The results from Week 5 show how important it is to stay informed in-season. Several players came out of nowhere to post big fantasy numbers. The Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 6 picks help you identify values to target and fades to avoid.
It is also crucial to know which waiver wire pick to make and to stay up-to-date on the injury report.
Here are our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 6 picks.
QUARTERBACKS
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Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) – Cousins takes on a reeling Dolphins defense this week that is struggling without their two top corners. The entire defense is predicated on those corners being able to shut down receivers in man coverage so they can blitz the quarterback. Currently, they can’t cover or get pressure. Miami is allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and is less healthy going into this game than they’ve been all season.
Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) – Smith has been maybe the biggest surprise of the fantasy season. He currently sits as the QB8. Nobody saw that coming. This week he takes on a miserable Cardinals pass defense that is allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Smith should be viewed as a QB1 in Week 6.
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Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos) – Wilson has been struggling this season and now we learned he’s had a procedure on his throwing shoulder. The injury is expected to linger if he’s not shut down for a while. At this point, it’s just tough to trust him. If you have another option you should go in a different direction until Wilson gives you a reason to trust him.
Matthew Stafford (Las Angeles Rams) – Stafford just hasn’t been good all year. There isn’t much more to it than that. He’s been awful and you shouldn’t be starting him because he has a big name and people thought he’d be good in August. He currently sits as the QB22, sandwiched between Matt Ryan and Justin Fields. The sunk cost fallacy shows us it is time to move on from Stafford.
RUNNING BACKS
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Rhamondre Stevenson (New England Patriots) – With Damien Harris sidelined, Stevenson is a must-start. It’s always a bit nerve-racking starting a Patriots’ running back because of the unpredictability of the usage. But you should not be worried about that with Stevenson. He racked up 175 yards on 27 touches last week. Stevenson should be considered an RB1 this week. Also, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he finishes as the RB1 overall as the Browns are allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs.
Raheem Mostert (Miami Dolphins) – This is officially Mostert’s backfield. He out-snapped Chase Edmonds 46-10 and out-touched him 19-1. Mostert looked great topping 100 yards on the ground while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. This week he takes on the Vikings who are bottom -0 in the league when it comes to slowing down running backs. Mostert is a big-play threat who is getting a ton of volume. He should be in your lineup moving forward.
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Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Kansas City Chiefs) – The touches and snaps in Kansas City are becoming more and more unpredictable for everyone in the offense who isn’t Travis Kelce. For the second time in three weeks, Jerick McKinnon out-snapped CEH. On Monday, McKinnon led 53 percent to 43 percent. With the Bills on the schedule this week, it’s risky to play CEH against Buffalo’s No. 2 rushing defense. Edwards-Helaire would be a volatile touchdown-dependant gamble.
Najee Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) – Things are going downhill quickly for Harris. Normally, Harris provides a relatively high floor due to his volume and snap rate. However, Kenny Pickett has played one and a half games. In those six quarters, Harris has seen just four total targets. Even worse, last week Jaylen Warren played 51% of the snaps to Harris’s 49%. Harris is essentially unstartable this week against Tampa Bay, who is allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to running backs.
WIDE RECEIVERS
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Darnell Mooney (Chicago Bears) – Mooney has been a disaster this season but is still seeing the most targets in Chicago’s putrid passing attack. This week he goes up against the Commanders who have been torched through the air, allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to wideouts. He isn’t a must start, however, he isn’t a terrible flex option
if you’re looking for a bye-week fill-in.
Adam Theilen (Minnesota Vikings) – Theilen goes right along with Cousins. Miami’s defense is decimated right now and they can’t cover anybody. If Xavien Howard is able to play, that may be even better. Howard would likely shadow Justin Jefferson perhaps opening up even more targets for Theilen. Get him in your lineups this week.
Devin Duvernay (Baltimore Ravens) – Rashod Bateman‘s foot injury sounds more serious than the team is letting on. As soon as you hear mid-foot injury you know it’s going to be a major issue. With Bateman out, Duvernay was the clear WR1 in Baltimore last week. He saw seven targets and no other wideout saw more than two. Plus, Duvernay was a big part of the rushing attack. Even if Bateman is cleared this week, we do not know how effective he’ll be and Duvernay offers a high floor regardless.
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Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars) – It looks like defenses have caught up with Kirk. His production has declined each and every week of the season. Kirk bottomed out to a disastrous 1/11/0 outing versus Houston in Week 5. This week the Jaguars take on the Colts, who are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. He’s not a must-sit, but there’s a good chance you have a better option.
D.J. Moore (Carolina Panthers) – Matt Rhule has been fired and the quarterback is hurt in Carolina. Is that a good thing? Is that a bad thing? We just don’t know. Despite what should be a solid matchup against a struggling Rams’ pass defense, Moore just can’t be trusted to go out and give you a solid fantasy outing against Jalen Ramsey.
However, we should watch how this offense runs because any change at least gives hope for Moore’s future.
Diontae Johnson (Pittsburgh Steelers) – Last week we were worried that Johnson may not see the targets he needs to be relevant with Kenny Pickett under center. Unfortunately, there may be an even bigger issue now. Johnson got 13 looks and could only muster up five catches for 60 yards. Facing Tampa Bay’s No. 6 pass defense doesn’t offer much potential of a rebound, either.
TIGHT ENDS
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Hayden Hurst (Cincinnati Bengals) – Hust had a nice Week 5 with Tee Higgins banged up. Now, we’re not sure how healthy Higgins will be in Week 6. Hurst currently sits as the TE11 on the season in PPR leagues. Unless you have a fantasy stud you should probably have him in your lineup. Hurst may even be on waivers, making him an appealing streaming option.
Taysom Hill (New Orleans Saints) – We saw Hill’s upside last week as he accounted for four touchdowns. He is like having a lottery ticket in the middle of your lineup. It’s possible he only gets five carries for 20 yards, but he can also give you starting quarterback numbers any given week. He’s a boom-or-bust player with the ability to boom more
than any other option in the league.
Sit ‘Em
Hunter Henry (New England Patriots) – Henry was a popular dart throw last week with Jonnu Smith out and likely will be again this week. Henry did deliver his biggest game of the season. Nevertheless, that was just four receptions on five targets for 54 yards. Those were all season-high totals. Henry faces the Browns this week. who are allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. He is clearly a touchdown-or-bust option and if you’re going with a TD dart throw, pick a tight end on an offense that scores more touchdowns.
Gerald Everett (Las Angeles Chargers) – Everett has been great all year before giving you almost nothing last week. It’s understandable to want to plug him in another week and he’s not a must-sit. However, there were signs that a decline may have been coming. And those signs are only getting more evident. Fellow tight end Donald Parham returned last week and was on the field for 38% of snaps. Keenan Allen could also be back this week. This would give Justin Herbert another underneath option making Everett’s output less and less predictable.
