Fantasy Football Start / Sit: Who should you start in Week 6?
Quarterback
Automatic Starts: Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Cam Newton, Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson.
Start of the Week: Ryan Fitzpatrick v New York Jets
There will be a theme running through this article you’ll pick up on pretty quickly. I like starting players against the New York Football Jets. The 0-5 Jets travel the short distance south to Miami to face a team rebuilding in the correct way, and hot off an impressive blowout win against the 49ers. Fitzpatrick’s last 4 games have yielded 7 pass TDs, 2 Rush TDs & just 2 picks. He’s playing at a very high standard and helping win fantasy weeks. This week is no different and 20+ points seem a certainty.
Other Notable Starts:
Matthew Stafford @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Stafford has been getting better and better each week for fantasy and now having his star WR fully healthy can only help. Stafford & the Lions are getting desperate at 1-3 but face a nice soft fixture against the Jaguars this week ranked 28th against the pass. The Jags have conceded 30+ points in each of their past 4 games and just gave up 3 pass TDs to Deshaun Watson.
Kirk Cousins v Arizona Cardinals
Kirk Cousins hasn’t exactly been rolling of late but if there’s ever a fixture to get right it’s facing them 0-5 Falcons. Look for Thielen, Jefferson to have big days in what could be a shootout and keep an eye on Irv Smith the Tight End who finally looks to have come to the party.
Ryan Tannehill v Houston Texans
Ryan Tannehill wasn’t just good he was great against the once-undefeated Buffalo Bills. 3 Passing TDs & 1 rushing score for Tannehill who is putting together an extremely impressive start to the season – 9 pass TDs to 1 Int.
Sits – Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Burrow, Carson Wentz
Running Back
Automatic Starts: Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Aaron Jones.
Start of the Week: Myles Gaskin v New York Jets
Have you figured out the pattern yet? Gaskin is one hell of a play this week. Jordan Howard was the goal line back in the first few games of the season but that changed last week when he was named a healthy scratch. This is great news for Miles Gaskin owners who now has a safe floor with a higher ceiling. Gaskin had his biggest fantasy day last week at the 49ers and this week faces a Jets D that has given up the fifth most fantasy points to opponents’ RB’s. Last week, they coughed up more than 30 points to The Cardinals’ ball carriers. Get Gaskin in!
Other Notable Starts:
Todd Gurley @ Minnesota Vikings
Gurley is on a roll, last week eclipsing the 100 yard rushing mark for the first time this season on his way to a big fantasy day. Minnesota have given up the 6th most rushing yards on the season so far and if the Falcons continue to have to operate without Julio Jones they will increase Gurley’s workload once more.
Alexander Mattison v Atlanta Falcons
Dalvin Cook left the game early in the 2nd half against the Seahawks which opened the door to Alexander Mattison who took his opportunity with both arms racking up over 100 yards in his small window of game time. Cook is expected to be out this week which would give Mattison a big chance to shine again against the Falcons giving up over 25 points over the past 2 weeks.
Antonio Gibson @ New York Giants
Gibson couldn’t get things going last week against the Rams but I’m banking on a bounce back against the Giants. Whoever is in at QB for Washington whether it be Alex Smith or Kyle Allen they love to check the ball down and Gibson now dominating the backfield will have plenty of opportunities against the 0-5 Giants.
Sits – Rams backfield (no clear starter), Miles Sanders, Ravens RB's
Wide Receiver
Automatic Starts: Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, Adam Thielen, Chris Godwin (if healthy), Tyreek Hill, Julio Jones (if healthy), Mike Evans, Calvin Ridley, Kenny Golladay
Start of the Week: DeVante Parker v New York Jets
Yeah if you haven’t figured by now I’m expecting the Dolphins to put up numbers against the New York Jets. Parker managed to salvage his day with a TD grab on the road at the 49ers, but in his last home game he dominated the Seahawks with a monster stat line of 12 targets 10 receptions 100 yards. DeAndre Hopkins had a huge day last week against the Jets, smashing the 100 yard mark. And Tim Patrick had his day the previous week, also going over 100 receiving yards. I think Parker becomes the next to dominate the Jets through the air.
Other Notable Starts:
Christian Kirk @ Dallas Cowboys
Kirk battled a groin strain to start the season but now declared 100% healthy he managed to rack up 78 yards last week which puts him in good stead for a showdown in Dallas in what could be the highest scoring game of the week. Hopkins is sure to draw all the attention of the Cowboys secondary giving Kirk plenty of room to put up his own numbers.
Marquise Brown @ Philadelphia Eagles
Brown has been hard to trust this season but his last 2 outings are a good sign that maybe his numbers will stabilise. Brown finally found the end zone last week and has now seen 8+ targets in his last 2 contests. Brown will remain a boom or bust play but if the targets remain consistent so can his fantasy production.
Chase Claypool v Cleveland Browns
Spend all your Faab and roll with Claypool. Diontae Johnson left early in the first half against the Eagles and although the injury is not thought to be serious, his week 6 status is up in the air. Claypool is now a big part of the Steelers offense whether Diontae Johnson is out there or not and Cleveland is conceding the 2nd most points to fantasy WRs.
Sits – Jerry Jeudy, Travis Fulgham, Tyler Boyd
Tight End
Automatic Starts: Travis Kelce, George Kittle, Mark Andrews
Start of the Week: Jonnu Smith v Houston Texans
Jonnu Smith is red hot right now. Through four starts the Titans TE has caught 5 TD’s and has been targeted at least seven times in 3 out of 4 matches. The Titans seemed to have unleashed Ryan Tannehill this season and it’s benefitting Jonnu Smith. Look for Jonnu to keep his hot streak going at home against a soft Texans D.
Other Notable Starts:
TJ Hockenson @ Jacksonville Jaguars
The 2019 first round pick has steadily been contributing fantasy points through his first 4 games. A TD in every other game he’s played so far he ranks as the PPR TE 13. The Lions travel to Jacksonville who have already given up 352 yards and 4 TDs to the TE position.
Mike Gesicki v New York Jets
The puzzle is complete and I’ve chosen a player facing the Jets at each position this week. Playing Mike Gesicki has been much like a rollercoaster, 2 good fantasy performances to 3 bad ones. This week is the one to even the tide. Gesicki racked up 91 yards against the 49ers (70 impressive yards coming on one play!) and regardless of the score we’ve seen Fitzpatrick continue to drop bombs to receivers, this is just ANOTHER revenge game for the veteran.
Robert Tonyan @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If you started Robert Tonyan against the Falcons, congratulations he won you the week. Don’t count on 3 more TDs against the Bucs but do count on a steady supply of targets from Rodgers. Tampa Bay have conceded a TE TD in both the past 2 weeks. Star WR Davante Adams is likely returning this week but Lazard remains out. Bucs run D ranks No.1 meaning Packers success will come through the air.
Sits – Both Rams Tight Ends, Austin Hooper, Dalton Schultz
Alastair Cook
Fantasy Football Analyst
ALASTAIR, A DIE-HARD BUCCANEERS FAN FROM NORWICH AND UP AND COMING FANTASY CONTRIBUTOR CAN BE FOUND ON HIS TWITTER PAGE The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill)