As we roll into Week 6 of the NFL season, it’s becoming clear which players truly know their role—both on the field and in your fantasy lineup. Whether it’s a workhorse RB consistently grinding out points or a slot receiver quietly racking up PPR value, success in fantasy football hinges on identifying and trusting the players who understand their assignments and execute them weekly. The stars might steal headlines, but it’s the reliable role players—those who stick to their job and deliver—that can elevate your team from playoff hopeful to championship contender.
Rachaad White takeover
With Week 4 ending in Bucky Irving getting a foot MRI, and seen on crutches and in a walking boot, the backfield in Tampa was in question. Enter Rachaad White, someone very familiar with this team, and since the emergence of Bucky Irving, White has taken a back seat in snap share and touches. In Week 5m this changed, and although it was noticeable that Bucky was not on the field, White still proved to be a great fantasy RB in his replacement role. White finished the game with 14 carries for 41 yards and 2 TDs, while also logging 4 receptions for 30 yards. All-in-all scoring 23.10 points in PPR leagues.
For as long as Bucky is out of the lineup, I expect the Buccaneers to lean on White in both the ground and passing game. For the rest of the season, I would put Rachaad White in the high-end RB2 category, as there is a little dip in production from Bucky, but over 23 points coming off the waiver is very exciting to fantasy owners. If White was not already picked up off the waivers, expect people to unload some FAAB. In other cases where you are the manager of an RB-needy team, I would at least try to get White for the next few weeks, because if he makes a big enough impact while Irving is gone, he may be able to ball out alongside Irving when he returns. Although to many outside the organization, White’s role may seem unclear, after the performance on Sunday, it is certain that White knows and is comfortable in his role with the Bucs.
JK Dobbins Still the Lead Bronco
When it comes to the Broncos‘ backfield, Dobbins has been on the plus side of the snap share at 51% for the first 4 games, with his highest percentage on the season being 67%. Dobbins (57 rushes) has also out-carried his teammates by more than double the amount (27). In Week 5, against the reigning world champion Eagles, Dobbins recorded 20 carries for 79 yards, bringing his total to just over 400 yards after 5 weeks of play. Those stats indicate that Dobbins is carving out a legitimate lead role in Denver’s backfield — a role that fantasy owners should take note of.
Still, there are real risks to keep in mind. Dobbins has a gruesome injury history, including a torn Achilles tendon and other past absences. This puts a ceiling on how much you can trust him across a full season. Also, his receiving floor isn’t huge; he’ll need touchdowns or rushing breakout weeks if JK is to be viable all season. This is where many see RJ Harvey, the touted rookie, cutting into Dobbins’ snap share.
If Dobbins can stay healthy and continue to fend off the committee backfield approach, I believe that he has a strong opportunity to go over 1000 yards rushing. With his need to score touchdowns to keep a stranglehold on the RB1 position in Denver, I believe we see JK get to double-digit TDs in 2025. He is a must-start RB2 for the meantime while Dobbins continues to Know His Role in Sean Payton‘s offense.
JT Back in Pole position
Jonathan Taylor enters the thick of the 2025 fantasy season as a high-upside, workhorse running back that fantasy owners must lean on — when healthy and in favorable matchups. After a strong 2024 campaign in which Taylor piled up 1,431 rushing yards on 303 carries with 11 rushing touchdowns (4.7 yards per carry), albeit with only 18 receptions, expectations are that he remains the focal point of the Colts’ ground game. Taylor’s opportunity profile is robust: with minimal threatening backfield competition (rookie DJ Giddens and Khalil Herbert are expected to play limited roles), he is likely to command a large share of carries and red-zone touches. The decision to move away from Anthony Richardson and (potentially) center the offense more conventionally under Daniel Jones strengthens Taylor’s touchdown and reception upside, particularly in goal-line and short-yardage situations.
His injury history is nontrivial — over the past few seasons, he’s missed multiple games, often with ankle issues, which raises durability concerns across a long season. Because his receiving involvement has typically been minimal, his PPR floor is tempered, meaning that in weeks where rushing opportunities are limited (bad matchups, game script, or injury), his ceiling might be muted compared to more dual-threat backs.
If Taylor stays healthy and maintains volume, his projected stat line is likely to land in the ballpark of 1,500 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, with perhaps 15–25 receptions sprinkled in. That production projects him as a bona fide RB1 with strong upside and a relatively high weekly floor in favorable spots. In fantasy lineups, Taylor should be viewed as a cornerstone — someone you build your running back strategy around rather than a high-variance flier — but one who still needs some matchup awareness and backup insurance given the injury and efficiency questions.
Waller Back At It
Darren Waller is a curious case of a player who retires and then unretires, years later, and becomes an immediate impact on their new team. Coming off a Week 5 performance where Waller had a huge impact, coming away with 78 yards on 5 catches. One of these catches was a TD over the middle of the field, this coming after a Week 4 performance where Waller hauled in two more TDs. With the injury of Tyreek Hill happening in Week 4, the response the next week was to involve Waller at a much higher rate. It brings up the question, could this continue throughout the rest of the season? If the Dolphins want to make any noise this year, Waller will be needed as a key figure in this offense, not just a shiny new accessory for Tua.
However, there are real concerns that limit his weekly reliability. Waller has a long injury history, missed most of the past two seasons, and is still being eased back into action, often appearing on the injury report as limited. Projections suggest he may only see around 4 targets per game going forward, which makes him heavily touchdown-dependent for fantasy value. He also faces target competition from Jaylen Waddle, De’Von Achane, but his efficiency in the Red Zone is so good that he may not need 800 yards receiving to be a TE 1. The real kicker with Waller is if the Dolphins get clicking on offense, he may have no problem reaching 800. Waller has elite upside that is so hard to turn down when it comes to the TE position, historically a stingy/volatile position for fantasy football.
With Week 5 wrapped up, the importance of players who know their role has never been more evident. In a season full of injuries, surprises, and breakout performances, it’s often the dependable contributors—the ones who stick to their assignments and produce within their role—that provide the consistency fantasy managers crave. While chasing upside is always tempting, never underestimate the value of a player who simply shows up and does their job week in and week out. In fantasy football, just like in the NFL, knowing your role can be the difference between mediocrity and a championship run.
