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Danny Boily looks at fantasy football landmines, busts, and avoids for Week 6 of 2025. Given these fantasy situations, consider benching these players.
We’ve navigated the first major bye week crunch of the season, and now Week 6 offers a slight reprieve. With only two teams on bye instead of four, your roster likely has more depth and flexibility than it did a week ago, which is both a blessing and a curse.
More options mean every lineup decision carries more weight. There are fewer excuses for starting a player in a treacherous situation when a viable, safer alternative is sitting right there on your bench. Making the wrong call this week isn't just bad luck; it's a missed opportunity.
That’s why we’re here: to help you sidestep the landmines. These are the established, brand-name players you’d typically start without hesitation, but who are walking into brutal matchups or showing concerning underlying trends. Trust the data over the name on the jersey and secure that crucial Week 6 victory.
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Daniel Jones, QB, vs. Arizona Cardinals
Daniel Jones has been one of the best stories of the season, resurrecting his career in Indianapolis and piloting the Colts to a 4-1 record. His QB12 ranking, built on a stellar 21.62 fantasy points per game, has made him a reliable weekly starter for many managers.
However, a closer look reveals cracks in the foundation. After a hot start, Jones’ production has cooled significantly, posting just 16.68 and 12.38 fantasy points over the past two weeks. That downward trend is about to collide with a defensive buzzsaw.
Enter the Arizona Cardinals, a unit that has quietly become one of the most suffocating defenses in the league. They’ve allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks (14.02 per game) and have surrendered only five passing touchdowns all season.
Their real strength is an elite red-zone defense that operates like a brick wall. The Cardinals boast the NFL's third-best defensive red-zone touchdown rate, allowing opponents to score a touchdown on only 47.1% of their trips inside the 20. For a quarterback like Jones, who relies on methodical drives, this is a recipe for a fantasy dud where touchdowns are replaced by field goals, cratering his ceiling.
Alvin Kamara, RB, vs. New England Patriots
Alvin Kamara’s name still carries significant weight in fantasy circles, but his 2025 on-field production has failed to match his reputation. Currently the RB25 with a meager 10.10 points per game, he is a starter based on draft capital and past glory more than current performance.
The most glaring red flag is his diminishing role. Backup Kendre Miller has seen his snap share increase weekly, playing on 35.4% of snaps with 21 carries over the last two games. Kamara is no longer the undisputed workhorse in this backfield.
This week, a player with an eroding role and minimal receiving involvement (just 77 yards all year) walks into a nightmare matchup. The New England Patriots defense is a statistical black hole for running backs, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position (18.10 per game).
They’ve surrendered a league-low two rushing touchdowns all season and rank fourth in rushing yards allowed per game (85.6). Kamara’s path to fantasy relevance is completely blocked, making him the definition of a touchdown-or-bust play against a team that simply doesn’t allow them.
Travis Hunter, WR, vs. Seattle Seahawks
Fantasy managers are buzzing after Travis Hunter’s electrifying 44-yard catch last week, a play that showcased his immense athletic talent. It’s easy to see that flash and assume a rookie breakout is imminent, making him a tempting waiver wire addition and potential starter.
Let’s pump the brakes. That explosive play masked an otherwise quiet day during which he saw only three targets. Brian Thomas Jr. remains the clear No. 1 receiver in Jacksonville, and Hunter’s significant defensive workload naturally caps his offensive snap percentage, which sat at just 57.4% last week.
Now, he faces a sneaky-tough Seattle Seahawks defense. While their overall passing yards allowed seem exploitable, they tighten up where it counts. The Seahawks have allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and boast the NFL's fifth-best red-zone defense.
Hunter is a big-play-dependent rookie who isn't commanding consistent volume. He’s walking into a matchup against a secondary that specializes in limiting touchdowns, making him a classic fool’s gold play based on one highlight.
Mason Taylor, TE, vs. Denver Broncos
Recency bias is a powerful thing in fantasy football, and Mason Taylor’s nine-catch, 67-yard performance in Week 5 has many managers ready for another one. After a huge game like that, plugging him into your lineup feels like a no-brainer.
However, context is critical. That performance came against the Dallas Cowboys, a defense that currently ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed per game. Taylor took advantage of the single best matchup a tight end could ask for.
This week, he faces a 180-degree turn in opponent quality. The Denver Broncos defense isn't just good; it's arguably the most dominant unit in the entire league. It ranks first in the NFL in sacks (21), first in total touchdowns allowed (six), and second in points allowed per game (16.8).
This defensive juggernaut has also been formidable against tight ends, allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to the position. Chasing Taylor’s Week 5 production is a trap that will lead your lineup directly into the jaws of the league’s most ferocious defense.
Jameson Williams, FLEX, vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Starting any piece of the Detroit Lions offense is tempting. They lead the league in scoring at 34.8 points per game, creating a halo effect around all their skill players, including Jameson Williams.
Despite the high expectations, Williams has been a peripheral figure rather than a focal point. The offense runs through a dominant ground game and alpha receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, leaving Williams with a meager 13.6% target share and inconsistent usage.
This week, that low-volume, big-play-dependent role is a terrible fit against the Kansas City Chiefs. Their defense has been exceptional against the pass, allowing the seventh-fewest passing yards per game (190.6) and only five passing touchdowns all season.
The Chiefs secondary specializes in taking away the deep ball, which is Williams’ entire fantasy thesis. As a boom-or-bust player who rarely sees the volume needed for a safe floor, he is a high-risk flex play against a defense built to erase his biggest strength.
Final Thoughts
With more players available this week, you have the luxury of choice. Don't let name value or the memory of one big play force you into starting a player in a statistically disadvantageous spot. The best fantasy managers are ruthless evaluators of weekly matchups.
Here’s a forward-looking nugget: use this week to differentiate between a "matchup landmine" and a "roster clogger." A player like Daniel Jones is a landmine; he’s a good player in a bad spot. A player like Alvin Kamara, who is showing signs of season-long decline in usage and efficiency, is on the cusp of becoming a roster clogger.
Be proactive. If you have a player whose underlying metrics and snap counts are trending down, now is the time to package them in a trade. Use their lingering name value to acquire a more reliable asset before the rest of your league catches on to their decline. Staying ahead of the curve is how championships are won.
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