Week 6 of Fantasy Football Season

It’s already week six of the fantasy football season! But before diving in, let’s recap the standout running back performances from week five. Familiar faces like Jonathan Taylor, Kylen Williams, and Christian McCaffrey made their mark, yet a newcomer took the spotlight this week.

This week’s top performer was Rico Dowdle from the Panthers, who rushed for 206 yards on 23 carries, along with three receptions for 28 yards. Dowdle had the chance to shine because Tuba Hubbard was sidelined with a calf injury. However, Hubbard is expected to return this week, which complicates things in the Panthers’ backfield.

Another impressive performance came from Washington’s Jacoley Crosskey Merritt. Crosskey-Merritt had 14 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns, though he did lose a fumble. This being his first career start, he saw an uptick in playing time. While he’s not yet reliable for consistent workloads, he did receive more goal line opportunities than in previous games, and his snap count is likely to increase after a strong showing.

Looking at the Vikings and Texans games…

Then there’s Jordan Mason, Nick Chubb, and Woody Marks contributing to the discussion.

O’Mallion Hampton – Chargers

It’s tough luck for Chargers fans and those banking on Hampton in fantasy leagues. The rookie suffered an ankle injury in week five and will be placed on the injured reserve for at least four weeks. Hassan Haskins is expected to step into the lead role now, while Kimani Vidal may support him.

After sidelining last week, Hubbard had Dowdle’s breakout performance to consider. If he returns against the Cowboys, it might be hard to overlook what Dowdle accomplished, especially considering it was against the team he started for last season.

Irving missed last week’s game due to shoulder and leg injuries with the Seahawks, but he has a fair chance to play against the Lions on Monday night. If he does, Rachaad White will likely take the lead again. Last week, White ran for 41 yards and had two touchdowns while catching all four of his targets for 30 yards.

The Steelers’ running back had a bye week to rest his knees, and he seems to be ready for a tough matchup against the Browns in week six. Prior to his injury, he was handling a hefty share of the running back duties.

Upcoming matchups to note:

• Chiefs vs. Lions (52.5)
• Commanders vs. Bears (49.5)
• Panthers vs. Cowboys (49.5)
• Falcons vs. Colts (48.5)

• Steelers vs. Browns (38.5)
• Giants vs. Eagles (40.5)
• Titans vs. Raiders (41.5)

Highest Expected Team Totals

• Packers (29)
• Chiefs (27.5)
• Commanders (27)
• Colts (27)
• Cowboys (26.5)

Lowest Expected Team Totals

• Bengals (14.5)
• Giants (16.5)
• Browns (16.5)
• Titans (18)
• Jets (18.3)
• Ravens (18.5)

• Packers vs. Bengals (14.5)
• Giants vs. Eagles (-7.5)
• Bills vs. Patriots (-8.5)
• Colts vs. Raiders (-6.5)

Hassan Haskins – Chargers vs. Dolphins

With Hampton injured, Haskins is set to take over and faces a struggling Dolphins defense. Was it just a flash in the pan from Dowdle’s impressive game last week?

Michael Carter – Cardinals vs. Colts

Carter is up against a formidable Colts run defense this week. Still, he had 18 rushing attempts and five receptions on five targets last week, solidifying his position as the Cardinals’ top choice. The volume should offset the tough matchup enough to be considered for a flex spot.