Fantasy Football: Week 6 Starts And Sits
By Pat Pitts
Tuesday night football was exciting! Josh Allen finally came down to earth and the Titans looked like they hadn't missed a step. However, it’s time to look forward and set your lineups for this week. Here’s a few guys I am starting and sitting in my own leagues this week.
Start
Quarterbacks
Matt Ryan @ MIN
Matt Ryan started the season hot, but has cooled off quite a bit since Week 2. Ryan faces off against a Minnesota defense that is in the bottom ten in passing yards allowed per game. I expect this game to be a shootout as the Falcons take the field for their first game without Dan Quinn.
Kirk Cousins vs ATL
Dalvin Cook has been ruled out for Week 6 which should mean Cousins will be forced to throw the ball more against an injury plagued secondary.
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs NYJ
The Jets are awful, Fitpatrick is playing well, and the Dolphins offense is clicking. Fire up the magic man with confidence during a big QB bye week.
Running Backs
Jonathan Taylor vs CIN
Taylor has finished with double-digit fantasy points in four games and faces a Bengals defense that has allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league. Taylor could flirt with Top-5 RB fantasy points this week.
Devonta Freeman vs WAS
I am not saying this as an RB1 start, but with Chris Carson, Alvin Kamara, Josh Jacobs, and the Chargers backfield FLEX tandem on their Bye weeks, Freeman could absolutely be a serviceable FLEX start this week facing off against the Washington Football Team. Washington’s defense started the season turning heads, but has since cooled off due to injuries. Freeman leads the team in carries and yards since being signed after Saquon Barkley’s season-ending injury. He’s also a sneaky start for DFS.
James Robinson vs DET
James Robinson has been the shining star of the Jaguars backfield this season.
Robinson has also been involved more in the passing game, seeing four or more targets in each game, boosting his value in PPR leagues. He faces off against a horrendous Detroit defense in Week 6 that couldn’t stop the run if it was handed to them. I have full confidence starting Robinson this week as an RB1.
Wide Receivers
Chase Claypool vs CLE
Claypool takes on the Browns this week following his monster four touchdown game against the Eagles. Obviously, you can’t expect another four touchdown performance, but Claypool seems to have a role in this offense moving forward. In a divisional game, anything can happen, so starting Claypool as a WR3 with upside is perfectly fine.
Terry McLaurin @ NYG
McLaurin has been one of the few bright spots to the Washington offense this season and a matchup with the Giants should help him bounce back from a down game against the Rams where Kyle Allen got hurt and Alex Smith was forced onto the field where he threw nine passes for 37 yards. McLaurin should be treated as a low-end WR2 with possible upside due to the Giants defense being awful.
Jamison Crowder @ MIA
Jamison Crowder has a chance to finish as a WR1 this season. He’s gone over 100 yards in every game he’s played in this season and with the release of Le’Veon Bell, he’s the ONLY viable fantasy asset on the Jets roster. Fire him up as a massive volume WR2 against the Dolphins.
Tight Ends
Mike Gesicki vs NYJ
See Ryan Fitzpatrick
Evan Engram vs WAS
Evan Engram scored a touchdown last week against Dallas, and even though it was a rushing touchdown, it shows promise moving forward. Washington has allowed the fourth-most points to Tight Ends this season. He’s a potential boom play if you are dealing with Bye weeks.
Jimmy Graham @ CAR
Nick Foles has turned Graham into a startable commodity at the TE position, especially in PPR leagues. Graham is getting the target share and the end zone looks. Fire him up against the Panthers as a low-end TE1.
Sit
Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow @ IND
Burrow plays a very good Colts defense this week that’s out for revenge after falling to the Cleveland Browns in Week 5. The Bengals offensive line is not going to be able to stop the Colts pass rush, and it could be another long afternoon for Burrow and the Bengals.
Deshaun Watson @ TEN
The Titans looked unstoppable against the Bills on Tuesday night, and although the Texans looked good in their first game under Romeo Crennel, it’s another weird divisional matchup that could go in so many directions. You’re not exactly benching Watson, but temper expectations.
Baker Mayfield @ PIT
The Browns are clearly a run-first team and playing against a Steelers defense that neutralizes the run, Baker Myfield is going to be in a situation he hasn’t been in most of the season… passing an absurd amount. Mayfield is also dealing with a few injuries and looked like his shoulder got roughed up against the Colts. Be smart and play a QB that WILL field, not Mayfield.
Running Backs
D’Ernest Johnson @ PIT
This is Kareem Hunt’s backfield. Johnson was stuffed for 32 yards on eight carries against the Colts. Hunt is going to dominate the carries against the Steelers as the Browns will need the best talent to try and penetrate the defensive front Pittsburgh presents.
Kenyan Drake @ DAL
The Kenyan Drake experiment was a fun ride, but it has officially come to an end. He found the end zone last week, but Chase Edmonds has more carries and yards than Drake this season. It also looks like Drake is still dealing with the foot injury that had him in a walking boot before the season started. You’ve officially been warned of a timeshare backfield.
Mark Ingram @ PHI
The Ravens running game as a whole, outside of Lamar Jackson, has been bad. There’s no need to be starting Mark Ingram against the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line.
Wide Receivers
Brandin Cooks @ TEN
Cooks might have more value for the remainder of the season without Bill O’Brien, but don’t chase the points because you’ll be disappointed.
Amari Cooper vs ARI
This is a wait and see “sit”. With Andy Dalton now playing QB for the Cowboys following Dak Prescott’s horrible injury, this is the first full game we’ll get to see with a game plan for Dalton. Just like Deshaun Watson, temper expectations until we see what we get from a Dalton quarterbacked team.
Julian Edelman vs DEN
Without Cam Newton playing QB, Edelman’s value takes a massive dip. Even if Newton returns from the COVID-19 list for this game, it’s his first game back and we don’t know how he’s going to play. I have more confidence in their backfield than receiving core, which says a lot. Take a seat this week, Mr. Edelman.
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz vs BAL
News Flash: Ertz hasn’t done anything worth a damn this season to warrant starting him. The Eagles play the Ravens this week. Move along.
Tyler Higbee @ SF
The Rams offense seems to be back to their 2018 ways. Everyone seems to be involved, which gives me a bad feeling about Higbee’s production. Higbee doesn’t produce nearly the same when Gerald Everett is on the field. Everett also seems to be getting more involved in the offense and Higbee is fading into the fantasy abyss.
Austin Hooper @ PIT
I want Austin Hooper to be good. He is in a great situation with the Browns targeting the TE more than any team in the league, but the results are not there. I think he will put it together soon, but not this week against a Steelers defense that will require Hooper to block more to protect Baker and the running game. The Hooperstar remains a super sit.
If you do not see a player on this list and want my opinion, my DMs and replies are always open. Follow me on Twitter (@Pat_Pitts). Follow the show @4thandGoalUSP. Follow the Network @UndergroundPHI. Good day and good luck.