Sleepers at Running Back
Woody Marks, Houston (vs Jacksonville - London)
Marks isn't a true sleeper since David Montgomery went down and his role grew into a true lead back, but consider this an endorsement of Marks as at least a flex play in London this week. He had 85 total yards with C.J. Stroud at quarterback against the Titans last week and should benefit from the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. stretching defenses.
Emanuel Wilson, Seattle (at Denver) **Thursday**
Wilson fumbled deep in his own territory last week, but George Holanifumbled twice without being touched, once into his own end zone, so Wilson should be the clear lead back for at least one more week, with Zach Charbonnet still not ready to return from ACL surgery after having his 21-day window opened on October 1. The Broncos run defense is actually a weakness, and they allowed 101 yards and a score on the ground along with five receptions for 23 yards to the Chargers backfield last week despite the woeful state of that offense.
Blake Corum, LA Rams (vs Arizona)
Corum posted his best game of the season against the Cardinals last year with a 12-128-2 monster in the first victory, and he still accounted for 69 total yards in the second matchup, only 12 fewer than Kyren Williams. This game could get out of hand early, which should give Corum work against a weary defense in the second half.
MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay (vs Dallas)
The last time the Cowboys and Packers played, the game ended in a 40-40 tie. The Cowboys defense is still bad enough for that kind of game to be in play for Week 6. Packers backs amassed 238 total yards and two scores in that game. While that was a better offensive line and Josh Jacobs/Emanuel Wilson, Lloyd scored twice last week on only two red-zone opportunities, and the deep passing game of the Packers should force the Cowboys to play with light boxes. Lloyd has multiple ways to come through as a what-the-heck RB2/Flex this week.
Rachaad White, Washington (at San Francisco) **Monitor Jacory Croskey-Merritt Status**
White returned from a one-week absence due to a shoulder injury and was the exclusive back on the last 20 snaps as the game hung in the balance. Whether that is because Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who missed practice Thursday for an undisclosed reason, isn't healthy or just isn't trusted in those situations, White should get a lot of snaps on Monday night. The 49ers are likely to open up a lead on Washington's feeble pass defense, but we'll keep you updated on whether White will get even more work because of whatever caused Croskey-Merritt to miss practice.
Audric Estimé, Cleveland (vs Baltimore) **Monitor Quinshon Judkins/Dylan Sampson/Lamar Jackson Status**
Judkins was seen in a walking boot after the Week 5 game and missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Dylan Sampson's 21-day window to return from injured reserve opened, and he returned to practice on Thursday, but it is unclear whether he will play in Week 6 or how much. The team has Jaleel McLaughlin, but he's not built for early-down work. Enter Estimé, who joined the team from the Vikings practice squad this week. He finished out the season as the Saints' lead back with 98 total yards and a score in Week 17 and 106 total yards in Week 18, showing he can handle a heavy workload and produce.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., NY Giants (vs New Orleans), Kimani Vidal, LA Chargers (at Kansas City)
If you have to throw a Hail Mary, consider one of these two backs who looked like the best runner on their team last week. Tracy could get an extended look after Cam Skattebo, who has been ineffective, fumbled away a win in overtime last week. Tracy is the most explosive back the Giants have, and multiple beat writers have said the team could turn to him more to jump-start the running game. Vidal broke off a 42-yard score on the first play all season that looked like a classic Mike McDaniel running-game chunk play. The team could turn to him more often this week in the effort to play the Chiefs to a stalemate on the road.