My starts and sits in Week 5 delivered great hits with some horrible misses. In deeper leagues, Rashee Rice snagged a touchdown, and CJ Stroud continues to make history, too. Jared Goff finished as the QB4 and I had him as a sit. Jakobi Meyers also finished as the WR11 when he was on the sit side of things as well.
Now, it is time to make up for those misses with domination in Week 6 and solidifying your team as one of the best in your league. With the injuries that took place to key players such as Justin Jefferson, Devon Achane, and James Conner, times are tough. Making the right start and sit decisions is more important than ever with the middle of the season coming around. Being ahead of the edge and finding these key starts and sits will keep you ahead of league members.
Week 6 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Sits
Russell Wilson @ Kansas City Chiefs
Broncos Country has not been riding and has not had fun. The Denver Broncos are 1-4 and now head to Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have not lost since Week 1 and the Broncos are searching for answers from the mess that they are on both sides of the football.
Wilson is off to a great start this season. He has 11 touchdowns through five games. He had 16 touchdowns in 15 games one season ago. The problem is the Chiefs are allowing the 12th fewest ppg to the position. The defense of the Broncos is so bad, I just cannot see Wilson keeping up with Patrick Mahomes on the scoreboard. Wilson makes the sits list for the first time this season. Although he has made the best of his situation, this Thursday night match-up against the Chiefs smells like bad news.
Jared Goff @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jared Goff just delivered a QB4 performance in Week 6 and the Detroit Lions are rolling at 4-1. The problem is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also playing great football at 3-1. They also are giving up the eighth fewest ppg to the position and have given up four touchdowns to six interceptions so far.
Even with the Lions playing well, this game looks like it will hit the under with an ugly win by the Lions. Goff will produce, but I see a QB2 (QB14-Qb18) finish rather than a top-12 finish as the previous week.
Running Back Sits
Jerome Ford vs. San Francisco 49ers
As if playing without Deshaun Watson was not bad enough, the Cleveland Browns now host the best team in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers. That is with a good chance that Watson misses another game and PJ Walker starts for the Browns. This would be a fantasy nightmare for anyone thinking of playing players from the Browns.
With Watson, Ford still sees a formidable test. With no Watson, you can mark Jerome Ford a sit in Week 6’s starts and sits. Ford accumulated 26 yards on nine carries in a Week 4 game without Watson. With a much tougher opponent in Week 6, Ford and the entire Browns offense will be in for a rough Sunday.
Dameon Pierce vs. New Orleans Saints
The Saints gave up over 20 points for the first time since last season in their Week 4 game. In Week 5, they corrected that with a complete domination of the New England Patriots, 34-0. They gave up just 45 rushing yards. Now, Dameon Pierce has to try and produce against a defense giving up the second fewest ppg to the position.
The Saints are also giving up just 62.2 ypg (yards per game) and have yet to give up a touchdown to opposing running backs. Pierce is a sit for me as start Quarterback CJ Stroud will have to put the Texans on his back to come away with a victory in Week 6.
Jahymr Gibbs @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The dream of Jayhmr Gibbs being an RB1 in his rookie season is over. I say that confidently to not expect anything better. David Montgomery is a Rb1 the rest of the 2023-2024 NFL season. Montgomery is the RB6 in ppg with the fourth most red-zone touches. Behind a top-two offensive line, Montgomery will continue to shine as Gibbs is left in the shadows.
The Buccaneers are not an easy defense to run on, but they did allow D’Andre Swift to run for over 100 yards. Unless Gibbs gets involved in the receiving game heavily, he is a stash on your bench and a sit in my starts and sits for Week 6.
Wide Receiver Sits
Amari Cooper vs. San Francisco 49ers
The same reasons as with Jerome Ford. The 49ers are the best team in football. The Browns will possibly be without their starting quarterback. This match-up can get ugly fast. Even with the Browns being forced to throw, it is said that PJ Walker will be the starting quarterback for the Browns.
All in all, this should make anyone who rosters Amari Cooper hesitant to start him in Week 6. Keep Cooper on your bench in Week 6 and look for safer options or an option with tremendous upside.
Terry McLaurin @ Atlanta Falcons
Terry McLaurin is on pace for his fantasy finish in his NFL career. Currently sitting as the WR31 in ppg, McLaurin is no longer a safe option in lineups. Even with Sam Howell throwing it over 40 times in Week 5, McLaurin was fourth in targets and had just 49 yards.
With a match-up against the sixth-best defense in defending the position, McLaurin managers might be in for another rough performance. It has gotten out of hand for me that I’d start Josh Downs over Terry McLaurin in Week 6. Look for better options in the waiver wire with McLaurin making my sits for starts and sits.
Devonta Smith @ New York Jets
The Jets’ defense is so good that it makes you wonder how good they could have been with Aaron Rodgers. This defense is giving up the second-fewest ppg to the position. Devonta Smith also has not done anything much since his Week 1 and Week 2 performances.
Now, the Eagles will make it tough for Zach Wilson but do not think Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense will put up 40 points on the New York Jets. The Jets play hard with motivation that they can possibly make something of this season and not see it as “lost.”
Smith has not been himself in over three weeks and this young star finds himself as a sit for his Week 6 match-up against Sauce Gardner and the Jets’ secondary.
Tight End Sits
Dalton Schultz vs. New Orleans Saints
Dalton Schultz has had consecutive weeks of over 13 fantasy points after not putting up even 13 points the first three weeks. The problem is once again the same with Dameon Pierce. The Saint defense is no joke as they have allowed just the third-fewest ppg to the tight end position.
There are much better options out there. Look at players such as Logan Thomas and Zach Ertz in Week 6.
Jake Ferguson vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Jake Ferguson has been a nice pick-up in leagues for players who do not prioritize tight ends. Ferguson is currently the TE14 in ppg and total points. Ferguson has one good match-up under his belt with two TE1 finishes. He finished as the TE11 in Week 2 with 48 yards and five catches. That is how bad the position is.
The Chargers also have given up just 172 yards and one touchdown to the position this season. This will be a Tony Pollard game as he is due for once against such a horrendous Chargers run defense.
Quarterback Starts
Trevor Lawrence vs. Indianapolis Colts
Trevor Lawrence has played at his floor all season long. His time for a 30-point performance is coming and it is in Week 6. The Jaguars face the Tennessee Titans. The Titans are an average team in ppg allowed to quarterbacks and absolutely one of the worst against WRs.
Lawrence will capitalize on this and deliver his best fantasy finish of the 2023-2024 season. With his best completion percentage in three seasons, Lawrence has started this season slow. Look for the Jaguars to keep the momentum going after a big Week 5 win against the Buffalo Bills.
Dak Prescott vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Dallas Cowboys became sons to the San Francisco 49ers this past week and look to bounce back in a big way. The Chargers vs. Cowboys match-up has a chance to be the best game of the week with both teams putting up over 25 points each.
The Chargers are dead last in ppg allowed to receivers and fourth in ppg to quarterbacks. Dak Prescott has not been in any way a QB1 this season but has the chance to be a great start in Week 6. The Cowboys just gave up 42 points and put up just TEN. Look for Prescott to get it going early with the aid of Ceedee Lamb and Tony Pollard. Dak is my favorite start on starts and sits in Week 6.
Running Back Starts
Rhamondre Stevenson @ Las Vegas Raiders
The dumpster fire that is the New England Patriots might be surprising to a lot of people. This does not mean in any way that people thought the Patriots would be good this season, but being one of the five worst teams in the NFL was not in the magic “8-ball” this off-season.
Rhamondre Stevenson like the entire offense has been a big disappointment. Stevenson is currently the RB33 in ppg, but top 12 in carries and and snap share. Stevenson has not been efficient as he is averaging just 2.8 ypc (yards per carry). He has a chance to change that in a match-up against the Raiders who just let AJ Dillon finish as the RB13 with 76 yards and a touchdown. With a bust in Week 6, it will be time to start worrying that the Stevenson pick was not a good one.
Tyjae Spears vs. Baltimore Ravens
Tyjae Spears is one of my must-adds for waiver wire adds in Week 6. Spears is closing in on the RB1 spot for the Tennessee Titans. Spears is currently seeing a snap share of 50.2% to Derrick Henry’s 55.6%. Henry also got outplayed by Spears in Week 6.
Father time has never lost and Henry is averaging his lowest snap share since his third season. Derrick Henry is also averaging his lowest ppg since his third season and is looking like the time is near. Start Spears in what should be a tough match-up won in the trenches with the run game. Spears adds a different aspect of the game with his pass-catching ability and will be a top-24 player at the position. Spears is my favorite sleeper in starts and sits for Week 6.
Alexander Mattison @ Chicago Bears
With the news that Justin Jefferson is heading to the injured reserved list, Alexander Mattison needs to step up. Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson will see increases in their usage, but the running game needs to thrive more than ever with not being able to rely on the best receiver in the league.
Mattison has a wonderful match-up against the 10th worst team in ppg allowed to the position. With back-to-back top 20 finishes and three consecutive double-digit outings, I expect Mattison to be a top 15 play at the position and find himself in the end-zone when the Week 6 games commence.
Wide Receiver Starts
Drake London vs. Washington Commanders
When Desmond Ridder makes it a point to get the ball to Drake London and Kyle Pitts, good things happen. Ridder eclipsed 300 passing yards for the first time in his career. He also completed the most passes in a game in his NFL career. This is fantastic news if this can keep up in the upcoming weeks.
With Ridder having his best game, Kyle Pitts had his best game and Drake London had his highest fantasy finish (WR19). This is not a coincidence and Arthur Smith needs to take note of this. Start London in a match-up against a Commanders team that just gave up over 200 yards to DJ Moore and 40 points to the Chicago Bears.
Josh Downs @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Josh Downs is quickly establishing himself as the Indianapolis Colts’ WR2. Downs had the best game of his career with six catches and 97 yards. With all eyes constantly on Michael Pittman, Downs thrived in Week 5. The Jaguars are giving up the eighth most ppg to the position.
They allowed Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs to each have 100 or more yards. Look for Downs to keep up his nice rookie season with another top-20 finish in Week 6. Downs will see the starts in starts and sits going forward more often than not.
Jordan Addison @ Chicago Bears
Jordan Addison started his rookie season strong then had 0 points in Week 4. He made up for that with 18.4 points in Week 5. He better get used to it as well as Justin Jefferson landed on injured reserve and will miss the next four games. Addison steps in as the Vikings WR1 and should make the most of this time.
Addison has a shot to take over as the lead rookie for offensive rookie of the year and establish himself as a top 24 WR for the rest of the season. The Bears allow the 13th most ppg to the position. The fact that the Vikings are the most pass-friendly team makes Addison an automatic start and my most confident pick to finish top 12 for starts and sits in Week 6.
Tight End Starts
Kyle Pitts vs. Washington Commanders
The same reasons for Drake London apply here. The Falcons have two of the most talented players of the next generation on their team. Kyle Pitts needs the Sam LaPorta treatment. Pitts is good enough to make such an impact that Desmond Ridder might just keep his starting job.
If Ridder were to pass the way he did in Week 5, managers could be content with what Pitts puts out. He had over 70 yards and a TE1 finish for the first time since Week 8 of last season. The Commanders just gave up 17.7 fantasy points to Cole Kmet. Pitts’ managers are in store for consecutive weeks of Pitts having good games
Cole Kmet vs. Minnesota Vikings
Just three players caught passes for the Chicago Bears in Week 5. One of those was Cole Kmet who delivered a second consecutive TE1 week. Now, he gets the Vikings who are an average team in defending the position.
The good thing about Kmet is that there is no Chase Claypool and Darnell Mooney has not been a factor. Besides DJ Moore, Kmet is the clear-cut second option for this Bears team. Start Kmet with confidence he has another double-digit performance and finds the end-zone once again with a quarterback who has eight touchdowns in the past two games.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty