NFL DFS RB Coach Week 6: Top DraftKings & FanDuel Picks
We flip the page over to Week 6. The running back position has been kind of trash this season, so it continues to be a spot for me where I really like targeting the mid-tier and value backs. That is once again the case this week as I really like people like Jeff Wilson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Travis Etienne. Why do I like them and who else do I like this week? Let’s dive into the top plays, values and fades for NFL DFS Week 6!
Be sure to check out the rest of the NFL DFS Coaches and DFS Watch List throughout the week!
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NFL DFS RB Top Plays
Saquon Barkley, Giants
Barkley has been a steady and strong force this season as he has scored at least 19.6 dk points in all but one game this season (and even in that game he still notched double-digit points). He has at least two receptions in every game and at least three in all but one game. He also has topped 70 rushing yards in every single game this season. The Ravens are a mid-tier matchup for running backs, but not one to be scared of in any way. There is no reason to believe that Barkley won’t continue to shine and he’s still cheaper than a few backs.
NFL DFS RB Mid-Tier Plays
Jeff Wilson Jr, 49ers
Coleman may have had a solid game last week, but Wilson is still the lead guy in San Fran and he makes for a strong play against Atlanta. He has at least 17 carries in three of his past four games and has at least two targets in all but one game this season. He has found the end zone in back-to-back games and has rushed for at least 74 yards in four straight (a monster 120 yards last week). The Falcons rank as a good matchup for running backs this season and their defense as a whole is pretty bad, which should allow for the 49ers to put some points on the board.
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
Stevenson should see the bulk of the work for New England with Damien Harris now on the shelf. I am sure the Patriots will continue to rotate backs, but any increased usage for RS is, of course, a good thing. He rushed 25 times for 161 yards last week while catching a pair of passes for 14 yards. He has at least two receptions in all but one game this season and has rushed for at least 66 yards in three straight (scoring at least 20 dk points in two of his past three). The Browns rank as a top-five matchup for running backs thus far and most of their games have involved high scoring.
NFL DFS RB Value Plays
Breece Hall, Jets
I had spoke about a monster game coming for Hall in Week 4 and in Week 5 and it did happen in Week 5 as he went off for 30.7 dk points, rushing 18 times for 97 yards and a score while also catching two passes for 100 yards. He has now scored at least 15.2 dk points in three straight games. He is the guy for the Jets now, going from a timeshare with Michael Carter to Carter being pushed to a change of pace role and Hall being the primary back. The Packers are a mid-tier matchup and Hall is simply too cheap right now for the way he is playing.
Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks
Walker had a solid game last week rushing 8 times for 88 yards and a touchdown (including a breakaway 69 yard run). That was the best game of his career thus far and he now steps into the spotlight role of being the Seahawks primary back with Rashaad Penny done for the year due to the injury he suffered last game. The Cardinals are a mid-tier matchup for backs but the Seahawks offense has actually looked pretty good to this point and have been able to put points on the board. I don’t think his ceiling is crazy high, but he is a nice value at his price point.
Travis Etienne, Jaguars
Etienne this week feels similar to Hall last week for me. He is coming off his best game in which he rushed 10 times for 71 yards and caught three passes for 43 yards. It is very clear at this point that he is the more efficient and more explosive back in Jacksonville over J-Rob. All that he needs now is for the Jags to give him more volume. He out-snapped J-rob for the second straight week after not doing so in Week 2 or Week 3; he also played his highest snap share of the season at 53% this week. If that number can jump to around 66-69% like it did for Breece Hall in Week 5, Etienne could follow suit with his own breakout. The Colts are also a rock solid matchup for backs.
NFL DFS RB Fades
Najee Harris, Steelers
How about a third straight week of fading Harris? Sorry if it feels boring, but he just is not someone to play. He has scored 7.4 and 6.6 dk points over the last two games and hasn’t scored more than 14.1 points in any game this season. Even with his price tag dropping, there is just nothing to like about Harris right now and he looks like complete garbage on the field as he seemingly gains no yards with any carry. The Bucs are a really tough matchup, so I don’t really see any scenario where this is a “get right” game for Harris. Continue to fade, both in cash and in tournaments as his floor sucks and his ceiling… well it’s so low it’s basically the same height as the floor.
Be sure to check out the rest of the NFL DFS Coaches and DFS Watch List throughout the week!
| NFL DFS Watch List | DFS Playbook | QB Coach | RB Coach | WR Coach | TE Coach (Thu) | D/ST Coach (Thu) | Value Plays |
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Player News
Panthers released TE Jordan Matthews.
Matthews converted to tight end a few years ago and hasn’t made much noise at the position. The change has, however, likely kept him in the league for a few more seasons. He appeared in four games with the Panthers last year but didn’t record any stats on offense. The Panthers also released or waived WR Dax Milne, C Andrew Raym, and TE Colin Granger.
Dolphins released LS Blake Ferguson.
The team also waived CB Ryan Cooper Jr., DT Neil Farrell and OL Chasen Hines. Ferguson has been the team’s long snapper for five seasons and earned a three-year contract extension just before the 2023 season. He should be able to find work snapping footballs farther than the average snap elsewhere in the league.
DetroitLions.com’s Tim Twentyman believes rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa “could make his earliest impact on special teams.”
It’s not much of a surprise, as most rookies cut their teeth with special teams duties. Twentyman mentioned return duties as a possibility, though the former Razorback never returned kicks or punts in college. At 6'4/212 with 4.43 wheels, TeSlaa is an explosive athlete who never translated his physical traits to on-field production at Arkansas. The Lions clearly saw potential for him to do so in the pros and traded two future third-round picks to move up to No. 70 overall for him. It’s going to be a slow burn for TeSlaa in the pros, making him a dynasty-only fantasy option.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.