Backup running backs will be useful in Week 7

• Several of this years most reliable rushers are sitting out with a bye this week
• Daryl Richardson could end up surpassing Steven Jackson in St. Louis soon
• Montario Hardesty may have the better game for Cleveland on the ground

Not thrilled with your starting running back options this week? Join the club. With six teams on bye in Week 7, plenty of your league mates are dealing with the same sticky situations at RB, or other positions.

Some of this year's most reliable rushers are resting: Reggie Bush, Willis McGahee, Ryan Mathews, Jamaal Charles, and LeSean McCoy. Don't feel inefficient if you're left starting a backup or even third-stringer this week.

Although it's expected that Trent Richardson (chest, ribs) will suit up against the Indianapolis Colts, it could easily be Montario Hardesty who has the better game. The Colts are yielding a generous 142.6 rushing yards per game, second most in the league, and they are also allowing 25.2 fantasy points per game to running backs in standard scoring.

Brandon Weeden has been slinging the pigskin around with great frequency, but Cleveland will be tempted to pound the ball on the ground. If they're planning on being cautious with Richardson, or if he encounters a setback, Hardesty could put up decent numbers. If you weren't convinced he could, last week's 15-carry, 56-yard, one-touchdown effort should dispel those doubts.

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Daryl Richardson might be an even better bet as a bye-week running back fill-in. Richardson received a few less touches than Steven Jackson last week and put up better numbers. Richardson is on Jackson's heels and could surpass him eventually in the running back hierarchy in St. Louis.

Jackson is no longer the future for the Rams, and Richardson is more explosive and fresh. Don't be surprised to see Richardson take the majority of carries from Jackson against the Green Bay Packers.

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There are plenty of running back variables floating around in Pittsburgh this week, with both Rashard Mendenhall (Achilles') and Isaac Redman (ankle) missing the last two days of practice. Both will probably be questionable heading into their tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals, but Redman probably has the better chance to play.

If you're desperate, add Redman and hope he goes. If you don't want to risk the chance that Redman sits out, too, Baron Batch should be your next target. Batch entered in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans and rushed 10 times for 22 yards and a TD. Of course, if both Mendenhall and Redman suit up, Batch will be an afterthought.

Keith Hernandez writes for KFFL.com, a USA TODAY Sports Media Group