The first four-week byes are here, and fantasy football managers are already dealing with some lineup headaches. The Bengals, Dolphins, Lions, and Vikings are all off this week, leaving managers without key running backs like Jahmyr Gibbs, Chase Brown, Aaron Jones Sr., and Ollie Gordon II.
On top of that, injuries continue to shake up the running back position. Week 5 was another reminder of how quickly things can change, with David Montgomery and Will Shipley both leaving their games early. If you’re scrambling to find a replacement or looking for someone who could provide some sneaky value, I’ve got you covered. Let’s get into the Week 6 running back streamers and sleepers.
Week 6 Running Back Streamers
Woody Marks
If Woody Marks is still available in your league, now would be the time to make sure he is not. Montgomery is week to week with a groin injury; Marks could be in line for a much bigger workload moving forward. Marks stepped up in Week 5, carrying the ball 15 times for 62 yards while catching all four of his targets for another 23 yards. He barely gave up any work to Dare Ogunbowale. Houston plays Jacksonville in Week 6, and the matchup is not ideal, but Marks could be serviceable if needed in a pinch.
Dameon Pierce
The Eagles’ backfield is quickly becoming a situation that is in a constant state of emergency. Saquon Barkley is dealing with a hamstring injury, Tank Bigsby is on injured reserve, and now Will Shipley suffered a foot injury in Week 5 that could keep him sidelined for multiple weeks.
In comes Dameon Pierce to save the day?
With Shipley leaving the game and Barkley potentially dealing with his own injury concerns, Pierce could find himself in position to handle a significant portion of the workload. Carson Steele was active but didn’t see a single snap in Week 5, which could be a sign that Philadelphia trusts Pierce more in its offensive system. If Barkley and Shipley are both unavailable in Week 6, Pierce could become a valuable waiver-wire addition.
The matchup against Carolina is appealing, too. With four teams on bye and injuries thinning out the position, Pierce is worth the waiver claim and/or FAAB money.
Marshawn Lloyd
Lloyd is another name to keep on your radar after delivering his best performance of the season in Green Bay’s win over Chicago. He scored twice and finished with 11 touches, leading the Packers’ backfield in opportunities.
Lloyd has an opportunity to build on that performance heading into a favorable matchup against Dallas. The Cowboys just got shredded by Bucky Irving, so there could be room for Lloyd to make some noise if his role continues to grow.
I’m not ready to call him a must-start just yet, but he’s absolutely worth a waiver-wire pickup if you’re looking for running back depth. Keep an eye on Green Bay’s backfield usage this week because another strong performance could make Lloyd a much more appealing fantasy option.
Week 6 Running Back Sleepers
Kendre Miller
Miller by the numbers hasn’t been impressive, but the opportunity is there for him to become more involved in New Orleans.
Miller led the Saints’ backfield in Week 5, finishing with 10 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. His overall efficiency hasn’t been great, but the workload is worth paying attention to.
Across four games this season, Miller has recorded 29 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Etienne Jr. is on injured reserve and isn’t eligible to return until Week 9, while Alvin Kamara has struggled to find consistency as a runner. Kamara was limited to just 12 snaps in the Week 5 loss to Minnesota, creating an opportunity for Miller to see more work. If Kamara continues to deal with health issues, Miller could become a useful streaming option.
The Saints have a favorable matchup against the Giants in Week 6, which makes Miller worth a look. He’s not someone I’d blindly throw into every starting lineup, but if you’re desperate for running back help, he’s a name to keep on your radar.
Kimani Vidal
This Chargers’ backfield has turned into a full-blown committee and a full-blown mess! Meanwhile, Kimani Vidal is making a strong case for a bigger role.
Vidal, Omarion Hampton, and Keaton Mitchell have all been involved, making this an uber-frustrating situation for fantasy managers. Vidal’s recent usage is worth watching because he’s been earning more opportunities as the season progresses.
His snap share has increased every week, climbing from 7% in the season opener to 42% in Week 5. That was the highest mark among the Chargers’ running backs, ahead of Mitchell at 34% and Hampton at 30%. Vidal also delivered his best performance of the season in Week 5, rushing eight times for 57 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry!
Hampton still led the team with 14 carries, but he managed just 33 yards on 2.4 yards per carry.
The biggest concern is consistency. Vidal managed just 31 rushing yards combined over the first four weeks before breaking off a 42-yard run in Week 5. That big play accounted for a significant portion of his production, so fantasy managers shouldn’t get carried away after one strong performance.
Still, the increasing snap count and growing workload are encouraging signs. I’m not expecting Vidal to run away with the starting job, but he’s worth monitoring as a potential RB3 or flex option.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
