RADIO
Week 6 of the 2016 NFL season is in the books and an unlikely source led all running backs in scoring. Jay Ajayi finished the week with 32.2 fantasy points in standard scoring systems followed by David Johnson and his 31.8 points. Another newcomer to the top 10 scoring leaders this week was Terrance West, who ranked fifth with 24.3. One name missing from the top rankings is Ezekiel Elliott, who finished the week at the 11th spot with 17.4.
Running back is one of the trickiest positions to predict for fantasy purposes as so many determinants could factor into a player's production or lack thereof on a game-to-game basis. To help assist in deciphering who will step up in this week's slate of games, let's take a look at my running back depth chart column for Week 7. But first, here are the teams who are entering their bye.
- Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys
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Running Back Depth Charts for Week 7
AFC East
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Bills | LeSean McCoy (Q) | Mike Gillislee | Jonathan Williams | N/A |
| Questionable | Dolphins | Arian Foster | Jay Ajayi | Kenyan Drake, Damien Williams | Jay Ajayi |
| Stable | Patriots | LeGarrette Blount | James White (PPR) | Brandon Bolden | Dion Lewis (O) |
| Stable | Jets | Matt Forte | Bilal Powell | Troymaine Pope | N/A |
Jay Ajayi exploded onto the scene in Week 6 with 204 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers despite the return of Arian Foster, who appeared in his first game since Week 2. It appears that Foster played the change of pace role on Sunday while Ajayi was the workhorse. Moving forward, Ajayi should be considered the No. 1 back in Miami for fantasy football purposes even if he falls in at No. 2 on the depth chart. For Foster, he will likely garner his best value in PPR scoring formats at least until he proves that his health can remain intact for a heavier workload.
LeSean McCoy had a big game himself in Week 6 rushing for 140 yards and three touchdowns against a terrible 49ers defense. He did, however, give his fantasy owners a scare when he went down with a knee injury that appeared to be serious. He would ultimately finish the matchup but is giving the fantasy world yet another scare during the week. McCoy exited Wednesday's practice with a hamstring injury that appeared serious according to reports. Mike Gillislee will likely draw the start if McCoy is unable to play in Week 7's favorable contest against the Dolphins. McCoy's injury status is one to monitor leading up to kickoff.
AFC North
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Questionable | Ravens | Terrance West | Kenneth Dixon | Buck Allen | N/A |
| Stable | Bengals | Jeremy Hill | Gio Bernard | Rex Burkhead | N/A |
| Stable | Browns | Isaiah Crowell | Duke Johnson | George Atkinson III | N/A |
| Stable | Steelers | Le'Veon Bell | DeAngelo Williams | Fitzgerald Toussaint | N/A |
In the wake of Kenneth Dixon's return in Week 5, Terrance West has balled out. West finished Week 6 as the fifth leading scorer at the running back position with 24.3 points, as mentioned earlier. He seems to be solidifying himself as the No. 1 rusher in Baltimore as Dixon struggled yet again finishing with only 1.2 points. Dixon's fantasy value is falling fast, but he should remain rostered in case West's burst of production is just an aberration.
Have the mighty fallen in Cleveland? After starting the season on a tear, Isaiah Crowell has shown a lull in his production over the past two weeks, ending Week 6 with only 3.6 points. However, Duke Johnson showcased an uptick in his performance on Sunday finding the end zone for the first time in 2016 while finishing with 13.4 fantasy points. For Week 7, Crowell should still be considered the rusher to own from the Browns, but Johnson could cut into his touches if the lull continues.
AFC South
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Texans | Lamar Miller | Alfred Blue | Tyler Ervin | N/A |
| Stable | Colts | Frank Gore | Josh Ferguson | Robert Turbin | N/A |
| Questionable | Jaguars | T.J. Yeldon | Chris Ivory | Denard Robinson | N/A |
| Stable | Titans | DeMarco Murray | Derrick Henry | Antonio Andrews | N/A |
T.J. Yeldon was the darling of Jacksonville's coaches last week as they touted him an every-down back to the media, but it did not show against the Bears. It was Chris Ivory who led Jacksonville's backs in fantasy points scored with 8.6 to Yeldon's 2.6 and out-touched him as well 13-to-7. Yeldon should still be considered the No. 1 back on the Jaguars, but Ivory could have secured a larger workload for himself moving forward.
AFC West
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Broncos | C.J. Anderson | Devontae Booker | Kapri Bibbs | Devontae Booker |
| Stable | Chiefs | Jamaal Charles | Spencer Ware | Charcandrick West | N/A |
| Questionable | Raiders | Latavius Murray (Q) | DeAndre Washington | Jalen Richard | DeAndre Washington |
| Stable | Chargers | Melvin Gordon | Dexter McCluster (PPR) | Kenneth Farrow | N/A |
What to do with Jamaal Charles? It appears that the Chiefs are still not comfortable with Charles handling a full workload. Why would they when Spencer Ware is continuing his assault on opposing defenses? Ware finished Week 6 with 22.3 fantasy points while garnering the vast majority of the touches. However, Charles managed 10.7 points and found paydirt for the first time this year. It could be only a matter of time until Charles is unleashed in 2016 so his fantasy owners should hold tight, but for now, it is the Ware show in Kansas City.
NFC East
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Cowboys | Ezekiel Elliott | Alfred Morris | Lance Dunbar | N/A |
| Stable | Giants | Rashad Jennings | Bobby Rainey (PPR) | Paul Perkins, Orleans Darkwa, | Bobby Rainey |
| Questionable | Eagles | Ryan Mathews | Darren Sproles (PPR) | Wendell Smallwood | N/A |
| Stable | Redskins | Matt Jones | Chris Thompson | Rob Kelley | N/A |
Rashad Jennings finally returned to action in the Week 6 contest against the Ravens, but he failed to contribute to New York's victory. The Giants' offensive line is among the league's worst and that doesn't bode well for anyone who lines up in their backfield. For Jennings, he should remain in the low-end RB2 conversation, but his tier-level is fading fast. He could find the end zone though in a favorable Week 7 matchup against the Rams, who have been surprisingly generous to opposing rushers.
NFC North
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Questionable | Bears | Jordan Howard | Ka'Deem Carey, Jeremy Langford (O) | Joique Bell | N/A |
| Stable | Lions | Theo Riddick (PPR) | Justin Forsett | Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington (Q) | N/A |
| Stable | Packers | Knile Davis, Eddie Lacy (O) | James Starks (O) | Don Jackson | Knile Davis |
| Stable | Vikings | Jerick McKinnon | Matt Asiata | Ronnie Hillman | N/A |
The Packers find themselves in a bind at the running back position heading into Week 7 and possibly moving forward. Green Bay learned that they would be without Eddie Lacy and James Starks for the foreseeable future and were in need of a healthy body in their backfield. On Tuesday, the Packers traded for Kansas City's Knile Davis to fill the void. With Lacy and Starks ruled out for Thursday night's matchup against the Bears, it appears that Davis will draw the start in their absence despite only being a member of the Packers for two days. The Packers could also use the wide receiver combination of Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery in their backfield to spell Davis while Lacy and Starks are on the mend.
NFC South
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Falcons | Devonta Freeman | Tevin Coleman | Terron Ward | N/A |
| Questionable | Panthers | Jonathan Stewart | Fozzy Whittaker | Mike Tolbert, Cameron Artis-Payne | N/A |
| Stable | Saints | Mark Ingram | Travaris Cadet (PPR) | Tim Hightower | Travaris Cadet (PPR) |
| Stable | Buccaneers | Jacquizz Rodgers, Doug Martin (O) | Peyton Barber | N/A | Jacquizz Rodgers |
The Tampa Bay Buccanneers believed that Doug Martin would return from his hamstring injury in Week 7 after their bye. However, head coach Dirk Koetter reported that Martin suffered a "setback in his recovery" and that there is "no timetable" for his return. With Charles Sims also sidelined and on the injured reserve list, Jacquizz Rodgers will draw his second consecutive start on Sunday in a favorable matchup against the 49ers. Rodgers should be rostered and started in 12-team fantasy leagues and deeper in Week 7.
NFC West
| Baller Stability Rating | Team Name | Primary Running Back | Backup or Handcuff | Long-shot Candidate(s) | Waiver Wire Watch |
| Stable | Cardinals | David Johnson | Andre Ellington | Stepfan Taylor | N/A |
| Stable | Rams | Todd Gurley | Benny Cunningham | Malcolm Brown | N/A |
| Stable | 49ers | Carlos Hyde (D) | Mike Davis | Shaun Draughn | Mike Davis, Shaun Draughn |
| Stable | Seahawks | Christine Michael | C.J. Spiller, Thomas Rawls (O) | C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins | N/A |
After beginning the 2016 season on a tear, the injury bug finally caught up to Carlos Hyde as it had in his first two years in the league. Hyde is suffering from a shoulder ailment and is not expected to play in Week 7. In Hyde's absence, Mike Davis will likely receive the start in a timeshare scenario with Shaun Draughn. Davis or Draughn should be considered touchdown or bust options on Sunday.
Anthony Cervino is a primary contributor for RotoBaller and a lead NFL News Desk writer. For additional content, visit his archive or follow him on Twitter @theRealnflguru.
