The undefeated 49ers play host to the Commanders on Monday Night Football. Can Jayden Daniels and company score, or will this matchup spell doom for your fantasy football players in Week 6?
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Week 6 MNF Fantasy Preview
Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers (-7.5) O/U: 52
Clear starts: Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans (if he plays), George Kittle
Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler – RB, Washington Commanders
With Jacory Croskey-Merritt out, Rachaad White and Austin Ekeler are next in line for touches. Both RBs are veterans who have a knack for drawing targets. White could be the biggest beneficiary, but both backs have value. The Washington Commanders are big underdogs on Monday Night Football. A negative game script is expected in this game, which could lead to plenty of targets for the Commanders’ backfield. Rachaad White leads all Commanders RBs with 10 targets, but Austin Ekeler has drawn three himself on just 23 snaps this year.
The question is whether there will be enough volume to start either RB on your fantasy football team. The 49ers allow the 19th most fantasy points to the position, but they allow a ton of points to RBs through the air. RBs have been targeted 42 times against the 49ers, second most in the league. That’s just one target behind the league-leading Bills per Pro Football Reference. Game script could play a part in this, but it’s clear that teams are dumping it off to their backfield players. With Croskey-Merritt out, the backfield split could be very condensed.
That also doesn’t mean the Commanders will never run the ball. The 49ers are arguably the best team in the league, but we can expect some rushing work for both backs. Rachaad White has carried the ball at least seven times per game this year. TD upside on the ground may be limited, though. The Commanders have only run the ball 18 times in the red zone and just twice on the goal line. Croskey-Merritt naturally handled most of that work, but Kaytron Allen was not far behind him. Allen is now on the Dolphins, so the red zone opportunities will likely go to White and Ekeler, but the volume of chances may be low.
You can start Rachaad White as a FLEX or fill-in RB2 in PPR leagues. Ekeler has some PPR value as well, but his floor may be much more limited at 31 years old.
Stefon Diggs – WR, Washington Commanders
The 49ers are allowing the fifth fewest yards to WRs this year. This could be the best team on both sides of the ball. That makes for a daunting task for the Commanders and their receivers. Stefon Diggs enters this game as the team target leader. Diggs has been a consistent target operating in the short to medium area of the field, averaging a 9.0-yard aDOT. Despite the high target numbers, receiving yards have just not come. Diggs is averaging just 42.5 yards per game. Only three receivers have more targets while averaging fewer yards per game than Diggs.
While the matchup is difficult, Diggs frequently operates out of the slot. He would likely face Upton Stout there, who is questionable for Monday Night Football. Stout allows a 73.1% completion percentage and a passer rating of 109.3 per Pro Football Reference. Avoiding Renardo Green, who allows a passer rating of just 43.7, on the outside would benefit Diggs greatly. However, the low aDOT and high target rate should benefit Diggs even in more difficult matchups. The Commanders project to be trailing a ferocious 49ers team in this game, so passing volume could also increase.
Even in a difficult matchup, Diggs has value as a low-end WR2. While yardage may be limited most weeks, his high target numbers and red zone work make him a solid play in PPR leagues. Expect a high floor in Week 6.
Brandin Cooks and Jacob Cowing – WR, San Francisco 49ers
Mike Evans has failed to practice three days in a row. With injuries continuing to pile up, there will be massive question marks about who will play WR for the 49ers this week. Deebo Samuel Jr. is out, and both De’Zhaun Stribling and Ricky Pearsall are on IR. Even if Evans does not miss this game, there is an opportunity for someone else to step up.
Both Cooks and Cowing were targeted just twice last week, though Cooks had a receiving TD. Cooks is one of the oldest players in the league at 33 and currently playing in his 13th season. Cowing has played just 20 games since being drafted in 2024. With only 11 career targets, five of which came this season, it’s hard to tell what the 49ers have here.
Cowing seems to be moving up, averaging a target per game so far. That’s not something you want to hear for your fantasy football streamer, but it’s a massive boost from his rookie year. The play time should be there in the event that Evans is out, but there’s still not enough information to like Cowing in even deep leagues. Cooks may only have three targets this season, but he has an end zone target and the pedigree to show up in this game.
There are far too many question marks to trust either receiver. Mike Evans could suit up, and the targets could simply condense and go to Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Christian Kirk could also suit up after coming off of injured reserve. Cooks may be old, but he could be the veteran that the 49ers lean on. Otherwise, the rest of the receivers could simply cannibalize each other and leave everyone with just a few targets each. Cooks should have the best chance to emerge, but he’s 33 and unlikely to have a lasting impact. Avoid any 49ers WR not named Mike Evans, but if you have to choose between these two, go with Cooks.
Chigoziem Okonkwo – TE, Washington Commanders
What could have been a breakout season for Chigoziem Okonkwo collapsed almost immediately. Okonkwo left Week 1 with a hamstring injury and missed the next two weeks. When he returned, not only was Jayden Daniels hurt but backup Marcus Mariota got hurt in a blowout loss in London. However, things looked much better last week. In his first full game with Daniels, Okonkwo was targeted six times and hauled in four balls for 60 yards. While the Commanders were in an overtime game against the Giants, Daniels only threw 25 times. That gives Okonkwo a 24% target share and led the team.
San Francisco has been a brutal matchup for TEs, though. Only Trey McBride, one of the position’s elites, has posted a good game against the 49ers. Granted, the 49ers have not faced many threatening TEs to this point. The Rams have a great unit, but their entire offense was stifled in Week 1 after some questionable travel plans. Greg Dulcich, Evan Engram, and AJ Barner all struggled, though. While they are not elite options, it’s not like Okonkwo is significantly better. The sample size is questionable, but Okonkwo may struggle in this contest. It’s unfortunate that this brutal matchup comes just as he seemingly got going. If you’re in a deep league and starting Okonkwo, temper expectations. Game script may force enough passes to give him a decent floor, though.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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