RADIO
Fantasy football lineup advice based on Week 6 matchups. Pierre Camus gives his In-depth matchups analysis, lineups start and sit recommendations, and players he loves or hates for the late slate.
Welcome to the second part of our Week 6 matchups analysis and starts/sits column for fantasy football. We'll be covering every matchup from every Sunday game to help you make the best decisions for your fantasy lineups. We'll also be updating this as injury reports come in so check back often.
This article will cover the late slate of games, beginning at 4 PM ET on Sunday as well as the Sunday night game. Click here to see our early game matchups analysis and our MNF matchups analysis as well.
Check back here each week to get advice for your toughest start/sit decisions and take a look at our consensus rankings each week. Find me on Twitter @Pfunk00 for more insight and help to your start/sit questions.
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4:00 PM ET Games
The late afternoon slate is down to three games this week, as the Seahawks-Raiders game is part of the morning group. The marquee matchup has been flexed to Sunday Night, as the Chiefs travel to New England to battle the resurgent Patriots. Enjoy the score-fest in that game, as there may not be much offense otherwise in these matchups.
Jaguars at Cowboys
Matchups We Love:
T.J. Yeldon (RB, JAX)
It's not as if you should be worried about Jamaal Charles stealing carries from Yeldon just yet. Yeldon is still the starter and should see another decent workload, especially in the passing game. Yeldon hasn't run for as many as 60 yards in a game yet but he has combined for 100+ scrimmage yards the last two weeks with Leonard Fournette out. Dallas is yielding the fifth-most receiving yards to RBs this year and will remain susceptible as long as Sean Lee is out. Yeldon is a strong RB2 with a safe floor.
Dede Westbrook (WR, JAX)
Westbrook's targets have hovered around five per game consistently other than one spike in Week 4 against the Jets when he caught nine passes for 130 yards. While that was a blowout win against a lesser secondary, this game could have some conditions in his favor. Slot receivers Golden Tate and Keke Coutee have seen success against Dallas and Westbrook could turn his matchup against Anthony Brown into his favor if Cole isn't left open. Westbrook isn't a terribly exciting play but could pay off for those needing a WR3 or flex substitute for Tate week.
Matchups We Hate:
Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
Prescott is the fantasy QB26, averaging 192 yards and one touchdown per game. Jacksonville allows the least fantasy points to QBs this season, just as they did last season. Any questions?
Allen Hurns / Michael Gallup / Cole Beasley (WR, DAL)
The weakest receiver corps in the league faces the top secondary. I wonder how this will go... Don't even consider any of these WRs.
Keelan Cole (WR, JAX)
Byron Jones might not be known as a shut-down corner just yet, but he's on his way. Jones is PFF's top-rated cornerback after five weeks and will draw primary coverage of Cole this week. It's tough to choose one Jaguar receiver over the other when they all fall within two targets of each other on the season (Westbrook: 34, Cole: 35, Moncrief: 36) so matchups will be a determining factor. In this case, Cole has a strike against him that the others don't.
Geoff Swaim (TE, DAL)
The fourth-year man has taken over the TE1 spot in Dallas, scoring his first touchdown in Week 4 and posting a career-long 43-yard reception in Week 5. That's about his ceiling, however, and it must be reduced against this stifling defense. He is a completely touchdown-dependent play this week.
Other Matchups:
Blake Bortles (QB, JAX)
Dallas has run the seventh-fewest offensive plays this season and will continue to try slowing things down to mask their lack of firepower on offense, particularly the passing game. This has helped their defense as well, since they lack dynamic playmakers. The Cowboys only have one interception on the season, so Bortles should not have to worry about turning it over, especially since they shouldn't be playing from behind like last week at Kansas City. On the other hand, the Jags won't be airing it out nearly as much. Expect a mediocre game from Bortles and not one worth streaming this week.
Ezekiel Elliott (RB, DAL)
Don't think about benching Zeke. The Jags are an elite defensive unit but only 12th as far as rushing yardage allowed to RBs. Elliott will get the fed the ball even more than usual since the Cowboys do not have the manpower at receiver to consider attacking Jalen Ramsey or A.J. Bouye. The Jags know this and will stack the box all day, but 30 carries for 80 yards could be enough when combined with a few receptions out of the backfield and a chance to score if the Cowboys defense can come up with a turnover at some point.
Jamaal Charles (RB, JAX)
If a 31-year old running back signed mid-year to be the backup for a team that ranks 15th in rushing gets you excited, then Charles is your man! We don't know how much he'll play or how much is left in the proverbial tank but Charles probably won't see enough touches to make him worth considering.
Donte Moncrief (WR, JAX)
Does anyone realize that Donte Moncrief saw a league-high 15 targets in Week 5? Probably not since he only caught six of them. Moncrief wasn't efficient but he saw a lot of balls thrown in his general direction after the Jags found themselves in comeback mode quickly. That won't happen this week, so don't expect a carryover effect. Dallas is 29th in game pace (29.42 seconds per snap) and will keep trying to slow the game down due to their ineffective passing game. Moncrief will need a red zone look or two for any chance of a fantasy-relevant day.
Rams at Broncos
Matchups We Love:
Jared Goff (QB, LAR)
Goff leads the league with 1,727 passing yards and hasn't dipped under 300 in a game since Week 1. Playing in Mile High Stadium used to be a red flag for opponents but the Broncos are in the bottom half of the league for all major defensive categories and haven't been any better at home. It looks as if he will have his full complement of receivers playing on Sunday so keep rolling with Goff while he's hot.
Todd Gurley (RB, LAR)
The Broncos are allowing 5.2 yards per carry on the season and that figure is even worse at home (6.1 Y/A). Watching Isaiah Crowell run hog wild last week should be enough to convince any fantasy owner that the Broncos' front seven is not to be feared. Gurley should be the top-ranked running back on all boards yet again.
Demaryius Thomas (WR, DEN)
The veteran had his first big game of the year with 105 yards and a touchdown. He remains the top target in Denver and should get some chances opposite highly toastable Marcus Peters.
Gerald Everett (TE, LAR)
The Broncos continue to have a problem defending the tight end position. They were third-worst last season and sit at fourth-worst this season. It's hard to put trust in a player who has six catches in five games so it's understandable if he remains unowned in most leagues. This is as good a spot as he'll get, however, to prove that he was worth a second-round pick. Tyler Higbee outsnapped Everett 53-16 in Week 5 and it's been an 80-20 split in terms of snaps this season, so Higbee seems like the more obvious choice. Higbee only has a 10-8 target advantage this season, though. The snap advantage comes down to pass protection, especially since the Rams rarely target their tight ends and run the ball more often than most teams. When Everett is on the field, it's to run routes. There's no guarantee of high volume but there is a chance he makes a big play or two. He is a viable TE streamer if you are desperate or as a GPP punt play.
Matchups We Hate:
Royce Freeman (RB, DEN)
Oh, the irony. After HC Vance Joseph stated that the team needed to get Freeman more touches, he saw a season-low five carries for 31 yards in Week 5. It's understandable because they were getting run off the field by the Jets and could not commit to a running game whatsoever. Does that change this week against the undefeated Rams who are first overall in total offense and third in points scored? Don't count on it. The Rams are also a top-10 defense against the run, so trotting out an RB who is barely used as a receiver isn't wise in neagtive matchups.
Phillip Lindsay (RB, DEN)
If Freeman is on the field less, maybe game script will favor Lindsay as a receiver and even as a runner when the defense is in nickel or dime packages. That line of thinking could hold true but Lindsay didn't see a boost in targets last week when the Broncos were trying to mount their improbable comeback. He's a marginal flex play but as a player who hasn't yet seen 20 touches in a game, he can't be considered much more than that.
Other Matchups:
Case Keenum (QB, DEN)
You may have read a recent article titled, "Is Case Keenum Holding the Broncos Back?" Regardless of how you feel about Keenum, it's obvious that we don't know what to expect week-in and week-out. He benefited from garbage time in last week's blowout loss to the Jets, throwing for 377 yards and a pair of scores. This could be a similar situation with the Rams' top-rated offense coming to town. Their secondary hasn't improved as they hoped with their free agent acquisitions since Aqib Talib is out with a high ankle sprain and Marcus Peters is back to his old ways of getting roasted on the regular. Keenum could once again put up big yardage but it's hard to trust him.
Courtland Sutton (WR, DEN)
He practiced in full this week, so no need to worry about the ankle injury he suffered late in Week 5 while getting rolled on from behind. Sutton hasn't produced big numbers this year but he scored his first NFL touchdown last week and is coming off two straight games with six targets. If he matches up against Marcus Peters for much of the day as expected, there is plenty of opportunity for Sutton to make a splash.
Emmanuel Sanders (WR, DEN)
Sanders should continue to be a strong WR3 despite not having a terrific individual matchup. He's only seen fewer than seven targets once this year and is averaging a career-best 77.2 yards per game.
Brandin Cooks / Cooper Kupp / Robert Woods (WR, LAR)
Both Cooks and Kupp look to have cleared the concussion protocol and are now listed as probable. All members of "the best wide receiver group in the history of the NFL" can be played as usual this week. There may be snow in the forecast for Sunday, so temper expectations a bit, especially given the limited practice for Cooks and Kupp.
Ravens at Titans
Matchups We Love:
None
Matchups We Hate:
Marcus Mariota (QB, TEN)
A Week 4 shootout with the Eagles almost had us convinced that Mariota was ready to be an actual fantasy contributor. Then reality set back in. Mariota threw for barely over 100 yards and no touchdowns against Buffalo, marking the third such game this season. The Ravens play at a must faster pace than the Bills, ranking second in that respect, so this game should involve more offense. Then again, the Titans are one of the slower teams, preferring to control the ball and avoid mistakes, which is exactly what holds Mariota back. That and a depleted receiver group. There should be zero interest in Mariota going forward.
Joe Flacco (QB, BAL)
Tennessee has stifled opposing QBs for the most part, allowing six passing TDs in five games. While Flacco has been far better this season than last, and even usable for fantasy owners on a couple of occasions, he lacks the upside to warrant QB1 status in a non-plus matchup.
Derrick Henry / Dion Lewis (RB, TEN)
3.4 and 3.2 yards per carry with one touchdown between the pair. That sums up how effective the Titans run game has been this year despite facing some weak run-stopping units in Miami, Buffalo, and Houston. Baltimore is one of the better teams in this regard, making it hard to justify either of these runners in Week 6.
Alex Collins / Javorius Allen (RB, BAL)
The Titans have been just as tough against running backs as the Ravens this year, allowing 12.6 fantasy points per game. Between these two players, they will likely split the difference just as they do snaps. Buck Allen has been on the field 48% of the time and Collins 42%, cutting into each other's value. Each is a risky flex play, with Allen the preferred option in full PPR while Collins has the higher ceiling.
Michael Crabtree (WR, BAL)
Drops, drops and more drops. Crabtree leads the league with six; only one other player has more than three. He's seen a healthy amount of 45 targets, yet has only pulled in 53% of them. This isn't a good time to rely on him for more than he's provided so far, which is a middling floor based on receptions totals, with only one score. Crabtree could pull it together eventually, but you should have better options at WR by now.
Baltimore TEs
The Ravens target their tight ends 22% of the time, ninth-most in the league. The problem is they have four of them and spread the ball out too much to make any a reliable fantasy pick. Hayden Hurst may eventually take over the main pass-catching role or an injury could clear things up a bit. For now, none present enough upside to even roster in most 12-team leagues.
Other Matchups:
John Brown (WR, BAL)
Brown continues to be the Ravens' best offensive weapon and is averaging a ridiculous 20.8 yards per reception. This makes sense, since his aDOT is 19.8. He'll meet his match speed-wise in Adoree Jackson but Brown is still a good bet to build off of last week's 14-target game.
Corey Davis (WR, TEN)
Baltimore's defense is tough but there is some wiggle room here for fantasy value. Davis is averaging 2.34 yards per route run, 10th-best among WRs. This is a team that fares much better at home and Davis is no exception. The sheer volume of targets sure to go his way make him hard to sit, even against a quality team.
Taywan Taylor (WR, TEN)
Taylor showed promise in Week 4 with seven catches for 77 yards but dipped down to three catches for 30 yards last week. This week he could fall somewhere in between. He won't find too much resistance from slot corner Tavon Young and even die-hard football fans would be hard-pressed to name another receiver on the team after Corey Davis and Tajae Sharpe. Taylor should provide a decent floor in PPR leagues but has a definite limit to his upside.
Sunday Night Football - Chiefs at Patriots
Matchups We Love:
Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)
The casual, uninformed fantasy football owner might look at last week's stat line and worry. Mahomes didn't throw a single touchdown and finally threw his first interception of the year (two, in fact). We must understand that he went up against the Jaguars' top-ranked pass defense that has only allowed three passing TD all season and he did run for a TD along with his 313 passing yards. Of course, he wasn't going to keep putting up TD totals like he did in the first three weeks, but against the Patriots, he just might. They've allowed 11 passing TD this year, tied for fifth-most. Start Mahomes as you normally would.
Tom Brady (QB, NE)
There's a strong argument that Brady could be the top-ranked QB in Week 6. His receiving corps suddenly became a strength rather than a weakness with the return of Julian Edelman and addition of Josh Gordon. Brady has thrown for three TD the last two weeks while the Patriots have scored 38 points each time. The Chiefs have allowed more passing yards than any team this year by far, with a whopping 200-yard lead over the Steelers (then again, the Bucs had a bye). Brady is a no-brain QB1 if there ever were one.
Sony Michel / James White (RB, NE)
As much as the Chiefs have bent over for opposing QBs, they've been no better against RBs. KC is allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position, at 28 PPG. One reason to prefer White in this case is that much of that damage has been to pass-catching backs, with the 454 receiving yards to RB being the most in the league. They are 10th-worst on the ground at 488 yards allowed. Both backs will get plenty of work and find wide, open spaces to run. Michel has been questionable with a knee injury although there's been no indication he will miss this game. White seems like the safer play in this matchup anyway.
Travis Kelce (TE, KC)
If Eric Ebron roasted the Pats for 105 yards and two scores, Kelce should do even better, right? It's hard to gauge because he is by far the best tight end the Patriots have faced this year, having played Houston, Jacksonville, Detroit, and Miami previously, which makes their defense against the TE look better than perhaps it is. Kelce is sure to see plenty of targets in this Battle of the Star Tight Ends, so he figure to be a strong play as usual.
Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE)
Stop me if this sounds familiar... the Chiefs defense has been terrible at stopping the tight end position. Gronk hasn't scored since Week 1 and now faces more competition for targets but he is averaging six targets per game and will always remain a top-three TE pick based on potential alone.
Matchups We Hate:
Kareem Hunt (RB, KC)
Hunt owners have complained about lack of usage but it's not about his running, as he's averaging almost 19 carries per game. The problem is that Pat Mahomes is slightly different from Alex Smith in the sense that he prefers throwing the ball deeper down the field to his receivers. KC running backs have been targeted in the passing game 12% of the time, second-fewest in the league. Hunt has a total of five catches in five games, which is far below last year's average of 3.3 receptions per game. His fantasy value is being propped up by a high touchdown count but he isn't an RB1 in a matchup where the Chiefs aren't likely to be ahead by a large margin and able to run the ball as much. That said, Hunt can't be benched because he always has a good chance to score in this offense and it's extremely unlikely you would have two better RB options.
Sammy Watkins (WR, KC)
Look up "boom-bust" in the fantasy football urban dictionary and a picture Sammy Watkins is likely to appear. He has three games of 12+ fantasy points (typical PPR scoring) and two games with five or less. He enters Week 6 with a hamstring issue that could be concerning for a speed burner like him and a tough matchup with Stephon Gilmore on the other side. He's always a play away from making a splash, but this week seems too risky to use a flex spot on.
Chris Hogan / Phillip Dorsett (WR, NE)
Not so much the matchup itself but the situation makes both these players shaky fantasy bets. They shift from WR1/2 respectively to the WR3/4 spots thanks to Edelman and Gordon. Hogan couldn't capitalize on his grand opportunity early in the year and hasn't even reached 50 yards in a game to this point. He has been limited in practice as well, so strike him from all lineups. Dorsett could benefit if Hogan sits but is also a dice roll in season-long leagues.
Other Matchups:
Tyreek Hill (WR, KC)
What do the Patriots do best? Take away your biggest weapon and try to limit big plays. When choosing between Kelce or Hill, the Pats are more likely to give up the middle portion of the field to Kelce for smaller gains than to let Hill run loose down the field for a big strike. We never really know how the Pats are going to gameplan but my best guess is that the safeties will stay deep to support the strong CB duo of Stephon Gilmore and Jason McCourty. The Pats have given up their share of points this year but Keelan Cole is the only WR to go over 100 yards against them so far. Hill is too good to sit, although expectations shouldn't be sky high just because this could be a high-scoring game.
Demarcus Robinson / De'Anthony Thomas (WR, KC)
Both of these little-used receivers enter the game with three catches on the year. Each has also scored a touchdown, which places them above Julio Jones in that regard (cheap shot, I know). The Chiefs will have to get creative in their playcalling and the Pats will gladly cede targets to secondary and tertiary receivers, so this could be an opportune time to use one of the players in a GPP lineup and save some money.
