Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Rich Arleo
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

WEEK 6 RANKINGS  QB  |  RB  |  WR |  TE |  K |  DEF

Last week saw two starting running backs go down with serious injuries as Ryan Williams will miss the rest of the season and Cedric Benson is expected to be out for eight weeks. There are a few new names on the list this week but all the familiar runners remain at the top.

To gain a significant edge on your competition, check out our Fantasy Football Week 6 Running Back Rankings.

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF OCTOBER 10, 2012::

1. Arian Foster (Houston Texans) vs. Green Bay

Foster went off for 152 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries and a 16-yard reception Monday Night against the New York Jets. He continues to see more carries than any other running back in football and as always, he makes the best of them. Ben Tate was out Monday, but Foster is still getting 25-plus carries each game regardless so Tate has little effect on Foster’s performance. Expect another huge game this week against Green Bay. The Packers are giving up 4.3 yards per carry (YPC) and 114.2 yards per game (YPG) and also aren’t doing much to stop the pass. This vegan is the top running back option in Week 6.
Point Projection: 25 points

2. LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Detroit

McCoy was managed only 53 yards on 16 carries against Pittsburgh, but made an impact through the air with 27 yards and a touchdown on four catches. The score was just his second of the season and first since Week 2, so owners have to be pleased that he finally found the end zone again. He remains a top playmaker and will continue to lead the Eagles offense into a Week 6 matchup against the Detroit Lions. The Lions have been so-so defending the run this year and Shady should have every opportunity to make some plays and have a nice game for his fantasy owners.
Point Projection: 19 points

3. Jamaal Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) @ Tampa Bay
Charles continued his recent hot streak with 140 yards on 30 carries (4.7 YPC) and 21 yards on three catches against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. He now has a whopping 461 rush yards in his last three games and now leads all runners with 551 yards and is one of the safest bets around right now. Tampa Bay’s run defense has been spectacular this season holding opposing runners to 3.2 YPC and 73.8 YPG this year. This matchup will be a good test for both the Bucs defense and Charles, and we will see who gets the best of it. Forget about the matchup, Charles is a must-start.
Point Projection: 19 points

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4. Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Dallas

Ray Ray gained 102 yards on 17 carries (6.0 YPC) but was held out of the end zone and held to just one catch for 16 yards. The Ravens did not score once in the game, so Rice was a victim of circumstance in this one despite his big game yardage-wise. He is in the top ten in yards on the season with 419 and is average 5.2 YPC but has scored only three times, which is a bit disappointing. The good news is he continues to run extremely well and remains one of the top options in fantasy football. The Dallas Cowboys have done a pretty good job against the run but can certainly be beat by a back like Rice. Start the former Scarlet Knight in your RB1 slot in all formats.
Point Projection: 18 points

5. Ryan Mathews (San Diego Chargers) vs. Denver

Mathews burst out of Norv Turners doghouse with 80 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries (6.7 YPC) and 59 yards on six catches Sunday night. For some reason, though, he was limited to one snap in the final two minutes of the game, which baffled everyone watching. There is still some concern with this seemingly volatile situation, but Mathews showed what a playmaker he is and Turner needs to keep using him if he wants to win games. The Denver Broncos are giving up 120.2 YPG on the ground so as long as Mathews gets the touches he’ll be able to carry your fantasy team.
Point Projection: 17 points

6. Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) @ Washington

Peterson ran for 88 yards on 17 carries (5.2 YPC) to go along with 15 yards on three catches against Tennessee. He apparently injured his ankle early in the game, but played through it and was effective despite not scoring for the fourth straight game. He’s done a nice job averaging 4.4 YPC on the year, though the lack of touchdowns is hurting his fantasy production big time. Despite this, he remains a must-start each week, even against a Washington run defense that is allowing just 87.8 YPG so far this year. Let’s hope this is the week Peterson can buck the trend and find the end zone.
Point Projection: 17 points

7. Trent Richardson (Cleveland Browns) vs. Cincinnati

Just another 135 total yards and a touchdown for the rookie Richardson, who has been everything expected and more for the Browns and for fantasy owners with a touchdown in four straight games and 472 total yards on the year. The Cincinnati Bengals have allowed 4.4 YPC and 118.2 YPG on the year and Richardson is on fire. It’s pretty simple…this rookie is a must-start.
Point Projection: 16 points

8. Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) vs. New York Giants

Gore had yet another great game in Week 5, rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries (7.6 YPC). He continues to thrive in an offense where he gets anywhere from 15-20 carries a game while being spelled by Kendall Hunter. He is averaging 5.4 YPC on the season and has scored in all but one game for the Niners.  He is no longer the receiving threat he once was, though that hasn’t mattered much this year with his production on the ground. The impending return of Brandon Jacobs is something to keep an eye on, but not until it’s seen that he could actually get on the field and take scoring chances away from Gore. The New York Giants are vulnerable on the ground, and Gore may be looking for some revenge after injuring himself in his one chance against them last season. Keep him in your lineup.
Point Projection: 16 points

9. Marshawn Lynch (Seattle Seahawks) vs. New England
Lynch gained 85 yards on 21 carries but was held out of the end zone by Carolina in Week 5. Beast Mode has been just that this season as he has gained 508 yards in five games, good for a 4.5 YPC average. He doesn’t catch any passes, but is getting the job done on the ground as the lead runner in a Seattle offense that has been struggling to move the ball through the air. Lynch will look to continue his strong season in Week 6 against a New England run defense that has allowed just 3.4 YPC and 82.2 YPG in 2012. It’s a tough matchup, but the way Lynch is running he should remain in your lineup.
Point Projection: 15 points

10. Reggie Bush (Miami Dolphins) vs. St. Louis

Bush ran for a touchdown and gained 48 yards on 19 carries (2.5 YPC) and 24 yards on two catches against Cincinnati Sunday. It wasn’t his most efficient game but the touchdown helps. He admitted after the game that he isn’t quite 100 percent with outside runs, so let’s hope that is fixed by Sunday against St. Louis. Daniel Thomas left the game with a concussion and may be out next week, so Bush could see an uptick in touches, especially if he is able to prove he is 100 percent by game-time. The Rams have improved a bit against the run this season but not by much, giving up 117.2 YPG and 4.4 YPC. Bush should be in your lineup in all formats.
Point Projection: 15 points

11. Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Tennessee

Mendenhall was much better than expected in his first game back from knee surgery, gaining 81 yards and a score on 14 carries. He showed nice burst on a 13-yard run into the end zone and also had a long run of 17 yards along with 20 yards on two catches. He had just one more carry than Isaac Redman but that was just to ease him back in. Now that the Steelers know he is good to go expect that margin to increase. Tennessee is allowing 144.2 YPG on the ground so far, so Mendy is a nice option for your RB2 slot this week.
Point Projection: 14 points

12. Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Oakland

Turner continued his resurgence with 67 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries (3.7 YPC) against Washington. He has surprisingly pleased his fantasy owners ever since he decided to drink and drive after a Monday night loss…go figure. He has another tasty matchup this week as the Oakland Raiders come to town. The Raiders are giving up 128.5 YPG so far this season and have allowed five touchdowns, so keep Turner in your lineup and expect another nice game.
Point Projection: 14 points

13. Darren McFadden (Oakland Raiders) @ Atlanta

After four games, Run DMC has managed only 201 rushing yards and has been a pretty big disappointment for fantasy owners. With that being said, he has remained healthy and is probably a good buy-low candidate for as long as he remains on the field. He will look to turn his season around in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have been surprisingly bad against the run, allowing 142.8 YPG and 5.4 YPC. If there was a time for McFadden to break out, it’s now. Hope he can reach, or exceed, his potential as an RB2.
Point Projection: 14 points

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14. Willis McGahee (Denver Broncos) @ San Diego

McGahee was held to 51 yards on 14 carries on the ground but did have 51 yards on five catches. After catching only three balls in the first three games, he now as 11 catches in the past two as Peyton Manning seems to be working him in to the air attack now, which gives him a nice boost in value in all formats. The veteran takes on San Diego on Monday Night, a team that he tore up for 242 yards on 39 carries in two games last year. The Chargers have done a really nice job shutting down the run this year, however, holding opponents to 74 YPG. The Broncos need him to be effective in order to move the ball, so expect him to see plenty of work once again.
Point Projection: 13 points

15. DeMarco Murray (Dallas Cowboys) @ Baltimore  

Murray struggled against a great Chicago Bears run defense before the bye, and while he has just 213 yards rushing on the year so far, he has been pretty effective with a 4.3 YPC average and remains a solid receiving threat. The offense needs to do a better job of getting Murray going in the run game, and they will have a chance to do so in Week 6 against a struggling Baltimore Ravens run defense. The Ravens have not lived up to their reputation allowing 118.4 YPG on the ground, though they are still holding runners to 3.5 YPC, which is tied with San Francisco for sixth-best in the league. Hope for decent RB2 production from Murray this week.
Point Projection: 13 points

16. BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Cincinnati Bengals) @ Cleveland

Green-Ellis was held to 14 yards on nine carries by Miami’s top-ranked run defense. It’s been an up and down year for the Law Firm, but he is entrenched as the starter, especially now with the loss of Bernard Scott to a season-ending knee injury. He gets a much better matchup this week in Cleveland as the Browns are allowing 4.7 YPC and 142.4 YPG on the young season and just gave up 200 rushing yards to Ahmad Bradshaw. Look for BJGE to bounce back with a nice performance.
Point Projection: 13 points

17. Mikel Leshoure (Detroit Lions) @ Philadelphia

Leshoure has been up and down in two games this season. He followed up a big debut with a dud against the Minnesota Vikings; running for just 26 yards on 13 carries (2.0 YPC) while helping his PPR owners with four catches for 37 yards. He was the only runner to record more than one carry and looks to be the workhorse in this offense from here on out as long as he can get the job done.  His Week 6 matchup against Philadelphia will be just his third career game so he is still raw, but we saw what he can do in his debut and the Philadelphia Eagles have a good but not great run defense. Start Leshoure in all formats.
Point Projection: 12 points

18. Ahmad Bradshaw (New York Giants) @ San Francisco

Ahmad went off against Cleveland for 200 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries (6.7 YPC) and 29 yards on three catches. Bradshaw proved he is 100 percent and did what he is supposed to do and took care of a bad run defense. Unfortunately for him, he now has to go up against a San Francisco 49ers run defense allowing 3.5 YPC and 81.4 YPG. Bradshaw was decent against the Niners in the playoffs last year with 126 total yards on 26 touches. Owners have to be happy with that kind of production this week with the tough matchup.
Point Projection: 12 points

19. Alfred Morris (Washington Redskins) vs. Minnesota

Morris continued his unprecedented season with 115 yards on 18 carries and a 20-yard reception against Atlanta. It was his second straight 100-yard rushing game and he now has 491 yards on 100 carries. He has brought some sanity to the Redskins backfield this year, and there are no indications that he will be losing work any time soon with the way he is running. The Minnesota Vikings will challenge Morris as they have allowed just 3.2 YPC and 78.6 YPG with just one touchdown on the year. The matchup is not a good one, but he is running well and needs to stick in your lineup.
Point Projection: 12 points

20. Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Kansas City

After getting off to a fast start his rookie season, Martin ha run for just 86 yards without a score on 27 carries in his last two games with just four receptions. LeGarrette Blount is creeping up behind him, but Martin is still the lead back for the time being and he is expected to get the majority of carries Sunday against Kansas City. The Chiefs have given up an average of 121 YPG on the ground so far this year, so if Martin gets his chances he’ll have every opportunity to make an impact. Give the current situation and his recent struggles; only start him in your flex spot.
Point Projection: 12 points