Do you need a fantasy football RB for Week 6? Here are three options to stream this week, including Michael Carter!
Over the course of a 17-game NFL regular season, there are bound to be numerous injuries at the running back position. This year has been no different. In fact, one could argue that the fact that multiple teams have lost their top two RBs to injuries this early in the year is a rather unique occurrence. Despite only being five weeks into the season, managers are having to do some deep dives when it comes to fantasy football RB pickups and streamers. Injuries aren’t fun for anyone to deal with, but the developments of the last few weeks have certainly opened the door for fantasy managers to bolster their RB depth with unheralded, low-owned players.
Below, we offer some compelling cases for a handful of low-owned fantasy football RB pickups and streamers for Week 6. Also, make sure to check out our Week 6 fantasy football rankings!
Fantasy Football RB Pickups for Week 6
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (56%)
Congratulations to those who took Michael Carter’s own words seriously last week! Following the mid-week development that saw Trey Benson wind up on IR, the Cardinals’ RB duties were completely up for grabs. Speaking with the media days before last week’s game, Carter himself said that he would be the starter and focal point of the Arizona backfield, and that is precisely what happened on Sunday. Carter may have only averaged 2.8 yards per carry, but the 18 carries and five targets (of which he caught all of) are just what we love to see for fantasy football RB pickups.
The fact that Carter also found the end zone has only aided the surge in his ownership over the past week in ESPN leagues. Let’s also not forget that Emari Demercado had his little guffaw moment too, which could result in even more run for Carter in Week 6. Speaking of this week’s matchup, Arizona will hit the road to take on the Indianapolis Colts. For all of Indy’s success so far this season, the defense hasn’t been any sort of juggernaut when it comes to stopping the run.
Given that the Cardinals are such a run-oriented offense, Carter should receive ample opportunity again on Sunday. Arizona’s backfield may ultimately prove to operate with a hot hand approach so long as Benson remains out, but Carter clearly has the best chance to be said hot hand of the RBs still standing. He can be plugged right into starting fantasy lineups this week, especially on RB-needy teams.
Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers (30.6%)
Like the aforementioned Cardinals, the Chargers also find themselves in the unenviable position of being without their top two RBs for the foreseeable future. Najee Harris was lost for the season a couple of weeks ago, and rookie Omarion Hampton is now set to miss at least the next month with an ankle injury as well. As a result, the L.A. backfield has been a topic of conversation for fantasy football RB pickups this week. After all, somebody has to get the carries and produce something, right? So long as the Chargers are sticking with the players they currently have in the fold, Hassan Haskins merits consideration for a fantasy roster spot.
While most expect Kimani Vidal to mix in, particularly on passing downs, he is technically still a member of the Chargers’ practice squad who is merely being brought up for game day depth. Regardless of what Los Angeles does personnel-wise around him, one can assume that Haskins will lead this backfield for now. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll be the break that the fourth-year pro has been needing at the NFL level after a solid collegiate career at Michigan, which is worth noting given that Jim Harbaugh now coaches the Bolts.
As far as streaming Haskins into lineups right away, it doesn’t get much better than a Week 6 matchup against the Dolphins. Miami ranks dead-last in defensive EPA/rush and has ceded a whopping 174.2 rushing yards per game to opponents. Haskins could become the second backup in as many weeks to run roughshod against this defense after Rico Dowdle’s career day last Sunday.
More Fantasy Football Streamers Week 6
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (25.8%)
After spending a month on IR with a high ankle sprain, Tyjae Spears was able to get back on the field and make his season debut last Sunday. Predictably, he had a modest snap count (25% of the offensive snaps played) and usage rate (four carries) in the game. Titans coach Brian Callahan went on the record after the game in stating that Spears’ role would grow in the coming weeks. There are two problems with this quote. First, even Captain Obvious knows Spears will be more involved than he was in Week 5. Duh! Second, Callahan is a doofus and had no qualms about capping Spears’ involvement in the offense a year ago.
As far as competition for touches, Tony Pollard is still Tennessee’s lead back and won’t be going anywhere. That said, the Titans are desperate for any sort of spark to help what has been an anemic offense through the first five weeks. Perhaps Spears can help provide that, even if it merely starts as a polished pass-catcher out of the backfield. So long as Pollard is healthy, managers are probably hoping for a 50-50 split is the best-case scenario. However, such a split has led to Spears posting FLEX-worthy stat lines in the past.
Due to his IR stint and the poor state of the Titans’ offense, Spears is widely available as a fantasy football RB target for managers in need of depth at the position. Worst case, you hold him for a couple of weeks and nothing materializes. However, a matchup against a not-so-great Las Vegas Raiders defense on Sunday could very well provide Spears with the runway he needs to really get his season started as soon as this week.
