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RotoBaller staff's fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and start 'em sit 'em picks for Week 6 of 2025. Expert lineup advice from Adam Koffler, Scott Engel, and Thunder Dan Palyo.
All of a sudden, we're already onto Week 6 of the fantasy football season, and the flurry of injuries is surely requiring many fantasy managers to identify sleepers and streaming options to put together viable starting lineups. Our experts are here to help with those Week 6 lineup calls.
It's time for the next edition of our RotoBaller staff start-or-sit calls. Three of the industry's best analysts are here to break down 19 potential sleepers and busts ahead of the full slate of Week 6 NFL action.
These fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and busts are from top RotoBaller contributors Adam Koffler, Scott Engel, and Thunder Dan Palyo. Good luck in Week 6!
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Week 6 Fantasy Football Sleepers - Start 'Em Picks
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders vs. Bears (Adam Koffler)
The takeover finally happened for Bill in Week 5. He garnered an 80% RB opportunity share before the final drive of the game when Chris Rodriguez Jr. saw four “garbage time” touches.
Croskey-Merritt is PFF’s highest-graded rusher (90.1) through five weeks and leads all running backs in yards per carry (6.6). He’s also fifth in avoided tackle rate (34.9%). In Week 6, he gets a juicy matchup vs. a Bears team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to RBs (25.1).
Bill Croskey-Merritt converts!
LVvsWAS on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/jQfsrzvcHh
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
Kendrick Bourne, 49ers vs. Buccaneers (Thunder Dan)
We don't have an official word on Ricky Pearsall or Jauan Jennings for Sunday's game yet, and Friday's practice report will hopefully give us more clarity. But as of right now, it's looking dicey for both guys to return this week, which would allow Bourne to continue as the top option in the passing game. He popped off for 10-142 last week against the Rams and could see a ton of volume again this week against a pass-funnel Tampa defense.
Troy Franklin, Broncos at Jets (Scott Engel)
In the preseason, some hype continued to follow Franklin. He was viewed as a post-hype sleeper of sorts. Then he caught six passes for 89 yards in Week 2 and was widely recommended as a hot waiver wire add. Since then, the results have not even been mediocre. In his past three games, Franklin hasn’t registered five receptions, 60 yards, or a TD reception.
So it takes a leap of faith to stream Franklin in Week 6. But I like his chances against the Jets, who rank 21st in receiving yards allowed to opposing WRs. Outside of Sauce Gardner, there is no one to fear in the New York secondary, and I am not sure he should be feared anymore, either. Courtland Sutton will draw heavy defensive attention, opening up some space for Franklin to operate.
Mason Taylor, Jets vs. Broncos (Adam Koffler)
With 25 targets in the last three games, Taylor looks like the clear-cut number two option in the Jets’ passing attack. Against the Broncos, that’s a very valuable role as the WR1 typically finds themselves stranded on Surtain Island. The Jets' defense has been poor this season, which has led to 70 routes run for Taylor in his last two games (to go along with a formidable 26% target share). The rookie tight end out of LSU was also the Jets’ highest-graded offensive player in Week 5. Taylor should easily earn another 7-9 targets in London on Sunday.
Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Browns (Thunder Dan)
Warren missed the Steelers' week 4 game in London, and his backup, Kenneth Gainwell, ran all over a weak Minnesota front-seven. He's had another full week to rest up with the bye week and should be ready to retake the starting job this week. While the Browns have a top-3 run defense, a lot of Warren's value comes from his usage as a receiver. I expect to see him get a ton of targets from Aaron Rodgers in this one as he looks to dump it off to Warren and avoid the Browns' pass rush
Tre Tucker, Raiders vs. Titans (Scott Engel)
Tucker carries upside, and Geno Smith never hesitates to throw deep. But Tucker is unreliable, and fantasy players can’t seem to anticipate when he might explode statistically or simply bust for the week. Smith’s play has also regressed since he left Seattle. He seems to be more turnover-prone than he was with the Seahawks.
The Tennessee defense, though, presents an opportunity for Tucker to deliver a spike statistical week. The Titans rank 25th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to opposing WRs. Stream Tucker with some confidence this week, as he should get deep a few times, and can take off for the end zone once he gets behind defenders.
Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys at Panthers (Adam Koffler)
With both CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin out in Week 5, Flournoy was thrust into a big role. The former sixth-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State made the most of his opportunity, catching six passes for 114 yards, while rushing for another 10 yards on two carries. He earned a team-high nine targets on just 18 routes (0.50 targets per route run!), and people in Dallas are now calling him the next Miles Austin.
The Cowboys have an implied team total of 26.2 points in Week 6 against a Panthers team that has scored a lot of points on their home turf. This game has shootout potential, and Flournoy is one of the likely beneficiaries. If you like high ceilings, he’s your upside WR3/flex play in Week 6.
Calvin Ridley, Titans at Raiders (Thunder Dan)
Listen, I don't want to have to start Ridley any more than you do, but with injuries and bye weeks on my rosters, I think I am going to roll him out in some leagues this week. Last week could have been a fluke as he went 5-131 against Arizona, but the 10 targets were very promising and his most this season.
We know he still can be a deep threat; it's just a matter of his QB getting him the ball and that Tennessee offense staying on the field long enough to get into some type of rhythm. The matchup with the Raiders' secondary is an exploitable one.
Cam Ward TO CALVIN RIDLEY@Titans ARE ON THE VERGE pic.twitter.com/HdCwJTMQ5Z
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 5, 2025
Week 6 Fantasy Football Avoids - Sit 'Em Picks
DJ Moore, Bears at Commanders (Adam Koffler)
Through four games, it’s apparent there’s a new WR1 in Chicago, and that’s Rome Odunze. Moore has been cast into the shadow realm. Not only does he contend with Odunze for targets, but this week, you can probably add Luther Burden III to the mix, as many rookie wide receivers see a “post bye week” jump in opportunity.
Moore has eclipsed double-digit fantasy points in just one game this season, and it won’t get any easier against CB Trey Amos, who’s allowed the 12th-fewest fantasy points per route run this season. Additionally, Washington uses Cover 1 at the seventh-highest percentage, which is where Moore really struggles, averaging a putrid 0.06 yards per route run.
Alvin Kamara, Saints vs. Patriots (Thunder Dan)
Kamara was finally passed up by Kendre Miller in rush attempts last week (10-8), and even though Kamara still got the majority of targets, he's simply not that appealing in this bad offense if he's not dominating the touches anymore. To make matters worse, he's now nursing an ankle injury.
It certainly feels like they could be shopping him for a trade or at least they've moved on from him as a piece of their future and are looking to see what they have in Miller and could deal Kamara in the offseason.
Jameson Williams, Lions at Chiefs (Scott Engel)
This is less of a prediction and more of a reminder: Williams is already a bust. We have been excited by his potential for over three years now. He flashed one time this season, finishing with 108 yards and a TD. Even in that game, though, Williams caught only two passes.
The fantasy logic seems simple with the Detroit speedster. He’s a downfield threat on one of the best offenses in the league. But the numbers do not fit the narrative at all. In four of five games played, Williams has not caught more than two passes. Other than his Week 2 outing, he hasn’t reached 46 yards in a game or gotten into the end zone. Until I see actual production, Williams will stay outside the top 40 at WR in my weekly premium lineup rankings on RotoBaller.
Derrick Henry, Ravens vs. Rams (Adam Koffler)
It’s not every day someone recommends sitting King Henry, but the circumstances make him a difficult start this week. It’ll be another week of Cooper Rush, which did not go well last week vs. Houston.
Henry still managed to find the endzone to salvage his day, but now he gets an even tougher matchup against the Rams, who haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown all season and who are giving up the fewest fantasy points to running backs. The Ravens enter Week 6 as 7.5-point home favorites, and we know Henry doesn’t play much on passing downs and in negative game scripts.
Kimani Vidal & Hassan Haskins, Chargers at Dolphins (Thunder Dan)
I am someone who snagged Vidal off waivers, but I am only starting him out of desperation, and I worry that he and Haskins may end up splitting the touches pretty equally this week.
Sure, the matchup is good against Miami, but we could see the Chargers lean on their passing game more, too. Both backs are risky FLEX plays for only the most desperate managers or those of you playing in very deep leagues.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals at Colts (Scott Engel)
As of this writing, we are uncertain of Kyler Murray’s availability for Week 6. So there are two possible scenarios for Harrison, who cannot be blamed for any frustration he might feel. Either he gets to work with Murray again, or the Arizona QB still has not developed a consistent connection with him. Or, he will have to work with Jacoby Brissett.
In three of his last four games, Harrison hasn’t caught more than four passes. In four of the first five games, he did not reach the 70-yard mark. It’s hard to sit Harrison because of the possible upside, yet I would at least temper expectations again this week. The Colts are a good statistical matchup for opposing WRs overall, but the defense played very well in two of three home games this season so far, allowing less than nine points.
Tony Pollard, Titans at Raiders (Adam Koffler)
Tyjae Spears returned in Week 5, which led to a season-low 58% route rate for Pollard. This week, expect that number to fall even more as Spears gets re-acclimated into the offense. So far this season, Pollard’s saving grace has been the volume, but that’s likely taking a hit from this point forward.
Before Spears, he was playing 90% of the snaps. In Spears’ first game back, that dipped to 73%. This week, it could be more like 60%. The Raiders haven’t been bad against the run, allowing the 12th-fewest rushing yards to running backs this season.
The Titans, however, have been quite bad as an offense on the road this season, averaging just 11.3 points per game. If Pollard doesn’t score, he’s likely going to disappoint fantasy managers in Week 6.
Michael Carter, Cardinals at Colts (Thunder Dan)
Carter was a waiver-wire hero last week as he handled the bulk of the touches in the Arizona backfield in a good matchup against Tennessee. And you may think that Emari Demercado's gaffe of dropping the ball opens things up for Carter more, but Bam Knight is in the mix for 3rd-down touches, too.
This week, the Cardinals are 7-point underdogs on the road, and the game script could be much less favorable for the Arizona run game. He feels like a fringe-start at best; make sure you don't have some other better options.
Mark Andrews, Ravens vs. Rams (Scott Engel)
There are already rumors making the rounds about Andrews possibly being traded by the Ravens. Working with Cooper Rush won’t make staying with Baltimore any more pleasant. These Ravens are a skeletal replica of their usual selves, and with Rush at the controls, the offense is lifeless.
Andrews caught two passes for 22 yards last week, his third game this year with two or fewer receptions. For those of you needing a TE, how about AJ Barner?!!!!!! Fantasy players everywhere are ignoring a guy who has caught four TD passes in his last four games and finished as fantasy TE1 last week.
How is he 25 percent rostered on Sleeper? Yeah, I know, this capsule was supposed to be about Andrews, but I am hot about how much Barner is being overlooked. Yes, Andrews is not a top 10 fantasy TE right now, either. The Rams have allowed only two TD receptions to opposing TEs.
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