Fantasy Football: Top 5 RB Sleepers for Emergency starts in week 6
Running back is a tricky fantasy position every week with almost all the options worth owning played every week. There isn’t much depth, but there are some fringe options in very good positions this week.
These players aren’t in the top ten in most salary-based leagues, and are sometimes even left on the bench in season-long leagues. This week, though, they’re worth starting if you have them. If they are available on the wire, get them quick and plug them in since they’re my top five sleeper options for week 6:
1. Le’Veon Bell-Pittsburgh Steelers
After the Steelers drafted him out of Michigan state, Bell has only played one game this season but looked solid rushing for 57 yards and a pair of scores against the Vikings in London. He’s the feature back in Pittsburgh as they take on the Jets this week, so he should get plenty of work making him a nice value this week even though the Jets have been solid against the run.
2. Danny Woodhead-San Diego Chargers
Woodhead has been a big part of the Chargers backfield rotation, but could play an even bigger role this week with Ryan Mathews dealing with a concussion. It looks like Mathews should be cleared in time for Monday Night Football, but with the Colts coming to town the Chargers will be in pass-heavy mode which should result in plenty of touches for Woodhead. In each of the last three weeks, he’s had over 50 yards receiving and last week had a season-high nine catches while finding the endzone for the third time in his last two games. If you’re league is PPR, Woodhead is almost a weekly start, but he’s even relevant in non-PPR leagues and makes a good start this week.
3. Willis McGahee-Cleveland Browns
McGahee continues to improve each week since signing with Cleveland and had his best game of the season against the Bills rushing for 72 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries last Thursday. He looks to continue in his role as the feature back this Sunday against the Lions who have struggled against the run this season making McGahee a valuable flex option.
4. Marcel Reece-Oakland Raiders
Reece could be the main back in Oakland this week as they face a tough matchup in KC. If both Rashad Jennings and Darren McFadden are sidelined, Reece will get the bulk of the carries which will make him at least fantasy relevant as a flex play for Terrelle Pryor and the Raiders this weekend as they go for their second win in a row.
5. Zac Stacy-St. Louis Rams
Stacy stepped in as starting RB last week and had a good week rushing for 82 yards on 15 carries before leaving with an chest injury. This week he and St. Louis are in Houston which looks like a tough matchup, but the Texans run defense hasn’t been great lately allowing four rushing TD’s in the last three game and over 100 yards in three of their last four games. Stacy is a nice bargain pickup for week 6.
If you have any questions about who I’d start/sit for week 6, you can find me on twitter @ZT_Sports or drop the question in the comments at the bottom of the page. For information on other positions, starter rankings, waiver wire pickups, and plenty of fantasy football goodness, check out our Fansided fantasy football page where there’s a treasure trove of information that can help you get the win this weekend.