Fantasy Football Week 6 Rankings: Darren McFadden and Top 3 RBs

A stud running back is easily the most valuable fantasy football player that a team can have, considering that so few teams have a single rusher responsible for the bulk of the team's carries.

They also have the benefit of being somewhat divorced from the rest of their team's offensive production; running backs can pick up 100 yards or more even in a losing effort, which might win you your week.

Here are three backs guaranteed to have major days in Week 6, regardless of how their respective teams perform overall.

Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders (vs. Cleveland Browns)

The Raiders have little chance of dropping to the visiting Browns on Sunday, and the main reason for that is running back Darren McFadden.

The Texans were relatively successful in stopping him last week, holding him to just 51 rushing yards on 16 carries and two receptions for 17 yards. However, this was a desperation move by an otherwise struggling run defense.

The Browns, traveling out west (never a good sign for a team's chances), don't have the necessary components on defense to have anywhere close to the Texans' success this week. McFadden averages 103.8 yards per game, and that's something he will achieve or surpass against Cleveland.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Houston Texans)

The Texans won't repeat their own success from last Sunday against the Ravens' Ray Rice, despite their best efforts.

Using his strength and speed, Rice finds ways to get into the second level. Even when he is held to low yardage (as he was in Week 4 against the New York Jets), he also poses a considerable threat in the passing game.

He has 66 rushes for 297 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 16 receptions for 242 yards and another two scores; this versatility will confound the Texans' defense this Sunday and bring points to your fantasy team.

Not only is Rice a stud fantasy rusher, he's pure PPR gold; there's little chance Houston will hold him down in Week 6.

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

With only two touchdowns, you'd think that Bears running back Matt Forte was having a down year, but that's the furthest thing from the truth. He's the league leader in yards from scrimmage at 785—440 rushing and 345 receiving—which is good enough to account for a whopping 51.5 percent of the Bears' total offense.

For a team that's struggling in just about every aspect of the game, Forte represents the team's best chance to win. What's more, that elusive victory could come this week, when the team host the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings.

While the Vikings had a big day in Week 5, stomping the Arizona Cardinals by a score of 34-10 on the strength of four first-quarter touchdowns, they didn't do much to stop running back Beanie Wells. The Cardinals back had 60 yards before the team got so far behind that they had to toss the run game in pursuit of the comeback.

The Bears have a lot on the line in this game, and won't likely lose at home to yet another divisional opponent. There's one sure thing about a Bears win: Matt Forte got them there.