FlurrySports’ AI take on Dameon Pierce for Week 6 fantasy football, using the rankings and data from the FlurrySports Playbook.
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Quick answer: Start Dameon Pierce as an RB2/flex in Week 6. Saquon Barkley (hamstring) is out, as are both Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley, so Pierce is the Eagles’ starting running back against the Panthers. Carolina has allowed 5.4 yards per carry, the worst mark in the NFL. Pierce’s own efficiency has been poor, and the Eagles’ offense is banged up, but a starting running back with a full workload against the league’s softest run defense is a play you make.
Zach Brunner’s fantasy football rankings here will help you make your lineup decisions!
Saquon Barkley Injury Update: Why Pierce Is Starting
Barkley hurt his hamstring in Week 4 against the Rams. He sat out Week 5 in London, missed practice all of this week, and has been officially ruled out for Sunday against Carolina.
The rest of the depth chart is thinned out too:
- Will Shipley (foot) was placed on injured reserve Friday.
- Tank Bigsby is already on injured reserve.
- That leaves Dameon Pierce as the starter, with Carson Steele behind him and practice-squad back Jaydon Blue as an emergency option.
Barkley is not on injured reserve, and his hamstring isn’t believed to be serious. Plan on Pierce as a short-term starter, not a long-term replacement. Barkley could be back as soon as Week 7.
Who Is Dameon Pierce?
Fantasy managers who remember 2022 know the name. As a rookie with the Texans, Pierce ran for 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries before an ankle injury ended his season. It’s been a struggle since then. He lost his starting job in Houston, was waived in November 2025, made a stop in Kansas City, and signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia in March.
His Eagles debut came in Week 5 against Jacksonville. He got the work, with 11 carries and five targets, good for 16 total looks, but managed only 14 rushing yards. That was against the Jaguars’ run defense, though, one of the best in football. This week’s matchup is the opposite.
Dameon Pierce also played 77% of the Eagles’ snaps in his team debut last week. Track his usage week to week with the FlurrySports Playbook’s Snap Share tool.
The Matchup: Carolina’s Run Defense Is the Worst in the NFL
This is the reason to start Pierce. The Panthers have been gashed on the ground all season:
- 5.4 yards per carry allowed, dead last in the NFL
- 156.5 rushing yards allowed per game, 31st in the league
- 7 rushing touchdowns allowed in four games
- Five runs of 20+ yards allowed
- 72.7% red zone touchdown rate allowed, 25th in the NFL. When teams get close, they score.
Carolina’s numbers are inflated by a Week 1 game in which Chicago ran for 291 yards. The Panthers also deserve credit for slowing down Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, holding the pair to 118 yards on 31 carries combined. But Pierce isn’t Bijan or Gibbs, and the Eagles’ plan with a backup quarterback will be to run the ball. Carolina has held only one opponent under 132 rushing yards this season.
Carolina is also coming off its bye. Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (neck) and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) are both questionable.
The Risks: What Could Go Wrong?
Pierce is a matchup play, not a sure thing. Know the downside.
The quarterback situation. Jalen Hurts is out with a blood clot in his calf, so Tanner McKee starts. Philadelphia had scored only 92 points through five games, the fourth-fewest in the NFL, before losing Hurts. Fewer sustained drives mean fewer goal-line chances.
The offensive line. Lane Johnson retired, Cam Jurgens was traded to Baltimore, Landon Dickerson (knee) is questionable, and center Drew Kendall has been dealing with a knee injury. The run blocking that made the Eagles’ ground game elite is gone.
Efficiency. Pierce averaged 1.3 yards per carry in his debut. The matchup should help, but there’s no recent evidence he can create yards on his own.
Carson Steele. If Pierce struggles early, Steele could take a real share of the carries. Pierce’s value depends on getting the bulk of the work.
Dameon Pierce Touchdown Odds: The Prop Angle
Pierce’s anytime touchdown price should be plus money. The Panthers allow touchdowns at a high rate once opponents reach the red zone, and Pierce is the only healthy Eagles back with a starter’s role. He’s a reasonable long shot, but the McKee-led offense limits how often Philadelphia gets near the end zone.
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Dameon Pierce’s Fantasy Rest-of-Season Outlook: Add, Start, Then Move On
Pierce is rostered in fewer than 10% of leagues, so he’s likely available on your waiver wire. He’s worth adding if you’re short at running back this week. Don’t spend a top waiver priority or a big FAAB bid on him, though. Barkley isn’t on injured reserve, and once he returns, Pierce goes back to a backup role.
The one exception: if Barkley’s hamstring lingers, Pierce becomes a multi-week starter on volume alone. Track Barkley’s practice participation next week before deciding whether to keep Pierce on your roster.
Check what Pierce and Barkley are worth in a trade right now with our Trade Value Chart, updated every week of the season.
Dameon Pierce Week 6 FAQ For Fantasy Football
Should I start Dameon Pierce in Week 6?
Yes, as an RB2/flex. He’s the Eagles’ starting running back against the Panthers, who allow the most yards per carry in the NFL.
Is Saquon Barkley playing in Week 6?
No. Barkley has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. He is not on injured reserve and could return as soon as Week 7.
Who is the Eagles’ backup running back?
Carson Steele is Pierce’s backup. Will Shipley and Tank Bigsby are both on injured reserve.
Is Dameon Pierce worth a waiver pickup?
Yes, for running-back-needy teams this week. Keep the bid small, since his role likely ends when Barkley returns.
Who is the Eagles’ quarterback in Week 6?
Tanner McKee will start because Jalen Hurts is out with a blood clot in his calf.
Final Verdict: Should I Start or Sit Dameon Pierce in Week 6?
Pierce’s debut was rough, but he gets a starter’s workload against the worst run defense in the NFL. Start him as an RB2/flex in Week 6. Treat him as a one-week play until Barkley’s status for Week 7 is clear.
