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Welcome to Week 6 of the NFL season, where fantasy football managers face crucial decisions that can make or break their matchups. As we delve into the heart of the season, the landscape of player performance and team dynamics continues to evolve. It's essential for fantasy enthusiasts to stay ahead of the curve, strategically selecting their starts and sits to gain a competitive edge over their opponents. In this article, we'll analyze the matchups, recent performances, and player news to provide insightful recommendations on who to start and who to sit in your fantasy lineup for Week 6.
Navigating the unpredictable world of fantasy football requires a keen understanding of player form, team strategies, and potential game-changers. The Week 6 matchups present exciting opportunities and challenges for fantasy managers, as injuries, bye weeks, and emerging talent can significantly impact player availability and performance. We'll delve into these factors to help you make informed decisions, maximizing your chances of success in fantasy leagues. Whether you're looking to secure a playoff spot or climb up the standings, making the right starts and sits this week is critical to your fantasy football journey.
With a multitude of enticing matchups on the horizon, it's crucial to carefully assess player statistics, trends, and the ever-changing dynamics of the NFL. In this article, we'll break down the key players at each position, offering strategic insights to guide your fantasy lineup decisions. From star quarterbacks to under-the-radar running backs and breakout wide receivers, we'll highlight the players primed for success and those facing tough challenges in Week 6. Stay tuned to optimize your fantasy football roster for the upcoming week.
Week 6 Woos - Fantasy Football Booms
Matthew Stafford - QB, Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
After the injury-riddled 2022 season, Matthew Stafford has had somewhat of a bounce-back to begin the 2023 campaign. Leading a Rams offense that currently leads the league in pass plays per game (41.5), he ranks inside the top five in both pass attempts (203) and passing yards (1,451).
But inefficiency has been a bit of an issue so far. His expected fantasy points per game (23.5) is QB4 on the year, but his inability to produce multiple touchdowns (5 - QB16) has landed in at QB18 with 15.6 FPPG. Looking through his deeper analytic statistics, Stafford has been mediocre at best in areas like yards per attempt (7.2 - QB14) and fantasy points per drop back (0.35 - QB27).
Heading into Week 6, things could be looking up for Stafford. He will be at home and facing a Cardinals secondary that is among the league's worst in points allowed to the position over the last four games (22.43 FPPG). Now that he has Cooper Kupp back and healthy, Stafford has a vast array of weapons to utilize against this soft defense.
Also, with the Cardinals showing competitive fire in most games so far this year, there is a potential for this game to stay close throughout. With the Rams having one of the highest implied totals for the week (27.75), the expectation is that there will be plenty of scoring opportunities. Look for Stafford to keep the momentum going from Week 5 with another multiple-touchdown game and provide fringe QB1 value for fantasy managers.
James Cook - RB, Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants
Five games into the 2023 campaign, you could argue that James Cook has yet to live up to the lofty hype that was bestowed upon him during the draft season. Many fantasy managers were expecting to see a player who could develop into a fringe RB1 in PPR formats.
To put it mildly, the returns have not been great. Outside of receiving yards, where he is RB7 (140), Cook is not inside the top 10 in any other category at the position. His 57.8% snap share has netted 61 carries (RB23) and 14 receptions (RB12) on just 18 targets (RB11). All of this adds up to a running back that currently ranks 20th in FPPG (12.6).
Week 6 could be the week that Cook can turn things around for fantasy managers. He will be facing a Giants defense that has been one of the worst in the NFL in points allowed to opposing running backs (26.60 FPPG). Over the last four games, the Giants rank second in yards allowed (577) and third in touchdowns allowed (five).
Needless to say, if there ever was a game that lines up for the Bills to get Cook going, it is this one. Also, with the Bills being the biggest team favored on the slate (-14.5), the game script could lead to plenty of opportunities in the second half for Cook. He should be comfortably started as an RB2 in Week 6 but has the upside to sneak into RB1 territory.
Drake London - WR, Atlanta Falcons vs. Washington Commanders
The pass catchers for the Atlanta Falcons have been the butt of many jokes in the fantasy industry through the season's first five games. Simply put, the offensive ideology is what has held this team back. And it is the reason for Drake London's putrid fantasy output to date.
He is among the league's top receivers in red zone targets (seven), but outside of that positive stat, he is subpar at best. His 19.7% lands him at WR42 and is good for 30 targets (WR38), 17 receptions (WR45), and a disappointing ranking of WR47 in FPPG (10.1). Even his expected FPPG (16.0) is only WR42, showing just how few opportunities there are to be had in this passing attack.
Although London has lost the faith of many fantasy managers, he has finished as a low-end WR2 in back-to-back weeks. A feat that could be reached yet again in Week 6. He will be facing a Commanders defense that has been the worst in the league over the last four games in points allowed to the position (50.45).
With such a weakness to attack, one would have to expect that the Falcons will attempt to move the ball through the air in this matchup. London has produced more than half of his targets in the last two games and if he can at least meet the average of eight, I expect him to yet again finish as a WR2 for fantasy managers. Start him with confidence as a WR3 in lineups.
Cade Otton - TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions
Just how bad is the current state of fantasy tight end production to begin the 2023 season? Cade Otton finished Week 4 as TE10 with only three receptions for 13 yards, but luckily found the end zone. For the season, the production numbers for Otton would be what many would expect.
He is first at the position in snap share (96.8%), but just TE17 in routes run (126). His 15 targets and 12 receptions rank as a TE3 on the year, while his 6.7 FPPG lands him at TE22. Over the first four games of the season, Otton has yet to cross over the 100-yard mark (89), averaging 24 yards per game. On the surface, you would think that is hard to accomplish, but that is the state of TE production in 2023.
I call Otton my long-shot play of the week and a player that some fantasy managers could use as a streaming option. He will be facing a Lions defense that has been among the league's worst over the last four games, allowing 16.65 FPPG to opposing tight ends. With Mike Evans possibly playing banged up in this game, additional targets could be funneled Otton's way. The Buccaneers also have one of the lowest implied totals for the week (19.5), which could force the offense into a negative game script and more opportunities to score. Look for Otton to be a threat to score yet again, which will undoubtedly place him in TE1 territory for Week 6.
Week 6 Boos - Fantasy Football Busts
Jared Goff - QB, Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jared Goff was tabbed as a quarterback sleeper by many in the fantasy industry entering the 2023 season. Through the first five games, you could say that he has lived up to that billing. He currently sits as the QB11 on the year with 19.4 FPPG, up from 2022's 17.1 total. Riding on the strength of two games with three touchdowns or more, he is currently QB7 with nine total on the season. Outside of scoring, the deeper analytic numbers point to a fairly average quarterback. One surprising stat for me is his 0.58 fantasy points per drop back (QB9) on an offense that is 24th in the NFL with 31.8 pass plays per game.
One key talking point when discussing Goff, especially during his tenure with the Lions, is his home and away splits. At home, he averages over two passing touchdowns per game, while on the road, he is well below that (0.88). Where are the Lions playing in Week 6? On the road against a strong Buccaneers defense in terms of points allowed to the opposing quarterback over their first four games (11.93 FPPG).
Look for the Lions to continue to ride the hot hand in David Montgomery and shorten this game in hopes of a victory. With that being the game plan, scoring opportunities will be limited for Goff, making him a player who should be on fantasy benches in Week 6.
Breece Hall - RB, New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles
After barely touching the ball through the Jets' first four games, reports surfaced that the team would take the bubble wrap off of Breece Hall. And in Week 5, he responded in a very big way. His 22 carries were almost as many as he had accumulated in the four games prior. Add in three receptions and Hall finished the game with 194 total yards and an RB3 finish for the week with 28.4 FP. On the strength of last week's production, Hall is now sixth in the NFL with 387 rushing yards. He also resides in the top 10 in yards per touch (7.2) and evaded tackles (18).
Even though last week's performance has brought on plenty of excitement for fantasy managers, tempering expectations for Week 6 could be warranted. He will be facing a stiff test against an Eagles defense that has been the best in the league over the last four games in points allowed to the position (9.90 FPPG).
The Eagles have done a superb job in limiting opposing running backs in both rushing and receiving yards. Expecting anything close to a repeat of last week's production for Hall would be futile for fantasy managers. He will likely be in starting lineups but expect to see production that would equal an RB3 due to the matchup.
Deebo Samuel - WR, San Francisco 49ers @ Cleveland Browns
Drafted as a mid-range WR2 in most drafts for 2023, Samuel's production over the first five games of the season has been a bit of Jekyll and Hyde. He has produced two WR1 finishes, one WR3 finish, and the other two outside of starting consideration. For the season, he ranks as the WR8 in yards after the catch (164). Outside of that, his high point is WR23 in target share (24.4%). With Christian McCaffrey commanding so much attention and Brandon Aiyuk seemingly taking over the role of the 49ers' WR1, it has not left much for Samuel in the offense consistently.
Consistency will likely be an issue yet again for Samuel in Week 6 with a very tough matchup. He will be facing a rested Browns defense on the road. A defense that has been the top unit in the league in points allowed to the position (18.60) to begin the year. Also, take into account that this game has the lowest implied total for the week (36) by far.
This game could be an ugly defensive affair, which will certainly cap the upside for Samuel. I have him ranked outside of my top 24 on the week and even though he will be in starting lineups for fantasy managers, look for his production to have a ceiling of a WR3 at best in Week 6.
Dalton Schultz - TE, Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints
After being largely invisible over the Texans' first three games, Schultz has seemingly found a stride in the last two games. He has finished as a top-five TE in each of the past two weeks with back-to-back double-digit scoring performances. On the season, his 27 targets rank as TE13, and his five red zone targets have him as TE7. Riding off the strong production from the past two games, Schultz now finds himself as the TE12 on the year at 8.9 FPPG. It was a very slow start, but with 10 targets in Week 5, fantasy managers are hoping it is a sign of things to come.
Those hopes could be quickly dashed in Week 6 as he will be facing one of the top defenses in the NFL, the New Orleans Saints. The Saints' defense has been one of the better units in the league in allowing points to opposing tight ends over the last four games, limiting the position to 7.48 FPPG.
In a game that could become a low-scoring contest, Schultz's streak of games with a touchdown likely comes to an end. A player who was probably picked up in most fantasy leagues this week due to the production in Week 5, Schultz could quickly find himself back on the waiver wire after leaving fantasy managers disgusted with his numbers in this game.
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