StatLogic Sports Week 6 NFL DFS & Fantasy Gameday Guide
- Scott L.
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
By Scott L. - SL Sports Staff
Is Week 6 of the NFL season a chald week when it comes to our full-season fantasy and DFS lineups? Those who did their homework this week probably came up with these names as players who need to be in their lineups:
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Drake Maye, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Bryce Young and Jordan Love.
Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams Josh Jacobs, Ashton Jeanty, Rico Dowdle and Javonte Williams
Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Pickens, Emeka Egbuka, Tetairoa McMillan, Davante Adams, Michael Pittman, Jakobi Meyers, Chris Olave, Keean Allen and Ladd McConkey.
Tight Ends
Trey McBride, Tyler Warren, Jake Ferguson, Tucker Kraft and Jake Tonges
That's a very solid list, and we really can't argue with any of those players, but the guys who win us single games in full-season fantasy - and ultimately championships - and help us reel in the big money in DFS tend to be the ones who aren't on everyone's radar. Finding those players is essential to being successful during weeks like this when many of the same names seem to be popping up everywhere we look.
Quarterback Breakdown
Looking at the quarterbacks, Bryce Young has an amazing matchup vs. a terrible Dallas defense and turned in about a 20-point effort last week. But Rico Dowdle also had a career performance in Week 5, and it seems as though every time the expectations are high for Young his performance disappoints.
Here's the thing: Everyone who has him is going to play Dowdle this week or take him as a value DFS pick. It seems unlikely that the Cowboys will just let their former backup running back, who they allowed to walk in the offseason, beat them. The opportunity will be there for Young as well as receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Xavier Legette this week. Do we start him over an established QB1 in full season or put him on every DFS team? Not a chance. But he should start as a streamer or in any lineup where the quarterback decision isn't clear cut, and the DFS strategy should be to use Dowdle in any lineups that don't have Young or those receivers.
Young has a great matchup, but how many people are going to trust him enough so stream him or select him in DFS?
His counterpart, Dak Prescott, also has a nice matchup in what is expected to be one of the higher-scoring games of the day. Mixing and matching players on those teams like him, Javonte Williams, Jake Ferguson and George Pickens - along with the others previously mentioned - makes a lot of sense. However, we don't want to put all the eggs in one basket, because games that are hyped as locks to be high-scoring often turn out to be duds. When two bad teams play, it's entirely possible that the offenses underachieve. Considering lesser-mentioned players in these games also is sound strategy in some lineups because in the NFL, believe it or not, teams generally game plan specifically to limit the impact of their opponents' best players.
Is there another QB out there who is completely off the grid but might win us some money or help us win a game in which we need emergency help? Yes there is.
While it wasn't pretty, Trevor Lawrence gutted out a big Monday Night win last week. He got better as the game progressed and finally started to connect with underachieving wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
Confidence is an amazing thing, and Lawrence seemed as relieved as he was happy after the game. He has a perfect opportunity to carry that late-game performance and confidence forward this week against a usually solid Seattle defense. The Seahawks' secondary is completely depleted because of injuries, which makes Lawrence and Thomas viable options in all formats. Travis Hunter, whose role continues to grow, also is worth taking as a value play in lineups that don't include Thomas or running back Travis Etienne.
Mac Jones, starting in place of the injured Brock Purdy for the 49ers, runs Kyle Shanahan's offense just about as well (better maybe?) as Purdy. He pretty much throws for close to 300 yards every time he steps on the field, and this week he faces a Tampa Bay secondary that isn't nearly as good as most people think. His chemistry with Kendrick Bourne was obvious last week, and with Ricky Persall out again this week, Jones and Bourne - along with backup-turned-starter Jake Tonges at tight end at tight end - and Jauan Jennings playing injured, Jones and Bourne are worth playing in a lineup or two and starting in full-season lineups. Christian McCaffrey is worth considering as a pay-up option in lineups that don't include any of those players.
Wide Receiver Breakdown
While we already mentioned Thomas, Bourne and Hunter as under-the-radar affordable players for DFS and solid full-season starters, Marvin Harrison also is an intriguing option this week. While everyone expects Cardinals backup QB Jacoby Brissett to find tight end Trey McBride early and often, Harrison experienced a confidence-boosting late-game performance in Week 5, and the experienced Brissett likely will look to utilize his most gifted receiver, especially if the Colts focus on shutting down McBride.
Everyone will be looking to get Puka Nacua into their lineups because of his extremely favorable matchup vs. a Ravens' defense that hasn't been able to cover anybody. But his teammate, future Hall of Famer Davante Adams, is tempting for $1,300 less on FanDuel and should be in all full-season lineups if he's rostered. Nacua and Adams are the top fantasy receiving duo this season, and it's not really close. There are plenty of points to go around there, so saving the money and playing Adams along with QB Matthew Stafford is a smart tournament or cash-game strategy, with Nacua and Stafford being no-brainers for cash games. Kyren Williams is a great chalky running-back option in lineups that don't include those guys.
Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey has been considered a disappointment by most of his full-season managers this season with the emergence of Quentin Johnston and continued steady play of veteran Keenan Allen. McConkey still is a focal point of the offense, and he got into the end zone last week. If Johnston is out for the Week 6 matchup against a terrible Dolphins pass defense, McConkey is a high-floor and high-ceiling player who is a sound pick for cash or tournament formats. Of course, Keenan Allen is a smart play in lineups that don't include McConkey, and either player can be stacked with stud QB Justin Herbert. Hassan Haskins, No. 1 on the Los Angeles depth chart with rookie Omarion Hampton out, is a smart bargain play at RB or Flex in lineups that don't include those players. Allen is likely to be higher-owned and is a better cash-game play.
Other wide receivers who were written off earlier in the season and may be ignored by many this week are New England's Stefon DIggs and Chris Olave of the Saints. Olave's teammate Rashid Shaheed had a great day last week and is a solid value play as a WR3 or Flex the New Orleans controlled passing offense.
Tennessee rookie wideout Alic Ayomanor is very cheap in DFS and a great streaming option in full-season emergency situations. He sees plenty of targets and seems to be on the verge of a breakout performance. This could be the week for him thanks to a good matchup against the Raiders. Along that same line of thinking, Titans receiver Calvin Ridley has shown signs of life in recent weeks. Green Bay's Romeo Doubs quietly is putting together a solid fantasy season and clearly is the No. 1 red-zone target for Jordan Love. Both of those players can be rostered this week against the pitiful Bengals.
Tight Ends Breakdown
We're going to keep it simple and just write about one tight end this week since we already mentioned Tonges, and everyone is aware of McBride, Tyler Warren, Jake Ferguson and Tucker Kraft at this point. That name is Cade Otton of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving out this week, we expect the solid 49ers defense to focus on Rachaad White at running back and Egbuka. Last year, when Tampa Bay's lineup was depleted by injuries, quarterback Baker Mayfield turned to Otton over the course of several weeks, making him one of the league's most-productive tight ends during that span.
Otton was injured much of this preseason and slowly has worked his way back to 100 percent; his targets and production are up the last few weeks, and this appears to be the week that he may break out. That makes him a smart tight-end streamer in full-season formats and a super bargain selection in DFS.
Running Back Breakdown
Running backs are mentioned frequently above. See our list of recommended RBs below.
Stat Logic Sports Week 6 DFS Lineup Options
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford
Justin Herbert
Drake Maye
Dak Prescott
Jordan Love
QB Value Plays: Bryce Young, Trevor Lawrence
Pay-up Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey
High-upside RB1
De'Von Achane
Volume Running Backs
Josh Jacobs
Javonte Williams
Kyren Williams
Ashton Jeanty
Quinshon Judkins
Value Volume Running Backs
Rico Dowdle
Rachaad White
Bargain Running Backs
Hassan Haskins
Bam Knight
Jaydon Blue
Pay-up Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Upside Volume Wide Receivers
Davante Adams
Emeka Egbuka
Upside Value Wide Receivers
Tetairoa McMillan
Brian Thomas Jr.
Marvin Harrison
Jaylen Waddle
Tee Higgins
Value Volume Wide Receivers
Ladd McConkey
Chris Olave
Michael Pittman
Stefon Diggs
Keenan Allen
Kendrick Bourne
Super Value WR3/Flex
Travis Hunter
Rashid Shaheed
Josh Downs
Romeo Doubs
Matthew Golden
Calvin Ridley
Jerry Jeudy
Tre Tucker
Bargain Leverage WR3/Flex
Tory Horton
Issiah Bond
Xavier Legette
Alic Ayomanor
Pay-up Tight End
Trey McBride
Core Tight Ends
Tyler Warren
Jake Ferguson
Darren Waller
Value TIght End
Jake Tonges
Bargain Tight End
Cade Otton
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