FanDuel NFL: Running Backs Week 6 is a column highlighting the best player, most affordable, and best value options for your FanDuel NFL lineups focusing on salary versus expected points. The intention of this article is to help you build your FanDuel NFL lineup for the most likely big payday each week.
I like to lean on FantasyPros for weekly point projections, the information is a result of consensus from many fantasy football experts. I check the point projection results, which update daily, with the salary set by FanDuel for players each week. Entering week 6, we’ll continue to see salaries fluctuate, as we learn who the top Running Backs will be for the 2016 season. This week, there are two teams on a ‘bye’, so we can already cut the following players from our lineups:
To help you optimize your FanDuel NFL lineups each week, we’re focusing on the Most Points, Best Affordable, and Most Value options. This article will focus on the Running Backs position.
Here’s a brief description of each category:
- Most Projected Points – Evaluation of top projected point options from FantasyPros
- Best Affordable – Your most affordable, best player, options leaving you with enough money for good players in other positions
- Most Value – Identify the cheapest players with the highest upside
Now, let’s take a look at the players everyone’s targeting:
Next: Most Projected Points - RB
Most Projected Points – RB
Among the top five, it’s not too surprising to see Le’Veon Bell ($9,300 / 19.5) in the top spot. We finally got to see Bell again in week 4. After two games he’s averaging over 20 points per game. Le’Veon is a tremendous talent who can do practically everything. He’s probably the best running back in the NFL, along with an argument for David Johnson ($9,100 / 18.3). Bell is facing a Miami Dolphins rushing defense giving up over 150 yards per game, worst in the NFL. Find a way to afford Bell and put him in your lineup.
We loved David Johnson last week, but this week DJ is playing a New York Jets rushing defense only giving up 68 rushing yards per game and 1 rushing touchdown all season. Paying $9,100 for a lot of risk doesn’t make sense to me. Fade DJ in week 6. However, like last week, LeSean McCoy ($8,200 / 17.6) is playing a very bad San Francisco 49ers rushing defense. McCoy is going to have a great week and is the best value of the top 5. If you need a more affordable lock at RB, Put Shady in your lineup.
Between the 4th, DeMarco Murray ($8,800 / 15.9), and 5th, Todd Gurley ($7,900 / 15.5) projected options, we like Murray more. Murray is 2nd among all running backs with 20.66 FanDuel NFL points per game, in-between DJ (1st) and Bell (3rd). That’s pretty good company. And paying $8,800 for Murray against a reeling Cleveland Browns team, is a decent bargain. Gurley, however, is averaging 11.94 FanDuel NFL points per game, 23rd among all running backs. And Todd is facing a Detroit Lions run defense who are 21st in the NFL, but they haven’t given up a rushing touchdown yet this season. Maybe Gurley breaks their streak, but I don’t love this matchup.
Next: Best Affordable - RB
Best Affordable – RB
Carlos Hyde ($7,300 / 13.6) is quietly tearing up run defenses on a struggling San Francisco 49ers offense. The offense is mostly struggling because of the passing game. Hyde is doing very well. Carlos is averaging 17.36 FanDuel NFL points per game, 7th in the NFL so far this season. Hyde has 13+ points in every game except week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. Carlos followed that game up with a 24 FanDuel NFL point performance in Seattle the following week. This week, Carlos will face a decent Buffalo run defense, 13th in the NFL. But the Bills have given up 6 rushing touchdowns this season, more than one per game. I suspect Hyde will continue to roll this week, and you’re not giving up too much salary for 13+ points.
Christine Michael ($7,400 / 13.4) appears the Marshawn Lynch replacement for the Seattle Seahawks. Now in a starting running back role for the Hawks, Michael is averaging 14.45 FanDuel NFL points per game, 11th in the NFL. That’s after 4 games, two games where he didn’t start. That’s a quick surge to the top of the running backs in the NFL. In the Seahawks last game, against one of the best rushing defenses in the NFL, the New York Jets, Christine piled up 15 points. That’s impressive against a very good defense. This week, the Seahawks face a Falcons run D in the middle of the NFL. Michael is a very good affordable option for week 6.
Next: Most Value - RB
Most Value – RB
The Tevin Coleman ($5,900 / 9.5) and Devonta Freeman ($7,100 / 13.5) combo are a big part of the reason the Atlanta Falcons offense is off to such a fantastic start. Sure, Matt Ryan is having a great season, but when you have two young and dynamic running backs hitting holes, breaking tackles, and catching passes out of the backfield, your job at quarterback becomes easier. I’ve stacked Coleman and Freeman with success several times. This week, because of the Falcons matchup with the Seahawks, I hesitate. But, five weeks into the NFL, Coleman has double-digit FanDuel NFL points in four of five games. That’s fantastic for a guy only costing you $5,900 in salary. Tevin will see multiple chances to gain yards and score, even with Freeman on the field. Coleman is a good bet to get over 10 points this week, which is a great value for the salary.
Ryan Mathews ($6,500 / 12.4) hasn’t been an exciting option for fantasy football this year, but he’s quietly having a solid season. Aside from the Pittsburgh Steelers game where he was pulled early because of an injury, Mathews have scored at least one touchdown in each game. This week, the Eagles face a Washington Redskins run defense who’s 30th in the NFL in rushing yards given up per game, 130. Also, the Redskins are last in rushing touchdowns, giving up eight over five weeks. Ryan should find the end zone this week, even if he doesn’t compile a ton of yards. At $6,500, that’s a solid value for 1-2 touchdowns and 30-60 yards.
Wrapping up, the top running back plays of the week are Le’Veon Bell and LeSean McCoy. The top affordable options are Carlos Hyde and Christine Michael. And Tevin Coleman and Ryan Mathews present some very good value this week to make other pricey options affordable.