We had a great NFL Week 5 here at the Running Back Report Card. I hit on 4 of the top 5 RB’s in terms of scoring. And more importantly I recommended avoiding certain high priced, high ownership plays such as Joe Mixon and Derrick Henry. Now if we could have seen Zack Moss ripping up the number one rushing defense with his backfield partner suited up for the first time this season. That would have put an A+ on the card but instead I’ll settle for a solid A and carry that momentum into Week 6. Speaking of this upcoming card, unlike last week when we recommended lower salary RB’s, we have a case for many top level backs considering their matchups.

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I highlight my favorite ten RBs each week and break them into Tiers (Tier 1 = $7K above, Tier 2 = $6K to $7K, Tier 3 = below $6K). So, let’s get started with the top ten running backs of Week 3 in the NFL.

TIER 1 DFS RUNNING BACKS

DAVID MONTGOMERY $7300 DraftKings $9400 FanDuel

It’s crazy to think that David Montgomery sits here in Week 6 as the third highest salaried RB on the slate. But it’s well deserved as he’s averaging 22.0 DK points per game and getting over 70% of the snaps. As for usage, he has 93 touches which is the 8th most in the NFL. And that’s with missing one game! Otherwise, Montgomery would easily be perched around the #2 or #3 position as far as touches go.

This week he faces the Tampa Bay Bucs who are ranked 21st in rushing defense according to DVOA. It’s hard to gage exactly what this Bucs D is against the run as they have played only one close game this season and that was against the pass-happy Vikings. But in the game they lost to the Eagles, Philadelphia committed to the run and gained 201 yards rushing. And in their last game against the Saints, in which they won by 17 points, New Orleans abandoned the run but their RBs had 14 catches. I’m looking at a closer game here, and one in which the Lions will feed Montgomery. So he’s inline for another big workload and against a D that has surrendered good games to RBs this season.

TRAVIS ETIENNE $7100 DraftKings $9000 FanDuel

The Jags are back in the States after spending the last two weeks in England. But they are coming home with two massive wins, against the Falcons and Bills. as they look to build on that versus a Division opponent this week in the Colts. For all the noise behind Trevor Lawrence’s consistency, the one thing that has been consistent is Travis Etienne and his usage rate. Etienne is 5th in the NFL with a 78% usage rate and 2nd in the league in touches with 113. And he’s coming off his first 100-yard rushing game of the season last week against the Bills.

As for the Colts, they are allowing the 12th most fantasy points to RBs. And they are ranked 17th in rushing defense DVOA. More importantly, the Jags and Colts have already faced off this year and in that contest, Etienne received 23 touches and scored 21.4 fantasy points. He’s my favorite back in Tier 1 this week as his opportunities will be high and the Colts have been allowing points to RBs.

JOSH JACOBS $7000 DraftKings $9000 FanDuel

It’s a Josh McDaniels reunion party in Vegas this week as he welcomes in his old team, the New England Patriots, to town. Both teams are looking to find an identity on offense as their struggles are being magnified each week. In fact, these are the two lowest scoring teams in the league with the Patriots at 11 ppg and Raiders at 15.8 ppg. So it’s not a favorable game environment but there are still pieces here to deploy. And that starts with Josh Jacobs.

As is the theme with our first two backs in this tier, Jacobs is an every down back that is in 7th in snaps at 78% and 3rd in touches with 105. The Patriots are allowing the 11th most points to RBs which included a big week to Alvin Kamara in Week 5 (19.7 DK points). Jacobs has a similar skill-set to Kamara’s and is a threat in the passing game which should bode well against a New England defense that has allowed 6 catches per game to RBs.

TIER 2 DFS RUNNING BACKS

ALVIN KAMARA $6800 DraftKings $8000 FanDuel

Kamara has given the New Orleans offense a much-needed boost. In his first two games back in the lineup, he’s garnered 70% of the snaps and 73% of the touches. And this week, he gets a dream matchup facing the Texans. As we all know, the Texans run D has been at the bottom of the league for several years now. They have improved this season but are still ranked in the bottom 3rd of the league in most categories. According to DVOA, they are the 22nd ranked defensive rushing unit. And PFF ranks them as the 2nd worst rushing defense in the league. So I’ll trust the advanced stats here and expect the Saints to see the same.

KENNETH WALKER III $6700 DraftKings $7000 FanDuel

Kenneth Walker opened the season with some questions as the Seahawks drafted Zach Charbonnet to provide competition in the backfield. Well Walker has answered those questions as he’s getting 68% of the snaps and 65% of the touches. He’s also scored five rushing touchdowns this season which is noteworthy since it shows he’s getting the goal line carries.

His opponent this week is the Cincinnati Bengals who have been terrible against the run. Cincy is the 30th ranked rush defense according to DVOA. And they’ve allowed the second most rushing yards to date (770 yards). This is a smash spot for Walker and one in which he should take advantage of both on the ground and in the air.

KYREN WILLIAMS $6500 DraftKings $6900 FanDuel

The Rams didn’t attack the Eagles D so it was an off week for Kyren Williams. But he gets a great matchup this week in the Arizona Cardinals who are allowing the 5th most points to RB’s. The other good news is that Williams has six rushing TDs so far this season. This should be a prime week for the Rams to reinvent their running game.

RAHEEM MOSTERT $6400 DraftKings $6900 FanDuel

Mostert is in a great game environment against the Panthers this weekend. Carolina is allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to RBs. And with Achane now on IR, the backfield is Mostert’s and Wilson’s. And in this scenario I will back Mostert as the lead dog.

D’Andre Swift $6100 DraftKings $6900 FanDuel

As we like to say here in Philly, each week is someone’s week. Last week it was a Goedert week. The week before it was an AJ week. This week is going to be a Swift week as the Eagles will look to avoid Sauce Gardner and take advantage of a Jets defensive front that is allowing the 8th most points to RBs.

TIER 3 DFS RUNNING BACKS (VALUE TIER)

ALEXANDER MATTISON $5600 DraftKings $7600 FanDuel

I believe the transition from Mattison to Akers is coming. But for one more week, I’ll ride the Mattision bandwagon. He gets a great matchup against the Bears who are allowing the 3rd most points to RBs. And they are 29th in rushing defense DVOA. Add in the fact that Jefferson is out, the Vikings should be focused on the run game and incorporating Mattison more.

D’ONTAE FOREMAN DraftKings $4400 FanDuel $6100

For the record, I prefer Roschon Johnson over Foreman. But as of this writing, Johnson hasn’t practiced due to a concussion. So the value on Foreman is too good to pass up especially if he gets the lead role.

RB PROP BETS

WILL BE UPDATED ON FRIDAY

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