Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.
Fabs’ Top 10 Running Backs
1. Christian McCaffrey at Browns
2. Austin Ekeler vs. Cowboys (Mon.)
3. Bijan Robinson vs. Commanders
4. Tony Pollard at Chargers (Mon.)
5. Josh Jacobs vs. Patriots
6. David Montgomery at Buccaneers
7. Travis Etienne vs. Colts
8. Raheem Mostert vs. Panthers|
9. Joe Mixon vs. Seahawks
10. Kenneth Walker at Bengals
Complete Week 6 running back rankings
Week 6 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES
Byes: Packers, Steelers
Week 6 Start ’Em: Running Backs
Start of the Week
Bill Ingram/The Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network
Raheem Mostert vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Rookie De’von Achane is now out of action with an injured knee, so his teammate Mostert is a must start. He’s scored 13 or more points in all but one game, including last week’s 15.8-point performance against the Giants. He should be in starting lineups this week, as the Panthers have allowed 15-plus points to five opposing runners in 2023.
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Start ’Em
Isiah Pacheco vs. Broncos (Thur. 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video): Pacheco has been on quite a hot streak, scoring 13-plus fantasy points in each of his last three games. He’s seen at least 17 touches in that trio of games, too, so Pacheco is more of a featured back this season. He should thrive against the Broncos, who have given up 20-plus PPR points to five backs, including two with more than 45.
D’Andre Swift vs. Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Swift has put up great totals over his last four games, averaging nearly 20 points per game and well over five yards per rush. While he is losing some work to Kenneth Gainwell, Swift remains the top back in Philadelphia and a solid No. 2 option against the Jets. Their run defense has allowed the ninth-most points to enemy runners this season.
James Cook vs. Giants (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Cook had his first real stinker of the season last week, scoring just 5.1 fantasy points. He did get game scripted out of the offense, though, and that sort of scenario isn’t likely against an awful Giants team. Their defense has allowed seven total touchdowns and the sixth-most PPR points to running backs, so Cook should rebound for fantasy managers.
Alexander Mattison at Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Mattison hasn’t put up monster totals for fantasy fans, but he has scored in double digits in all but one game this season. He’ll remain in the No. 2 fantasy running back conversation against the Bears, who have been bad against enemy backs. In fact, their defense has allowed 15-plus fantasy points to five different runners in their first five games.
More Starts
Kyren Williams vs. Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Rhamondre Stevenson at Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
Emari Demercado at Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
DFS Bargains (DraftKings)
Alexander Mattison at Bears ($5,600)|
Rhamondre Stevenson at Raiders ($5,400)
Emari Demercado at Rams ($4,900)
Week 6 Sit ’Em: Running Backs
Sit of the Week
Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
Rachaad White vs. Lions (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): White has seen volume and plays a lot of snaps in the Buccaneers offense, but his numbers haven’t been all that good in fantasy leagues. He’s scored more than 11 points just once, including two games where he’s recorded single digits. He’ll be tough to trust against the Lions, who have allowed just one runner to score more than 10 points against them.
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Sit ’Em
Brian Robinson at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Robinson is getting a lot of volume in the Commanders backfield, but it hasn’t equated to fantasy points. In fact, he’s scored fewer than nine points in two of his last three games. He’s no more than a risk-reward flex starter this week, as Robinson will face a quietly tough Falcons run defense. No team has allowed fewer fantasy points to backs this season.
Miles Sanders at Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Sanders has been dreadful in the last few weeks, scoring fewer than eight PPR points in three of his last four games. He’s also been dealing with an injured groin, which has opened a few more looks for Chuba Hubbard. I’d beware Sanders against the Dolphins, who could smoke the Panthers and force them into a negative game script in the second half.
Dameon Pierce vs. Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Pierce has been decent but not spectacular over the last three weeks, scoring a combined 35.9 fantasy points. I’d be wary of him this week based on a tough matchup against the Saints, who have been tough on runners. In fact, their defense has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to the position based on runs alone. Pierce is a flex option at best.
Jerome Ford vs. 49ers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Ford has done well in the absence of Nick Chubb, scoring 19-plus points in two of his last three games. Regardless, this week’s matchup against the 49ers makes him a tough sell in fantasy leagues. The Niners have allowed just one running back to score more than 10 fantasy points against them this season, and just two have recorded double-digit points.
More Sits
Gus Edwards at Titans (London, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)
D’Onta Foreman vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Dalvin Cook at Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
DFS Fades (DraftKings)
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