Week 6 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Analysis for Every Player in Every Game

Fantasy football leagues are won now. Sure, the championship matchup ultimately dictates the winner, but the teams who are in a position to participate in that final matchup are the ones who spent October/November building up their roster. They are the teams grinding the waiver wire and taking calculated chances. You want to be one of those teams, right?

Here are my thoughts on the entire Week 6 slate in an effort to get your team trending in the right direction as we approach the midway point of the fantasy regular season.

Bye Weeks: Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

• Spread: Chiefs -10.5
• Total: 48
• Broncos implied points: 18.8
• Chiefs implied points: 29.3

Quarterbacks

Russell Wilson: I thought Wilson looked reasonably spry last Sunday in defeat as he notched his second game this season with over 45 rushing yards (doubling his total from 2022). On top of some mobility, he fired multiple touchdown passes for the fourth time in five weeks, as it seems that the Broncos’ defense is essentially a fantasy steroid for Wilson when it comes to game script.

Denver hasn’t held an opponent to fewer than 31 points in four straight weeks, and as long as that continues, Wilson is going to be a streaming option. Dropbacks are the only way QBs earn fantasy points, and the run game is getting eliminated from the play sheet in short order.

Wilson accounted for exactly three scores in both games against Kansas City a season ago, and the flow of this game should resemble what we’ve seen from the Broncos over the past month. It may not be pretty, but if you lost Anthony Richardson on Sunday, Wilson is a decent stopgap.

Patrick Mahomes: Week 5 was just another ho-hum performance with a 70+ percent completion rate and multiple scores for the game’s best. It’s the third time in four weeks he has done that. He was kept in the pocket (0 rushing yards in Week 5 after averaging 38.5 through the first month), but that’s not such a bad thing when every pass he throws has the potential to be special.

He’s my QB1 this week in a “name your number” spot against the Broncos, a defense that was better last season when he threw for three touchdowns in both of their meetings.

Running Backs

Javonte Williams: A quad injury suffered in Week 4 kept Williams sidelined last week and has the potential to linger as the team figures to take a cautious approach. He’s a young back who already has a torn ACL on his résumé. Can you blame them?

Williams has yet to produce a top-25 week this season, and given the production behind him that occurred over the weekend, he won’t rank as a starter for me this week if he returns to action.

Jaleel McLaughlin: I thought there was supposed to be a learning curve for rookie backs being thrust into extended work?

Over the past two weeks, McLaughlin is doing his best De’Von Achane impression by averaging 8.8 yards per touch. That number alone would be impressive, but it hasn’t been the result of a single massive play – he has a 30+ yard run and an 18+ yard catch in each of the past two weeks.

MORE: Week 6 RB Waiver Wire Targets

I will admit that the touchdown against the Jets was a little fluky (a bobble on the screen pass ended up directing him to open space), but the fact of the matter is that he is proving himself capable and forcing his way into the touch mix. Nothing in this profile looks like a flash in the pan, and while his role is still up in the air, he deserves to be universally rostered.

Should Williams sit again this week (very possible if the team wants to take advantage of the mini-bye that comes with playing on Thursday), McLaughlin will be a top-30 play for me and, thus, a Flex starter in most formats.

Samaje Perine: Somewhat lost in last week’s Broncos vs. Jets game that featured explosive play after explosive play from young running backs was the fact that Perine out-snapped McLaughin 38-21 and racked up 95 yards of his own.

The team has shown its hand through five weeks that they don’t want the veteran touching the ball a ton (7.8 touches per game), but his proficiency in the passing game is certainly a weapon that will keep him somewhat involved.

Perine won’t be a top-40 RB for me this week or most weeks, though his presence has to be noted when trying to distribute touches to the other two backs in this system.

Isiah Pacheco: The streak extends to five straight with a score or a carry that ended inside the 3-yard line, a role that is fantasy gold in an offense that we expect to make four red zone trips per game.

The snap domination over Jerick McKinnon is nice (39-18), but the dead split on routes (12 apiece) is what I am here for. Pacheco earned only a single target in this game, but if his perceived weakness is becoming a split on top of the two-down and goal-line work, Pacheco is a threat to enter the low-end RB1 tier for the remainder of the season.

He averaged nearly six yards per touch in the first meeting with the Broncos last season and scored in the other. He’s safely inside my top 15 at the position in this spot.

Jerick McKinnon: You can keep holding out hope for him to burst on the scene like he did late last season, but there are no signs pointing in that direction. McKinnon has yet to get more than five touches in a game this season, and with the target count hovering around three per game, there’s almost no current path for him to matter.

Roster him if you’d like, but for me, he is on the chopping block if you need immediate help.

Wide Receivers

Jerry Jeudy: It would appear that Jeudy is close to full strength, as he hauled in a season-best six passes in the loss to the Jets last week.

He has seen five to seven targets in all four of his games this season, a tick below what we were hoping for this summer. He has had a pair of games where his per-catch production checked in under nine yards (2022: 14.5 yards per catch).

Starting any Denver receiver carries risk; that’s a given. Courtland Sutton entered last week having cleared nine fantasy points in every game this season, and he finished Week 5 with 1.8.

That said, Jeudy did catch 15 of 17 targets when facing the Chiefs last season (including a three-touchdown effort), and he is my preferred Broncos WR for Week 6. He’s a reasonable Flex play that shares a tier with Sutton along with the likes of Gabe Davis and Adam Thielen.

Courtland Sutton: The poor Week 5 showing (one catch on three targets for 13 yards) isn’t as concerning as the fact that he has failed to earn more than five targets in the majority of his games this season.

With the Broncos constantly playing from behind, his target count shouldn’t be a concern, but he’s been unable to prove stable in that regard, thus opening the door for dud performances like we saw last week.

Even with that being the case, he has scored in three of five games and is challenging Jeudy for the WR1 role in this offense. He’s far from a must-start, though you could do worse than a potential top target as a double-digit underdog.

Marvin Mims Jr.: We all want him to be a thing, but it might be time to admit that it’s not going to happen in 2023. Don’t get me wrong, the monster plays are still a possibility, but with him running just 12 routes last week to Brandon Johnson’s 25, Mims isn’t close in securing a consistent role in this Broncos offense.

For me, he is a plug-and-play option during heavy bye weeks when you are a massive underdog. Outside of that very specific situation, he can be left on waiver wires.

Rashee Rice: He is slowly working into the good graces of fantasy managers. Very slowly. Yes, he has seen at least five targets in four of five games this season and that makes him of interest, but he ranked fifth among receivers in routes and snaps last week.

His ability to earn targets is impressive as a rookie, and that has him ranked as a fine Flex play this week. That said, he could jump into the WR2 tier (ahead of the Broncos duo) if Andy Reid elects to put him on the field more often.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling: The cardio champion of 2023 continues to be on the field plenty (Kansas City’s WR leader in snaps and routes last week) and used very little. I’d call him a decoy, but that would imply that other teams are supposed to fear him, and I’m just not sure that’s the case.

The next game he earns more than three targets this season will be his first. While I subscribe to the idea of being on the field next to Mahomes is valuable, MVS is proving to very much be the exception.

Skyy Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Justyn Ross: In this world, down is up, and up is down. Right is left, and left is right. Volume is bad, and limited routes are good.

As if the Chiefs weren’t enough of an outlier already, their receiver room breaks every rule we as fantasy managers use to evaluate value. From last week, here is the breakdown of the percentage of snaps played followed by the target share earned:

Moore: 56.1% — 5.3% (targeted on 8.7% of routes)
Toney: 37.9% — 15.8% (targeted on 35.3% of routes)
Ross: 9.1% — 10.5% (targeted on 66.7% of routes)

This is as backward as it gets, and I think that is exactly the way Kansas City like it. For fantasy purposes, none of these players need to be rostered, but they all need to be tracked to see if any consistency emerges.

Tight Ends

Travis Kelce: It’s obvious that you’re playing Kelce if he goes, but he’s battling an ankle injury on a short week for a team that is more concerned about games in January than October. It should be noted that the Broncos have held him to 5.5 yards per target over the past two seasons, way down from his rate against the rest of the league (nine yards).

Should Kelce sit, Noah Gray is at least deserving of consideration, given the lack of clarity in this offense’s target hierarchy and the fact that he ran a route on 69.8% of his snaps last week. The Thursday night window is something of a blessing in this situation, as you will have a few days to decide on a replacement streamer should you pass on Gray.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans (London)

• Spread: Ravens -4.5
• Total: 40.5
• Ravens implied points: 22.5
• Titans implied points: 18

Quarterbacks

Lamar Jackson: After three straight games scoring north of 22 fantasy points, Jackson was held under 10 points against the Steelers. He turned the ball over twice and didn’t account for a score.

The raw numbers underwhelmed in a major way, but I’m not worried about it. The matchup against the Titans is pristine when it comes to passing, and with 55.3% of his targets last week going to his clear top two options in Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews, Jackson is in a good spot to take advantage.

There is no denying that there is downside to fear (no touchdown passes in three of five games), though the upside far outweighs that. Subsequently, I have Jackson as my QB4.

Ryan Tannehill: We are into the middle of October, and Tannehill still has yet to throw a touchdown pass in consecutive games. Sure, he threw for a season-best 264 yards and recorded his longest rush of the season (13 yards), but this offense simply isn’t built for him to matter to us.
Tannehill is an underwhelming two-QB league option at best and firmly off the radar for standard-leaguers who are looking for depth at the position.

Running Backs

Gus Edwards: We have a full-time committee on our hands, and Edwards’ lack of versatility lands him outside of my top 30 at the position. I still think he leads this backfield in carries, and that requires him to remain rostered — but not started.

In four of five games this season, Edwards has 12 or fewer carries without a single target. That’s not the profile of someone who matters in standard-sized leagues, especially with just one score on his 58 touches this season.

Justice Hill: Hill held a 39-30 snap edge to Edwards in Week 5 and was the clear option when Baltimore was in its two-minute offense. He scored a 14-yard touchdown against the Steelers, though it is worth noting that Edwards was largely responsible for getting him there.

And that’s the problem. This is a backfield that is going to be as even as it gets. They are splitting possessions, making it impossible to even project where the red zone usage is going. In this specific matchup, I prefer Hill, but that will very much be a moving target that requires weekly re-evaluation.

Derrick Henry: Through five weeks, Henry has been held under 65 rushing yards three times and has averaged under 3.5 yards per carry in three of his past four games. At this point, his stock is fully dependent on the game script.

Wins (two): 23.5 carries per game with two touchdowns
Losses (three): 13 carries per game with zero touchdowns

With a little more touch on a pass, he could have given you another 4.5 fantasy points last week, but if we are at the point where we need Henry’s arm to provide value, it’s a problem.

Baltimore is more than a field goal favorite on the road, a suggestion that this could be a trouble spot for Henry. He’s still a fantasy starter, but Henry is outside of my top 10 this week.

Tyjae Spears: His dynamic skill set was on display when he found the end zone on a 19-yard reverse, turning his 11 touches into 69 yards during an impressive showing. The rookie continues to compete with Henry when it comes to snaps and holds a weekly edge in routes run.

As encouraging as it is to see him on the field, this offense simply isn’t strong enough to support multiple backs. Dynasty managers can be encouraged for the future, while redraft managers are left with an asset they cannot do much with.

Wide Receivers

Zay Flowers: 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, and 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.

That breakout could be coming against a defense that allows 7.4 yards per pass (27th in the NFL). It is clear that 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.

Odell Beckham Jr.: Don’t fall into the trap of chasing the name value now that OBJ is back on the field. He has yet to earn more than four targets in a game this season, and his one long reception has accounted for 36.7% of his yards for the year.

Rashod Bateman: There isn’t any need to chase the second receiver in this offense. Bateman saw the first target of the game, and that was his only reception. He dropped an easy target in the end zone, but even had he come down with it, the lack of volume and per-target upside simply isn’t there in this passing game for a non-Flowers or Andrews option.

DeAndre Hopkins: 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, Hopkins was averaging under a fantasy point per target, 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).

Treylon Burks: The talented receiver is dealing with an LCL sprain to the same knee that cost him time this summer. He hasn’t been practicing much this season and could be inactive again this weekend with Tennessee heading into their bye after they return from London.

He is a hold in dynasty formats and someone who doesn’t need to be rostered in standard-sized leagues.

Tight Ends

Mark Andrews: He remains among the elite at the position and set season-highs in catches (six) and targets (10) against the Steelers. The target volume (he had a total of 10 targets in his two games prior) has him as the favorite to lead the position in fantasy points this season should Travis Kelce miss significant time.

Chigoziem Okonkwo: It was a weird game for the Titans (more completions than rush attempts) and that resulted in nine targets coming his way (Weeks 1-4: 11 targets). Sadly, he turned those targets into just 33 yards, further proof that he isn’t in a position to matter for us.

If this level of involvement is sustained with time, Okonkwo could be a late-season streamer. There’s just no need to hold on and hope for that.

Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons

• Spread: Falcons -2.5
• Total: 42
• Commanders implied points: 19.8
• Falcons implied points: 22.3

Quarterbacks

Sam Howell: It’s not always pretty, but he has cleared 20 fantasy points in three of his past four games and has ranked inside the top 15 at the position in four of five games this season. He’s not Mike Vick, but he does have a 10+ yard carry in four straight games, one of the positives for him having to run for his life on a consistent basis (29 sacks).

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

My worry here, on top of the downside that comes with the sacks, is his lack of interest in featuring his star receiver, Terry McLaurin. There are not one, not two, not three, but four Commanders averaging 5.4-6.2 targets per game. Spreading the ball around is great, but with a clear WR1, the distribution shouldn’t be this even.

Howell remains a nice streaming option, though with only Jordan Love and Kenny Pickett on bye this week, I’m not sure you need to dig this deep.

Desmond Ridder: If you have a good feel for the Falcons and think they can win, then Ridder is worth a look. In their past two wins, he’s averaging 23.8 fantasy points, and in their two losses this season, he’s averaging 6.3.

On a more serious note, the seven-yard touchdown run was a schemed play, and that’s encouraging. That said, he still has more multi-interception games than multi-passing TD games this season, and that’s going to significantly cap his upside. The playmakers around Ridder give him upside, depending on the matchup.

This matchup isn’t that, though, with extra time for the Commanders to prepare for a rather bland offense.

Running Backs

Brian Robinson: He was completely scripted out of the Week 5 blowout loss to Chicago, so he has an excuse for 10 rushing yards. This is a devil on one shoulder and angel on the other situation for me.

ANGEL

In a game where the Commanders were trailing, Robinson was on the field plenty and reeled in all four of his targets. He has multiple grabs in three of his past four games and already has as many catches (and 28 more receiving yards) as he had all of last season.

DEVIL

That’s three straight weeks for Robinson with under 15 carries, and if you remove his two longest carries of the season, he’s down to 3.4 yards per carry. He scored twice against a Broncos defense that was beginning their historically poor run but has just one score on his other 49 carries this season.

This is a fine matchup that doesn’t scare me, though I’m losing faith that Robinson possesses much of a ceiling. Play him in the James Conner tier of reasonable-floor RBs, despite the down Week 5 that got away from Washington.

Antonio Gibson: He was on the field for 38 snaps due to the nature of the game. With the spike in playing time, he got his hands on the ball four times. His next week with more than seven touches this season will be his first. There’s no reason to keep him on your roster at this point.

Bijan Robinson: In the battle of the B. Robinsons, Atlanta’s rookie holds the significant edge. The ease in which he makes plays in space is well beyond his years, and it’s hard to imagine a player like this being held without a rushing touchdown (67 carries) for much longer.

The one-handed touchdown against the Texans was a thing of beauty for most. It is the type of play he makes routinely.

With Christian McCaffrey in a tough matchup against a Browns team coming off a bye, Robinson holds the RB1 spot in my rankings this week and is angling for a career game.

Tyler Allgeier: The touch count is enough to justify him on your roster, but the upside is capped in a major way. Allgeier hasn’t scored since Week 1 and ran a route on just 27.3% of his snaps last week (Robinson: 48.9%).

With under 50 total yards in four straight games, Allgeier is nothing more than roster depth/Robinson insurance at this point.

Wide Receivers

Terry McLaurin: The Commanders were forced into a pass-heavy score-quick script last week against the Bears. McLaurin saw a 10.4% target share. Wait, what?

I’m not exactly sure how that happens in a plus matchup, and I don’t think it will again, but the idea that it can happen is worrisome.

There are four Commanders averaging 5.4-6.2 targets per game this season and, should that continue, McLaurin isn’t going to return anywhere near the value we thought he would when we were drafting this summer.

The only thing worse than playing McLaurin last week might be playing him this week against A.J. Terrell in a game that probably doesn’t feature 51 Howell pass attempts. He’s a fringe top-30 receiver for me this week, easily the lowest rank I’ve assigned him this season.

Jahan Dotson: He’s 23 years old. By no means am I writing him off and I actually think he’s a fine dynasty buy right now, but with him yet to clear 40 receiving yards in a game this season, he doesn’t need to be rostered, let alone started.

We knew the efficiency from his standout rookie season would regress; nobody scores once every five receptions. However, he was flirting with 15 yards per catch last season and is now hovering around eight. If the big play is no longer a part of his role, Doctson is a talent-based stash at best who has shown us nothing this season that demands a roster spot.

Curtis Samuel: It may not be spectacular, but with over 50 receiving yards in four of five games and north of 14 fantasy points in both of his games this month, Samuel is working his way onto fantasy benches due to an elevated floor.

The ceiling is capped (5.4 targets per game and only one season on his résumé with more than five touchdown catches), but with gadgety plays to get him in space, you could do worse when your roster is hit hard with byes and/or injuries.

That’s probably not the case this week, however, so Samuel is still outside of my top 40 at the position.

Drake London: He has reached double figures in three of his past four games, and while the upside is limited, at least there is something of a floor that we weren’t sure would be possible.

Of course, given how this offense functions, the volume is always a risk (no more than three catches in three of five games) and is enough of a concern to have him ranked outside my top 30 at the position in this matchup.

Tight Ends

Logan Thomas: 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, and 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.

Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith: I wouldn’t have an issue in turning to this limited offense if one tight end had the pass-catching role to himself, but as long as that’s not the case, neither Pitts nor Smith will be cracking my top 12 at the position.

In Week 5 against the Texans, Smith held the edge in both snaps (49-40) and routes (26-25), but it was Pitts producing for fantasy managers with seven catches and 87 yards.

Is it possible that Pitts is getting healthy and we will look back on that performance as a turning point? I guess so, but until Smith stops earning targets in a similar role, why challenge fate? Why take on a committee in a run-centric offense when their are solo options in more neutral offenses on your waiver wire?

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

• Spread: Vikings -2.5
• Total: 44.5
• Vikings implied points: 23.5
• Bears implied points: 21

Quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins: Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Kirk Cousins. That, friends, is a list that includes one player who has multiple touchdown passes in all five weeks this season.

Yep, Cousins. He lacks the highlight potential and has seen his completion percentage dip with each passing week, but he continues to get it done. Every week.

What is getting overlooked in the Justin Fields resurgence is the fact that this secondary continues to give up yards all over the place. In those two bounce-back games, Chicago has allowed 611 yards and five touchdowns through the air.

Cousins could see his efficiency bounce back (49 of 61 against the Bears last season, 80.3%), but how much will the absence of Justin Jefferson impact his ceiling? I had him safely inside my top 10 at the position when we thought Jefferson had a chance to go. But now, he slides in as my QB11 (just behind Jared Goff and Joe Burrow).

Justin Fields: Our big problem through three weeks was the play calling in Chicago, but things can flip on a dime, and they have for the Bears. Over the past two weeks, Fields has thrown for 175-plus yards in the first half of each of those games, leading his Bears to a 48-10 scoring edge in those first 30 minutes.

We can give the players credit for making the plays, but the coaching staff also deserves credit for the early script.

17-game pace:

Fields, Weeks 1-3: 2,981 passing yards, 17 TDs, and 23 INTs
Fields, Weeks 4-5: 6,146 passing yards, 68 TDs, 9 INTs

Just in case you needed a picture of this turnaround, now you have it. He has posted the top-two passer ratings of his career over the past two weeks and looks comfortable leading this offense. He was successful as a passer against these Vikings in his one game against them last season (67% completion rate, supported three pass catchers to clear 60 receiving yards).

There is a top-tier of quarterbacks this week in great spots, but outside of those three (Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson), you could argue for Fields as the next best option for this week.

Running Backs

Alexander Mattison: He saved your bacon (does anybody really understand why we use “bacon” in that saying?) with a touchdown catch in a game that saw Minnesota run the ball 18 times and throw it 47. That style of offense is never going to put Mattison in a good spot, that’s just a fact.

With that said, I’m not too worried about the Bears forcing a game script upon the Vikings the way the 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.

Cam Akers: He has exactly five carries and two catches in both of his games with the Vikings, a role that isn’t nearly friendly enough to make him of interest to us (out-snapped by Mattison 37-21 last week).

You could do worse as a back-of-roster stash, as Mattison isn’t exactly a proven talent ahead of him. Also, while this is a strong offense, he doesn’t need to be rostered as we get into the true grind of the fantasy season.

Khalil Herbert: The Bears’ starter will miss “multiple weeks” after suffering an ankle injury on Thursday night against the Washington Commanders. He attempted to return to the game last week, but he clearly wasn’t right and slid down without much contact.

The injury slows the momentum he was building over the past three weeks of 23 carries for 93 yards (28 carries for 179 yards over the past two.) I’m keeping him rostered until we get a firmer timeline, but the Bears don’t get their bye until Week 13, which makes this situation require constant monitoring through the coming weeks.

Roschon Johnson: The rookie left the Week 5 win in the second quarter with a concussion, so if we’ve learned anything from the first five weeks of the season, it’s that it generally takes 8-12 days to pass through protocol.

He has yet to get 10 carries in a game this season, and after catching six balls in his NFL debut, Johnson has just five catches in his past four games. Due to the injury to Herbert, Johnson should remain rostered in all formats, but he will not be available this weekend as he has been ruled OUT.

D’Onta Foreman: The veteran back has been a healthy scratch for each of the past four games after getting seven touches for 24 yards in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, but he will be called upon this week with the injuries ahead of him on the depth chart.

Foreman had a career year in 2022 for the Panthers (914 rushing yards while averaging 4.5 yards per carry and scoring five times), his first season with a consistent workload. That works out to 7.4 half-PPR points per game – production that is capped significantly by his lack of involvement in the passing game (34 targets in 44 career games).

with Johnson and Herbert sidelined, Foreman projects for 15+ touches in an offense that is trending in the right direction. He’s not an exciting play, but he should be a good bet to return viable flex production in all formats.

Wide Receivers

Justin Jefferson: “JJettas” hurt his hamstring in the second half of last week’s loss to the Chiefs and has been placed on IR as a result. He will miss at least the next four games, with his earliest return to action coming in Week 10 against the Saints. The Vikings don’t have their bye until Week 13 – the hope being that their star receiver can return prior to that.

MORE: 3 Potential Fantasy Replacements for Justin Jefferson

This injury stinks, but if you can survive it (or buy him at a discount from a manager who needs to win now), it’s worth noting that Minnesota gets Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Green Bay in Weeks 14-17 when most fantasy leagues crown a champion.

Jordan Addison: A receiver playing next to Jefferson has returned top-35 WR numbers in four of five games, and Addison accounts for three of those instances. He saw a season-best nine targets in the loss to Kansas City, and while he failed to separate from WR K.J. Osborn in any of the usage metrics, the difference in per-target upside is becoming more and more clear with time.

Your instinct may be to upgrade Addison with Jefferson out, but I fear that the attention that would come with being the WR1 would offset any target boost. I highlighted Addison as the receiver I want to buy moving forward on the PFN Fantasy Podcast this week, and I have him ranked as a low-end WR2/strong flex option this weekend in Chicago.

K.J. Osborn: Osborn held the edge over Addison on both snaps (64-54) and routes (44-41), but he failed to reach 50 yards, despite a season-high in both catches (five) and targets (nine). Remove two catches from his 2023 ledger, and we’re looking at a low-volume option that is averaging under 10 yards per catch.

Osborn was a nice waiver claim this week, given the explosive nature of this offense and his sudden increase in the role. I still prefer Addison to Osborn, but both offer top-30 potential as Minnesota looks to change its identity without their best player for at least a month.

DJ Moore: The slate-breaking Week 5 performance of eight catches for 230 yards and three scores could have been even bigger (Fields misfired on what would have been a 25-yard touchdown) and has everyone on notice now. But let’s not act like this is his first valuable effort of the season.

Despite Fields working through some issues, Moore has three straight games with a score, has cleared 100 receiving yards in three of his past four, and has seen his targets continue to trend up. Last week’s domination of the Commanders will be his best game of the season, but it’s not as if he was struggling prior to the breakout.

Nothing the blitz-heavy Vikings have done this season has me thinking Moore will slow down in this spot. He’s a borderline WR1 for me this week and for the remainder of the season.

Darnell Mooney: You could argue that Mooney cut a route short, and it resulted in a big play early last week. Even if that’s your stance, the fact that he only saw three targets the rest of the game is a red flag.

His profile offers upside, but this offense doesn’t. DJ Moore was the only Chicago WR with a catch last week. That won’t always be the case, but he is the only one that needs to be rostered.

Tight Ends

T.J. Hockenson: The low aDOT role drops the floor on Hockenson, but with at least eight targets in four of five games, his status as an elite fantasy tight end is going nowhere. Of course, being held out of the end zone in four of five games is troublesome.

That said, don’t lose track of the position Hockenson plays, and be thankful you are not wandering blindly down the TE streamer streets.

Hockenson is easily the most expensive tight end on the DFS main slate this week, and I have no issue in paying the premium in what profiles as an extreme usage spot.

Cole Kmet: Moore’s stat lines pop off the screen, but you could argue that the improved play from Fields is helping Kmet’s stock more than anyone. During Weeks 1-3, the tight end scored 15.9 fantasy points. Weeks 4-5 saw 36.8 total fantasy points.

He is never going to be a high-volume option due to how this offense functions, but his 79.3% catch rate is useful if he is going to assume the secondary role in this passing game alongside Moore.

Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals

• Spread: Bengals -3
• Total: 45.5
• Seahawks implied points: 21.3
• Bengals implied points: 24.3

Quarterbacks

Geno Smith: The former West Virginia Mountaineer celebrated his 33rd birthday on Tuesday, and his fantasy managers are in need of a gift if they remain loyal to him. The 2022 breakout star has just one top-15 finish on his resume this season.

Sinks can normally withstand a singular leak, but it’s a problem when water starts coming in from various spots. That’s the current situation with Smith. Through four games, 68.2% of his rushing yards have come on a single carry – a lack of versatility that has his floor sitting far lower this last year.

But wait, there’s more. In two of his four performances so far, he has been held under 115 passing yards. In short, there is nothing “safe” about his profile this season, which was the story of his 2022 campaign (13 games with at least 210 passing yards and 11 games north of 15 rushing yards).

Still, there are some metrics to like in this matchup. The Bengals are a top-10 team in blitz rate and bottom-five in hurry rate. If they are going to leave a rested WR D.K. Metcalf and WR Tyler Lockett in single coverage with time to work, Smith is going to post a manageable fantasy stat line. Combine that potential with Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow potentially putting pressure on Smith to keep up, and I have him as a top-15 play at the position.

Joe Burrow: Is Burrow back? After not posting a single top-20 finish through four weeks, Burrow was a top-10 producer last week in Arizona against the Cardinals – thanks to 317 yards and four touchdowns on 46 attempts. He employed the tried-and-true strategy of throwing almost every other pass to his best receiver, and it paid dividends.

The Seahawks grade as one of the better pressure teams in the league, thanks in large part to their dismantling of the New York Giants in Week 4, but I’m not too worried about that. Burrow owned the second-lowest aDOT in the NFL through four weeks, and it only ticked up by 6.9% during his big Week 5.

With or without WR Tee Higgins, Burrow is the QB I want in this specific game. He comes in as a top-12 play for me this week.

Running Backs

Kenneth Walker III: He has been a scoring machine (five touchdowns) since being held out of the end zone in Week 1. That has guided him to three straight top-15 finishes at the position.

The combination of volume (17+ carries in three straight) and propensity for the big play (three 30+ yard gains over his past two games) makes him a top-10 option at running back this week and the rest of the season. You have yourself a star that was drafted at a discount – enjoy the ride.

Zach Charbonnet: The touch count has yet to take off, and I don’t envision that changing any time soon. Still, the fact that his yards per carry have increased each week is at least worth noting.

Charbonnet remains one of my favorite insurance backs in the game. The talent is there, and with second-round draft capital tied to him, he’s a Walker injury away from being a lineup staple. The dream of standalone value in a healthy backfield is dead, in my opinion, and that is why he ranks outside of my top 30.

Joe Mixon: The Bengals’ back has seen his rushing yardage total increase every week this season (56-59-65-67-81), and he has earned at least four targets in the majority of games. Mixon has been the reliable option in this offense up to this point, and his volume allows him to overcome a lack of explosion (three straight games without a 15-yard touch).

Mixon has just one touchdown on 97 touches this season, which is a rate I expect to regress closer to his career norm of a score every 31 touches as this offense hits its stride. You can feel good about starting Mixon each and every week.

Wide Receivers

DK Metcalf: It may mean something, or it could mean nothing, but Metcalf’s top game last season in terms of catches (11) and targets (15) came off of the bye. He has at least 75 yards or a touchdown in all four games this season and should be locked into lineups across the board with confidence.

That said, I’m tempted to look elsewhere when building DFS lineups this week. The Bengals have allowed just one touchdown to opposing WR1s this season. In my opinion, the fact that the Bengals are a top-10 blitz rate defense that ranks bottom 10 in hurry rate opens them up to a route-running servant like Tyler Lockett, especially coming off of a bye where Seattle’s coaching staff has extra time to scheme up creative combinations.

Tyler Lockett: He hasn’t been Bengals’ WR Tee Higgins bad, but his profile reads similarly: a top-10 finish in Week 2 surrounded by three finishes outside of the top 40.

As mentioned in the Metcalf preview, I like Lockett’s archetype for DFS more than Metcalf’s in this specific matchup on a per-dollar basis, but it’s clear that there is some risk involved. From 2018-22, he was recording a 73.9% catch rate, while so far this season, he’s lowered to 63%.

Do I expect that catch percentage to rise back to Lockett’s established norm? I do, but there is the risk of Geno Smith generally falling back to Earth after what he did last season (2022: 5.2% pass TD rate, 2023: 4.1% pass TD rate).

I’m starting Lockett where I have him, and I prefer him to a handful of WR1s, such as Terry McLaurin, Marquise Brown, Garrett Wilson, DeAndre Hopkins, and others this week.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba: The rookie was born on Valentine’s Day, but he hasn’t done anything to show his fantasy managers love. He should remain rostered the same way San Francisco 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell does; no standalone value but is one injury away from being elevated to a weekly option.

He’s still a fine dynasty option and could be acquired at a reasonable price if the team with him is looking to win right now. He is also the focal point of an incredibly specific stat comparison that only nerds like me find entertaining. He was born the same day (12 years later) as a receiver in Alshon Jeffery, who found his fantasy footing in his second year.

Smith-Njigba | Jeffery

• Year 2 of college, yards per catch: 16.9 | 17.2
• Year 2 of college, TD receptions: 9 | 9
• First four NFL games, catches: 12 | 11
• First four NFL games, targets: 20 | 18
• First four NFL games, number of games with a catch over 10 yards: 1 | 1

Thank you for indulging me.

Ja’Marr Chase: Remember when Chase had 70 yards through two weeks to open this season? He had 68 yards in touchdown catches alone against the Arizona Cardinals last week. Additionally, his target share has jumped from 32.6% in Week 3 and 33.3% in Week 4 to a nice 43.2% in Week 5.

The plan to get Burrow right is pretty clear. He needs to give Chase an opportunity. This trend will slow sooner than later, and the return of Tee Higgins will make a dent, but not one big enough to knock him off my WR1 line. It’s possible that Chase was to blame for your slow start, so now, you owe him an apology for losing your temper.

Tee Higgins: The broken rib from Week 4 caused Higgins to miss his matchup against Arizona, but could the week off do him some good? While the targets have been there (7.3 over the two seasons prior), the production has not (three finishes outside of the top 80 WRs).

This is a situation I’ll continue to track until kickoff as I try to get a feel for how limited he will be if he’s active. He’s considerably lower in my ranks than when the season kicked off, but he’s still currently inside of my top 25.

Tyler Boyd: With Higgins active in Weeks 1-4, Boyd avenged just 6.8 targets and 31.8 yards. With a broken rib sidelining the receiver last weekend in Arizona, Boyd exploded for seven targets and 39 yards.

It’s pretty clear that Boyd and Smith-Nijgba are not to be viewed the same, despite their season-opening role as the clear WR3 on their respective teams being identical. I’m fine with rostering him for a decent target count in the event that you run into injuries and need volume, but I’m not fine with expecting him to project as a top-35 receiver.

Tight Ends

Given the firepower at receiver and ability to pick up yards on the ground, neither of these offenses requires a tight end to do much. There is truly no such thing as a bad TE streamer, given how little it takes to produce at a top-12 level, but there are “less good” options. The TEs on both of these rosters would qualify as such.

San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns

• Spread: 49ers -5.5
• Total: 37.5
• 49ers implied points: 21.5
• Browns implied points: 16

Quarterbacks

Brock Purdy: 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.

MORE: Brock Purdy Trade Value — What To Do With 49ers QB Moving Forward

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.

Deshaun Watson: It was rumored that Watson (shoulder) was cleared to play in Week 4, but he opted to sit. Backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson saw his completion count match his QBR, giving the team every reason to want Watson back after the bye week.

The last time we saw Watson was in an impressive 27-3 win over the Tennessee Titans, where he went 27 for 33 with 289 yards and two scores. That was nice, but this matchup isn’t that. I’m not dismissing Watson as a potential top-12 option with time, but he won’t be that in this matchup without full health.

Running Backs

Christian McCaffrey: Where are we at with CMC these days? He posted 78 yards and a touchdown in the Week 5 blowout of the Cowboys, and fantasy managers were complaining.

McCaffrey has scored in 14 straight games (T-second-longest streak in NFL history) and is versatile enough to put up high-end numbers against one of the best defenses in the league. He could flirt with 2,300 total yards and 20 scores in a LaDainian Tomlinson-like season.

Thank your lucky stars for having him on your roster. Seasons like this don’t come around all that often.

Elijah Mitchell: A knee injury sidelined him last week, and the hope seems to be that one game off is all that he will need. While Mitchell doesn’t hold standalone value, this is an injury worth monitoring as the backup RB in San Francisco is only a CMC injury away from being a weekly fantasy asset.

Jordan Mason ran hard (10 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown) in mop-up time against the Cowboys and should be on your radar if Mitchell’s timetable to recover gets extended.

Jerome Ford: Ford has averaged under three yards per carry in both of his games since taking over the starting role for Nick Chubb, though they have come in tough spots (Titans and Ravens).

Even with limited success, Ford has found a way to reward fantasy managers in both of those games (two short scores in Week 3 and five catches in Week 4) and Kareem Hunt has yet to pose a legitimate threat to his lead role.

The schedule will lighten with time, but that time is not Week 6 – the 49ers are coming to town. The brutal matchup makes Ford just as risky as he proved to be in his past two games: he needs to do something exceptional.

It’s possible that he does, but the fact that Ford needs to do it to pay off is what has him a bit lower in my ranks this week than previous ones. I have Ford as a fine Flex play that carries as much (if not more) risk than potential reward.

Kareem Hunt: He has picked up 25 yards on his 10 carries since signing with the Browns and saw just three targets in those two games. If you have roster space available, he’s a fine stash, though I don’t see him holding standalone value any time soon sans an injury to Ford.

If you’re in a roster crunch for one reason or another, Hunt is on the chopping block.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Aiyuk: As per usual, the Aiyuk Express is one that is difficult to gauge. He has played four games this season and has alternated top-10 finishes with performances that rank him outside of the top 35.

On the bright side, his involvement has been consistent (6-8 targets in each of those games), something that gives us hope for stability. Most weeks, I prefer Aiyuk to Deebo Samuel, but this week, I have them flipped.

2023 aDOT

Aiyuk: 15.7 yards
Samuel: 7.4 yards

Deebo Samuel: Why do I prefer Samuel to Aiyuk this week? That difference in average depth of target listed above creates a floor that I want to target this week against the best pressure defense in the league.

Despite the low aDOT, Samuel has a 20-yard catch in four of five games and a 40-yarder in two of his past three (the exception in both of those cases was Week 4 against the Cardinals, a game in which he was used as a decoy while battling a rib injury).

Prior to that injury, Samuel was averaging 12 opportunities per game, and that is the sort of role I want when going head-to-head with the rested elite front seven that the Browns bring to the table. Both are WR2s for me this week, but Samuel is on the high end while Aiyuk is on the low.

Amari Cooper: With only one top-30 finish on the season, I understand it if you’re getting antsy as a Cooper manager. But keep in mind that he’s averaging nearly eight targets per game and looked good in the two games prior to the Week 4 disaster that featured Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center.

My ranking of Cooper as a low-end WR2 (WR3 in this game) is me betting on a healthy version of Watson coming out of the bye. If we get word that Watson’s shoulder continues to bother him, Cooper would fall 10 spots in my ranks, landing him in the Gabe Davis range for Week 6.

Elijah Moore: I’m encouraged by the 8.3 targets he has averaged in Watson starts this season and remain bullish on him the rest of the way. But not in this spot with a less than 100% healthy Watson.

As involved as he has been, Moore still has yet to score or clear 50 receiving yards in a game, putting his floor lower than someone I am comfortable with inside my top 35.

For reference, I prefer both Vikings receivers with their expanded roles over Moore this week.

Donovan Peoples-Jones: I remain a buyer of his talent, but with just one game of 15+ receiving yards this season, there’s clearly no reason you need to hold onto DPJ.

If his air-yard share (currently at 11.9%) ticks up and Watson shows increased health, I’ll be using this space to sell you on DPJ as a bye week play. But until we get visual proof of that, we can’t bank on it.

Tight Ends

George Kittle: Hours before turning 30 years old, Kittle turned three catches against the Cowboys into 26.2 fantasy points in as an efficient effort as you’ll see (three catches for 67 yards and three scores).

Of course, he can’t do that every week, though we do know these explosive performances are in his bag. Kittle has 5+ catches in just two of his past 15 regular-season games — a lack of volume that makes him a sell-high option if you have a good offer on the table.

I wouldn’t force a deal. Kittle’s one of maybe six tight ends that you’re starting weekly, but I’d be open for business if it means improving my depth.

David Njoku: Njoku doesn’t have a 50-yard game on his résumé this season, and yet, he’s still viable. #TEproblems

With at least four catches in three straight games and a passing game that potentially offers upside if Watson is right, there are enough paths to production to consider Njoku as a top-15 option at the position.

I don’t think he’s more than a streamer at this point, but if you’re cycling through the position and he was cut loose during the bye week, Njoku’s a fine roll of the dice in a game where I expect the Browns to be forced to go through the air.

Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins

• Spread: Dolphins -13.5
• Total: 48.5
• Panthers implied points: 17.5
• Dolphins implied points: 31

Quarterbacks

Bryce Young: Is it true that he scored a career-high 18.3 fantasy points last week and finished ahead of Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence, and Lamar Jackson? It is.

Is it also true that you should read absolutely nothing into that fact? It is.

More than half of those fantasy points came in two late touchdown drives with the game against the Lions all but over. All stats count the same on the scoreboard, but not when it comes to projecting things forward. With limited rushing upside and a lack of playmakers surrounding him, Young is still a ways away from mattering in standard leagues.

Tua Tagovailoa: Did you know that despite the Dolphins having the greatest yardage offense through five weeks in NFL history, Tagovailoa has just two finishes better than QB12 this season?

I expect him to add to that total this weekend with De’Von Achane on the shelf, placing more value in the chunk plays through the air that we know this team is more than capable of producing.

Tagovailoa has completed at least 70% of his passes in four straight games and is pacing for 5,488 yards through the air. He’s QB5 for me this week with the upside to be the position’s top performer.

Running Backs

Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard: This is a classic “if you have two, you don’t have one” situation. In the Week 5 loss to the Lions, Sanders lost his second fumble of the season while Hubbard turned 11 opportunities into just 35 yards.

Not a single one of Sanders’ 76 touches have gained more than 15 yards, and to that underwhelming stat, Hubbard says, “Hold my beer.”

Over the past three weeks, Hubbard has gained 77 yards on 24 carries (3.2 yards per carry). As bad as he has been, he is a low-end flex option with Sanders being ruled OUT for this week on Friday.

De’Von Achane: For the first time in three weeks, I will not be misleading you on the efficiency god that is Achane. He has been ruled OUT for this week and likely more.

The reports made it a point to highlight that this knee injury wasn’t season-ending, leading to speculation that this could be a Week 11 return following the team’s bye.

MORE: 3 Potential Fantasy Replacements for De’Von Achane

But you already knew that. You’re here for the bonkers pace stats, and I’m nothing if not a man of the people.

2022 Christian McCaffrey: 308.5 fantasy points on 329 touches
2023 Achane: 680.4 fantasy-point pace if you gave him 329 touches

Raheem Mostert: He has been a top-10 running back in three of the past four weeks. If he assumes just half of Achane’s work, Mostert will be flirting with 20 touches in an offense that has been as productive through five games as any in NFL history.

Mostert is a top-15 RB regardless of the matchup with Achane shelved and is a top-10 play this weekend against a Panthers defense that ranks 28th in yards per carry allowed (4.9).

It is, of course, worth noting that the fumble issues are there. Mostert put the ball on the deck again last week (knocked out of bounds, so no harm), giving him three fumbles over the past two weeks. Considering that Miami is the only thing that can stop Miami right now, that flaw could prove fatal if not cleaned up.

Jeff Wilson Jr.: Wilson has been activated off of IR but his 2023 debut will have to wait until next week in Philadelphia at the earliest as he has been ruled OUT for Week 6.

He had a nice showing with the ‘Fins last season (4.7 yards per carry and four scores in eight games) and his activation coincides nicely with the Achane injury, though it’s unlikely that he absorbs that exact role upon his return to action.

Mostert is to be viewed as the alpha in this backfield until otherwise noted, but that’s not to say Wilson can’t hold some standalone value.

Halloween is nearly upon us, and the Dolphins are clearly the house that doesn’t run out of candy and leaves their light on all night. There are plenty of fantasy points to go around in this offense, and that could land Wilson as a strong Flex play if he can prove his health prior to Achane returning to the mix.

Wide Receivers

Adam Thielen: The veteran receiver has been a top-22 WR in each of the past four weeks and continues to be peppered with targets (44 over that stretch). The upside is certainly capped as a part of the eighth-lowest scoring offense in the NFL, but with over 67% of opponent yards against the Dolphins coming through the air (a very game-flow-dependent stat), Thielen should again prove to be a viable Flex option at worst.

DJ Chark and Jonathan Mingo: Both are on the field plenty, but neither is seeing the type of consistent usage that it takes to be considered rosterable in this well-below-average offense.

Chark has scored in two of the past three games, while Mingo is averaging a respectable 6.5 targets per game, putting them in the “if you’re desperate” tier of receiver at best. I’m cautiously optimistic about Young supporting one receiver. I have no plans on tempting fate by putting two Panthers pass catchers inside my top 40.

Tyreek Hill: For the third time this season, Hill cleared 150 yards and scored. That is a ceiling game for most but is becoming a regular occurrence for the Cheetah. He has accounted for nearly half of Miami’s air yards this season (48.5%) and is catching a career-high 73.5% of his targets.

No part of what Hill is doing looks fluky, and if this team opts to go even more pass heavy sans Achane, his 2,000-yard goal is looking more achievable by the week.

Jaylen Waddle: The buy-low window closed a bit last week as Waddle caught his first touchdown pass of the season and saw a season-high 10 targets against the overmatched Giants.

That said, he has yet to catch more than five passes in a game this season and has posted consecutive weeks with under 50 receiving yards. Waddle’s aDOT has dropped nearly 4.5 yards from his field-stretching 2022 (down 35.8%), a role that should result in a more narrow range of outcomes.

I firmly believe that better days are ahead. One top-30 performance over a five-week stretch is not something I’m betting on repeating. However, you do need to be aware that Waddle’s role is closer to that of 2021 than that of 2022, and thus, the ceiling weeks won’t likely be as glorious.

Tight Ends

Neither one of these teams currently boasts a tight end that is even on the streaming radar. Check out my Week 6 TE streamers article if you’d like a few names to consider at the position!

Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars

• Spread: Jaguars -4
• Total: 45.5
• Colts implied points: 20.8
• Jaguars implied points: 24.8

Quarterbacks

Anthony Richardson: The rookie was tackled in the second quarter on a scramble and had his right (throwing) shoulder landed on heavily. The injury forced Richardson out for the rest of the game, and he has now missed more than two full games worth of snaps due to injury.

Gardner Minshew: Revenge game! Minshew Mania started in Jacksonville, and the mustached man will get a chance to welcome his former team back from a two-week stay in London.

In his first spot start this season, Minshew completed 27 of 44 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens in an underwhelming offensive effort (3.9 yards per play and five field goals from Matt Gay).

MORE: Anthony Richardson Injury — Fantasy Impact on Michael Pittman Jr., Jonathan Taylor, and Others

We just saw Josh Allen throw for 359 yards (supporting a pair of 100-yard receivers in the process) against these Jaguars last week, so I’ll listen to Minshew as a streaming option. That said, be aware that he likely isn’t more than that, as he gets the Browns and Saints over the next two weeks.

Trevor Lawrence: A couple of lost fumbles put a fantasy cloud over what was otherwise a strong performance from Sunshine last week. Nearly 92% of Lawrence’s targets went the direction of his five primary playmakers, which is the path to success for him moving forward.

As the driver of the Lawrence bandwagon, I’m well aware that he failed to throw multiple touchdown passes for a fourth straight game. But with improved accuracy (outside of the bizarre Chiefs game in Week 2) and mobility (four games over 20 rushing yards), Lawrence continues to have my trust as a locked-in fantasy starter.

The Colts allowed Ryan Tannehill to throw for a season-high 264 yards (7.8 yards per attempt) last week and are ripe for the picking. I have Lawrence as my QB8 and think this could be his best fantasy performance of the season with ease.

Running Backs

Jonathan Taylor: We waited a month for that? Taylor played just 10 snaps in his 2023 debut, totaling 34 yards in the process against a stout Titans run defense. I fully expect this backfield to trend closer to a 50/50 split sooner than later. That is why I have both JT and Zack Moss ranked as middling RB2s this week.

I’m not thrilled about counting on Indy’s offense to support two backs, but Richardson’s injury does open up enough work that both RBs should manage 12-15 touches. This Jacksonville front four showed their teeth last week (James Cook carried five times for -4 yards) and have been better than most want to assume this season (3.9 yards per carry).

If you have either back, you’re playing him. However, you do need to understand the risk that you’re taking on both in terms of role and matchup.

Zack Moss: Moss was the running back with a horseshoe on his helmet who looked like a player worthy of a top-five contract at his position. With Taylor back on the field against the Titans’ elite run defense, Moss turned his 25 touches into 195 yards and two touchdowns in the performance of the week.

The fact that Moss got the first carry of the game was proof that the Colts never intended on unleashing JT in his return to action. But make no mistake about it, Moss’ play was why he held a 53-10 snap edge over Taylor.

Moss had struggled in terms of efficiency in Weeks 3-4 — 4.0 yards per carry, a number that plummets to 3.2 without two chunk plays. If that version of him appears on Sunday, Taylor stands to assume the lead role.

That said, Moss did more than enough last week to be trusted by fantasy managers in the short term. He ranks as RB22 for me, just behind Kyren Williams and Jerome Ford, who come with less carry competition.

Travis Etienne Jr.: Fresh off of his third top-10 finish at the position this season, Etienne is showing all the signs of a star in the making that we wanted to see last season. He has at least 18 carries and three catches in four of five games and showcased the explosive versatility in London last week that makes fantasy managers drool.

Etienne’s not in the Christian McCaffrey tier of producer — few humans have ever been — but he’s a top-five play for me this week, which is where he stands for me the rest of season as well.

With a 60-snap edge over Tank Bigsby last week, there is no competition for work. It’s possible that Etienne’s best is yet to come if Lawrence gets this offense as a whole on track!

Wide Receivers

Michael Pittman Jr.: Here we stand, less than three weeks from Halloween, and Pittman, despite being on a 105-catch pace, has one weekly finish better than WR30. One!

The change under center doesn’t change my opinion of Pittman as a high-end Flex play. You can feel comfortable in him not losing you your matchup (8-12 fantasy points in three of his past four games), he just doesn’t carry the week-winning upside that those I have ranked just ahead of him do (Tyler Lockett, Christian Kirk, and, this week, Zay Flowers).

That said, I’m a man of hope, so if you’re trying to get pumped up about sliding Pittman into your lineup, take note that he lit up the Jags for 134 yards on 13 catches in their last meeting.

Josh Downs: It’s not rare to see a backup QB develop a connection with a non-star receiver. Maybe they spent time together this summer, maybe he wants to avoid the teeth of the defense. Whatever the case may be, we’ve seen it before.

That seems to be the situation in Indy, as Downs has accounted for 25.3% of Minshew’s targets this season, including a 28.6% share in Minshew’s first start this season.

Last week, it took Minshew two passes to remember what he was doing before finding Downs for a 25-yard gain down the sideline. It’s not the breakfast club that the Rams are running with, but there’s no denying his comfort in throwing to the rookie.

Downs has distanced himself from Alec Pierce as a target earner, and he makes his debut in my top 45 receivers this week. The ranking tells you that I’m not playing him, but that’s more due to the depth of the position than it is anything against Downs.

I’ll be looking his way in DFS tournaments this weekend. He is priced in the Kendrick Bourne and Trey Palmer tier. That’s a steal!

Calvin Ridley: Most will point to Ridley’s 136-yard outburst against the Bills last week (held to 40 yards or fewer in each of the previous three games) as the reason they rank him as a high-end WR2 this week, but that’s not it for me.

It was his two rush attempts on Jacksonville’s second drive of the game. No, they weren’t overly useful (14 yards), but it was a sign that the Jaguars wanted to get him the ball by any means necessary. That desire made my heart grow two full sizes and was all I needed to live bet his yardage total and establish my feet in his camp for the rest of the season.

Jacksonville does have three other talented pass catchers and a run game that is trending straight up, so expecting Ridley to scorch the fantasy earth every single week isn’t wise. That said, the role as Lawrence’s WR1 is fantasy gold, and last week proved to me that this coaching staff still views Ridley as the alpha in this offense. Wheels up!

Christian Kirk: His ability to post a third straight top-25 finish with Ridley producing in a big way was great to see. How can you rank him outside of the top 25, given his recent production and the fact that he scored three times (caught 10 of 11 targets) against these Colts last season?

It is true that I believe Ridley is the superior option moving forward. It’s also true that Kirk can be a reliable source of production with a quarterback who clearly trusts him. His aDOT is nearly 40% lower than Ridley’s, giving him a complementary, not competitive, spot in this offense.

And no, I’m not worried about Kirk’s nine-yard performance against these Colts in Week 1. This offense is functioning differently these days, and Kirk’s role has expanded as a result.

Zay Jones: Jones had a pretty six-yard toe-tap touchdown last week, but he was forced to exit early as his knee continues to be an issue and will force him to sit OUT Week 6. I don’t mind rostering him for his proximity to a valuable role in this offense, but until he proves to be full strength, you can roll the dice on him.

He’s roster depth and/or Ridley insurance more than a true option to start and will look to return to action on Thursday night in New Orleans.

Tight Ends

Evan Engram: In his past three meetings against the Colts, Engram has caught 17 of 19 targets (including all five in the Week 1 win), a level of efficiency that confirms his spot as a lineup lock and member of fantasy’s Tier 2 at the tight end position.

The volume/efficiency is enough to feel good about Engram in season-long leagues, though I would look elsewhere in a DFS setting (under 50 yards and zero touchdowns in each of those three games).

New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans

• Spread: Saints -1.5
• Total: 42.5
• Saints implied points: 22
• Texans implied points: 20.5

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr: Carr looked a little bit better in Week 5 than Week 4 (shoulder), as three different Saints had a 25+ yard reception. Yes, one of them was a pass to Kendre Miller, where the rookie did the heavy lifting, but still, he looked a step closer to healthy.

That’s good news for those who have suffered consecutive losses due to the underwhelming Chris Olave numbers.

Carr should not be on your radar at this moment. Maybe a fully healthy version of him lands on the streaming radar after Thanksgiving (four straight weatherproof games against iffy at best defenses), but there’s no reason to hold him right now.

C.J. Stroud: The NFL record holder for passes to open a career without an interception has displayed a strong fantasy floor through five weeks (four straight top-17 finishes), but Stroud still hasn’t finished a single week inside the top 10 at the position.

With Tank Dell OUT and the Saints coming off of their best defensive performance of the season, I have a hard time thinking this is the spot for Stroud to post a big fantasy number.

I will admit that I’m impressed with both his play and Houston’s development plan. Assuming that continues, he could prove to be a league-winner. You heard me. League. Winner.

The Texans get the pass funnel Titans in Weeks 15 and 17 this season, with all of the fantasy chips on the line. Note that he gets the Browns in between those two matchups, so you’ll want to have a backup option.

Stroud isn’t a starter for me this week, but he’s a serious stash consideration after Sunday if he is dropped ahead of Houston’s Week 7 bye.

Running Backs

Alvin Kamara: Often pigeonholed as a finesse back, Kamara was given three straight carries inside the 10-yard line last week and paid it off with a touchdown. Whether or not you think that role sticks with him beyond this week is one thing, but in terms of Week 6 value, he’s a locked-in option who has a good chance to make it back-to-back-to-back top-12 finishes at the position to open his season.

Jamaal Williams: This game will be the fourth missed by Williams, meaning that he is eligible to come off IR ahead of next week’s game on Thursday night against the Jaguars. I won’t have him ranked as a starter in his debut, but Williams’ role as a TD vulture is valuable to have stashed on your bench in case of emergency.

Kendre Miller: The rookie showed his agility in the open field with a 33-yard catch-and-run in the demolition of the Patriots last week, a reminder of why the Saints invested a third-round pick in him this April.

The talent is certainly there, and that makes Miller a strong dynasty hold. But without a direct path to significant work (out-snapped by Kamara 45-26 last week), he’s not positioned to ever start for your fantasy team.

Miller’s not a bad stash for those of you who play in leagues with deeper benches.

Dameon Pierce: His next game this season in which he averages over 3.5 yards per carry will be his first, and I’m not sure it’s coming anytime soon. The Patriots managed just 2.5 yards per carry against the Saints last week, and while the matchup isn’t ideal, does it really matter?

For the season, over 38% of Pierce’s rushing yards have come after contact. He’s getting hit before he has a chance to generate any momentum or identify running lanes, making this an impossible spot. He’s outside of my top 25 running backs for a third straight week, which is saying something with two teams on a bye and numerous RB injuries.

Devin Singletary: Singletary is rostered in way too many leagues. What’s the upside? Right now, he’s essentially a specialist (ran a route on 83.3% of his Week 5 snaps). Even if Pierce were to get hurt, how valuable is Singletary’s role to anyone?

I don’t think Joshua Kelley or Clyde Edwards-Helaire are any good, but I prefer them both to Singletary as RB depth with the knowledge that they are one injury away from at least being a fantasy option in potent offenses. That’s not something Singletary has and can, therefore, be cut in all redraft formats.

Wide Receivers

Chris Olave: Three catches on 11 targets for 16 yards over the past two weeks. That is all sorts of ugly for one of the game’s emerging stars. However, Olave did manage to record his first TD of the season last week in the shutout of the Patriots to salvage some value. Buy time.

To my eye, Carr looked a little healthier this week than last, and I anticipate him to continue to trend closer to full strength with each passing week.

In Weeks 1-3, Olave was good for over 100 yards and nearly 11 targets per game, proving that his highly effective rookie season was anything but a fluke. I fully expect him to return to that form, and it could be this weekend.

You’re doing fantasy wrong if you’re considering benching Olave, and sending out a trade offer for him before this week kicks off isn’t a bad idea.

Michael Thomas: We constantly call James Conner a boring running back that you can count on, and that is essentially what Thomas is at the receiver position. In all five games this season, he’s seen 6-9 targets and gained 50-65 yards.

If Thomas scores — something he has yet to do this season — he’ll prove to be a viable option. If not, you’re left wanting a little bit more. I don’t see that changing anytime soon and will have him ranked in the WR30-40 range every single week.

Rashid Shaheed: I believe in Shaheed the player and don’t doubt that he will be a usable piece during stretches as the season moves on, but his deep-threat skill set simply isn’t worth gambling on with Carr’s shoulder clearly at less than full strength.

The Texans blitz at the sixth-lowest rate in the NFL, opting to sit back in coverage and, thus, play with protection over the top. This isn’t the spot to consider Shaheed a top-40 play, but don’t lose track of his name. His time will come!

Nico Collins: As long as you embrace the ride, Collins is a viable fantasy option. Any receiver who gets the defensive attention that he receives with a rookie under center is going to have down weeks. Yet, the structure of this Texans offense provides Collins with enough of a ceiling to swallow the risk.

Week 1: 11.0 fantasy points
Week 2: 24.1 fantasy points
Week 3: 4.4 fantasy points
Week 4: 32.3 fantasy points
Week 5: 5.4 fantasy points

It’s a frustrating way to being the 11th-highest-scoring receiver through five weeks, but it’s productive in the grand scheme of things. The volatility won’t disappear, though, I do think it lessens with time as he gets comfortable in the WR1 role and Stroud grows with reps.

Collins is my WR30 this week in a tough matchup, with the understanding that he has a wide range of outcomes. The Collins line, for me, is drawn ahead of receivers with either major quarterback questions (DeAndre Hopkins and Garrett Wilson) or significant target risk (Gabe Davis and Rashee Rice).

Tank Dell: The spark-plug rookie suffered a concussion in the second half of Week 5’s loss in Atlanta. In most situations this season, the protocol has required at least seven days to pass and this week is no exception as Dell was ruled OUT on Friday.

Dell is a lower version of Collins in that he comes with the same volatility but fewer chances to make the game-saving play. Due to the volume of this offense, I’d hang onto “Nathaniel,” but he’s not a weekly starter when active

If you’re looking for secondary exposure to this offense, Robert Woods out-snapped John Metchie III 40-26 last week and is my next highest-ranked Texan receiver by a significant amount.

Tight Ends

Dalton Schultz: He remains my second favorite tight end with this first name, but Schultz has scored in consecutive weeks, allowing him to post back-to-back top-six finishes.

Do I think that sticks? Of course not, but the season-high 10 targets Schultz saw last week were much more encouraging than the three he saw in Week 4 against the Steelers.

I have him labeled as a viable streamer and inside my top 15 tight ends. Should Dell sit, Schultz will be the pass catcher behind Collins, who I have the most confidence in.

Taysom Hill: If you’re truly in the YOLO business at the TE position, Hill getting at least three carries is at least worthy of consideration. He’s never going to project well, but Hill’s versatility gives him more outs than any other option this far down the ranks.

I’m not suggesting he has a good game this week (easily outside of my top 15), but in terms of raw potential, his name always has to be mentioned (ran a route on 42.9% of his snaps last week in New England).

New England Patriots at Las Vegas Raiders

• Spread: Raiders -3
• Total: 41.5
• Patriots implied points: 19.3
• Raiders implied points: 22.3

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo: It has been far from a banner start to the season for Garoppolo. He missed a game due to injury and has thrown an interception in every game he has played.

That said, he has proven capable of elevating Jakobi Meyers, and that is a contribution to the fantasy community. We thank Jimmy G for his efforts on that front and move on without considering him against a still-tough Patriots defense.

Running Backs

Rhamondre Stevenson: Stevenson joins Dameon Pierce in the “I drafted him early and now can’t play or drop him” circle of hell in Dante’s Inferno. High school was a long time ago, but I think that was one of the circles.

Last week, Ezekiel Elliott (yet to break a tackle this season) and Ty Montgomery (one touchdown every 37 touches for his career) both got carries in the first quarter, a true sign at how little faith the team currently has in Stevenson.

MORE: Fantasy RB Week 6 Trade Targets — Buy Low, Sell High Players Include Jonathan Taylor, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Others

Remember the elite pass catching that made him a fantasy darling last season? A washed-up Elliott, who didn’t have a suitor for most of the summer, has more receiving yards over the past month.

Stevenson’s 16 touches per game are too much to cut loose, but recent waiver wire adds in Jaleel McLaughlin and Emari Demercado rank ahead of him for me this week.

Ezekiel Elliott: He’s turning this backfield into a committee, which is good news for exactly no one. Zeke has one game this season with 30+ rushing yards.

This offense simply isn’t built to produce fantasy points. He assumed the two-minute snaps last week, but that speaks more to Stevenson’s decline than it does anything positive about Zeke. He needs not be rostered in any format in the same vein that Singletary doesn’t in Houston.

The lead role in this offense just isn’t worth anything.

Josh Jacobs: He has over 90% of the RB carries in Vegas this season and at least 20 touches in four games this season — a level of usage that ranks among the elite.

While the carries have largely been useless outside of short touchdowns (2.9 yards per carry), Jacobs pacing for 102 targets is a beautiful thing. This offensive line is a mess, and he’s not exactly an elusive runner to begin with. But unlike the aforementioned Stevenson, Jacobs has been able to salvage his value through the passing game.

He’s not producing at the level you wanted when you drafted him this summer, but Jacobs remains healthy and involved — something many fantasy managers would take in a heartbeat right now.

Wide Receivers

Kendrick Bourne: It took two receptions for Bourne to easily be the Patriots’ Week 5 leader in receiving yards with 43. This offense is a mess, and on top of that, they don’t even funnel the targets to a single source (six Patriots saw 4-5 targets over the weekend).

Bourne ranks as my highest Patriot receiver this week. It might be more accurate to say he’s my least-hated option among their pass catchers. Bourne is my WR64, and I don’t see a world in which anyone from this passing game is worth rostering at any point moving forward.

Davante Adams: I’m guessing I don’t have to tell you this if you roster Adams, but the perennial All-Pro has one top-15 finish this season and only saw four targets against his former employer last week.

Am I worried? Not really. We trust the talent, and less than a year ago, we saw something similar happen.

After a five-target, three-yard performance against the Saints (his third game under 40 yards in a six-game window), we saw Adams rack up 413 yards and five touchdowns over the next three weeks. Betting on talent and talent alone isn’t something I do a ton of, but Adams is the exception.

Adams remains a top-10 play for me, and if his DFS ownership projects to suffer after the Week 5 dud, I’ll be making a call to the bank to see how big a loan I qualify for.

Jakobi Meyers: Josh McDaniels brought him over from New England and is clearly comfortable in scheming around his versatile skill set. Garoppolo isn’t seeing the field great, and yet, Meyers has reached double-digit targets in all three games they’ve played together (posting a pair of top-10 finishes in the process).

At this point, there is no reason not to trust Meyers as a low-end WR2 who carries a respectable floor. The good news? That’s not going to change anytime soon with the Bears, Lions, and Giants next up for the Raiders.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry: He averaged 5.5 catches, 54 yards, and a touchdown per game through two weeks. In the three weeks since, he has totaled six catches, 68 yards, and zero touchdowns. The flash in the pan was nice to open the season, but he is a tick below the TE streamer conversation this week and doesn’t need to be rostered.

Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams

• Spread: Rams -7
• Total: 48.5
• Cardinals implied points: 21.3
• Rams implied points: 28.3

Quarterbacks

Joshua Dobbs: With multiple TD passes or performances of over 40 rushing yards in four straight games, the appeal of Dobbs is obvious. Understanding that, I worry that we saw glimpses of the league kind of figuring him out last week. He threw his first two interceptions of the season and ran for just a single yard.

With James Conner sidelined, the Rams, who are a top-10 QB hurry team despite rarely blitzing, could be more aggressive than normal.

I don’t trust Dobbs to produce viable fantasy numbers in such a spot. His story has been a good one through five weeks, but he won’t be on my streaming radar at any point over the next month unless we really see him grow as a passer.

Matthew Stafford: It’s funny what having your WR1 active can do for you. Stafford posted his highest QB Rating of the season in the Week 5 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and it resulted in his best fantasy finish of the season, as well.

He has a pair of target magnets. WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua saw 67.6% of the targets last week, and that should be enough to elevate his fantasy floor. As encouraging as that is, I need to see a ceiling game from Stafford before projecting it.

For the optimistic crowd out there, Stafford, my QB12, did see his 25 attempts against Arizona last season net 249 yards. With the Cardinals allowing the eighth-most yards per pass attempt, there is upside to chase if you’re worried about Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins without star WR Justin Jefferson or Detroit QB Jared Goff playing outdoors.

Running Backs

James Conner: The veteran running back will continue his streak of having missed time in every season of his career after being placed on IR Tuesday afternoon. Conner will be eligible to return to action in Week 10 against the Falcons and should remain rostered, given his 17.5 touch-per-game role prior to suffering the knee injury.

Emari Demercado: The top waiver wire add of Week 6 was the only Cardinals back to play last week outside of Conner, and while I don’t expect that to be the case this week, he should handle the vast majority of the work.

Demercado is a rookie out of TCU who averaged 4.7 yards per carry during his collegiate career but was never in a true lead role. The Rams haven’t been great against the run up to this point (22nd in yards per carry), but they did hold Conner to 108 yards on 34 carries last season.

I think you can get away with flexing Demercado this weekend in a pinch, but in a perfect world, you have enough depth to bench him this week and evaluate. If he looks like the real deal (and plays ahead of Keaontay Ingram), plan on firing him up against the Seahawks in Week 7.

Kyren Williams: His stock is dropping, but he is still a viable RB2 in a favorable matchup as a touchdown favorite. Williams is the unquestioned top dog in this backfield; my concern is that the Rams go to a pass-centric offense with the understanding that a Kupp/Nacua target is worth more than a Williams rush attempt.

Still, Williams has proven plenty capable of cashing in valuable touches, and while he may not be the reason they matriculate the ball down the field, his ability to finish drives holds value. He ranks in the Alexander Mattison/Jerome Ford tier for me this week: boring but playable.

Wide Receivers

Marquise Brown: The gains recently have been minimal, but Hollywood’s weekly finish has improved each and every week this season (45-26-19-18-17). I’m not betting on that continuing, but with 10 targets in the majority of his games and a score in three of his past four, the floor looks far higher than I was projecting it to be.

The touchdown last week came with Dobbs identifying single coverage and exploiting it from 25 yards out. Brown has the type of speed to make plays like that on a consistent basis, so it was encouraging to see Dobbs correctly read the play and execute. That said, single coverage situations aren’t likely to be the norm, given the lack of proven talent complementing Brown.

He’s a fine option that falls one spot behind Michael Pittman in my ranks this week — both being experienced playmakers with a nice target share in a questionable offense.

Michael Wilson: The hype around Wilson after his 7-76-2 performance against the 49ers in Week 4 was a bit much. Yes, the rookie possesses the physical tools to succeed at this level, but his development was always going to be a bumpy one in an offense that carries plenty of risk.

He was WR6 in Week 4, and that is one of two finishes he has inside the top 55 at the position this season. I have nothing against him as a depth option, but holding out hope for him to turn into a piece that you can consistently use is far too optimistic.

He’s in the Quentin Johnston/Jahan Dotson range for me, where you are hoping he capitalizes on a few big-play opportunities.

Cooper Kupp: Yeah, he’s back. On his first drive of the season, he caught five of six targets for 56 yards. No big deal – just an elite player going about his business. The Rams told us they weren’t going to hold him back, and they certainly didn’t lie, as he was on the field for 95% of their offensive snaps.

If you drafted late in the process this summer, you likely landed Kupp at a nice discount. Now is your time to make your move. The odds are good that you have some nice depth around Kupp, pieces that I’d consider selling in an effort to build a super team as we approach the midway point of the fantasy season.

Kupp should be considered nothing less than a tier-one receiver the rest of the way, and with some inconsistencies toward the top of the WR board (Justin Jefferson is out, Amon-Ra St. Brown is dinged up, Chris Olave is struggling, etc.), he gives you a nice edge over many teams that went WR early in your draft.

Puka Nacua: Kupp was fully unleashed last week, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at Nacua’s usage stats. He was on the field for every single snap, and he was earning targets at a high level – what else is new?

Weeks 1-4: 32.5% target share
Week 5: 32.4% target share

Nacua, not Kupp, was the target of Stafford’s first pass last week, and the 22-yard designed fade was a thing of beauty to get him into the end zone. I don’t think he will be this productive (7-71-1) on a consistent basis next to Kupp, but it was nice to see proof of concept.

Nacua slides in nicely into the low-WR2 tier for me, alongside fellow second options on their own team in Tyler Lockett and Christian Kirk.

Tutu Atwell: The Rams function almost exclusively out of three-receiver sets, and that is going to keep Atwell on the field and thus worthy of a fantasy roster spot.

That said, his receiving yardage has declined each week this season, and his five targets in Kupp’s debut were easily a season-low. It seems clear that he is the one most likely to get squeezed on a weekly basis with Kupp back doing Kupp things – he’s easily outside of my top 40 receivers this week.

Tight Ends

Zach Ertz: On one hand, he has eight targets or a touchdown in four of five games this season, but on the other, he is averaging just 6.6 yards per catch.

I’m more worried about the latter than I am encouraged by the former. Remove Arizona’s most lopsided loss of the season, and Ertz is averaging 23.3 yards per game. As nice as the volume is, his inability to turn those looks into fantasy points is concerning.

At 32 years old, I think it’s more likely that his target count will decline than his per-catch production will improve. He’s more of a TE streamer than someone I view as a player you can count on from this point forward.

Tyler Higbee: The good news is that he was on the field for 92.9% of snaps last week. Unfortunately, in the leagues I play in, snap count isn’t a stat that is rewarded with fantasy points. Despite always being on the field, Higbee earned just three targets. If Kupp and Nacua are going to demand anywhere close to two-thirds of the targets, there just isn’t room for a third pass catcher on a consistent basis.

Higbee caught all 12 of his targets against the Cardinals last season (134 yards) and is a viable streamer in deeper leagues this week. I just prefer the Logan Thomases and Dalton Schultzes of the world.

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets

• Spread: Eagles -7
• Total: 41
• Eagles implied points: 24
• Jets implied points: 17

Quarterbacks

Jalen Hurts: After a QB19 finish to open the season, Hurts has finished inside the top 10 at the position in four straight games, including consecutive 300-yard games. As a Week 6 stat watch, he’s never had three straight.

With at least nine rush attempts in every game and 37+ pass attempts in three straight, there is no reason to consider Hurts as anything but a Tier 1 fantasy asset at the quarterback position.

Zach Wilson: He has completed 72.3% of his passes over the past two weeks and is making minor strides, but it’s not nearly enough to matter. Any growth he can make will be felt by those with RB Breece Hall or WR Garrett Wilson on their roster/ Also, he’s not close to being on the radar in anything by two-QB leagues.

Running Backs

D’Andre Swift: Swift has at least 18 touches in all four games since the highly questionable two-touch season opener. With a 49-30 snap edge over Kenneth Gainwell (used primarily as a two-minute, third-down option) last week, it’s clear that this backfield is all his.

In all four of those games, Swift has excelled in one portion of this offense. In Weeks 4-5, he caught all 10 of his targets after rushing for 305 yards in Weeks 2-3. The Jets’ defense ranks 25th in yards per carry allowed, and with the Eagles installed as big favorites, you’re safe to label Swift as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in all formats.

Breece Hall: We got word prior to kickoff last week that Hall was going to be unleashed, and that came to fruition. He netted 25 touches for 197 yards and a touchdown. That’ll work!

As fun as Week 5 was for Hall loyalists, now comes the true test. The Broncos’ defense is on a historically bad pace, so while Hall’s production was encouraging, it does come with a bit of an asterisk.

The reigning NFC champions are the fourth-best per-carry defense in the league and the worst matchup for opposing running backs when you factor in potential game script and projected time of possession.

I have Hall ranked as a mid-range RB2 this week as I try to gauge the value of his extended workload. If he produces top-20 numbers in this spot, he can safely be labeled as a lineup lock moving forward, even in an offense that is limited.

You shouldn’t care, but if you do, RB Michael Carter was on the field more than RB Dalvin Cook last week and ran a route on 85% of those snaps. The Jets have clearly committed to Hall as their guy and have no interest in consistently using a secondary option. If Cooks is still on the bottom of your roster for some reason, feel free to move on.

Wide Receivers

A.J. Brown: I’m old enough to remember when the internet lost its collective mind about Brown throwing a fit on the sideline a month ago. It’s safe to say that the team has figured things out since. He has become the first Eagle in over 50 years to rack up at least 125 receiving yards in three straight games.

There were conversations late last season, and they spilled over into this season, about DeVonta Smith potentially being the true top receiver in this offense. Brown has silenced those talks and should be viewed as one of the six best receivers this week and beyond.

DeVonta Smith: Is it time to worry here? Smith hasn’t been a top-70 receiver in two of the past three weeks — a floor that is downright unacceptable for a player that some fantasy teams have as their top receiver.

Earlier, I mentioned the Dolphins being an offense akin to the house that leaves their lights on and never runs out of candy on Halloween. The Eagles (and the 49ers, for that matter) are the opposite. They turn off the lights early and leave a huge bowl of candy on the front step. The first player to find it cashes in big, while the rest of the neighborhood kids are left wanting more.

Smith hasn’t been the first to the stoop lately, and that has resulted in fantasy losses for those counting on him. Don’t sweat it. You have to take the good with the bad and trust that Smith will find that pot of gold (or Reece’s pumpkins) sooner than later.

Garrett Wilson: The offense as a whole looked better, but it wasn’t because Zach Wilson got the pass game rolling. The team’s star receiver has failed to clear 60 receiving yards in four of five games, and in an offense that offers very few scoring opportunities, Wilson remains outside of my top 30.

I’d rather take my chances on the secondary receiver for the Bills, Vikings, Chargers, or Broncos than roll the dice on the Jets’ top option.

Tight Ends

Dallas Goedert: After an underwhelming first four games of 88 total receiving yards, Goedert broke out against the Rams with 117 yards and a touchdown. Have I mentioned that this Eagles pass catcher situation reminds me of the 49ers yet?

I don’t doubt that Goedert will have a few more games like this, but they will come at the cost of a few duds like what we saw in September. At most positions, that’s not a profile I’m comfortable with, but the TE position is not “most” positions.

The potential for a big game makes Goedert a top-10 lock every week he is active, but I wouldn’t blame you if you looked to sell high after his big Week 5.

Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Spread: Lions -3
• Total: 43.5
• Lions implied points: 23.3
• Buccaneers implied points: 20.3

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff: After yet another profitable home game for fantasy managers, Goff takes his impressive Lions on the road to face a Buccaneers defense that had an extra week to prepare.

Normally, I’m out on Goff when he plays outdoors, but the Bucs allow over 70% of opponent yardage to come through the air – a defensive style that Goff should be able to take advantage of, assuming WR Amon-Ra St. Brown returns to action.

Goff is on a career pace in completion percentage and has seen his touchdown rate increase by 16.3% from last season. I’m always shocked at how many leagues have Goff on waivers, and he’s my clear favorite of that tier this week.

Don’t forget that we are playing the long game. Goff’s indoor excellence is a note you should keep handy. The Lions finish the season with four straight weatherproof games.

Baker Mayfield: The former Browns QB turned journeyman has the Bucs believing in themselves, and that’s great, but it’s just not overly friendly at the QB position for our purposes.

Mayfield averages under 32 pass attempts per game, and without consistent ground production, that is going to land him outside of my top 15 most weeks. If you’re trying to fill the QB spot from the waiver wire this week, you can do better with the likes of Howell or Stafford.

Running Backs

David Montgomery: Another week, another elite workload with a touchdown for Montgomery. He scored from 42 yards out on the opening drive blowout win over the Panthers and cruised to 129 total yards on his 21 touches when all was said and done.

The rusher has at least 21 touches in all three games that he has finished healthy and has multiple catches in both of his games back in action. Do I think the six targets from last week are here to stay? I don’t – Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs both sitting out opened up routes and targets that wouldn’t normally be available. That’s OK. At this point, any production through the air is gravy.

Even in a tough matchup with 30 of 32 teams in action this week, Montgomery is a RB1. He carries an elite floor, given his rare role.

Jahmyr Gibbs: The rookie back picked up a hamstring injury on Friday last week and sat out as a result, a desingation he carries with him into Week 6 as he will again sit OUT

Montgomery’s role in the passing game is limited, but you can’t justify going this direction in a season-long setting when healthy.

Gibbs doesn’t have a game with even 10 carries when Montgomery is active, which is a trend that seems stable at this point. Could they unleash the talented rookie at some point? I certainly hope so, but until we have evidence that they are interested in doing so, we can’t project it.

Rachaad White: We, as an industry, swing and miss plenty, but was there a single player more predictable this season after watching him last season?

“Inefficient runner who lacks vision but can be a fantasy asset by way of volume and involvement in the pass game.”

Was that not the book on White in August? What would you change from that after seeing four games this season?

He’s averaging 3.3 yards per carry with zero runs longer than 13 yards. He is touching the rock 19 times per game, and not one of his 13 targets has hit the ground. There might not be a player who is more who we thought he was than White, and that is unlikely to change at any point this season.

Wide Receivers

Amon-Ra St. Brown: The “Sun God” missed Week 5 with an abdomen injury, but he should be back this week. That means he is locked in as your WR1. St. Brown has a touchdown or 100 yards in all four of his games this season, and with a 20-plus yard catch in each of those contests, he is marrying volume with per-catch upside.

It’s not ideal that he missed a home game and is now going on the road to face a defense that was on a bye last week. Those are minor notes that can help you justify looking elsewhere in DFS, but there is no decision to be made in season-long leagues.

Jameson Williams: To call his 2023 debut an underwhelming one would be a gross underestimation. In a home game without their top receiver and top pass-catching back, Williams dropped his first target and turned his other two targets into two yards – six measly feet.

He is 6’1”, so yes, if Williams caught a target at the line of scrimmage and simply face-planted with the ball held up high, he would have gained more yards than he did last weekend.

Better days, of course, are ahead, but that’s not saying much. Williams is the spottiest of spot starts. If you’re an underdog in a week where the Lions play at home against a favorable defense, and Williams has proven capable of staying on the field, you have the green light. Until all of those stars align, he’s depth, at best.

Josh Reynolds: Long-term, it’s Williams or nothing for me when it comes to investing in a Detroit receiver not named St. Brown. But for right now, Reynolds has done enough to work his way into my top 50 at the position.

He had an impressive toe-drag touchdown last week in a game where he led the team in catches and receiving yards. He also has cleared 65 yards in all four of his games this season. The upside is capped due to the balance of this offense and Goff’s willingness to spread the ball around. Five Lions saw 3-6 targets last week as they moved the ball down the field without their WR1.

He’s fine as depth on your season-long league or a punt play in DFS, but I do think he has overachieved a bit up to this point.

Mike Evans: After earning 28 targets and scoring in each game through three weeks, Evans left Week 4 early with a hamstring injury. All signs seem to be pointing toward him being fine following the Week 5 bye. Given his connection down the field (13.6 aDOT) with Mayfield, he has earned our trust.

I have Evans ranked as a low-end WR1 in the same tier as Chris Olave and Deebo Samuel — WR1s who carry a risk profile alongside their slate-breaking potential.

Chris Godwin: The veteran had easily his best game of the season in the Week 4 win in New Orleans (eight catches for 114 yards) before the Week 5 bye and should continue to be viewed as a high-floor option. He has yet to score this season, and given the skill set of Evans, it’s hard to be optimistic about his ceiling.

You’re flexing Godwin in PPR leagues with the expectation that he reaches double digits. That has value, even if it comes without the matchup-winning potential that his teammate possesses.

Tight Ends

Sam LaPorta: In five short weeks, LaPorta has elevated himself from “nice flier option” to “bonafide starter/potential league winner.” He’s been a top-10 performer at the position in three of the past four games, and this offense is doing an amazing job at scheming him open.

The lone moving piece here is the target distribution when both St. Brown and Williams are active. That’s not to say I’m worried about it. It’s just worth noting that the duo hasn’t been on the field at the same time this season.

New York Giants at Buffalo Bills

• Spread: Bills -14
• Total: 44.5
• Giants implied points: 15.3
• Bills implied points: 29.3

Quarterbacks

Daniel Jones: Do you remember being the smallest one on the Pop Warner field, wearing a lineman jersey number to seem bigger — even though the number essentially wrapped around you — and your mom telling you after practice that she was proud of you for trying?

C’mon, it couldn’t have been just me. Anyway, that’s what Jones hitting five different players with his first five passes on Sunday felt like. Good try, kid. Momma Soppe will give you a pat on the back, but much like her eldest child, you never had a chance.

MORE: News on Deshaun Watson, Daniel Jones, and Dak Prescott Impacting QB Rankings

Jones left in the fourth quarter with a neck injury and didn’t return. But after those first five, his next 15 passes picked up just 87 yards. And, for the third game in a row, he accounted for the same number of touchdowns as Pop Warner’s skinniest No. 63 of all-time — zero.

We thought Jones would be, at minimum, a fine fantasy streamer this season. We were wrong. I don’t want any piece of him this week or for the remainder of the month, which features home games against the Commanders and Jets. Should he sit (as expected), Tyrod Taylor will assume the starting role, and not a single thing in my rankings will change. Taylor would simply replace Mr. Dimes in my QB ranks and be equally unappealing to me.

Josh Allen: The rushing numbers are down from years past, but fantasy managers certainly aren’t arguing with the results. Allen has consecutive games with at least 320 passing yards, and he has rushed for a score in three straight.

You could argue that the dip in rushing attempts lowers the floor of Allen, but as long as he is getting the valuable carries and continuing to develop his pass catchers, I have zero concerns. He is firmly in the top tier of fantasy signal-callers and could well lead the position in points the rest of the way.

Running Backs

Saquon Barkley: It’s been nearly a month since we last saw the Giants star, but it does seem like his status is in question a little bit longer each week. That’s obviously good news, and without much in the way of travel for the remainder of October (this game is followed by a pair of home games), the hope is that Barkley can get all the rehab work in that he needs and return to fantasy lineups this weekend.

I’m not even close to suggesting that Barkley is a sit if active (currently questionable), but I am a sharer of information. Barkley missed the majority of 2020 with a torn ACL and was underwhelming upon his initial return to action. In his first two games back, he totaled 26 touches for 96 yards and zero touchdowns. That’s not to compare this injury with that, but I did find the struggles coming off of an injury worth noting.

Matt Breida: We are now in the middle of October, and Breida is still searching for his first 10-yard carry of the 2023 season. I understand that we chase volume, and he has technically been the primary option in this backfield with Barkley sidelined, but if he’s not even a reasonable flex option when his role is at its greatest, why roster him?

If you need the roster space, Breida should be among your first cuts, and that’s without me having clarity on Barkley.

James Cook: The Bills trailed for 51 of their 54 plays in London last week and had the ball for under 22 minutes – a game flow that makes running back production nearly impossible. In fact, Cook only totaled five carries for -4 yards.

As discouraging as the output was, Cook did record an 18-plus yard touch for a fourth straight week, which is further proof that the explosive play is in his skill set. With nearly 39% of carries gaining a first down against the Giants (fifth highest rate), this looks like a nice bounce-back spot for the talented Cook. It lands him as a top-15 running back for me.

Latavius Murray: I prefer Murray to RB Damien Harris if you’re trying to bet against Cook, but I just don’t see the point in doing it. Neither has more than seven carries in a game this season, and if you want to chase a touchdown, take a shot on a big-play receiver. Cook isn’t a back that needs to be insured.

Wide Receivers

Wan’Dale Robinson: Robinson has caught 14 of 17 targets this season. He was tested for a concussion during the Week 5 loss to the Dolphins, but he was able to return.

In a perfect world, you don’t have to count on any member of this passing game, but if you play in a full-PPR league, Robinson is in play as a high-floor, low-ceiling option due to his short depth of target and the projected game script.

Darius Slayton: Slayton has just one game with more than 35 receiving yards this season, but he easily paced Giants receivers in routes last week. That is enough for him to stay on my radar.

He’s not worth rostering right now, and he may never be, but with bulk bye weeks coming sooner than later, a gunner like Slayton, who is on the field plenty, deserves acknowledgment.

Stefon Diggs: He is on the list of most consistent fantasy producers in our game, and with four 100-yard games already on his 2023 ledger, that’s not changing anytime soon. The consistent volume of 10 targets per game and big-play potential of a 30+ yard grab in three straight games makes for a profile that is nothing short of elite.

Gabe Davis: “Big Play Gabe” has scored in a career-high four straight games, but more encouraging than that was his season-high eight targets against the Jags last week. If he can sustain that level of involvement, he will be a weekly starter. That’s my hope for him moving forward. But this is my hope, not my projection. Not yet, at least.

He failed to see more than four targets in three of four games to open this season, and with a usage floor like that, I can’t get Davis inside of my top 25. His upside, however, lands him in my top 35, ahead of both Broncos pass catchers and bigger names like DeAndre Hopkins and Garrett Wilson.

Tight Ends

Darren Waller: Eight catches for 86 yards may not sound like an explosive effort, but it was more than double Waller’s season average entering the weekend, so you have to take it!

He continues to pace this team in reception share by a wide margin, and that is keeping him inside my top 10 every week. Is he the star we had hoped for when New York made the move to get him? Nope, but he still deserves lineup lock status with over a 90% snap share in consecutive weeks at the hardest position in fantasy sports to fill.

Dalton Kincaid: We continue to go back and forth with the tight end position in Buffalo. While the rookie is clearly the future of the position in upstate New York, it was Dawson Knox holding the edge in snaps (42-32) and routes (29-24) in London.

I still have Kincaid winning this valuable role with time, but I will admit that we are not there yet. Right now, Kincaid is more of a streamer than someone who needs to be held onto week-over-week.

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers

• Spread: Cowboys -2
• Total: 50.5
• Cowboys implied points: 26.3
• Chargers implied points: 24.3

Quarterbacks

Dak Prescott: He has name recognition and plays for “America’s Team,” but there is no need to consider him a viable option — even against a less-than-stingy Chargers defense.

Prescott has yet to finish a single week better than QB17 and has just one multi-touchdown effort on his 2023 résumé.

Justin Herbert: The Chargers’ signal-caller has been a top-six fantasy QB in three of four games this season and has accounted for multiple scores in each of his past six regular-season games. Even coming off of a bye, he deserves to be downgraded a bit for the finger fracture on his non-throwing hand against an elite pass rush, but Herbert’s far from falling outside the must-start tier.

This is a great spot to get RB Austin Ekeler back to help offset the game-breaking potential of this Dallas defensive front. It’s tough to quantify, but Chargers’ OC Kellen Moore saw this Cowboys defense in practice for five seasons and could be uniquely qualified to scheme up a plan with two weeks to perfect it.

Running Backs

Tony Pollard: With four straight finishes outside of the top 12 running backs, Pollard’s stock might be as low now as it’ll get at any point for the remainder of the season. Pounce, pounce now.

The Chargers are a bottom-five defense in terms of yards allowed per play, and Pollard averages 29 touches per game in matches not decided by 30 points.

As long as this game stays tight, you can pencil in Pollard as a game-breaker this week. San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey has a tough matchup with the Browns, which leaves the door open for Pollard to be the top-scoring RB this week.

Austin Ekeler: The one time we saw him this season was a 20-touch, 24.4-point effort against the Miami Dolphins, and he was replaced by RB Joshua Kelley (Weeks 2-4: 2.8 yards per carry).

Much like the situation for the Packers or Giants, the starting running back missed time and returned positioned to see an increase in workload due to the failures of his replacement.

It’s obviously not a soft landing spot for Ekeler to return after a month off, but there should be zero hesitation about plugging him in.

Joshua Kelley: Kelley flamed out when Ekeler was on the shelf. These struggles figure to cap his touch upside moving forward. It’s hard to see him holding standalone value next to Ekeler, and with the failures in the starting role, Kelley’s fantasy value is hanging on by a thread.

I think he should remain rostered for the next month (Weeks 9-10 are RB heavy, so you may be in need of depth), but he shouldn’t be remotely close to your lineup against the Cowboys.

Wide Receivers

CeeDee Lamb: Game script has impacted everyone on this offense, and Lamb is no exception. The star receiver has been held under 55 receiving yards in back-to-back-to-back games — something that I doubt we see again anytime soon.

With a catch rate north of 77% and a 29+ yard reception in four of five games, the bounce back will come in only a matter of time.

Michael Gallup: Does this team need a WR2? I don’t believe so, but if you want to chase that role, Gallup (5+ targets in three straight) is the play over Brandin Cooks (one five-target game this season).

You can do better on your waiver wire with players like Rashee Rice, Curtis Samuel, Wan’Dale Robinson, and others than having to overextend for a piece of this underwhelming offense.

Keenan Allen: Consecutive WR1 finishes in Weeks 2-3 showcased the upside of the veteran receiver, and while that stretch was bookended by finishes outside of the top 25, his role makes him among the safest receivers in the game.

I think his upside takes a little bit of a hit without WR Mike Williams (ACL) demanding attention on the other side of the field, but that’s not to say he is anything but a lineup lock in all formats.

Joshua Palmer: The WR2 role in Los Angeles is going to be a discussion point every week; it’s just that simple. This offense has the ability to be creative and high-powered with Herbert steering the ship, a profile that makes this role worth chasing.

In Week 4 against the Raiders, Palmer played 23 more snaps than rookie Quentin Johnston and led the team with eight targets (33.3% share). He was able to pull down only three of those targets, but the nature of those looks (51.6% air-yard share) allowed him to post a team-best 77 receiving yards.

Palmer gets a bump in my rankings for owning the inside track to the WR2 role in this offense, but the matchup with the Cowboys drags that back down, which leaves him outside of my top 35.

Quentin Johnston: You’re playing the long game if you have Johnston rostered and are betting on talent. I have no issue with that, but you shouldn’t be expecting Week 6 returns.

The No. 21 overall pick from this past spring looks the part of Mike Williams and will have his chances to make plays with time, but the fact that he has yet to record 20 yards in an NFL game keeps him out of lineups in the short term.

Tight Ends

Jake Ferguson: The Week 5 blowout at the hands of the 49ers wasn’t enough to scare me off the scent of Ferguson. He saw exactly seven targets in three of his first four games this season, and volume like that is simply difficult to find at the TE position these days.

Is the upside great? No, but Prescott is all aboard the struggle bus, and I expect a run-centric attack this week. That doesn’t mean Ferguson can’t record a handful of grabs and flirt with double-digit fantasy points — an outcome that is more than acceptable for my TE9.

Gerald Everett: For a player with a 92.9% catch rate, it’s shocking that Everett has yet to finish a week better than TE19 this season. TE Donald Parham has been the end zone target, and while I think Everett’s role “between the 20s” is encouraging, without much scoring equity, he has little hope of returning top-12 value any given week.

You could do worse than Everett in a matchup where Herbert may have to get rid of the ball in a hurry, but just be aware that the touchdown equity is low.