any offense this season and it’s not likely that will happen against an Atlanta offense among the best in the NFL.
The Falcons will move the ball consistently against the Buccaneers, so expect Freeman to get plenty of work.
Isaiah Crowell vs. Indianapolis Colts
Crowell was unstoppable in week 5 against Denver, besting a team that had been a top-10 defensive unit in the NFL before the week 5 loss.
Crowell rushed for 219 yards and one touchdown in week 5, sending him up the charts for season-long fantasy football production. Crowell now has the eighth-most fantasy points among running backs. And now he squares off against a team that is bottom-half in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to running backs.
Indianapolis is allowing the 13th-most fantasy points per game to running backs. With Crowell receiving the bulk of the carries, that should continue against Indianapolis, which is a winnable game for the Jets.
This game should be close, so Crowell should have solid game flow.
Sony Michel vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Michel is becoming a volume-driven running back. That’s unusual for the Patriots.
In what is usually a confusing situation, Michel is the most trusted running back so far in the Patriots backfield. Michel was two yards shy of back-to-back 100-yard games in week 5 against Indianapolis.
He’s being so trusted by the Patriots that they only suited two running backs in week 5.
Michel is producing in fantasy football thanks to his volume and the trust the Patriots have in him on a weekly basis. Kansas City’s rush defense is allowing 5.8 yards per carry, the worst mark in the NFL. Kansas City also is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
This game offers a plus-matchup for Michel in an offense that will be able to compete score-for-score with Kansas City.
Sit
Alex Collins vs. Tennessee Titans
Speaking of disappointments, Collins should soar close to the top in the fantasy football season.
Collins is ceding plenty of playing time to Javorius Allen and Allen is the most trusted running back on the goalline. Much of that is likely because of Collins’ fumble troubles this season, with two already this season.
Collins has not progressed in the passing game, and despite Allen being pretty much unwatchable as a running back (he is averaging less than 3 yards per carry), Collins was outsnapped in the week 5 loss to Cleveland.
And this matchup doesn’t offer much hope either for Collins. The Titans allow the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. With the uncertainty surrounding playing time for Collins, I’d sit him in this matchup.
Kenyan Drake vs. Chicago Bears
Drake and Collins’ seasons are similar. Both were supposed to be breakout candidates in fantasy football, but have witnessed low-production running backs cut into their playing time.
Drake has just two games where he’s tallied double-digits in fantasy scoring. He has rushed for more than 50 yards only once, with Frank Gore commanding the majority of carries.
In week 6, the Chicago Bears offer more resistance than any other team in the NFL against running backs. The Bears are allowing just 8.85 fantasy points per game to running backs, and giving up 3.4 yards per carry, the third-best mark in the NFL.
Drake, much like Collins, needs more touches to offer maximum value, and that’s just not happening yet.
Derrick Henry vs. Baltimore Ravens
As a volume running back, Henry does offer some value. However, with the addition of Dion Lewis, Henry’s touches are being cut.
That’s a major problem and showing in Henry’s fantasy production.
Henry has yet to rush for more than 60 yards in a game this season and hasn’t found the end zone. He’s basically non-existent as a receiver out of the backfield, so if he’s not able to get goalline opportunities or get volume, he’s not much of an RB2.
With a matchup against Baltimore, which allows the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, this isn’t the right place to start Henry.
