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Week 6 Flex Rankings for Fantasy Football

Week 6 is the first week of the 2021 season in which fantasy managers will have to navigate those pesky bye weeks. We will not see all 32 NFL teams in action again until Week 15. On top of that, fantasy managers are dealing with a seemingly neverending list of injuries. With so many variables in play, there is plenty to get into as we prepare for the week ahead. So let’s get right to it. Below are my Week 6 Flex rankings based on half-PPR scoring. These will change a bit as we gather better information as the week progresses, so keep on top of the latest news before locking in those lineups. I also added some notes on players at each position that you may be considering for your Flex spots.


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Running Back Notes

Last week was another which featured some wacky production from some rather unlikely sources. Myles Gaskin authored my least favorite breakout performance of Week 5. I was fortunate enough to avoid facing him in any of my head-to-head leagues, so that was nice. On the flip side, however, I did offer this piece of sage advice to one of my best friends on Sunday morning:

Perine did post an overall RB17 performance in half-PPR leagues, so at least my recommendation was not completely disastrous. But Gaskin went ballistic on his way to a top-four weekly finish. Gaskin parlayed 10 targets into 10 catches for 74 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions in Miami’s loss to Tampa Bay. He appears, for now, to have regained control of Miami’s backfield. That is good news ahead of a meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville has allowed a league-high eight rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs. It may feel a bit counterintuitive to start a running back who has seen just 17 total opportunities (carries plus targets) over his last two games. But Gaskin should hopefully remain in the good graces of fantasy managers after this game.

Christian McCaffrey is 50-50 to play in Week 6, according to head coach Matt Rhule. This could be a situation akin to what we saw last week with Joe Mixon. The Bengals back saw a much-reduced workload on Sunday as he battled through an ankle injury. Mixon was fortunate to save his fantasy day with a late touchdown, but the opportunities (11) were way down from his normal volume. If McCaffrey is a-go on gameday, you have to start him. I do not think he will have the same workload he had during the first two weeks of the season, but he is still an easy RB1. McCaffrey should receive somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 touches assuming he is given the green light.

Saquon Barkley was carted off with an ankle injury after stepping on the foot of Jourdan Lewis on Sunday. Talk about your tough luck. It looks as though he avoided serious injury, but I would not expect to see him this week. Devontae Booker should get the bulk of backfield looks for New York, which puts him on the Flex radar this week. The Rams’ defense is in the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Quarterback Daniel Jones is on track to play after suffering a scary-looking concussion last week. If Jones were to sit, Booker would see more touches but reduced efficiency, as Los Angeles would likely key in on stopping the run.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire will not be joining the Week 6 festivities after he sprained an MCL in Sunday night’s loss. The Chiefs placed the second-year running back on injured reserve. This injury will be tricky for fantasy managers to navigate. Edwards-Helaire is expected to be out a few weeks, and the Chiefs have a Week 12 bye. Kansas City may very well keep CEH on ice until then. They only have two games within the conference and one within the division before their bye. I would expect them to exercise caution with their young running back and save him for the latter part of their schedule. Besides, it’s not like he can help with their defensive woes. Darrel Williams was this week’s most popular add, and he will be Flex-worthy barring any other personnel moves.

Dalvin Cook and Chris Carson both sat out last week’s games for their respective teams. Both running backs are expected to return this week, though Carson did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Cook’s return should push Alexander Mattison into a reduced role. However, I would not be surprised if Minnesota uses a more even split between their two backs than normal. I have Mattison right on the border of Flex consideration this week. Carson will also face a difficult Week 6 test against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I view Carson as more of a question mark this week than Cook. As of right now, I have him outside the range of recommended Flex plays. That may change if we get some good news on the health front, but he would still be a risky RB2 for me.

Wide Receiver Notes

The breakout performer of Week 5 was Kadarius Toney of the New York Giants. Toney had a solid showing in Week 4 against New Orleans, catching six passes for 78 yards. But last week, he took it to another level. The Giants’ rookie receiver grabbed 10 balls for 189 yards in Dallas. He is now the overall WR9 over the last two weeks despite not scoring a touchdown. Before we dub Toney the next big thing, there are a couple of things we should consider. First, last week was a bit of a perfect storm for his production. Besides Barkley suffering an early injury, Kenny Golladay also left Sunday’s game prematurely after hyperextending his knee. The Giants trailed Dallas by a considerable margin for most of the second half. This led to a pass-happy game script as the game wore on, and Toney was the primary beneficiary.

While Golladay is out for Week 6, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton are expected to return after missing the last two games. Yes, the same two games where Toney thrived. Toney is also dealing with a mild ankle injury that he suffered in the loss. Add in a difficult matchup against the Rams and their vaunted secondary, and there are causes for concern. The Rams did place standout corner, Darious Williams, on injured reserve this week. But Jalen Ramsey still looms, and there are questions about where Toney sits in the wide receiver hierarchy with Shepard and Slayton back in the fold. I do not mind a speculative add (Toney is still available in over 30 percent of Fantrax leagues), and he may be a Flex consideration depending on your other options. I have Kadarius Toney as a highly volatile WR4 in 12-team leagues this week.

The Arizona Cardinals have four wide receivers who have scored at least 46 fantasy points (half-PPR scoring) through five weeks. All rank inside the top-45 based on year-to-date scoring in half-PPR scoring. The issue has been their wild swings in production. To say consistently has been lacking from the quartet would be an understatement. Below are the weekly finishes among wide receivers for each of the four Arizona wideouts.

NameYear-To-Date RankWeek 1 Week 2 Week 3Week 4Week 5
DeAndre Hopkins16724804616
Christian Kirk328501911047
Rondale Moore355351056826
A.J. Green4187382117100

Even perennial WR1 DeAndre Hopkins has not been immune to wild fluctuations in his weekly production. Having said that, he is still far and away the most trustworthy option each week. The floor for the remaining trio may be raised a bit in the wake of the recent injury to tight end Maxx Williams. Williams will miss the remainder of the 2021 season after suffering a serious knee injury. Williams had a healthy 14.7 percent target share over three weeks beginning in Week 2. His absence may mean more four-receiver sets for Arizona in Kliff Kingsbury’s Air Raid offense.

I don’t normally buy into snap rate as much as some do, but it would stand to reason that Rondale Moore could be the biggest beneficiary of Williams’ absence. The rookie has only been on the field for 39.6 percent of Arizona’s offensive snaps. Meanwhile, the remaining trio of receivers have all been on the field for at least 60 percent of offensive plays. Cleveland’s secondary has graded out pretty well thus far this season, led by third-year cornerback Greedy Williams. But we also saw them allow 47 points (including four fourth-quarter touchdowns) in last week’s defeat. I think it is worth chasing a potential uptick in opportunity with Moore, and I would not be opposed to starting any of Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, or Moore in the Flex spot this week depending on your roster construction.

Tight End Notes

Four tight ends had at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown last week. None of the four were named Travis Kelce or Darren Waller. Mark Andrews and Kyle Pitts showed why fantasy managers should never bench them, and Dawson Knox continued his breakout season. I am still not buying Knox (or Dalton Schultz for that matter) as a top-five option going forward. And I never advocate for starting a tight end in the Flex spot with all other things remaining equal. However, I can see a scenario where you could have conceivably paired Knox or Schultz with an elite tight end on draft day. I still consider both riskier than their year-to-date production would suggest going forward, but I can understand the desire to ride the hot hands. I have them both as top-seven tight ends this week.

David Njoku totaled five targets, four receptions, and 35 scoreless yards in a three-game span from Week 2 through Week 4. Then last week he erupted for a monster 7-149-1 line in last week’s shootout in Los Angeles. Cleveland does run a ton of two-tight end sets. They have used multiple tight ends on over 70 percent of their offensive snaps. However, this feels like a one-off despite Njoku’s renowned physical gifts. The Browns are still very much a run-first offense, and they will have to continue to get Odell Beckham more involved in the passing game. Jarvis Landry should also be returning to the lineup by the end of the month. Pat yourself on the back if you had Njoku in your lineup last week, but don’t go chasing last week’s points unless you are in a tight end premium league.

I did list Dallas Goedert towards the bottom of my Week 6 Flex rankings, but that is wishful thinking more than anything else. Goedert landed on the reserve/Covid list on Tuesday. If Philadelphia was playing this weekend, I could see him active this week. But considering the Eagles play on Thursday, he will most likely have to miss this contest. It is too bad, because the matchup is pristine against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have allowed an 81.8 percent catch rate and three touchdowns to opposing tight ends through five games. This game also features one of the highest implied totals of the week, with the Eagles expected to play from behind. Zach Ertz is a solid streaming option this week for those looking to fill a void left by an injury or a tight end on a bye this week.


More Week 6 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Kicker | D/ST | PPR | Flex


Week 6 Flex Rankings

RnkPlayerPOSTeamMatchup
1Derrick Henry RB1TENvs. BUF
2Austin Ekeler RB2LACat BAL
3Davante Adams WR1GBat CHI
4Tyreek Hill WR2KCat WAS
5Kareem Hunt RB3CLEvs. ARI
6Najee Harris RB4PITvs. SEA
7Stefon Diggs WR3BUFat TEN
8Jonathan Taylor RB5INDvs. HOU
9Ezekiel Elliott RB6DALat NE
10Travis Kelce TE1KCat WAS
11Cooper Kupp WR4LARat NYG
12Dalvin Cook RB7MINat CAR
13Justin Jefferson WR5MINat CAR
14James Robinson RB8JACvs. MIA
15Darrell Henderson Jr. RB9LARat NYG
16D.J. Moore WR6CARvs. MIN
17Aaron Jones RB10GBat CHI
18D'Andre Swift RB11DETvs. CIN
19Joe Mixon RB12CINat DET
20Leonard Fournette RB13TBat PHI
21Ja'Marr Chase WR7CINat DET
22Terry McLaurin WR8WASvs. KC
23Antonio Gibson RB14WASvs. KC
24Zack Moss RB15BUFat TEN
25Mike Williams WR9LACat BAL
26Mike Evans WR10TBat PHI
27Diontae Johnson WR11PITvs. SEA
28Keenan Allen WR12LACat BAL
29D.K. Metcalf WR13SEAat PIT
30Antonio Brown WR14TBat PHI
31Chris Godwin WR15TBat PHI
32DeAndre Hopkins WR16ARIat CLE
33Brandin Cooks WR17HOUat IND
34Marquise Brown WR18BALvs. LAC
35CeeDee Lamb WR19DALat NE
36Courtland Sutton WR20DENvs. LV
37Mark Andrews TE2BALvs. LAC
38Robert Woods WR21LARat NYG
39Michael Pittman Jr. WR22INDvs. HOU
40Darren Waller TE3LVat DEN
41Chase Claypool WR23PITvs. SEA
42Amari Cooper WR24DALat NE
43Chuba Hubbard RB16CARvs. MIN
44Josh Jacobs RB17LVat DEN
45Tee Higgins WR25CINat DET
46DeVonta Smith WR26PHIvs. TB
47Emmanuel Sanders WR27BUFat TEN
48Tyler Boyd WR28CINat DET
49Darrel Williams RB18KCat WAS
50Myles Gaskin RB19MIAat JAC
51Adam Thielen WR29MINat CAR
52Khalil Herbert RB20CHIvs. GB
53A.J. Brown WR30TENvs. BUF
54Chase Edmonds RB21ARIat CLE
55Jakobi Meyers WR31NEvs. DAL
56Marvin Jones Jr. WR32JACvs. MIA
57Javonte Williams RB22DENvs. LV
58Devontae Booker RB23NYGvs. LAR
59Jamaal Williams RB24DETvs. CIN
60Jaylen Waddle WR33MIAat JAC
61Tyler Lockett WR34SEAat PIT
62Odell Beckham Jr. WR35CLEvs. ARI
63Tony Pollard RB25DALat NE
64Hunter Renfrow WR36LVat DEN
65Laviska Shenault Jr. WR37JACvs. MIA
66Julio Jones WR38TENvs. BUF
67J.D. McKissic RB26WASvs. KC
68Miles Sanders RB27PHIvs. TB
69Melvin Gordon III RB28DENvs. LV
70Tim Patrick WR39DENvs. LV
71Kadarius Toney WR40NYGvs. LAR
72Mike Gesicki TE4MIAat JAC
73Dawson Knox TE5BUFat TEN
74Darnell Mooney WR41CHIvs. GB
75Cole Beasley WR42BUFat TEN
76Sterling Shepard WR43NYGvs. LAR
77T.J. Hockenson TE6DETvs. CIN
78Allen Robinson II WR44CHIvs. GB
79Alex Collins RB29SEAat PIT
80Noah Fant TE7DENvs. LV
81Henry Ruggs III WR45LVat DEN
82Dalton Schultz TE8DALat NE
83Robby Anderson WR46CARvs. MIN
84Latavius Murray RB30BALvs. LAC
85Mecole Hardman WR47KCat WAS
86Amon-Ra St. Brown WR48DETvs. CIN
87Tyler Higbee TE9LARat NYG
88Rondale Moore WR49ARIat CLE
89Kalif Raymond WR50DETvs. CIN
90Christian Kirk WR51ARIat CLE
91Nelson Agholor WR52NEvs. DAL
92A.J. Green WR53ARIat CLE
93Damien Harris RB31NEvs. DAL
94Zach Ertz TE10ARIat CLE
95Zach Pascal WR54INDvs. HOU
96AJ Dillon RB32GBat CHI
97Randall Cobb WR55GBat CHI
98Ricky Seals-Jones TE11WASvs. KC
99Van Jefferson WR56LARat NYG
100James Conner RB33ARIat CLE
101Preston Williams WR57MIAat JAC
102Dan Arnold TE12JACvs. MIA
103Devin Singletary RB34BUFat TEN
104Hunter Henry TE13NEvs. DAL
105Evan Engram TE14NYGvs. LAR
106Kendrick Bourne WR58NEvs. DAL
107Jerick McKinnon RB35KCat WAS
108Nyheim Hines RB36INDvs. HOU
109Alexander Mattison RB37MINat CAR
110K.J. Osborn WR59MINat CAR
111Tyler Conklin TE15MINat CAR
112Rashod Bateman WR60BALvs. LAC
113David Johnson RB38HOUat IND
114Jalen Reagor WR61PHIvs. TB
115Quez Watkins WR62PHIvs. TB
116Kenneth Gainwell RB39PHIvs. TB
117Robert Tonyan TE16GBat CHI
118Adam Humphries WR63WASvs. KC
119Mark Ingram II RB40HOUat IND
120Terrace Marshall Jr. WR64CARvs. MIN
121Jared Cook TE17LACat BAL
122Bryan Edwards WR65LVat DEN
123Darius Slayton WR66NYGvs. LAR
124Brandon Bolden RB41NEvs. DAL
125Sony Michel RB42LARat NYG
126Mo Alie-Cox TE18INDvs. HOU
127David Njoku TE19CLEvs. ARI
128James Washington WR67PITvs. SEA
129Cole Kmet TE20CHIvs. GB
130Malcolm Brown RB43MIAat JAC
131D'Ernest Johnson RB44CLEvs. ARI
132Jonnu Smith TE21NEvs. DAL
133Allen Lazard WR68GBat CHI
134Austin Hooper TE22CLEvs. ARI
135Rashard Higgins WR69CLEvs. ARI
136Ty'Son Williams RB45BALvs. LAC
137KhaDarel Hodge WR70DETvs. CIN
138C.J. Uzomah TE23CINat DET
139Freddie Swain WR71SEAat PIT
140Chris Conley WR72HOUat IND
141DeSean Jackson WR73LARat NYG
142Albert Wilson WR74MIAat JAC
143Rhamondre Stevenson RB46NEvs. DAL
144Parris Campbell WR75INDvs. HOU
145Chris Moore WR76HOUat IND
146Cedrick Wilson Jr. WR77DALat NE
147Jalen Guyton WR78LACat BAL
148Royce Freeman RB47CARvs. MIN
149Salvon Ahmed RB48MIAat JAC
150Anthony Firkser TE24TENvs. BUF
151John Ross WR79NYGvs. LAR
152Cameron Brate TE25TBat PHI
153Devin Duvernay WR80BALvs. LAC
154Donald Parham Jr. TE26LACat BAL
155Jarvis Landry WR81CLEvs. ARI
156Gerald Everett TE27SEAat PIT
157Giovani Bernard RB49TBat PHI
158Samaje Perine RB50CINat DET
159Pat Freiermuth TE28PITvs. SEA
160Tavon Austin WR82JACvs. MIA
161DeAndre Carter WR83WASvs. KC
162DeeJay Dallas RB51SEAat PIT
163Donovan Peoples-Jones WR84CLEvs. ARI
164Jamal Agnew WR85JACvs. MIA
165Jeremy McNichols RB52TENvs. BUF
166Chester Rogers WR86TENvs. BUF
167Marquise Goodwin WR87CHIvs. GB
168Jack Doyle TE29INDvs. HOU
169Ronald Jones II RB53TBat PHI
170Josh Reynolds WR88TENvs. BUF
171Blake Jarwin TE30DALat NE
172James Proche II WR89BALvs. LAC
173Tyler Johnson WR90TBat PHI
174Dyami Brown WR91WASvs. KC
175Ian Thomas TE31CARvs. MIN
176Jordan Akins TE32HOUat IND
177Kenyan Drake RB54LVat DEN
178Ryan Nall RB55CHIvs. GB
179O.J. Howard TE33TBat PHI
180T.Y. Hilton WR92INDvs. HOU
181Eric Ebron TE34PITvs. SEA
182Byron Pringle WR93KCat WAS
183Carlos Hyde RB56JACvs. MIA
184Marlon Mack RB57INDvs. HOU
185Pharaoh Brown TE35HOUat IND
186Kendall Hinton WR94DENvs. LV
187Phillip Lindsay RB58HOUat IND
188Demarcus Robinson WR95KCat WAS
189Danny Amendola WR96HOUat IND
190Devonta Freeman RB59BALvs. LAC
191Gabriel Davis WR97BUFat TEN
192Demetric Felton RB60CLEvs. ARI
193N'Keal Harry WR98NEvs. DAL
194Trinity Benson WR99DETvs. CIN
195Travis Homer RB61SEAat PIT
196Tommy Tremble TE36CARvs. MIN
197Harrison Bryant TE37CLEvs. ARI
198Will Dissly TE38SEAat PIT
199Josh Gordon WR100KCat WAS
200Kyle Rudolph TE39NYGvs. LAR
201Ray-Ray McCloud WR101PITvs. SEA
202Mack Hollins WR102MIAat JAC
203Durham Smythe TE40MIAat JAC
204Greg Ward WR103PHIvs. TB
205Noah Brown WR104DALat NE
206Chris Evans RB62CINat DET
207Demetrius Harris TE41ARIat CLE
208MyCole Pruitt TE42TENvs. BUF
209Justin Jackson RB63LACat BAL
210Nico Collins WR105HOUat IND
211Jimmy Graham TE43CHIvs. GB
212Brandon Zylstra WR106CARvs. MIN
213Jacob Hollister TE44JACvs. MIA
214Geoff Swaim TE45TENvs. BUF
215Dede Westbrook WR107MINat CAR
216Joshua Kelley RB64LACat BAL
217Jody Fortson WR108KCat WAS
218John Brown WR109DENvs. LV
219Marcedes Lewis TE46GBat CHI
220Damiere Byrd WR110CHIvs. GB
221Darrell Daniels TE47ARIat CLE
222Joshua Palmer WR111LACat BAL
223Darren Fells TE48DETvs. CIN
224David Moore WR112DENvs. LV
225Benny Snell Jr. RB65PITvs. SEA
226Foster Moreau TE49LVat DEN
227Jaret Patterson RB66WASvs. KC
228Josh Oliver TE50BALvs. LAC
229Penny Hart WR113SEAat PIT
230Nick Westbrook-Ikhine WR114TENvs. BUF
231C.J. Board WR115NYGvs. LAR
232Eric Saubert TE51DENvs. LV
233Anthony Schwartz WR116CLEvs. ARI
234Elijhaa Penny RB67NYGvs. LAR
235Adam Shaheen TE52MIAat JAC
236Jack Stoll TE53PHIvs. TB

More fantasy football fun for Week 6: Waiver Wire | FAAB Guide | Start & Sit | Loves & Hates | Stock Watch | Sleepers & Streamers | D/ST Streamers


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