There is nothing easy about making lineup decisions in fantasy football. It is a necessary part of the game. Getting these decisions correct is key to your success as a fantasy manager. Here to help you make those decisions are our positional start ’em and sit ’em picks.
Fantasy decisions will only get more difficult from here on out, so let’s take a look at our Week 6 start/sit plays for the WR position.
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Which WRs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. IND)
The Indianapolis Colts have made a habit of getting torched by opposing teams’ WR1s. Despite Calvin Ridley’s resurgence last week, I still believe that man to be Christian Kirk for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kirk is averaging 14 PPG, still slightly ahead of Ridley. He now gets a Colts defense allowing the ninth-most PPG to wide receivers.
As if the overall numbers aren’t favorable enough, the Colts allow the sixth-most ppg to the slot, which is where Kirk primarily operates. This is a nice spot for both Jaguars receivers. Get Kirk into lineups.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (vs. TEN)
If we’re going based on the pattern this season, Zay Flowers should be a sit this week. Of course, I don’t buy into that at all.
Through five weeks, Flowers has alternated double-digit target games, with the off-game seeing no more than five targets. So far, he’s been solid but has yet to really post a ceiling game. His 17.7 fantasy points in Week 1 remain his only game above 13.
MORE: Week 6 Start/Sit Options — QB | RB | TE
This week, the Baltimore Ravens get a Tennessee Titans defense allowing the seventh-most PPG to WRs. A whopping 74.7% of their receiving yards allowed go to the WR position.
The Ravens are home and coming off an inexplicable loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Look for their offense to get back on track in a big way. Given the Titans’ tough run defense, they should have to rely on Lamar Jackson’s arm. That should pave the way for Flowers to have a nice game. Dare I say he finds the end zone this week?
Which WRs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders (at ATL)
I’m not sure fantasy managers realize how underwhelming Terry McLaurin has been this season. Maybe it’s just me. Perhaps not rostering him on any fantasy teams has resulted in my not really noticing his disappointing start to the season.
McLaurin is averaging 12.6 PPG. That’s just 0.3 PPG more than Curtis Samuel. The two haven’t been much different for fantasy purposes this season.
Now, the Commanders get a Falcons defense that has been surprisingly stingy against wide receivers. They’ve allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to the position.
Teams have been attacking the Falcons via the tight end, with 31.4% of their receiving yards allowed going to that position. As for WR, it’s just 60.7%, one of the lower rates in the league.
McLaurin has given fantasy managers two WR1 performances this season. In his other three games, he’s been borderline unstartable. I fear this week may be the latter once again.
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans (vs. BAL)
What’s the opposite of point chasing? Point fading? Is that a thing? DeAndre Hopkins absolutely smashed last week, catching eight of 11 targets for 140 yards. Now, I want fantasy managers to sit him.
Why? Well, Hopkins really hasn’t looked good this season. As mentioned above, it’s just that every WR1 torches the Colts.
MORE: Week 6 Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Other than last week, Hopkins’ fantasy point totals were 13.5, 8.0, 7.8, and 10.3. That is incredibly unexciting.
While the Ravens aren’t an immovable force defensively, they’re still a below-average matchup for wide receivers. But this is less about the matchup and more about Hopkins being a declining talent. He’s not done yet, but the guy of the 2010s is certainly gone. If you started him last week, great. Don’t expect a repeat performance in Week 6.
Trending Searches for WR Start/Sit
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, which we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Christian Kirk or Adam Thielen?
This is easily the closest call the Start/Sit Optimizer has had to make in this week’s start/sits. The difference between these two is a mere 0.1 in the optimizer’s projections.
It is very hard to deny what Adam Thielen has done this season. He’s not only been a WR1, he’s been an elite WR1. Ever since his Week 1 dud, Thielen has posted fantasy totals of 20.4, 31.5, 15.2, and 27.7. Those are Justin Jefferson-level numbers. Sitting him feels wrong, especially in projected negative game script against the Dolphins.
Christian Kirk has been as reliable as it gets, though. He hasn’t scored below 14.4 fantasy points since Week 1. But he also hasn’t displayed the ceiling Thielen has.
I love the matchup against the Colts, but Kirk did only score 1.9 fantasy points against them in Week 1. However, that must be evaluated in the proper context. Zay Jones was healthy, and Kirk was only playing in three-receiver sets. Jones is currently hurt, and even when healthy, Kirk has now reclaimed the WR2 role.
As great as Thielen has been, I am going to agree with the optimizer and lean Kirk here.
Should You Start DeAndre Hopkins or Gabe Davis?
This one isn’t as close in the optimizer. It’s not a blowout, but it is firmly in favor of DeAndre Hopkins. My issue with Hopkins is prior to last week, he looked like a declining player. The Ravens are a much tougher matchup than the Colts.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
The issue with Gabe Davis is other than last week, his entire game relies on touchdowns. He’s now scored one in four straight.
While Davis did reach 100 receiving yards last week, he’s caught three passes or fewer in three of his five games this season.
Against the Giants, the Bills should be able to do whatever they want. That could mean another touchdown for Davis. It could mean heavy Stefon Diggs. It could mean a whole lot of James Cook and the running game. Davis remains a volatile start with a low floor and a high ceiling.
Despite me feelings that Hopkins’ game last week was a one-off, I am sticking with the veteran this week.