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Fantasy Football Rankings: Running backs for Week 6

Ranking the best running backs by matchup and opportunity for Week 6 of the 2018 NFL Season.     

By NHB
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

James White an RB1 this week? Can Todd Gurley outscore his quarterback against Denver?

RB rankings - Week 6

Rank Running Back Team Opponent High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s
Rank Running Back Team Opponent High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s
Rank Running Back Team Opponent High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB1s
1 Todd Gurley II LAR at DEN Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell combined for 330 yards from scrimmage against Denver in Week 5.
2 Melvin Gordon LAC at CLE The 2018 RB3 faces off against the NFL's 11th worst run defense.
3 Kareem Hunt KC at NE Kareem gets the 12th worst run defense in Week 6.
4 Sony Michel NE KC Michel has been granted workhorse status ahead of his date with the beloved KC D.
5 James Conner PIT at CIN Conner ran wild last week, as he knows he's fighting for his immediate future. Cincinnati is 10th worst at stopping the run.
6 Saquon Barkley NYG PHI Barkley's ranking could fall, depening on news regarding his knee. This is a tough matchup too.
7 Joe Mixon CIN PIT Mixon thundered back from injury last week to the tune of 115 yards and a score.
8 Christian McCaffrey CAR at WAS It's a tough matchup but he's still the centerpiece of the offense.
9 Ezekiel Elliot DAL JAX Volume should keep him alive but this ranking is shaky.
10 James White NE KC KC is charitably gifting gargantuan fantasy point totals to pass-catching RBs and this is a surefire shootout.
11 Tevin Coleman ATL TB The dual-threat RB will eviscerate the paltry Tampa Bay run defense.
12 Marshawn Lynch OAK SEA Seattle has been obliterated by running back in 4 of 5 games this year. However, Lynch's workload remains game-flow dependent.
High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB2s
13 David Johnson ARI at MIN The Vikings have been vulnerable to running backs as of late.
14 Jordan Howard CHI at MIA Howard's had a shaky start but Miami is very generous to enemy RBs.
15 Carlos Hyde CLE LAC Volume keeps him at the top of the RB2 grouping.
16 T.J. Yeldon JAX at DAL Volume will keep him in play against a middle-of-the-pack Dallas run D.
17 Dalvin Cook MIN ARI Arizona's red jersey's work well given their red carpet impression they use for opposing running backs. Cook needs to get healthy.
18 Phillip Lindsay DEN LAR Lindsay should have himself a day against the vulnerable Rams run defense.
19 Isaiah Crowell CLE IND Crowell's Week 5 performance should solidify his Week 6 workload against a soft IND run D.
20 Adrian Peterson WAS CAR As long as he plays, he should have a solid day.
21 Alfred Morris SF at GB Morris should see workhorse volume against a vulnerable run defense.
High-Floor/Lower-Ceiling RB2s
22 Bilal Powell NYJ IND The matchup is right for both Jets backs to eat.
23 Royce Freeman DEN LAR The Rams are willing to concede production on the ground, in order to stop the pass. Freeman has a good should at finding the endzone this week.
High-Floor/High-Ceiling RB3s
24 Austin Ekeler LAC at CLE Ekeler's got the right matchup to retain low-end RB2/high-end flex production once again.
25 Wendell Smallwood PHI at NYG My presumed favorite to takeover lead back duties. It's a plus matchup to boot.
26 Nyheim Hines IND at NYJ Another good matchup for a Hines-style game.
27 Tarik Cohen CHI at MIA Cohen got things going before the Week 5 bye. He should stay startable against Miami's MIA run defense.
High-Floor/Low-Ceiling RB3s
28 Chris Thompson WAS CAR Assuming he's healthy, he should have a decent amount of passing game work this week.
29 Aaron Jones GB SF His play-making ability provides his solid floor, even if the workload isn't there.
30 Javorius Allen BAL at TEN Volume keeps him afloat in a tough matchup.
31 Alex Collins BAL at TEN Talent keeps him alfoat, despite a minimal workload and a tough matchup.
32 Corey Clement PHI at NYG He'll likely see enough touches in a plus matchup to remain on the flex radar.
33 Chris Carson SEA at OAK Presumed lead back duties in a plus matchup.
34 Dion Lewis TEN BAL Someone has to produce in this backfield, right?
35 Alfred Blue HOU BUF He's slightly more talented than a banged up Lamar Miller.
36 Ito Smith ATL TB With Freeman out, Smith will take on the Falcons 1B RB role. He could see 10 touches in a juicy matchup.
RB4s
37 LeSean McCoy BUF at HOU A formerly talented RB in a bad offense and a tough matchup.
38 Lamar Miller HOU BUF He will see volume if healthy.
39 Kenyan Drake MIA CHI The talented RB bounced back last week.
40 Latavius Murray MIN ARI The matchup is there for Murray to accidentally score.
41 Mike Davis SEA at OAK Davis continues to see meaningful work and has a plus matchup on deck.
42 Jamaal Williams GB SF Pass-pro abilities keep him on the field.
43 Peyton Barber TB at ATL A sub-par pass-catcher against the No. 1 defense for RBs to catch passes against.
44 Jalen Richard OAK SEA Could see work if SEA pulls ahead.
45 Jordan Wilkins IND at NYJ Continues to see meaningful touches.
46 Kyle Juszcyzk SF at GB Has a secure role in the Beathard passing game.
47 Ty Montgomery GB SF Has a small but secure workload.
48 Nick Chubb CLE LAC He can always house his 1 touch.

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