As we look back on Week 5 and prepare for the Week 6 start 'em sit 'em options, it's been yet another week where Christian McCaffrey owners are grinning from ear to ear. Again, if you were lucky enough to draft McCaffrey, then you're almost guaranteed a fantasy football championship at this point.
The Carolina Panthers running back has put himself in a possible position to break Chris Johnson's record for yards from scrimmage in a single season. Through five games, McCaffrey is on pace to total 2,771 yards from scrimmage; which would smash Johnson's record of 2,509 yards in 2009.
Along with his yards, the versatile running back has gotten into the end zone seven times this season. Currently, McCaffrey has 159.6 fantasy points this season (30.3 more fantasy points than the second highest-scoring running back).
We could talk about how phenomenal McCaffrey has been this season but we need to get into who is due for a big game this week. All of the picks in this article are based on PPR (points per reception) scoring and can be used in season-long or DFS (daily fantasy sports) leagues.
After stating that, here are the start 'em sit 'em running backs for Week 6.
RBs to Start in Week 6
Ravens' Mark Ingram (vs. Bengals): Over the past two weeks, the Baltimore Ravens have begun throwing the ball more and it's gotten them into some trouble. This week, they need to get back to handing the ball to Mark Ingram and allow their running game to feast.
After scoring 67.9 fantasy points in his first three games, the veteran running back has just 21 points in the last two games combined. Luckily for him, Ingram will square off against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has been gashed for 642 rushing yards this season (second-most in the NFL).
Lions' Kerryon Johnson (vs. Packers): The Green Bay Packers defense has been much-improved this season but their run defense has left a lot to be desired. At the same time, the Detroit Lions have run the ball more this season with Kerryon Johnson handling the workload.
Johnson has yet to score over 17 fantasy points in a game this season but this could be the week he does. The Packers defense has given up six rushing touchdowns to RBs this season (tied for second-most in the NFL).
Packers' Aaron Jones (vs. Lions): As much as Matt LaFleur wants to get Aaron Rodgers going, he needs to continue riding the hot hand of the other Aaron in the offense; Aaron Jones. Green Bay's featured running back scored a whopping 49.2 fantasy points in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys.
It has been four straight games for Jones where he has managed to have at least 15 fantasy points. Now, he will look to continue his streak versus a Lions defense that has surrendered 29.1 points to RBs per game this season (fourth-most in the NFL).
Other RBs to Start: Titans' Derrick Henry (vs. Broncos), Redskins' Chris Thompson (vs. Dolphins), Chiefs' Damien Williams (vs. Texans)
RBs to Sit in Week 6
Rams' Todd Gurley (vs. 49ers): The touchdowns have come in bunches for Todd Gurley in the past two weeks with him getting into the end zone four times. As nice as it is to see him score 44.7 fantasy points in the past two games, his workload still isn't the same from a year ago.
On top of that, it won't get much easier for Gurley as he faces the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. The 49ers and the New England Patriots are the only teams in the NFL who have yet to allow a RB to score a rushing touchdown this season.
Eagles' Jordan Howard (vs. Vikings): Doug Pederson has said that Jordan Howard will see an increased role in the Philadelphia Eagles' offense moving forward. That bodes well for Howard's fantasy outlook for the entire season but be wary of starting him in Week 6.
The former Chicago Bears running back will go up against the Minnesota Vikings stout run defense this week. After five games, Minnesota has held teams to just 388 yards on the ground (eighth-lowest in the NFL).
Any Giants RB (vs. Patriots): All that needs to be said here is that the New York Giants face the New England Patriots. But since I'm obligated to elaborate further, here is exactly why you need to avoid playing a Giants running back this week.
It appears that Saquon Barkley is unlikely to play and Wayne Gallman is dealing with a possible concussion. The Patriots have allowed just 276 rushing yards (second-lowest in the NFL) and have yet to surrender a rushing touchdown this season. No matter who starts for the Giants this week on offense, don't start them in Week 6.
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