Now that is more like it! Last week was a smashing success for my sneaky starts. Seven of the nine picks posted starter-worthy production. They included two top-four running backs, the top tight end, and the second-best kicker. They also included a player who was 73rd at his position in terms of starting percentage. But the grind never stops, and it is time to see if I can back last week up with another strong week. Remember that these are all players that are currently being started in less than 50 percent of Fantrax leagues. I expect all of these players to exceed current expectations this week. Here are my Week 6 sneaky starts!
Week 6 Sneaky Starts
Quarterback
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Current Start Percentage: 44 Percent (16th among Quarterbacks)
My Current Week 6 Rank: QB10
There are 13 quarterbacks currently started in over half of Fantrax leagues. And I think Jared Goff should be included in that list. Goff and the Detroit Lions head to Dallas to face the Cowboys. While I do expect Detroit to take advantage of Dallas’ porous run defense, it is not as if their pass defense has been anything special. The Cowboys rank 29th in the NFL in defensive EPA against the pass. This game has the highest implied total on this week’s slate and one of the highest of the season. There should be plenty of scoring opportunities for both sides.
Detroit remembers the questionable call last year that came at the end of last year’s game in Dallas. Some would argue that call cost the Lions a shot at hosting the NFC Championship Game. I expect the Lions to come out aggressive early in an attempt to leave no doubt down the stretch. That should mean more reliance on Goff and the passing game. Goff was the overall QB7 spanning the two weeks before Detroit’s bye. I think he has a great chance to finish inside the top 10 this week as well.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
- Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (14th among quarterbacks)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: QB12
Running Backs
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Current Start Percentage: 29 Percent (42nd among Running Backs)
My Current Week 6 Rank: RB28
The Tennessee Titans completely took the air out of the ball in their last game once Will Levis got hurt. Tennessee ran the ball 40 times compared to just 22 dropbacks in that game. Truth be told, this might be a good strategy even with Levis on the field. Levis is tied for the league lead with six interceptions despite throwing just 98 passes. The Titans’ starting quarterback is questionable for Week 6, though he was listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. I think the Titans will rely on the running game regardless of who is behind center.
Tyjae Spears is operating behind Tony Pollard in the Titans’ backfield. But that does not mean he is without a role in this offense. Spears has 39 touches through four games. That volume should make him worth considering as a Week 6 Flex. Three top-20 backs are on bye this week and others are questionable due to injury. Spears has a solid matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield. The Colts have allowed 25 receptions to opposing backs, which is tied for sixth-most in the NFL. They have also given up the most yards per reception to the position. Spears is a candidate for double-digit touches and fantasy points in this matchup. That makes him one of my favorite Week 6 sneaky starts.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Current Start Percentage: 40 Percent (31st among Running Backs)
My Current Week 6 Rank: RB29
When I posted my Week 6 Flex rankings, I mentioned that I would be revisiting my ranking of Tank Bigsby. Consider this said revisiting. I still have Travis Etienne ranked higher than Bigsby this week. However, it is hard to argue against Bigsby as a Flex candidate given his recent production and an extremely favorable matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Chicago is quickly becoming a run-funnel defense. They rank first in the NFL in defensive EPA and second in defensive DVOA against the pass. Trevor Lawrence finally had a productive game last week. But we have to consider it came against the Colts and their poor defense. I think Chicago will be a much tougher task for Lawrence and the Jaguars’ passing attack. With Etienne and Bigsby forming a formidable one-two punch, I think both can be started in Week 6.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Joe Mixon, Houston Texans
- Current Start Percentage: 46 Percent (28th among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: RB20
- Devin Singletary, New York Giants
- Current Start Percentage: 39 Percent (33rd among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: RB27
I am listing both Joe Mixon and Devin Singletary in this section because it kind of feels like cheating to list them in the section above. Both players were out with injuries last week, which is what I suspect is keeping their current percentage down. Singletary is more likely than Mixon to suit up this week based on early practice participation. But I would imagine most fantasy managers are starting both if they are active on Sunday. Similarly, I will likely bump both up in my rankings as long as they are good to go.
Wide Receivers
Dontavion Wicks, Green Bay Packers
Current Start Percentage: 44 Percent (41st among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 6 Rank: WR34
Packers’ wide receiver Dontavion Wicks was my lone dud among last week’s sneaky starts. And yet I am going back to the well. While the results were not good, Wicks was still heavily involved in Green Bay’s passing game. He ran 20 routes and earned a team-high 27 percent target share. Wicks has a chance for redemption this week when Green Bay hosts the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has allowed over 72 percent of targets to wide receivers to be completed. Despite Wicks’ inconsistency, he ranks in the top 20 among all wideouts in target rate, air yards, and red-zone targets. These metrics suggest better days are on the horizon for Wicks. I believe that could manifest itself as soon as this Sunday.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (39th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 6 Rank: WR35
Josh Downs does not have the greatest Week 6 matchup out there. As stated earlier, the Colts face the Titans this week. Tennessee ranks inside the top 10 in most metrics against the pass. However, Downs should slide into the number-one receiver role for Indianapolis with Michael Pittman Jr. likely out with a back injury. Even with Pittman in the fold, Downs has posted back-to-back top-30 weeks. Downs has 17 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown across his last two games. That volume should be sustainable with Pittman out. Downs is dealing with a toe injury, so make sure you confirm his status before Sunday. But as long as he plays, he should be started this week, especially in leagues that reward receptions.
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (37th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 6 Rank: WR37
Rome Odunze has not been a very consistent fantasy performer through five weeks of his rookie campaign. I expect Week 6 to represent a bigger “boom” opportunity for the Chicago Bears’ rookie wideout. Odunze is facing the Jacksonville Jaguars and their abysmal pass defense. Jacksonville ranks dead last in the NFL in pass defense by a rather large margin. In contrast to the Bears, the Jaguars are decent against the run, making them a pass-funnel defense. Jacksonville also deploys a ton of man coverage. That could leave them susceptible to the deep pass. Odunze has an average depth of target (aDOT) of 21.2 versus man coverage. Oduzne’s lone NFL touchdown to date was also against man coverage. The rookie may not have the safest floor, but I like his upside in this matchup.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys
- Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (49th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: WR39
- Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (38th among Wide Receivers
- My Current Week 6 Rank: WR40
- Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
- Current Start Percentage: 40 Percent (46th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: WR42
Check out all of our Week 6 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Tight End
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders
Current Start Percentage: 34 Percent (18th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 6 Rank: TE11
Zach Ertz had his worst week of the season last week. It was a bit ironic considering that most tight ends finally came through for fantasy managers last week. But Ertz was still targeted 10 times in last week’s victory. That volume should come with better production in a Week 6 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has allowed the second-most receptions and receiving yards in the NFL to opposing tight ends. Over 76 percent of tight end targets against the Ravens have resulted in completions. Before last week, only one pass intended for Ertz fell incomplete. It seems like last week’s poor result was an anomaly, and I expect Ertz to experience some positive regression in this game.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
- Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Current Start Percentage: 34 Percent (17th among Tight Ends)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: TE12
Kicker
Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (11th among Kickers)
My Current Week 6 Rank: K8
I am going to run it back with Chase McLaughlin as my Week 6 sneaky start at kicker. We are not getting quite the bargain in terms of the starting percentage that we did a week ago. But this is still a good spot for McLaughlin to produce for fantasy managers. Tampa Bay plays in New Orleans, which means McLaughlin kicks in a dome for a second consecutive week. The Saints lead the NFL in red-zone defense so far this year. They have given up a touchdown on just 25 percent of trips inside their 20-yard line. As a result, they have already allowed 13 field goals through five games. McLaughlin should be able to knock multiple field goals through the uprights on Sunday.
Other Kicker to Consider
- Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
- Current Start Percentage: 46 Percent (12th among Kickers)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: K9
Defense/Special Teams
Los Angeles Chargers
Current Start Percentage: 38 Percent (15th among D/STs)
My Current Week 6 Rank: D/ST5
It looks like a lot of fantasy managers dropped the Los Angeles Chargers defense/special teams last week. This was because they had a bye. I am in favor of streaming D/STs, but Los Angeles should be added where available. While Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has improved in recent weeks, this is still a favorable matchup for the Chargers. Denver has turned the ball over seven times in five games and has scored 20 or fewer points three times. Los Angeles has been one of the most productive fantasy D/STs through the first month of the season. They rank sixth in fantasy points per game and finished as a top-12 defense in three of four games.
Other Defense/Special Teams to Consider
- Indianapolis Colts
- Current Start Percentage: 44 Percent (12th among D/STs)
- My Current Week 6 Rank: D/ST8
Make sure to check out all of our Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!