Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Steven Jackson and 5 RBs Who Might Disappoint

Week 6 of the NFL season has several enticing running back matchups, including Fred Jackson against the Giants and Adrian Peterson versus the Bears. But not all running back matchups are created equal, and the following five backs may disappoint in theirs. It might not be enough to sit all five, but it's worth looking into.

Felix Jones, Cowboys

Cowboys versus Patriots sounds like an offensive dream for each side, but the fact remains that the Patriots have given up more than 100 yards in just one game this season. On the flip side, Jones has just one 100-yard rushing game himself, and he's been under 60 in the other three.

He can provide something in the passing game, but Jones has been wildly inconsistent in that area, too. Owners are going to be salivating over this matchup for all the wrong reasons, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Jones disappoint again on Sunday.

Steven Jackson, Rams

The Packers gave up their first rushing touchdown of the season last week in Atlanta, but they've been one of the best rushing defenses in the NFL in 2011. They kept the backfields of their first three opponents—the Saints, Panthers and Bears—to under 100 total rushing yards combined.

Add in the fact that Jackson and the Rams should be playing from behind for the majority of this game, and you get a matchup that screams of disappointment. Jackson might be their only chance to stick with the Packers, but his touches in the running game probably aren't going to last long. 

Jonathan Stewart, Panthers 

DeAngelo Williams is starting to heat up (over 200 yards the past two weeks), which means Stewart is going to see less and less of the ball in the Panthers running game. He has just 14 carries the past two games.

Cam Newton is also such a threat near the goal line that Stewart probably won't sniff many carries in those situations. His real value might come in the passing game, but it's simply not enough to keep him from being a fantasy disappointment most weeks moving forward.

Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers

He's still hobbled by a bad hamstring, and it wouldn't be at all surprising to see the Steelers ease Mendenhall back into shape with a light work load in Week 6. Jacksonville, the Steelers' opponent this week, has silently been a very good rushing defense so far in 2011.

And really, it's hard to be sold on what the Steelers offensive line has done, even if they recovered nicely last week. With Mendenhall, Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dywer all available for Pittsburgh on Sunday, you might have to accept a disappointing effort from the lead back.

Jahvid Best, Lions

Best finally cracked 100 yards on Monday night against the Bears, but he's facing a 49ers defense this Sunday that has yet to give up more than 84 yards to opposing running backs. No running back has found the end zone against the 49ers through five weeks either.

Best will always get looks in the passing game, but don't discount how good this 49ers defense is. It's simply a bad matchup for Best, and it'll be hard for the little guy to be the first to crack the 100-yard mark on San Francisco this season.