Tag: fantasy-football-week-6

We knew it was coming. I hope you have done your preemptive planning. Week 6 is the onset of the bye weeks. Vegas, Tennessee, Houston, and Detroit all get a week to recover before setting course for the rest of the season. This leaves us with only 20 teams on the main slate. A thinner player pool makes it that much easier to put together the perfect lineup. It also makes it more important to smash on all of the sleepers. Hopefully, we can help you with that.

DFS: The Primetime Slate

Sunday Night

DALLAS @ PHILADELPHIA

Many thought Dak Prescott would return in Week 5. We were wrong. Now it appears that he won’t play this week either. Cooper Rush (QB4) is poised to get one more start. Against the Philly pass defense, I wouldn’t recommend either of them.

Jalen Hurts (QB2) continues to do damage through the air and on the ground. That said, this is the toughest test for Hurts this season. Dallas has an elite defense that should hold him in check. Still, I expect he will be over-owned. I’m not saying fade him completely, but I feel better using Justin Herbert. You can bump up Hurts slightly if Micah Parsons is limited by the hamstring injury he suffered last Sunday.

Tony Pollard (RB5) has looked the part of the better back between himself and Ezekiel Elliott (RB4) this season. Still, Dallas continues to give Zeke nearly a 2-to-1 advantage in touches. Either could be used as an RB2 here. Just be wary of the fact that no RB has had any real success against this defense since Week 1.

Philly finally decided to keep it simple using just Miles Sanders (RB2) as the primary RB and not playing musical chairs at the position. Dallas has some fast linebackers, so limit your expectations here. Kenneth Gainwell (RB8) is starting to look more like just a handcuff. You can give him Showdown work but nothing more.

CeeDee Lamb (WR3) struggled for the first few weeks with no assistance in the passing game. Now, he has Michael Gallup (WR8) back and Noah Brown (WR10) has evolved into a worthy third option. Lamb deserves no better than WR2 consideration here against this tough defense. Gallup could also be a WR3 option, but I would only play one of those two. Brown is a sneaky punt play here since third receivers have a much easier track to success against this secondary.

Philly has two viable fantasy WRs each week. This week, A.J. Brown (WR2) will have to battle with Trevon Diggs. He still deserves WR1 consideration, but I’d feel stronger about using DeVonta Smith (WR5) at WR2 and pairing him with Mike Williams at WR1. Quez Watkins (WR13) is a decent Showdown option, but he isn’t used enough to be trusted here.

Dalton Schultz (knee – TE3) left Week 5 due to a flareup of his prior knee injury. It is looking less likely that he plays this week. If he were to suit up, he would be an above-average play as teams operate underneath against this pass defense. You could even consider stacking both TEs in this game. Dallas’ backup TEs are Jake Ferguson (TE7) and Peyton Hendershot (TE9). Ferguson could be a punt play if Schultz is out. All Hendershot has going for himself is the coolest name in the league. Personally, I’d rather take a shot of lukewarm Jagermeister mixed with stale peach schnapps than take a shot on him.

Dallas Goedert (TE1) is the only truly safe TE on this slate. Save yourself a lot of headaches by just putting him in your lineup and building around him.

Monday Night

DENVER @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

This will be a divining test for Russell Wilson (QB3). He has the easiest defensive matchup on the slate. He also has looked absolutely washed for the last few weeks. With most users on Herbert and Hurts, he makes a decent pivot play at a much cheaper cost. I’ll give him another try here.

Despite the absence of his WR1a for most of the year, Justin Herbert (QB1) has been solid but not spectacular all season. Denver has impressive pass-defense stats. They also have faced four crappy QBs and Derek Carr. Herbert will be their first true test. I won’t put him on a huge ceiling game, but he should be safe for 280-2.

Melvin Gordon (RB3) did not lose a fumble last week. This should keep him penciled in as the RB1 for Denver for at least one more game. His numbers weren’t anywhere near as efficient as those of Mike Boone (RB6). Each can be considered as RB2 this week, because Los Angeles is rotten against RBs. The issue here is that Latavius Murray (RB7) may make his debut this week. If he does, downgrade the value of all three to flex level at best.

Austin Ekeler (RB1) is the RB1 this week. He will have 100 percent ownership and deservedly so. Don’t overthink this. Joshua Kelley (RB8) has notched out a niche as a change-of-pace back for the Chargers. He is a must-start in Showdown and a decent flex play if you make a Chargers’ Voltron stack.

Courtland Sutton (WR4) and Jerry Jeudy (WR6) each deserve WR2 consideration. Los Angeles has allowed multiple fantasy-viable WRs each of the last three weeks. Sutton has the safer floor of the two. KJ Hamler (WR12) should have caught a TD pass last week. Maybe Russell Wilson will actually look his way this time. Consider him a punt-WR3.

Keenan Allen (hamstring – WR6) has been M.I.A. since Week 1. If he returns this week, he could finish as one of the top WRs on the slate. I just think he’s going to miss this game, too. Odds are that Mike Williams (WR1) will lock horns with Patrick Surtain, which will limit his value. I still consider him the safest WR on the board, and he will get a bump if Allen is in there to open up some coverage. If Allen doesn’t play, consider Josh Palmer (WR9) as a WR3. DeAndre Carter (WR11) should be left to Showdown contests.

Greg Dulcich (hamstring – TE4) may finally return this week. There was a fair amount of preseason hype around the third-round rookie. Consider playing him as a third-leg in a Russell Wilson stack if he suits up. If Dulcich remains out, Albert Okwuegbunam (TE6) and Eric Saubert (TE7) are punt options, at best, and frankly, I’d ignore them both.

I’m amazed at what Gerald Everett (TE2) has accomplished this season. He had his first true dud last week. That said, on a weak slate, he deserves consideration. You could also take a flyer on Donald Parham (TE5). He has been a red-zone threat in the past and now appears to be fully healthy once again. He is TD-dependent, but his price makes him a decent option.

The Main Slate: recommended DFS lineups

DK Lineup: QB Josh Allen ($8.2k), RB Rhamondre Stevenson ($6k), RB Breece Hall ($5.8k), WR Gabe Davis ($6.5k), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster ($5.2k), WR Alec Pierce ($4.3k), TE Zach Ertz ($4.9k), FLEX Kenneth Walker ($5.4k), DST Minnesota Vikings ($3.4k)

FD Lineup: QB Josh Allen ($9.2k), RB Eno Benjamin ($6.3k), RB Rhamondre Stevenson ($7.5k), WR Gabe Davis ($6.9k), WR Allen Lazard ($6.2k), WR Richie James ($5.3k), TE Travis Kelce ($8.3k), FLEX Kenneth Walker ($6.5k), DST Carolina Panthers ($3.7k)

FB Lineup: QB Josh Allen ($7.6k), RB Breece Hall ($5.5k), RB Rhamondre Stevenson ($5.4k), WR Gabe Davis ($5.9k), WR Adam Thielen ($5.4k), WR Alec Pierce ($3.8k), TE Travis Kelce ($6.7k), FLEX Kenneth Walker ($5.2k), FLEX Eno Benjamin ($4.2k)

Quarterback

Weekly strategy – Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes should be the top-two QBs in ownership and rightfully so. Their matchup could be record-setting. If you do pivot off of them, consider Tom Brady or Kirk Cousins. The only names that stand out as possible punts are Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson, and Matt Ryan.

Fantasy Four-pack

Josh Allen, Bills @ KC
($8,200 DK, $9,200 FD) Allen is the more expensive of the pair in this game. Still, both will account for three-plus touchdowns. I give a slight advantage to Allen, because he is more adept with his legs.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs vs. BUF
($8,000 DK, $8,600 FD) Mahomes gets the home-field advantage in this game, but it won’t matter as both sides will push to rewrite the record books here. Anything less than 350-3 would be disappointing.

Lamar Jackson, Ravens @ NYG ($8,100 DK, $8,800 FD) The absence of Rashod Bateman (foot) affected Jackson more than we could’ve predicted last week. The best hope here is that Bateman is back and/or Jackson goes crazy on the ground (certainly possible). It’s not as if the Giants are going to scare anyone.

Tom Brady, Buccaneers @ PIT
($6,300 DK, $7,500 FD) Pittsburgh is not the elite defense it used to be. This will be a huge test for them as the Bucs are deep at WR now that everyone is healthy. Stack Brady with two of Mike Evans, Cameron Brate (concussion), and Chris Godwin if you want to avoid the mass ownership of Allen and Mahomes.

DFS Sleepers

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers @ ATL
($5,500 DK, $7,100 FD)  Only three teams have allowed more passing yards than Atlanta. Meanwhile, Garoppolo’s stats have been very blase since taking over for Trey Lance, but last week he finally started to target George Kittle again. This will be a stack to attack as Atlanta is inept against opposing TEs. 

Daniel Jones, Giants vs. BAL
($5,200 DK, $6,800 FD)
Jones has posted OK stats this year considering that he has ZERO legitimate WRs. The passing TDs have been absent, but Jones is making up for it by rushing for the third-most yards among all QBs. Meanwhile, Baltimore has allowed a QB rushing touchdown in three straight games (on top of their allowing the most passing yards per game).

Running Back

Weekly strategy – Questions loom over the highest-priced options. Christian McCaffrey is finally getting the expected touches, but now there is a coaching change and a QB change. Will Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and Saquon Barkley (shoulder) be 100 percent in decent matchups? Will Alvin Kamara (Taysom Hill-itis) ever score another TD? Any of these four could be your RB1 or a straight-up fade. The only high-priced guy that has zero qualms for me is Dalvin Cook. Jeff Wilson and J.K. Dobbins could have volume-based pivot appeal. I also do not hate Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Devin Singletary as exposure to the huge matchup between them. All that said, I will be loading up on Rhamondre Stevenson, Breece Hall, and Kenneth Walker. This may be my threesome on all sites. Keep an eye on James Conner (ribs). If he is out as expected, then Eno Benjamin and Darrel Williams could be bargain-basement plays in a good matchup.

Fantasy Four-pack

Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. BAL
($7,700 DK, $8,800 FD) Baltimore is allowing the second-most RB receptions and the fourth-most RB receiving yards. Meanwhile, Barkley is sixth and seventh, respectively, in those two categories. Barkley also ranks first overall in total yards by a running back. If his shoulder remains sound, expect 150 total yards and at least one score this week.

Christian McCaffrey, Panthers @ LAR
($8,300 DK, $8,700 FD) McCaffrey will be facing a paper tiger of a run defense this week. Unfortunately, he will be doing so with a new head coach and an unproven QB. Working in his favor is that the Panthers have finally started targeting him in the passing game. If the new coach, Steve Wilks, wants a chance to win his first game, he will continue that strategy.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ CLE ($6,000 DK, $7,500 FD) With Damien Harris (hamstring) out for the foreseeable future, Stevenson will be the lead dog for New England. Last week, Stevenson went off for 175 total yards. Expect more of the same as Cleveland has allowed a total of 503 combo yards and five total RB touchdowns IN JUST THE LAST TWO WEEKS! 

Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ MIA
($7,500 DK, $8,300 FD) Miami just allowed the Jets’ RBs to combine for 230 total yards and three touchdowns (in addition, to two other rushing TDs vultured by Zach Wilson and Braxton Berrios). They have also allowed at least one RB score every week except one. 120-1 is Cook’s floor here.

DFS Sleepers

Kenneth Walker, Seahawks vs. ARI
($5,400 DK, $6,500 FD) Rashaad Penny (leg) is done for the year. This will expedite Kenneth Walker’s ascension to RB1 in Seattle. Last week, Walker ripped off a huge TD run against a strong New Orleans run defense. Arizona is middle of the pack against the run (including allowing one total RB score per week). Given a full volume of work, Walker should score and approach 100 total yards. 

Breece Hall, Jets @ GB ($5,800 DK, $7,100 FD) OK, FD has finally caught on to Hall. Would someone like to tell DK? Only two RBs have more targets than Hall, and only Austin Ekeler has more receptions. Plus, Hall has now scored in back-to-back games and should’ve scored multiple times last week.

Wide Receiver

Weekly strategy – I don’t hate any of the top WR options. That said, Cooper Kupp’s price is borderline troubling going up against Jaycee Horn (ribs), assuming he plays. Stefon Diggs and Deebo Samuel are the safest WR1 choices. Cheaper pivots would include Gabe Davis, Marquise Brown, and Chris Godwin. WR2 will be much easier to outfit. Adam Thielen, Tyler Lockett, Chris Olave (concussion), Amari Cooper, Christian Kirk, Allen Lazard, and JuJu Smith-Schuster all deserve consideration. The depth WRs for Buffalo and Kansas City should be considered for WR3. If you want to look outside of that game, consider Randall Cobb, Alec Pierce, Devin Duvernay, and whoever suits up for the Giants.

Fantasy Four-pack

Stefon Diggs, Bills @ KC
($8,400 DK, $8,900 FD) With several weapons to target in this high-scoring game, why not just secure the most proven WR among them? Build your lineup around Diggs, Josh Allen, and Travis Kelce, and then fill out from there.

Justin Jefferson, Vikings @ MIA
($8,900 DK, $9,200 FD) Jefferson has had three monster games already this year. Now, he faces a Miami defense that will be without Byron Jones and possibly Xavien Howard, too. The price is a little high but so is his ceiling.

Cooper Kupp, Rams vs. CAR
($9,700 DK, $9,400 FD) Only one WR1 has performed well against Carolina this season. Still, this is Cooper Kupp, and he scores in the mid-20s in his worst games. Just know that this will be one of those 20- to 25-point floors if CB Jaycee Horn (ribs) plays.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers @ ATL
($7,600 DK, $7,600 FD) Pairing Samuel with Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle makes a sneaky value stack. Atlanta was crushed by WR1s the first two weeks and then proceeded to struggle in two of their next three games against the position. Samuel salvaged his poor game last week with a TD, Of course, that was against Carolina, who I mentioned above have limited most WR1s.

DFS Sleepers

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs vs. BUF
($5,200 DK, $6,400 FD) Everyone and their mother will be rostering Travis Kelce this week. So, why not pivot to Smith-Schuster and gain cheaper exposure to the game? This also applies to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Alec Pierce, Colts vs. JAX
($4,300 DK, $5,900 FD) Pierce has watched all of his statistical categories rise each of the last three weeks. Non-WR1s have fared well in three of the five contests against Jacksonville this season. Pierce should approach 7-75-1 here.

Tight End

Weekly strategy – Just pay up and play Travis Kelce. It may feel like chasing points, but no other player can break a slate as quickly as he can. Think of him as your WR2 and pay down at that position. George Kittle would be a very sneaky pivot. He is much cheaper and the matchup is juicy. Zach Ertz and David Njoku are the other two higher-priced options with decent matchups. One of them could be used in a double-TE lineup. Hayden Hurst and Daniel Bellinger are cheap punt plays.

Fantasy Four-pack

Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. BUF
($7,800 DK, $8,300 FD) Kelce broke the primetime slate last week. Don’t expect four TDs here, but he will score at least once. He should also have more receptions and yardage, think 7-100.

George Kittle, 49ers @ ATL
($5,100 DK, $5,700 FD) Atlanta has allowed an average of 82 combo yards per game to opposing TEs. Now, they have to face Kittle, whom Jimmy Garoppolo finally remembered existed. This will be his best week of the season.

Mark Andrews, Ravens @ NYG
($7,000 DK, $7,800 FD) The Giants have actually posted decent numbers against the TE position. Of course, they have also faced more stiffs than a mortician. With Rashod Bateman likely out again this week, Andrews should post a solid floor game of 7-70-1.

Zach Ertz, Cardinals @ SEA
($4,900 DK, $6,000 FD) Seattle has allowed at least one TE score in three of five games. They have also allowed the most total yards to the position. With DeAndre Hopkins out one more week, Ertz has one more big game in him.

DFS Sleepers

Hayden Hurst, Bengals @ NO
($3,300 DK, $4,900 FD) With Tee Higgins (ankle) on the wrong end of questionable, I expect Hurst to be highly involved in the passing game once again. He has scored in two straight, and this week will be number three.

Daniel Bellinger, Giants vs. BAL
($3,200 DK, $4,700 FD) With so many injuries in their passing game, Bellinger has carved out a small niche for himself. Baltimore has struggled against the pass all year and has allowed three different TEs to score. Try a punt stack with Bellinger, Daniel Jones, and Saquon Barkley.