Fantasy Football Week 6: Top 5 running backs to start

Here are the top five running backs you should start in Week 6 fantasy football.

Week 5’s edition of top five running backs to lock into your fantasy football lineup was sort of a dud. Why? Only Todd Gurley finished as a top 10 scorer in ESPN PPR Standard scoring leagues.

Gurley was the second-highest scoring running back with his 33.3 points. The other four names mentioned in that article fell outside of that top 10.

Although, that doesn’t mean those players didn’t garner a decent amount of points. Christian McCaffrey accumulated 20.3 points, Sony Michel went for 18, and Ezekiel Elliott gathered 15.4.

Not bad right? Well, the number one back on that list, Alvin Kamara, had a dreadful day. He only racked up 6.9 points. I guess the New Orleans Saints weren’t lying when they indicated that Mark Ingram would get the bulk of reps in Week 5. Here are the top five running backs worth starting in your fantasy football lineup heading into Week 6.

5. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

One of the best, yet underrated stories so far has been the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL and the league’s fans have been so preoccupied with the likes of Le’Veon Bell and Patrick Mahomes that the Bengals 4-1 start has been swept under the rug.

No one predicted this start from the Bengals. The team has been headlined by a fairly formidable offense that has been led by some familiar names like Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.

One new name that has been a dominant force? Joe Mixon. Yes, he was in the NFL last year, but he could never get into true form.

This year, Mixon has been banged up a bit. However, he has been a fantasy stud when healthy. He is the new featured back in Cincy, and his versatility has him creeping into that top tier RB realm.

Next: 4. Kareem Hunt

4. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs

Can we talk about how well the Kansas City Chiefs drafted during the 2017 NFL Draft? The team selected star QB Patrick Mahomes and called the name of perhaps one of the better running backs in the league with Kareem Hunt.

Hunt took the league by storm last season. This year? Different story.

While the Chiefs have been the talk of the league after their undefeated start, the talk has been centered predominately around Mahomes. Hunt has struggled to get himself going, but he appears to be rounding into form.

Hunt stretched his touchdown streak to three straight games. This week he will line up against the New England Patriots on the road, the site of his famous first game.

Next: 3. James Conner

3. James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers

The story of James Conner has gone from one of revenge and goodwill to a story about one of the best running backs in the NFL. He has been a sure-handed, dynamic, and reliable back for an iffy Pittsburgh Steelers team.

Yes, Conner did have some lackluster games in Week 3 and Week 4. Although, the Steelers played behind for the bulk of those games, meaning the team had to move the ball through the air a lot.

Conner broke out with a 34.5-point game against the discombobulated Atlanta Falcons. He ran for over 100 yards, gathered 75 receiving yards and ran for two scores.

This week the Steelers play the 4-1 Bengals. While the Bengals have flexed their muscles on the offensive side of the ball, they have tugged their tails at times defensively.

Next: 2. Todd Gurley

2. Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

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There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the title of “best running back in the NFL” resides on the back of Los Angeles Rams back Todd Gurley. He is seemingly unstoppable.

As said before, Gurley isn’t just a great talent. He carries an uncanny ability to punch the pigskin into the end zone.

Gurley’s touchdown ability is what makes fantasy owners drool with anticipation or shake in fear. He has scored a TD in every game this season, either on the ground or through the air.

Want to hear something crazy about Gurley? No, it’s not that the player picked before him, Ereck Flowers, has been waived by the New York Giants. Rather, Gurley has scored three touchdowns in a game twice this season.

The Rams travel to Denver to play the Broncos in Week 6, the team that just let New York Jets running back Isaiah Crowell have a record-setting day.

Next: 1. Saquon Barkley

1. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Listen, Saquon Barkley hasn’t lived up to the Barry Sanders comparisons that New York Giants fans had placed on him. But, that doesn’t mean he has been bad either.

Barkley plays behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Meaning, many of his runs are stopped before they even begin.

To put Barkley’s play into perspective, take a look at this. Barkley has only run for 100+ rushing yards once this season, and he has never been handed the ball more than 18 times in a game.

However, Barkley is still the fourth highest scoring running back in the NFL. He has been very active in the passing game, which is mostly because Eli Manning must check down so frequently.