Nailing the running back spots is essential for constructing a solid DFS lineup. It’s a bit easier to project than the receivers, where touchdowns and big plays are going to result in weekly variance. The workloads for the top running backs are much more stable, so they’re typically more consistent fantasy producers.
However, that also results in some of the heaviest chalk you’ll see across the industry. How do you handle those players each week?
In this piece, I highlight running backs who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.
Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
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Rico Dowdle ($5,800 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
Well, it’s safe to say that Dowdle’s spot start for the Panthers went pretty well last week. He handled 23 carries vs. the Dolphins, which he turned into 206 rushing yards and one touchdown. He also caught three of four targets for 28 receiving yards, bringing his final tally to 35.4 DraftKings points. It was enough to make him the highest scoring RB of the week.
Chuba Hubbard will miss his second straight contest in Week 6, setting up Dowdle for another starring performance. While Dowdle probably isn’t looking at another 200+ yards, he should handle most of the opportunities in the Panthers’ backfield. He had 79% of the team’s designed rushing attempts, and he played in the vast majority of short-yardage and pass-catching situations.
The Panthers’ offense has had some issues this season, but the one thing they’ve done well is run the ball. Their offensive line is seventh in ESPN’s Run Block Win Rate, and they have the fifth-highest run blocking grade from PFF. It gives whoever is running behind their offensive line plenty of chances for success.
Dowdle took full advantage of an elite matchup last week, and he gets another one on Sunday. He’s taking on the Cowboys, who have been a disaster defensively this season. They’ve been a bit better against the run than the pass, but they’re still just 23rd in rush defense EPA. They’ve allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game to opposing RBs, so Dowdle is set up for another fantastic performance.
Dowdle isn’t quite as cheap as he was last week, but he still stands out as an elite value. He leads the position in projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Rachaad White ($6,000 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel)
White also got to make a spot start last week, and he also took full advantage. He racked up 23.1 DraftKings points against the Seahawks with Bucky Irving sidelined, and he’ll get another chance as the Bucs’ starter in Week 6.
Unlike Dowdle, White wasn’t particularly efficient with his chances. He averaged just 2.9 yards per attempt on his 14 carries, but he made up for it with two touchdowns.
The good news is, efficiency has never been a huge part of White’s game. He averaged 3.7 and 3.6 yards per attempt in his first two years as a starter, but he made up for it with his work as a receiver and a touchdown scorer. That’s exactly how White returned value in Week 5, and there’s no reason he can’t do it again on Sunday.
More importantly, White got the vast majority of the volume in the Bucs’ backfield. He played on 81% of the team’s offensive snaps, and he handled 72% of the carries. That included 100% of the short-yardage and long-down-and-distance snaps.
Running backs with that type of workload have immense value, and White is still underpriced across the industry. He trails only Dowdle in terms of projected Plus/Minus, so both should be popular options for the second straight week.
Christian McCaffrey ($8,400 DraftKings, $9,500 FanDuel)
With two outstanding values, pairing them with McCaffrey is definitely a viable strategy. McCaffrey is back to being one of the safest investments in all of fantasy. He hasn’t had the best season from a rushing standpoint, averaging just 3.1 yards per attempt, but he’s still recorded at least 22.7 DraftKings points and a positive Plus/Minus in all five contests.
His work as a pass catcher is the main reason. McCaffrey isn’t just posting huge volume as a receiver for a running back; he has some of the best receiving volume in football, period. His 27% target share is the top mark among RBs by a wide margin, and only 11 receivers have better figures through the first five weeks.
McCaffrey has had at least seven targets and six receptions in each outing, and he’s had at least nine targets in all but one. It hasn’t mattered whether Brock Purdy or Mac Jones has been at quarterback; McCaffrey has typically been on the receiving end.
McCaffrey appears poised for another massive work as a receiver on Sunday. The 49ers are still playing without Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Ricky Pearsall, while Jauan Jennings is listed as questionable. McCaffrey had eight catches, 82 yards, and a touchdown with all four players sidelined last week.
Additionally, the matchup sets up well for McCaffrey. The Buccaneers have an elite run defense, so the 49ers could be forced to take to the air a bit more than usual. There’s a chance that McCaffrey reaches double-digit receptions in this contest, giving him an elite floor and ceiling.
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Javonte Williams ($6,400 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel)
Williams has been one of the biggest surprises in football this season. He was expected to work in some sort of committee in the Cowboys’ backfield this year, with Miles Sanders and rookie Jaydon Blue also factoring into the equation. Instead, Williams has been the clear bell-cow. He’s handled at least 70% of the team’s rushing attempts in three of five games, and he’s averaged an elite 5.7 yards per attempt. He’s also scored five touchdowns, resulting in an average of 20.7 PPR points per game. It’s the fourth-best mark at the RB position.
If anything, Williams’ role could continue to grow. Sanders will miss the rest of the year with an injury, leaving Blue as his only competition for touches. Blue hasn’t even been active when the team has been at full strength, so it seems unlikely that he’s going to steal too much of his workload.
Williams gets a fantastic matchup in Week 6 vs. the Panthers. The Cowboys have a 26.25 implied team total in this contest, which is the third-highest mark on the slate. They’re also three-point road favorites, which puts Williams in a favorable potential game script.
Ultimately, Williams has the second-highest optimal lineup rate at the position on DraftKings, trailing only McCaffrey.
Josh Jacobs ($7,300 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel)
From a Vegas standpoint, no RB stands out as a better option than Jacobs. The Packers are listed as massive 14.5-point favorites over the Bengals, and huge favorites tend to fare extremely well at running back. Jacobs is no exception. He hasn’t had a ton of opportunities in that split – such is life when you spend most of your career with the Raiders – but he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.65 in six games as a favorite of at least a touchdown (per the Trends tool).
The Bengals have shown zero signs of being able to compete without Joe Burrow. In their past three games, they’ve trailed 48-3, 28-3, and 28-3. It doesn’t get much better from a game script perspective.
Things have been so bad for the Bengals that they’re turning to Joe Flacco at quarterback. Flacco hasn’t played well in two seasons, and he’s already been benched by the Browns in 2025. The odds of him turning around the Bengals’ tailspin are minimal, so there’s no reason to expect the Bengals to be more competitive in Week 6.
Additionally, the Bengals aren’t good on defense. They’re 26th in rush defense EPA, and they have the sixth-worst run defense grade per PFF.
Add it all up, and matchups don’t get much better. It gives Jacobs a massive ceiling, and he leads the position with 11 Pro Trends on DraftKings. He also has the third-highest optimal lineup rate at RB on DraftKings, where his salary comes with a 93% Bargain Rating.
De’Von Achane ($7,800 DraftKings, $8,100 FanDuel)
Achane stands out as the top tournament option of the week on FanDuel. He’s priced at a massive discount at just $8,100, resulting in a 78% Bargain Rating. That’s the top mark at the position among players priced above $5,000. Achane also has the top optimal lineup rate at RB on FanDuel.
While he’s not quite McCaffrey as a pass-catcher, he’s not too far behind. He has a 22% target share for the year, and that figure has increased to 24% over the past four weeks. He has at least seven targets in all but one of those outings, and he caught six passes for 30 yards and a touchdown last week.
Achane has also historically been at his best when playing at home early in the season. He owns an average Plus/Minus of +9.80 in 11 home games during September and October, and he’s scored 16.6 and 22.2 FanDuel points in two games in that split this season. The Chargers aren’t an ideal matchup, but there are plenty of reasons to like Achane in Week 6.
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Jonathan Taylor ($8,500 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel)
Taylor is the priciest RB on this slate, and he’s displayed a massive ceiling so far this season. He’s scored at least 31.6 DraftKings points on three separate occasions through the first five weeks, and he has two games with three touchdowns.
Taylor is another back with an elite matchup in Week 6. The Colts are listed as seven-point favorites, and their 27.25 implied team total ranks second on the slate. Only the Packers have a higher implied team total.
The Cardinals’ defense has graded out favorably this season, but they’ve played a cupcake schedule through the first five weeks. The Colts represent a clear step up in weight class, so we’ll find out more about them in this matchup.
Taylor is grading out as massively underowned across the industry in Sim Labs. No RB has a larger discrepancy between optimal lineup rate and projected ownership on FanDuel, and he’s No. 2 on DraftKings.
Quinshon Judkins ($5,900 DraftKings, $7,100 FanDuel)
The Browns’ offense was expected to take a step back with rookie Dillon Gabriel under center last week, but they fared surprisingly well vs. the Vikings. Gabriel still has some limitations from an arm strength standpoint, but he was able to get the ball to his playmakers.
Judkins is undoubtedly one of his biggest. The talented rookie has averaged 4.8 yards per carry, and he’s grabbed the reins in the Browns’ backfield quicker than expected. He’s logged 18, 21, and 23 carries in three straight weeks, good for an 82% carry share over that time frame.
The Browns will square off with the Steelers in Week 6, and their defense hasn’t been as strong as usual this season. They’ve allowed the 12th-most PPR points per game to opposing RBs, and they’re merely 14th in rush defense EPA.
There are some potential game script concerns – the Browns are six-point road underdogs – but Judkins has overcome poor game scripts multiple times already. He looks like an elite talent at the position, so getting him at a sub-$6k price tag and less than 10% projected ownership is still appealing.
Ashton Jeanty ($6,900 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)
Very few RBs have had to deal with worse circumstances than Jeanty this season. He’s playing behind a dreadful offensive line, so Jeanty has had to do most of the work himself. He’s averaged just 1.3 yards before contact per attempt, which is the second-worst mark among high-volume runners. In Jeanty’s lone ceiling game this season, more than 120 of his 138 yards came after contact. Jeanty has also had to overcome subpar play from his quarterback, with Geno Smith currently leading the league with nine interceptions.
Despite everything working against him, Jeanty still stands out as a supreme talent at RB. He erupted for 37.5 DraftKings points just two weeks ago, and he gets an absolute elite matchup in Week 6. He’s taking on the Titans, who have been one of the worst run defenses in football this season. They’ve allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game to opposing RBs, and they’re 27th in rush defense EPA. It’s also the rare game where the Raiders are favorites, so it’s one of the best spots Jeanty will see all season.
Kyren Williams ($6,300 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel)
Williams stands out as one of the best pure values at the position on DraftKings, where his $6,300 salary comes with a 97% Bargain Rating. That’s the top mark at the position, and Williams also gets a phenomenal matchup vs. the Ravens. Baltimore’s defense has been a major issue this season, and they’re dead last in rush defense EPA.
Their offense has also been a major question mark of late without quarterback Lamar Jackson. That sets up a potential game script where Williams should get plenty of opportunities against this unit.
Pictured: Rico Dowdle (5)
Photo Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
