The first of eight daunting NFL bye weeks are here, effecting fantasy football teams everywhere. Week 6 will further test your fantasy football managerial skills. Bye weeks add a layer of difficulty to decision making as you navigate matchups, injuries, and everything in between. This makes choosing players that I love and hate for the week ahead that much harder, too. With that challenge, though, I’m making sure the players I suggest for your lineups are those that I feel strongly about helping you get a win in the absence of your usual studs.
Sometimes you don’t have many choices as the bench options on your roster become scarce. If you do have options, though, I believe what I have to say about these players that I love and hate will help put you in a position to win your week. My track record, thus far, is pretty spot on as I continue to hold myself accountable, review each list every week on Twitter (@Colin_McT) and improve week-to-week!
Players I Love and Hate in Week 6 of the 2022 Season
Quarterback
Love: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
By now, I hope Geno Smith is on somebody’s roster in your fantasy football league. If it’s yours, you should love his Week 6 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. They rank eighth in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. They’re also tied for eighth in passing touchdowns allowed (8) this season.
Arizona enters Week 6 after a tough three-week stretch in which they’ve scored just over 18.0 points per game. Compare that to the Seahawks who lead the league with 34.3 points per game over the same three-week span. The Cardinals, however, are tied for fifth in points scored on the road (27.5) this season. They’re also leading the league in plays per game (72.2) with a 73.3 average in their last three. All that said, I think this is going to be one of the higher-scoring games in Week 6 with an Over/Under line of 50.5 points.
Geno Smith is the fantasy football QB7 after five weeks. He’s averaging 19.98 points per game and a second-best 25.21 in the last three weeks. This isn’t a fluke. Smith’s three years spent behind Russell Wilson and familiarity with the Seahawks is paying off. He is an every-week starter and a quarterback I would love to have in my Week 6 lineup.
Some Extra Love:
Daniel Jones should be busy in Week 6 as the New York Giants host the Baltimore Ravens. After an emphatic win in London against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers last week, Jones and the Giants will look to keep up with Lamar Jackson on Sunday. Saquon Barkley is dealing with a shoulder injury from the London game but is likely to suit up. The Ravens, though, allow the most passing yards to quarterbacks through five weeks. I know the Giants group of pass catchers is one of the worst in the league, but Jones should be able to get them the ball against a weaker-than-most pass defense. That, plus his rushing upside, especially in the red zone, is something I love ahead of this matchup.
Hate: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
In the wake of the Carolina Panthers firing head coach, Matt Rhule, playing Stafford against them this week may seem like a choice matchup. Despite the circumstances, I still hate the matchup for him and don’t consider him a fantasy starter for Week 6.
The Carolina Panthers are heading to Los Angeles with P.J. Walker likely to start at quarterback. In two full NFL starts, Walker has thrown for 258 yards against a 2020 Detroit Lions team and then just 167 yards last year against the Arizona Cardinals. Their offense this season isn’t anything to write home about. Walker is likely to force feed Christian McCaffrey with hopes he can make a few big plays.
That said, I think the Rams slow things down and run the ball. Carolina is allowing the seventh-most rushing yards per game to running backs. Given that Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee popped up on the injury report this week, and that the Rams have a Week 7 bye, I think we see Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson combine for 25 or more carries, something they haven’t done since Week 2. With just 19 total points scored by the Rams the last two weeks, their best bet to put points on the board in Week 6 is by establishing the run against the visiting Panthers.
Running Back
Love: Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos
There is a ton of negativity surrounding the Denver Broncos right now and for good reason. They are second to last in points scored (15.0) per game this season. Their red zone offense is dysfunctional, but they are moving the ball with the 18th-most total yards per game. To make matters worse, though, Russell Wilson is reportedly dealing with a torn shoulder/back muscle.
Despite the lousy lead-in, I love Melvin Gordon’s opportunity to lead the Broncos to a win in Week 6. Denver has yet another prime-time game, this time against AFC West rival, the Los Angeles Chargers. In the last three weeks, the Chargers have allowed three different 100-yard rushers: James Robinson, Dameon Pierce, and Nick Chubb. In addition to their 100+ yards, each back has found the end zone on the ground. In Week 5, both Chubb and Kareem Hunt scored a rushing touchdown while combining for 181 yards on 28 carries.
Gordon does have his issues with ball security. However, his only competition for carries are Mike Boone and 32.5-year-old Latavius Murray. While I do think Murray could get some run, in what feels like a must-win game, at least for morale, it’s hard to imagine not feeding Gordon. It’s worth noting this is a “revenge game” for Gordon, as well, as he faces the team that drafted him. I love his chances to be a bright spot for an offense that seems to have a dark cloud over them. Let Wilson hand the ball off and good things will happen on Monday Night Football.
Some Extra Love:
Eno Benjamin looks like he will be the lead back for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. James Conner is dealing with a rib injury while Darrell Williams looks like he is going to miss this one with a knee injury of his own. The Cards started the week signing Corey Clement and Ty’Son Williams to the practice squad. That’s a sign Conner and Williams will be unavailable. Eno Benjamin has a great opportunity against a Seattle Seahawks team allowing the second-most rushing and third-most receiving yards to running backs. He averaged 315 touches for 1,667 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Arizona State with at least 35 receptions each year. It’s a bit wild to say, but I love the idea of starting Benjamin over the guy below on my hate list in Week 6.
Hate: Najee Harris
It physically pained me to type Najee Harris’ name next to the word “hate” here. I’m not only a fan of Najee, but promoted taking him confidently in the first round almost all summer. Sorry! It’s been ugly, for lack of a better term. We knew the offensive line had it’s issues, but Najee looks slow, has less of a role as a pass catcher, and isn’t seeing the playing time he was as a rookie when he touched the ball a league-leading 381 times.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better if it ever does. The Steelers are hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who allow the third-least points to running backs. They allow 102.1 yards total on the ground and through the air to the position. In five games, running backs have found the end zone just three times against them. It doesn’t help, too, that head coach, Mike Tomlin, claims he wants to continue growing Jaylen Warren’s workload. That will just eat into the total production from the position in an already difficult matchup.
I fully expect the Bucs to pull away given the -8.0-point spread in favor of Tampa Bay. If you have another option with a more appealing matchup, Najee is arguably worth benching in Week 6.
Wide Receiver
Love: D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers
Baker Mayfield is going to miss Week 6 following a Week 5 ankle injury. That gives way to P.J. Walker to make his first start of the 2022 season. In a press conference earlier this week, Walker foreshadows the idea of getting the ball into his playmakers’ hands as it’s the only way he knows how to play.
Walkers’ top playmakers on the Carolina offense are Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore. Though Moore’s production is lackluster this season, his role in the offense hasn’t declined. Moore’s played a team-high 96% of the Panthers’ snaps through five weeks. He also leads the team in targets (37) with no less than six in any game and 19 total in the last two.
Walker has two full starts to his name over the last two seasons with the Panthers. In those starts, Moore has 11 targets in one and seven targets in the other. I fully expect McCaffrey and Moore to dominate the target share against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6. What I love the most is that the Rams allow the most receptions to wide receivers through five games. The Panthers are likely to be playing from behind which should lend to a fantasy-friendly game script with a high passing volume from Carolina. Believe it or not, Moore is worth starting in Week 6.
Some Extra Love:
Isaiah McKenzie should be available for the Buffalo Bills this weekend after clearing concussion protocol. Although rookie, Khalil Shakir, found the end zone in his place last weekend, McKenzie should slide back in to the starting slot receiver role. This team will need all hands on deck in an epic 2021 AFC Divisional Round rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are tied for third in touchdowns allowed (7) to wide receivers this season. With Jamison Crowder on Injured Reserve, I expect McKenzie to see a career-high in snaps moving forward. It’s worth noting that Cole Beasley saw no less than 106 targets as the starting slot receiver in Buffalo over the last three years. There are a lot of mouths to feed in Buffalo, but I love McKenzie to break out in Week 6.
Hate: Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
Everything is stacking against McLaurin ahead of a Thursday night matchup with the Chicago Bears. Not only are the Commanders playing on short rest, but they’re doing so on the road in Chicago. This game has an Over/Under of 38, which is typical when two teams face off in a short week. Carson Wentz did get a full practice in Wednesday but has been limited all week with a shoulder injury. The Bears have allowed the 10th-least points to wide receivers this season including just two touchdowns to the position. I think you’re going to be hoping for a big play or two to make starting McLaurin count. I hate your chances of getting it.
Tight End
Love: Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Plugging Taysom Hill into your lineup is risky business. He’s not playing nearly enough snaps to feel good about it. However, on just 57 total snaps this season, he’s had the ball in his hands on 40% of them. Simply put, when he is on the field, he’s probably getting the ball.
At this point, it’s laughable that Hill even has tight end eligibility. While it may feel weird, don’t let his positional tag stop you from playing him at tight end. Like most tight ends, you’re hoping for a touchdown for a boost in points. However, with Hill, his opportunities at scoring a touchdown are as a ball carrier. Hill has five rushing touchdowns on 21 carries in four games. In those same games, Hill has just one pass attempt, one target, and one reception.
Ahead of Week 6, Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Jarvis Landry did not practice on Wednesday. It does sound like Olave is likely to clear concussion protocol and there is optimism Thomas suits up despite a toe injury. With two of three of their top receivers available, albeit banged up, Hill should continue to see opportunities in the red zone and goal-to-go situations. His floor is low, but so are most tight end streamers. His ceiling though is a multi-score performance. I love Hill to find the end zone yet again in Week 6.
Some Extra Love:
George Kittle isn’t living up to his 2022 draft value. Through three games played, he has yet to top 7.7 PPR points. That all changes this week. Teams are targeting their tight ends at the second-highest rate against the Atlanta Falcons. As a result, Atlanta allows the third-most yards to tight ends. Since his return from an early-season calf injury, Kittle has been on the field more than Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. He’s third in targets amongst the three, but with just one less than Aiyuk. You’re starting Kittle if you have him and you’re going to love what you get from him in Week 6.
Hate: Hayden Hurst, Cincinnati Bengals
There is a pattern to my tight end hate picks on a week-to-week basis. Whoever I choose is usually playing against the New Orleans Saints. I was trying to change things up for Week 6, but I think mentioning Hurst is important since many have chosen to stream him at least once this season.
Hurst is surprisingly tied for second, with Tee Higgins, in team targets. That makes benching him especially difficult in Week 6. The Saints, though, are barely allowing three receptions per game to the tight end position. They are also one of four teams that have yet to allow a touchdown to the position. Hurst has three in five games. Something’s got to give and I’m betting it’s the New Orleans defense at home. Hurst’s target share is nice, but there are plenty of playmakers on the Bengals who can take over if he gets bottled up like every other tight end to play against this team.
Also make sure to check out our Week 6 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings