Starts and Sits: Week 6
Week 6 is here, so we need to know who to start and who to sit. Our start/sit article is not going to discuss the obvious players who should always be played. We aim to help you with the players that you might be on the fence about heading into the weekend. Good luck this week and don’t overthink it.
Here are the Starts/Sits for Week 6:
Quarterback
Starts
Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks Vs. Arizona Cardinals
To say Smith has been great would be an understatement. He has been playing at a top-10 level for the last 3 weeks and it does not look like that will stop this week against the Cardinals. With the combination of the level he is playing with and his offensive weapons, Smith should be a great starting option in week 6. He is a low-end QB1 with a top 7 upside.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings Vs. Miami Dolphins
Cousins has been hit-and-miss for most of the season, but this week’s matchup against the Dolphins should prove to be a favorable matchup. The Vikings offense has been much better over the last two weeks and should be able to score early and often against the Dolphins. The hope is that the Dolphins are able to put up enough points to keep Cousins passing throughout the whole game. I like Cousins upside in a good matchup this week. Cousins is a low-end QB1 with a safe floor and plenty of upside in week 6.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars Vs. Indianapolis Colts
Lawrence has been underperforming for the last two weeks, but I think he will turn it around this week against the Colts. Lawrence and the Jags had a bad matchup against the Eagles and then an off week against the Texans, which I am willing to write off as every team can be off here and there. The Colts overall have been nothing to write home about and should present an easier matchup for the Jags than they have had previously. Lawrence is a mid-tier QB2 with an upside in week 6.
Sits
Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos Vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Nothing is going right for Wilson and the Broncos, and I don’t see that changing this week. Wilson is dealing with his own injuries, and the Broncos lost Javonte Williams, which means the overall offense for the Broncos upside is capped. Even if Wilson were healthy, I would not recommend starting him as he has been underperforming in most of the games this season. Wilson is a risky option that offers a low floor and low ceiling. Wilson is a high-end QB2 with limited upside in week 6.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams Vs. Carolina Panthers
Although being the QB of a good team, it has been an extremely disappointing year for Stafford in fantasy football. He just doesn’t offer the safe floor/ ceiling that he offered last year. Even in a good matchup and being surrounded by talent, I am hesitant to put Stafford into my starting lineup. Until we see Stafford produce at a high rate consistently, I am looking elsewhere for my starting QB. Stafford is a high-end QB2 with a low floor and ceiling in week 6.
Zach Wilson, QB, New York Jets Vs. Green Bay Packers
The Jets offense went from passing 40+ times a week to having their running backs as the focal point of the offense. Since Wilson came back from his injury, the receiving options for the Jets have been extremely limited. With the receiving game being on the back burner, Wilson offers a low floor and ceiling. This week’s matchup against the Packers is also not that great and should present a decent challenge for Wilson and the Jets. Wilson is a low-end QB2 with limited upside this week.
Running Back
Starts
Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona Cardinals Vs. Seattle Seahawks
It looks like Eno will be the starting RB for the Cardinals as James Conner and Darrel Williams have been ruled out for week 6. It couldn’t come at a better time as the matchup against the Seahawks is as good as it gets for opposing running backs. If you were lucky enough to get Benjamin off of waivers this week, you shouldn’t hesitate to put him into your lineups this week. He is a low-end RB2 with an upside this week.
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens Vs. New York Giants
Dobbins hasn’t been a consistent option so far this year, but the matchup against the Giants this week is too good to pass up. Dobbins is the most talented back on the team by far. I believe as the season goes on he will continue to receive more and more work and should turn into a weekly starting option by the end of the season. Dobbins is a high-end flex with upside this week against the Giants.
James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars Vs. Indianapolis Colts
Robinson has been disappointing over the last two weeks, but it is as easy to blame the whole Jags offense as it is to blame Robinson himself. Robinson should rebound this week against a Colts defense that has been susceptible to the run game throughout the first 5 games of the season. Robinson is a flex play with a safe floor in week 6.
Sits
Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Things have not been going well for Najee lately. He is currently dealing with a lingering foot injury, which I believe is the true culprit to why he is performing so poorly. The other reasons are that the Steelers offense as a whole is bad and he is having some very tough matchups. I know it may not be easy to sit Harris, but I implore you to do so this week against the Bucs. He offers his fantasy managers an extremely low floor and ceiling this week, and I would hope that you have an option that offers you more upside than he does. Harris is a low-end RB2 with very little upside in week 6.
Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Dallas Cowboys Vs. Philadelphia Eagles
I have been saying for the past couple of weeks that Elliot is not an option I would like to start, and this week is no different. He has a hard matchup against a tough Eagles defense and should face a ton of pressure this week. Elliot offers a safe floor but his ceiling has been capped every week, especially due to Tony Pollard’ strong presence in the run-and-pass game. There may be better weeks ahead for Zeke, but this isn’t the week to risk it. Elliot is a risky flex play in week 6.
Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Los Angeles Rams Vs. Carolina Panthers
Even with Cam Akers being out, the upside of the Rams offense is extremely limited due to the current state of their offensive line. The Carolina Panthers although not a great overall team have a solid defense, especially against the run. Throughout the last couple of weeks, we have seen the true floor for the Rams running backs and it is pretty low. If I were looking for a flex option, I would look for a player with a higher ceiling than Henderson this week. Henderson is a flex with limited upside this week.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Godwin wasn’t amazing in his second week back from injury, but what was promising was the number of targets that he has been receiving. This week the Bucs have an amazing matchup against a weak Steelers defense that has been bleeding points to opposing defenses on a regular basis. If you have Godwin you are starting him confidently this week. He is a low-end WR2 with a solid upside.
Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns Vs. New England Patriots
Cooper has been boom/bust throughout most of this year but has been leaning heavily on the boom side. I like his chances at continuing that boom potential this week against the Patriots. The Patriots defense is solid but they have allowed decent points to opposing wide receivers outside last week’s matchup. This game should prove to be a battle of running backs, but there should be enough left over for Cooper to pull off a solid fantasy day. Cooper is a low-end WR2 with great upside
Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers Vs. New York Jets
Lazard hasn’t been a league winner but he has been a consistent fantasy option throughout the last 4 games he was active and should continue the same kind of production against the Jets this week. Lazard is easily Aaron Rodgers’ favored target and has continued to produce week in and week out due to the fact that Rodgers trusts him. If you are looking for as safe an option as possible, Lazard is your guy in week 6. Lazard is a low-end WR2 with an upside this week.
Sits
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins Vs. Minnesota Vikings
This is a slight against Waddles, this is more about how bad the current situation is for the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are also currently on their 3rd string QB. I fear that they won’t have the ball enough to be able to support multiple players on the team. Until Tua returns as the starting QB, I would be hesitant to have Waddle in my lineups. His current floor is low and his ceiling is nonexistent with Skylar Thompson behind center. Waddle is a risky WR2 in week 6.
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons, WR, Vs.San Francisco 49ers
Things haven’t been going well for any player on the Falcons offense lately and that shouldn’t change this week against a top-tier 49ers defense. Marcus Mariota is no longer capable of supporting any fantasy-relevant players. Until we are able to see consistent production from London, he is nothing more than a boom/bust play on a regular basis.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos Vs. Los Angeles Chargers
As I stated above for Wilson, the Broncos offense is not what we had hoped it would be. Wilson is dealing with an injury to his throwing shoulder, which will limit the upside of all of his receiving options until it is better. Jeudy has been dealing with his own injuries throughout the season and has not been a reliable option for fantasy managers. Jeudy is extremely talented but that is not enough to make him a startable option in week 6 against the Chargers. Jeudy is a flex option with a low floor and ceiling this week.
Tight Ends
Starts
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns Vs. New England Patriots
What I love most about Njoku is that he not only offers his fantasy managers a safe floor but his ceiling is massive. Njoku is a top 2 receiving option for the Browns and that should continue this week in what should be a good matchup against the Patriots. You should have no problem keeping him in your starting lineups going forward. Njoku is a low-end TE1 with a top-5 upside.
Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers Vs. Denver Broncos
Everett was disappointing last week but I expect he will rebound this week against the Broncos. The Broncos have been decent against opposing tight ends so far this year, but I believe that Everett will receive enough targets/ TD opportunities to warrant starting him in week 6. Everett is a low-end TE1 with an upside this week.
Hayden Hurst, TE, Cincinnati Bengals Vs. New Orleans Saints
Hurst has been the main beneficiary due to Tee Higgins being injured the last two weeks. He has been receiving a great target share, which should continue this week as Higgins is expected to miss another game. If you were lucky enough to get Hurst off of the waiver wire, you should have no issue putting him in your lineup this week. He is a solid streaming option and should offer fantasy managers a very safe floor. Hurst is a low-end TE1 in week 6.
Sits
George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers Vs. Atlanta Falcons
Kittle is a top-tier TE, but not for fantasy. The main issue with Kittle is that he is so relied upon for his blocking ability that he doesn’t get the chance to be a target monster like the other top TEs. The matchup against the Falcons is juicy, so I can’t fault you for putting Kittle in your lineup. I am just concerned that he will disappoint his fantasy managers with another lackluster performance. Kittle is a risky mid-tier TE1 in week 6 with an extremely low floor.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons Vs. San Francisco 49ers
Pitts is easily one of the most disappointing picks that fantasy managers have made this season. Not only is he now injured but prior to his injury, he was a terrible starting option. I still believe that Pitts will be a better option in the future, but I highly doubt it will be this season with the Falcons current QB options. Pitts is also coming off of an injury and is playing against a tough 49ers defense, both of those facts combined with the QB issue are good enough for me to fade Pitts this week. Pitts is a low-end TE2 with an extremely low floor and an abysmal ceiling.
Tyler Conklin, TE, New York Jets Vs. Green Bay Packers
Conklin put up a big ol’ goose egg last week against the Dolphins last week. Now you would understand that if it was a really low-scoring game, but the Jets won 40-17! All I can say is that none of the Jets receivers including Conklin can be trusted from week to week. Zach Wilson is too volatile of a QB and you will never know who will be receiving the bulk of the targets on any given week. You should be able to find an option that offers you a much safer floor and a ceiling much higher than 0 points this week. Conklin is a mid-tier TE2 with as low of a floor and ceiling as you can get in week 6.