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Fantasy Football: Key Players To Watch From Each Team In Every Week 6 Game

At first glance, Week 6 looks like any other week. We’ve injuries to consider, a couple of teams are on bye and the fantasy football waiver wire looks about as barren as it did heading into Week 5. But, unsurprisingly, once you dig into the matchups, there’s intrigue within each contest.

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Cincinnati has a new QB, there’s a revenge game on the docket and the AFC playoff landscape continues to take shape. The storylines are endless. We’ve got fantasy football angles coming from all sides. To keep our focus, I’ve got two players from each game to monitor as Week 6 unfolds.

Denver Broncos @ New York Jets

I keep thinking we’ll see more of RJ Harvey, but J.K. Dobbins has kept the rookie at bay through five games. Fantasy managers who took Harvey in the early rounds got a glimmer of hope after Harvey found the end zone against Cincinnati in Week 4. But his snaps went down by half the following week, and he got just seven touches after getting 20 the week before. With the Jets allowing the second-fewest receiving yards to RBs, we might have to wait another week to see Harvey shine.

New York might have a WR2, but his position designation is TE. Mason Taylor’s route rate hit a season-high of 82% in Week 5. But more importantly, he had 10 targets. No pass-catcher outside of Garrett Wilson has had more than four. The Broncos have given up viable performances to opposing TEs (Tyler Warren, 7-79-0; Dallas Goedert, 9-3-19-1), lending some optimism to the rookie. But for Jets fans, let’s hope the production comes while the game is still competitive.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

At worst, Dillon Gabriel put the Browns in a position to win. Gabriel got the ball out quickly (2.45-sec average time to throw) and let his pass-catchers do the heavy lifting. His 5.4 YAC per completion nearly met Joe Flacco’s season-high mark of 5.6 from Week 1. Plus, he didn’t throw an interception. Facing the Steelers coming off an extra week of rest will be another tough challenge, but with a similar game plan, we might be able to trust some of the Browns’ pass-catchers in the future.

I wonder if DK Metcalf will have an increased role after his Week 4 outburst and a bye week to work with Aaron Rodgers. And no, I don’t mean more than the 126 yards he racked up against Minnesota. I’m talking about his opportunity. Even in a game where he crossed the century mark in production, he only had five targets. The same number he had the week before. And against Cleveland’s defense (which has allowed just one 100-yard receiver), Metcalf might need more than just a few looks to be fantasy relevant.

Arizona Cardinals @ Indianapolis Colts

I have no idea what to expect out of the Cardinals’ backfield split. Setting the Gannon-Demercado debacle aside, the guy we thought stood to gain the most from all of the injuries in Arizona only had one touch through three quarters in Week 5. Emari Demarcado was on the field for less than a third of the snaps, even before his goal-line snafu. But now, with the spotlight on rotation, a chance at redemption for the third-year RB shouldn’t be out of the question.

For as good an actual player as he is, Josh Downs hasn’t been the “sneaky, mid-round value” we billed him as over the offseason. He’s only gone over 10 PPR points twice. Last week was his first game with a route rate over 70% for two consecutive games. In any case, his upward trend of targets and air yards over the last couple of weeks is intriguing. And against Arizona’s secondary, some underneath looks to Downs should be the way Daniel Jones keeps the offense on schedule.

Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers

Based on Jake Ferguson’s ninth-round ADP coming into the season, clearly we all knew he could be the top tight end at some point during the season. Well, look at him now. At 17.2 PPR PPG, the Cowboys TE1 is our TE1. However, Ferguson’s ascension isn’t solely due to CeeDee Lamb’s absence. The veteran TE was up to a 24% target share in Week 2 with Lamb still active. But with the star WR still out, Ferguson benefits from Dak Prescott’s pass-friendly tendencies against the Panthers.

Sometimes the NFL scriptwriters give us a good story. Dallas jettisons Rico Dowdle to Carolina in the offseason, assuming the former backup will retain his secondary role behind Chuba Hubbard. But not only will Dowdle get a shot at revenge, he also got a week to warm up. In Hubbard’s absence, the fifth-year RB handled 79% of Carolina’s carries and 13% of the targets for 234 scrimmage yards. With the Cowboys allowing the fifth-most PPR PPG to RBs, we’re in store for a show in Charlotte on Sunday.

New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints

I wish Stefon Diggs could play one of his former teams every week. I’d be less concerned about how often he’s not on the field. Even in Week 5, the former Bills WR1 only ran a route on 64% of Drake Maye’s dropbacks. Sure, he’s earned over 40% of the targets in consecutive weeks. However, in New England’s Week 4 blowout victory against Miami, Diggs only ran one route in the fourth quarter. With the potential for a similar scenario against the Saints (3.5-point road favorites), we might see a step back in production.

Kendre Miller’s snaps and share of the backfield touches have continued to climb over the last month of action. Alvin Kamara has still maintained the majority of the receiving work (+20% target rate in Weeks 4 and 5), but Miller has encroached on the short-yardage role, making him a stash amidst trade rumors. While the Patriots are giving up the fifth-fewest PPR PPG to RBs, any continued effort to feature the third-year RB will be noteworthy.

Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens

It must be a figment of my imagination, but I seem to remember HC Sean McVay indicating he wanted a closer split between Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. But a close game challenged McVay’s ideals. In their OT loss to the 49ers, Williams played 91% of the snaps and hoarded 88% of the carries. Even after losing another fumble, McVay stuck with his guy. And now, with one of the league’s worst run defenses on deck, Williams should be a shoo-in for the top six at RB this week.

I may need to start Zay Flowers in a league or two, but Cooper Rush is making me hesitate. Fortunately, facing the Rams should be better than getting battered by the Texans. L.A.’s pass rush has been an issue for opposing QBs (average 47.6% pressure rate), but Mac Jones did show what a heavy dose of play-action and RPO concepts can do to move the ball against the Rams. Assuming Rush can stay upright, there’s a chance the Ravens can make this game competitive.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Miami Dolphins

It finally happened. Ladd McConkey led Chargers WRs in fantasy points after finding his way into the end zone. However, I have some concerns about the repeatability of the results. The Chargers’ passing game hit a season-low -6% PROE after leading the league in pass rate. Justin Herbert’s 3.8 air yards per attempt was his shortest depth through five weeks. Plus, Keenan Allen led the team in targets. I’m still starting McConkey against the Dolphins, but I’m not as confident as I was after seeing him score last Sunday.

If you go by PPR PPG, Darren Waller is the TE1, with an average of 18.3. Of course, he’s only played two games. However, his ability to partially fill the void created by Tyreek Hill felt fluky in Week 4. But another five targets against the Panthers quelled any concerns. Plus, his 13.2-yard aDOT (compared to Jonnu Smith’s aDOT of 5 yards in '24) should give us some confidence that the former rapper should be a starting TE moving forward.

More Week 6 Start/Sit Advice

Seattle Seahawks @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Sam Darnold’s career resurgence continues in Seattle. After leading the Vikings to 14 wins, Darnold sits in the top 10 of QBs in every metric from EPA per dropback (third) to total touchdown completions (tied for seventh). His problem is volume, though, not efficiency. At 28.2 dropbacks per game, opposing offenses have had to pull pass-friendly scripts out of Darnold and new OC Klint Kubiak. However, after watching Trevor Lawrence against the Chiefs, we may be in for a similar scenario on Sunday.

Just like Ladd McConkey Bros had to wait, it’s time for the Brian Thomas Jr. fan club to have their day. Jacksonville’s WR1 has started to look the part after a wrist injury contributed to his slow start. Thomas’ yards per route run have increased from 1.17 in Week 2 to 2.35 against the Chiefs on Monday night. Seattle has a litany of injuries to its defense, which allowed the Bucs to mount a comeback last week. Lawrence and Thomas have the chance to do the same in Week 6.

Tennessee Titans @ Las Vegas Raiders

I’m not surprised Tyjae Spears only played 26% of the snaps in his first game back. However, I’m expecting more from the dual-threat RB. In 2024, Spears had a 10% target rate (albeit from Will Levis and Mason Rudolph) and one of the ways teams have moved the ball against the Raiders’ pass rush is by using short-area looks to their runners. QBs have thrown an average of 16.8% of their passes to RBs through five weeks. If HC Brian Callahan wants to take the pressure off of rookie QB Cam Ward (and go for a win streak), quick passes to Spears would make sense.

If there was going to be a week for Geno Smith to (try to) redeem himself, it’d be against the Titans. Tennessee ranks in the bottom 12 in pressure rate, passing success rate allowed and yards through the air surrendered through five weeks. Plus, it gives up the fourth-most points to RBs. Ashton Jeanty and even Jakobi Meyers (with Brock Bowers likely out) should be in most starting lineups, but it all depends on whether Smith can limit how often he throws to the other team.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Green Bay Packers

Personal story: I had a front-row (well, nosebleed, really) seat to Jake Browning’s multi-interception performance against the Lions last week. I’ll accept Cincinnati trading for Joe Flacco. And not just what he can do for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but Chase Brown, too. As a starter, Flacco had the sixth-highest target rate to RBs (22.6%). They’ll have to operate behind the Bengals’ version of an offensive line, but the increased touches would lift Brown’s floor of fantasy production.

Green Bay has had its bye week. Hopefully, part of the break involved discussing how to integrate Matthew Golden into the offense further. In the first month, the rookie first-rounder only crested 80% of the routes once. He never had more than 20% of the targets in a single game. Against the Bengals’ secondary (allowing the 10th-most points to WRs), Jordan Love should have the time to find his new WR and build their much-needed rapport for later in the season.

San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I just want to know who’s healthy and playing for San Francisco this weekend. I didn’t realize that hoping for Christian McCaffrey’s constant availability meant we’d lose everybody else in the process. However, with the primary WRs still ailing, Kendrick Bourne has FLEX appeal (at worst). The former Patriot (with another New England castaway, Mac Jones) turned a 25% target rate and 30% of the air yards into 24.2 PPR points in primetime last week. The veteran WR is a viable play again for Week 6 since the Bucs’ defense has allowed multi-touchdown performances in three straight weeks.

I expected more of a split in Tampa’s backfield between Rachaad White and Sean Tucker. White worked through a foot injury last season, and Tucker has been serviceable in similar situations. However, White dashed any hopes of a committee, with 72% of the attempts, along with a 13% target share, in Week 5. And it’s not just that he got the opportunity, but what he did with his touches. Out of the 22 RBs with more than 50% of their team’s carries, White had top-10 marks in forced missed tackle rate and rushing success rate. Unless things change, White’s the only Tampa RB to roster until Bucky Irving returns.

Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs

So, Jameson Williams got an extension at the start of the season. However, he’s earning fewer targets per game through the first five weeks than he did last year (6 per game to 4). His receiving aDOT has been in double digits in three of five games. The “fancy MVS” moniker is starting to feel less like a joke and more like reality. But in what should be a back-and-forth matchup against Kansas City, I want to see if Jared Goff tries to connect deep to keep Detroit ahead of Patrick Mahomes.

Speaking of finding creative ways to spark an offense, Brashard Smith looks like the best candidate on Kansas City’s roster for the job. It’s either Smith or Tyquan Thornton. However, Detroit should be aware of Thornton’s threat as a deep-ball receiver. Smith’s usage out of the backfield is something of an unknown. Of the three Chiefs’ RBs, the rookie has the highest average yards per touch of the trio (6.5). Albeit Smith has done most of his damage as a receiver, his 6.7% explosive play rate (leads the backfield) will be something to watch for on Sunday night.

Buffalo Bills @ Atlanta Falcons

I keep trying to figure out what game script we need to get a solid performance out of Keon Coleman. In blowouts, he’s nowhere to be found (averaged 3.7 targets per game in Weeks 2-4). However, in Buffalo’s two close games, Coleman has had +20% target rates and a touchdown in each game. The Bills are 4.5-point road favorites for Monday night. But Atlanta is coming off its bye. If you can tell yourself a story that the Falcons make it a competitive affair, Coleman will be a part of the plotline.

Darnell Mooney continues to work through a hamstring injury, leaving the Falcons without a WR2. Now, I specifically used the “WR” label, as someone else on the team has the necessary skill set to fill the role. Kyle Pitts Sr. has earned five or more targets in every game this season. And unlike in years past, OC Zac Robinson is maximizing Pitts’ athleticism. His 5.6-yard aDOT is a career low. Like Jonnu Smith in 2024, Pitts may be the TE comeback player we didn’t see coming.

Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders

I mentioned Ladd McConkey’s success earlier, and we all know he primarily operates out of the slot. Washington’s stout pass rush combined with McConkey’s short-area routes were a potent duo. Enter Olamide Zaccheaus. Heading into the Bears' Week 5 bye, Zaccheaus was running a route on 68% of Caleb Williams’ dropbacks and working from the interior of the offensive formation at an aDOT of 5.6 air yards. While Rome Odunze will be the focus of fantasy managers and the Commanders’ secondary, Chicago’s inside man will be the one to watch on Monday night.

We all hoped Jacory Croskey-Merritt would take over Washington’s backfield, and the faithful got their wish in Week 5. The seventh-rounder handled 61% of the carries and, more importantly, all of the touches from inside the five-yard line. The Bears have been one of the run defenses to target as they’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to RBs. So, even with a mobile QB in front of him, Croskey-Merritt’s continued control over the backfield will be the storyline for the Commanders in Week 6.

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