- Derrick Henry drops down the rankings but remains a fantasy starter: Henry is ranked as the RB20 ahead of Week 6 but still has the talent and volume to remain in fantasy starting lineups.
- Mason Taylor could further emerge against the Broncos: His Week 6 matchup against Denver pushes him just outside of the top 12 fantasy tight ends, but he’s a better option than some players who are more consistently in fantasy starting lineups.
Estimated Reading Time: 26 minutes
I asked fantasy managers on the PFF Discord and Bluesky which players they are least sure about this week, and I compiled that list and ranked them against one another. If you have multiple players mentioned, you should start with the player ranked highest. At the bottom of each position, you’ll find players to start in place of the featured players and those to sit in favor of them.
If a player isn’t mentioned, that means they are very close to those with blurbs, and factors such as injuries on the opposing defenses or weather could influence the rankings. Situations involving injuries are also generally avoided because things typically don’t become clearer until closer to kickoff. As always, check the weekly PFF fantasy rankings for the most up-to-date information to help you make all start-sit decisions.
RUNNING BACKS
1. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Henry had an excellent Week 1, taking 18 carries for 169 yards and two touchdowns. He has followed that up with four games of 50 or fewer rushing yards and three total receptions. He ranks 45th in fantasy points per game among running backs since Week 2. Volume was a problem from Weeks 2 to 4, while efficiency was the issue in Week 5.
This week, he faces the Los Angeles Rams, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. They haven’t surrendered a rushing touchdown to a running back and have slowed some rushing attacks. The unit’s two allowed rushing touchdowns have come from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Colts tight end Tyler Warren.
Henry shouldn’t have to worry much about someone at another position taking his potential rushing touchdowns. Tony Pollard, Jonathan Taylor and Nick Chubb all averaged 4.5 yards per carry or better against Los Angeles with 15 or more carries each, while Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey were shut down.
Henry faced plenty of difficult matchups last season. The Ravens played seven of the eight teams that allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2024, including two division opponents. The only team in the top eight that he didn’t face was his own defense. Henry reached double-digit fantasy points in all of those games and averaged 18 PPR points. The matchup matters, but the Ravens’ problems are the primary concern.
Henry has the talent and volume to remain in fantasy starting lineups. His recent subpar fantasy performances, the injuries to other Ravens and the matchups are enough to keep him out of the top 12 running backs this week, but he drops down the rankings only so far. Generally, 24 of the 30 starting running backs this week belong in the RB1 or RB2 conversation. Too many other backfields have some combination of less talent than Henry, a worse matchup and uncertain touch distributions.
The main reason to bench Henry is if you have several other good options, such as a team that drafted another good running back early and has someone like Javonte Williams, Quinshon Judkins or Rico Dowdle (assuming Chuba Hubbard doesn’t play).
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