With week 6 of the NFL season in full swing, we have our first bye weeks of the season and multiple high-scoring performances from Thursday night football. With the number of injuries and bye weeks this week, fantasy managers might be tasked with digging deep to find the right starters this week in fantasy football. Last week the start/sit list hit on 67.6% of players up 3% from the prior week’s predictions. Below are my favorite start/sits for week 5.
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Quarterbacks to Start
Kirk Cousins ATL
Cousins is coming off of one of the best games of his career and the best game since his achilles injury last year. In the win he completed 72.4% of his passes throwing for over 500 yards and 4 touchdowns finishing with 34.4 fantasy points. This week Cousins draws a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers. On average the Panthers defense is allowing 232.4 passing yards, 2.2 touchdowns, and 18.7 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterback
Caleb Williams CHI
Williams and the Bears offense have been heating up the last two weeks. Williams now has 20+ points in two of his last three games making him an intriguing streamer at QB. The Jaguars are currently allowing 23.1 points per game to opposing QBs providing Williams with the perfect opportunity to be a QB1 this week.
Will Levis TEN
Levis has not been good by any means this season but his matchup in week 6 is intriguing. The Colts are 21 points per game to opposing QBs this season and have one of the highest zone rates in the NFL. This season Levis ranks 8th in completion percentage against the zone. I like Levis as a sleeper to get 20 points this week.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Josh Allen BUF
Just like Mahomes last week, Allen finds himself on this list after some down weeks in fantasy. In the last two weeks Josh Allen has only thrown for 1 touchdown and only finished with 9 completions last week. He will likely be without Khalil Shakir and James Cook on Monday night. The Jets defense is the best this season against fantasy quarterbacks holding them to 8.3 points per game. Allen has a high chance of letting fantasy managers down this week.
Anthony Richardson IND
Richardson has had a rocky start to his 2nd year between injuries and poor play. Tennessee is one of the toughest matchups for opposing quarterbacks only allowing 14.4 points per game. With no Jonathan Taylor this week and an injured Michael Pittman, I have a hard time trusting Richardson in week 6.
Trevor Lawrence JAX
Lawrence and the Jags offense is starting to turn the corner, but I would advise starting him in week 6. He currently ranks 26th in the NFL in EPA per play and the Bears are one of the league’s best defenses. They are also only allowing 8.8 points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Keep him on your bench in week 6.
Running backs to Start
Bucky Irving TB
With Rachaad White’s status in question heading into Sunday, the Bucky Irving hype train has hit an all-time high. The increase in volume will result in more points for Irving, who is one of the most efficient backs in the NFL averaging 5.6 yards per carry this season. Despite a tough matchup against the Saints, expect Irving to receive 18+ touches in week 6.
D’Andre Swift CHI
Swift has completely changed his perception among fantasy owners in the last two weeks, putting up 20+ points in both games. The Bears are committed to the veteran running back despite his early struggles having him play 65-70% of snaps every week. He has another opportunity in week 6 against the Jaguars defense, who is the 4th worst against running backs in fantasy, to have another 20+ point week. Swift has RB1 upside this week.
Chase Brown CIN
Head coach Zac Taylor mentioned that Moss will be able to go in week 6, but in what capacity is still to be determined. In the last three weeks, Chase Brown has been averaging 13.6 touches and 71.6 total yards while adding 3 touchdowns. Among qualified running backs he ranks 4th in yards after contact per attempt, 9th in missed tackle rate, and 11th in explosive run rate. Brown is a talented running back and with the likelihood of more opportunities this week he is a good start
Running backs to Sit
Trey Sermon IND
Sermon had a solid week in fantasy football with Jonathan Taylor out finishing with 18.3 PPR points. This week his matchup against the Titans is not as enticing as they currently are one of the tougher matchups for opposing running backs. Sermon also is in a true split with Tyler Goodson who played 41% of the snaps last week in the loss. With a tough matchup and split in volume, I expect Sermon to put up a dud this week in fantasy.
Rachaad White TB
Rachaad White’s status has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Saints. Even if he manages to work through pregame workups and find his way onto the field DO NOT start him. The Saints this season are the 7th toughest matchup for opposing running backs and it is likely that White’s snaps will be limited. Avoid starting him at all costs even if he does suit up on Sunday.
Jerome Ford CLE
Ford has been inconsistent this season, much like many of his Browns teammates. With a true backfield split in Cleveland, combined with the fifth-hardest matchup for opposing running backs, it is hard to trust him in week 6. I prefer guys like Jeremy McNichols or Ty Johnson over him this week.
Wide Receivers to Start
Terry McLaurin WAS
McLaurin has been awesome the last three weeks, averaging over 16 points during that stretch. The connection between him and rookie Jayden Daniels seems to be improving every week as well. This season Baltimore is allowing 44 points per game to opposing wide receivers, providing McLaurin the perfect opportunity to continue his hot streak.
Darnell Mooney ATL
Mooney has been underrated this season as he currently ranks 14th among all wide receivers in PPR leagues. He also ranks 9th in air yards and has an impressive 24% target share. Against Carolina, Mooney should be in for another big week in fantasy.
Jayden Reed GB
The Packers are getting back Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs this week but that will not change much for Reed going forward. This season he currently ranks 1st in separation and 2nd in EPA among all wide receivers. Reed is a good player and LaFleur will continue to find creative ways to get him the ball. Against the Cardinals defense Reed will be in for another WR1 performance.
Wide Receivers to Sit
Courtland Sutton DEN
JT’s hard to trust Sutton in week 6 considering his matchup. The Chargers are the 4th best at limiting wide receivers in fantasy this season. On top of that Sutton ranks 95th in EPA and 80th in separation this season. A tough matchup and a lack of separation suggest it will be very hard for the Broncos to get him the ball in week 6.
Michael Pittman Jr. IND
Pittman is suffering from a back injury but will give it a go on Sunday against the Titans. With the return of Anthony Richardson this week it makes his outlook in week 6 murky. The Titans are also allowing the least points to wide receivers this year in fantasy football.
Christian Kirk JAX
After a slow start. Kirk has turned things around the last three weeks scoring 10+ PPR points in each game. He is due for regression this week in London against the Bears. He currently is 3rd on the team in snap share and 3rd in route participation. That combined with the Bears being the 7th best team against wide receivers and allowing 0 slot touchdowns this season does not bode well for Kirk.
Tight Ends to Start
Tucker Kraft GB
Kraft’s breakout will not be slowed down by the returns of Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. On the season he ranks 2nd in separation and 3rd in yards per route among tight ends. With Musgrave heading to IR, his snap share will stay the same. He’s a top 5 TE in week 6.
Sam LaPorta DET
LaPorta has been disappointing this season as he currently is the TE23 in PPR formats. Despite his slow start, there are signs suggesting he will have a breakout week soon. He is 3rd in yards per target while having the 8th best QB rating per target this season among tight ends. Expect the Lions to get him more involved after the bye week.
Kyle Pitts ATL
It’s almost impossible to trust Pitts in fantasy but in week 6 you can’t leave him on your bench. Pitts stock is up after his 15.8 points last week in the shootout on Thursday night football. The Panthers are allowing 13.3 points per game to tight ends this season providing the perfect opportunity for Pitts to have two straight good weeks in fantasy.
Tight Ends to Sit
Mark Andrews BAL
Andrews put up a season-high 9.5 PPR points last week in the shootout game between the Bengals that ended his two-game drought without any catches. DO NOT jump the gun and play Andrews this week after his week 5 performance. He now is fighting with Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar for snaps/targets in Baltimore after Kolar’s breakout game. The Commanders have also only allowed one tight end to score over 10 points this season.
Dalton Kincaid BUF
Kincaid is now averaging 7.5 points per game this season and is currently the TE13 in fantasy football. Even without Khalil Shakir last week, he finished with 2 receptions. With James Cook and Shakir expected to miss this weekend’s game as well, I am still hesitant to trust him against the Jets. The Jets are allowing 5.4 points per game to tight ends this season which is the 3rd lowest in the NFL.
Zach Ertz WAS
Fantasy owners have been relying on Ertz as a desperation starter with the struggles at the tight end position this year. Despite receiving consistent targets in Washington, he is currently only averaging 7 points per game and is currently the TE18. Baltimore provides a decent matchup, but with his 31st catch rate, I do not expect him to produce double-digit fantasy points in week 6.
Kickers to Start
Cairo Santos CHI
Santos might have might favorite matchup of the week against the Jaguars in London. The Jaguars have given up 10+ points to kickers in four out of five games this season. With the Bears offense trending in the right direction, expect him to have a solid week in fantasy.
Evan McPherson CIN
I was wrong about McPherson last week, but it was more attributed to the Bengals scoring touchdowns on a majority of their drives in week 5. In week 6 he draws another favorable matchup against the Giants who have allowed 3 kickers this season to go for more than 8 points. Expect a big week from him in your starting lineup.
Chris Boswell PIT
Boswell has not reached double-digit fantasy points now in four straight weeks but in week 6 he will be reaching that mark for the second time this season. The Raiders have allowed 4 kickers to go over 10 points this season and are allowing the 3rd most points to fantasy kickers this season.
Kickers to Sit
Wil Lutz DEN
Lutz was a player I tabbed as a streamer for fantasy managers looking to fill in their kicker spot in week 5. It is best to leave him on your bench this week with a tough matchup against the Chargers looming. They are only allowing 5 points per game to kickers this season.
Daniel Carlson LV
Carlson and the Raiders have not been consistent this season as Carlson himself has scored in single digits in three of five weeks. The Steelers have held kickers to under 6 points, three times this season and are only allowing an average of 6.6 points per game to kickers. It is hard to trust Carlson in week 6.
DEF to Start
Houston Texans DEF
The Texans defense this season ranks right in the middle of the pack averaging 5.8 points per game in fantasy football. This week against the Patriots, they should be in for their 2nd performance over 10 points this season. The Patriots are currently allowing opposing defenses to score an average of 10.4 points per game against them and give rookie QB Drake Maye his first start in week 6. The Texans elite pass rush should have a field day against a weak Patriots offensive line making them my favorite defense to stream in week 6.
Philadelphia Eagles DEF
The Browns have an argument for being the worst offense in football this season. On the year they are averaging 15.8 points per game and have allowed a league-leading 26 sacks. The Eagles coming off a bye, should be well prepared to terrorize Deshaun Watson in the backfield all day on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers DEF
The Steelers defense has not been great the last few weeks after their hot start to the season. This week they should dominate this matchup against a struggling Raiders offense. The Raiders have been averaging fewer than 300 yards per game while allowing 17 sacks this season and having 9 turnovers. TJ Watt and company should be in for a big week.
DEF to Sit
Dallas Cowboys DEF
The Cowboys defense played well without Micah Parsons and Demarcus Lawrence against the Steelers. This week against the Lions, they have one of the toughest matchups. The Lions will utilize their top 5 rushing attack to control the pace of the game against a depleted unit. Leave them on your bench this week.
Baltimore Ravens DEF
The Ravens defense currently ranks 22nd in fantasy football despite their -1 point performance last week against the Bengals. They have problems in the secondary right now and are currently the NFL’s worst pass defense. This week they play the Commanders who are 3rd in the NFL in points per game and 4th in total yards. Do not start them in week 6.