Fantasy football managers are faced with difficult start ’em/sit ’em decisions every week. With a variety of injuries to the elite options, Week 6 will feature more tough calls than any of the first five. Who can you trust?
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Top Start ‘Em Options for Fantasy Football Week 6
Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings
He saved your bacon (does anybody really understand why we use “bacon” in that saying?) with a touchdown catch in a game that saw the Minnesota Vikings run the ball 18 times and throw it 47. That style of offense is never going to put Alexander Mattison in a good spot, that’s just a fact.
With that said, I’m not too worried about the Chicago Bears forcing a game script upon the Vikings the way the Kansas City Chiefs did last week.
Say what you will about Justin Fields’ current run of production — he’s not an elite, game-changing type of quarterback. Over the past month, Minnesota has played two games against those top-tier quarterbacks (Mattison: 10.5 touches per game) and two against a lesser signal-caller (Mattison: 21.5 touches per game).
I have Mattison projected much closer to the latter than the former, and that is why he’s a top-20 play for me this week. It also should not be overlooked that he had a screen pass bounce off his hands last week, a play that easily could have been another 8.4 fantasy points on his ledger. The box score could have been better, even in a tough spot.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The talented rookie has yet to finish better than WR20 this season (three finishes outside of the top 40), but he is so close.
He set a career high with 11 targets last week in Pittsburgh. If not for a drop that negated a 20+ yard gain or a misstep that robbed him of a potential 75-yard touchdown, we are talking about a rise to stardom.
League average separation: 2.94 yards
Zay Flowers average separation: 3.91 yards
Mark Andrews average separation: 3.6 yards pic.twitter.com/GgeBWrkn9Q
— Ravens Nation LIVE (@LIVERavenNation) October 11, 2023
That breakout could be coming against a defense that allows 7.4 yards per pass (27th in the NFL).
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It is clear that Lamar Jackson is confident in his top receiver, and with a quick-hitting role that is expanding with time, this is an asset to acquire before the inevitable monster game.
Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Commanders
Logan Thomas has been a good player when healthy at various points of his career; staying on the field has just been the issue. Could that again prove true as the weather cools for this 32-year-old?
Of course, though, that shouldn’t stop you from taking advantage of this role while he has it. The starting tight end for Washington has scored or seen at least seven targets in four of five games this season. He proved to be Howell’s security blanket last week (more catches than any of his teammates had targets and a team-high 77 receiving yards).
At a position where volume is nearly impossible to find, Thomas is a top-12 play for me, and his value only increases in a full-PPR or TE premium setting.
Top Sit ‘Em Options for Fantasy Football Week 6
Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Through five weeks, Purdy has seen his MVP odds slashed in half and has finished as a top-13 fantasy option four times. He’s been nothing short of amazing.
I caution you, however, to not chase those numbers. As impressive as they are, that production is in the past and can’t help you moving forward.
The Browns are a top-five defense against fantasy quarterbacks entering Week 6 and have had an extra week to prepare for this matchup. This is a tough spot for Purdy as it is, and there is natural regression to anticipate.
In five games, he has thrown 30 passes just once, a lack of volume that is simply difficult to feel good about with an elite defense on the docket.
Purdy is my QB16 this week.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets
The offense as a whole looked better, but it wasn’t because Zach Wilson got the passing game rolling.
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The team’s star receiver has failed to clear 60 receiving yards in four of five games. In an offense that offers few scoring opportunities, Garrett Wilson remains outside of my top 30.
I’d rather take my chances on the secondary receiver for the Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, or Denver Broncos than roll the dice on the New York Jets’ top option.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans
Don’t look now, but Nuk’s receiving yardage has increased in three straight games, and he has a 30-yard reception in consecutive contests (he didn’t have a 30-yard catch in his six games prior).
It’s pretty clear that the talent is still there, and his eight-catch, 140-yard performance was plenty useful, though I caution against getting too excited. Heading into Week 5, per the Week 6 Cheat Sheet, DeAndre Hopkins was averaging under a fantasy point per target, a downside that doesn’t just evaporate after one week.
Hopkins is a viable Flex play — not a lineup lock — after the big game. I don’t mind the idea of selling the future Hall of Famer, understanding that he will project well just once over the next four weeks (vs. BAL, bye, vs. ATL, at PIT).