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One of the most overlooked edges in daily fantasy is the smaller slates. Specifically, I’m talking about the early slate and the late slate. People are so focused on the main slate that they don’t consider the differences in ownership or creative roster construction to optimally build lineups. For example, you would never use four players from the same team on a main slate, but that can be very beneficial on a smaller slate if one team dominates.
Running a quarterback with two receivers and a running back tends to have a negative correlation, but if that team goes off on a smaller slate, that can be the winning combo. You will see that example play out this week as the Atlanta Falcons are in a great spot against the Carolina Panthers and it’s unlikely that people will run four Falcons players with a bringback from Carolina. Here at RotoBaller, we are all about helping you find those edges.
I’m super excited for Week 6, and my goal is to create a hierarchy of plays so you know who to prioritize when building your lineups! Remember that this article is written early in the week, so please check in with our Discord for any updates as practice reports come in throughout the week and a clearer picture starts to come into view. Also, check out our other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big in 2024!
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Quarterbacks - Week 6 DFS Picks
1) Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys - $6.7K DK, $8K FD)
The game with the highest total this weekend is the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions. Detroit has struggled against the pass all year, allowing 300 yards or more in half of the games it has played.
Dak Prescott is playing very well, having thrown two touchdowns in each of his last three starts. He also has thrown for 290 yards or more in three of the five games he’s played, including tough matchups against Pittsburgh and New Orleans.
Prescott is priced to move only $6,700 on DraftKings, which should make him the most popular quarterback play. He is who you want in your cash games and has the highest ceiling for tournaments. He is stackable with CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, and Jake Ferguson. An onslaught with all four players is definitely in play given the juicy matchup in what could be a shootout.
2) Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons - $6.2K DK, $7.4K FD)
While Prescott may have the highest ceiling, the most interesting quarterback to stack on this short slate is Kirk Cousins. He found his rhythm, producing a completion percentage of 69 or higher in three of his last four games.
He was dominant last Thursday night with four touchdowns and over 500 yards against the Buccaneers. Carolina is far worse than Tampa Bay, and we now know what kind of a ceiling we can get out of the Falcons.
What makes Cousins more appealing than Prescott in tournaments is that you can vary your stacks because he has a larger collection of viable weapons to play with. Between Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud III, and Kyle Pitts, there is a bevy of combinations to build a unique tournament onslaught lineup.
Other QBs in consideration: Justin Fields (PIT), Jared Goff (DET)
Running Backs - Week 6 DFS Picks
1) Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons - $6.6K DK, $8.5K FD)
There is significant concern about the usage of Bijan Robinson this year, but at only $6,600 in the most fantasy-friendly matchup you can get, it’s hard to ignore him. His price point at this type of discount will make him very popular, which makes him your top cash-game option for this slate.
He’s got a high receiving floor, with three or more targets in four of the five games he’s played this year. His ability to make a big play means he can gobble up a chunk of yards, even with a limited volume of carries. Even with his popularity, you can make your lineup different by who you choose to stack him with.
Robinson won’t be part of many Falcons tournament stacks, but that is exactly how you should use him to gain an edge in those tournaments. Stacking him with Kirk Cousins and two pass-catchers should be rare; giving you an advantage over the rest of the field if Atlanta does to Carolina what teams do to Carolina -- pile up points and yards.
2) Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos - $5.5K DK, $5.9K FD)
While we are worried about the usage of Robinson, the opposite is starting to become true for Javonte Williams. He has had 19 opportunities in each of the last two weeks, putting up double-digit fantasy points in both games.
While that may not seem like a lot, he’s only $5,500 on DraftKings and doesn’t need to score much more than 10 fantasy points to be a usable player in cash or tournament lineups.
We also have to keep in mind that he accomplished this on volume alone, having yet to score a touchdown this year. Once he finds his way into the end zone, he will be an extreme value.
I will continue to chase that volume in tournaments and benefit from the explosion in production when he does cross that goal line. A great way to get a little unique with him is to stack him with the Broncos defense, who have one of the best matchups this weekend.
Javonte Williams forced 13 missed tackles in Weeks 1-4 combined
He forced 9 missed tackles alone yesterday against the Raiders pic.twitter.com/sEaowM8xhU
— Jordan Lopez (@JordanTLopez) October 7, 2024
Other RBs in consideration: Chuba Hubbard (CAR), David Montgomery (DET), Jahmyr Gibbs (DET)
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Wide Receivers - Week 6 DFS Picks
1) Darnell Mooney (Atlanta Falcons - $5.3K DK, $6.5K FD)
Before I get started on the two receivers we're going to highlight, please understand that Drake London and CeeDee Lamb have the highest upside of any receivers on the slate, but they’re boring to write about and don’t necessarily represent the best value since they will each be widely owned.
Darnell Mooney has been a revelation this year in Atlanta. He has seen at least six targets in each of the last four games and has scored 14.6 or more DraftKings points in each of those games. His floor is about three catches for 60 yards, and at $5,300, that’s not a bad return on his price.
If you’re playing cash games on this slate, he should be one of the first receivers you click. His upside is 30 fantasy points, and this is the kind of matchup where he could get there again, making him a stud tournament option as well.
Kirk Cousins likes throwing to Mooney, and he is still priced so cheaply. He is a value pick you can stack with Cousins, Robinson, and another pass-catcher to load up on a Falcons onslaught.
2) Jalen Tolbert (Dallas Cowboys - $5K DK, $6.1K FD)
Jalen Tolbert is essentially the Cowboys’ version of Darnell Mooney. He has five or more targets in three of his last four games and has produced 13.2 or more DraftKings points in each of those games. He has a phenomenal matchup against a bad Detroit Lions secondary but is for some reason still priced at only $5,000.
After you click on Mooney for your cash games, you should go ahead and click on Tolbert. That duo will only cost you $10,300, allowing you to spend up at other positions.
He’s also a strong tournament option to stack with Prescott, Lamb, and Ferguson. At his price, he makes a perfect component for a secondary stack along with a Detroit running back to complement your Falcons onslaught.
Dak said during training camp that the WR he spends the most time with over the summer historically has a great season. This year, Jalen Tolbert was that guy pic.twitter.com/ViWwF2DGV3
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) October 7, 2024
Others in consideration: CeeDee Lamb (DAL), Drake London (ATL), Jameson Williams (DET), Ladd McConkey (LAC), Courtland Sutton (DEN), George Pickens (PIT), Tre Tucker (LV)
Tight Ends - Week 6 DFS Picks
1) Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons - $4.4K DK, $5.9K FD)
Are you sensing a theme yet? The Falcons are in such a good spot this week and they are underpriced across the board. I have no idea how this happened, given that they played last Thursday, put up banger numbers, and have the best matchup one can have in fantasy.
This will make their ownership high, but we will overload Falcons to make our lineups more unique. Pitts is the top-value cash-game tight end on the slate, but don’t feel you have to use him as there are other options at higher prices you can afford.
You will get the most bang for your buck out of him in tournaments as part of the Falcons onslaught I have spoken about repeatedly. Pitts was great last week with seven receptions on eight targets, and his athleticism in the open field gives him the kind of ceiling we are looking for in tournament lineups.
Others in consideration: Brock Bowers (LV), Jake Ferguson (DAL), Pat Freiermuth (PIT)
Defenses - Week 6 DFS Picks
1) Denver Broncos ($3.2K DK, $4.7K FD)
With how well they are playing, we might as well call the Denver Broncos Vikings West. Like the Vikings, Denver has been an undervalued and underappreciated fantasy defense all season. It has three or more sacks in each of its last three games and has scored double-digit fantasy points in four of five games this year.
The Broncos have been one of the stingiest defenses against the pass, allowing no more than 215 yards in any game this season, and holding four of their five opponents to under 200 passing yards. They also have allowed more than 20 points in a game just once all year.
This week, they get a Los Angeles Chargers team with a gimpy Justin Herbert and no receiving threats to speak of. At only $3,200 on DraftKings, they present an extreme value with a massive upside. Denver should be used in all formats without hesitation.
Others in consideration: Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons
Best of luck this weekend!
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