Week 6 NFL Matchups Analysis: Start/Sit for Fantasy Football (Part 3)

Welcome to Week 6 of NFL and fantasy football action, RotoBallers. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well.

Below, you will find part 3 of our Week 6 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.

To read about the rest of this week’s NFL matchups, check out Start/Sit &  Matchups Analysis for Games 1-7, Start/Sit & Matchups Analysis for Games 8-11, and our Week 6 Standard and PPR Rankings. And of course you can always stop by the RotoBaller chat rooms for any live advice you may need

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Cowboys @ Seahawks - Sunday 10/12 @ 4:25 EST

Matchups We Love

Demarco Murray: Yes it's a tough defense, but Seattle can give up points to running backs especially in a PPR format. Don't let the matchup scare you away from Murray this week.

Marshawn Lynch: The Cowboys defense is vulnerable, and has given up 5.72 yards per carry this season to opposing running backs. Arian Foster shredded them last week, and Beast Mode will probably have a big game too.

Russell Wilson: This man is a beast, both in the NFL and in fantasy football. He's one of the truly elite NFL quarterbacks, and is a must start QB1 every week. It's possible that Seattle will run the ball relentlessly, but Wilson should still get his passing attempts, rushing yards and touchdowns.

Matchups We Hate

Tony Romo: I will let the matchup scare me away from Romo. It's a loud building, Seattle has a terrific secondary, plus a Romo is a quarterback that has a knack for making mistakes. Romo might have a solid game, but if you have another solid QB option consider starting them instead.
 
High Risk/High Reward

Seattle DST: I like what the Cowboys are doing offensively, and wouldn't be shocked if they put up some points this week. I also wouldn't be shocked if the Seattle defense dominated here. Start 'em, but this is not a lock by any means.

Notable Matchups

Cowboys Wide Receivers: It's nearly impossible to ever sit Dez Bryant, especially in PPR leagues, even going up against a tough Seattle secondary. Don't think about this too much and get him in your lineups. Terrance Williams has a lot of points and touchdowns, but the targets aren't really overwhelming. He's a risky start this week. Jason Witten is a riskier start also for standard leagues, and a decent but not spectacular play in PPR leagues. He just isn't producing so far.

Redskins @ Cardinals - Sunday 10/12 @ 4:25 EST

Matchups We Love

Andre Ellington: Another week with banged up quarterbacks means another week of leaning on Ellington for Arizona. He'll get to face a defense that just got ran all over by Russell Wilson. Consider him a must start, especially in PPR leagues.

Matchups We Hate

Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd: Both of these guys have been disappointing so far this year, and it's hard to trust them right now, at least until Carson Palmer comes back. They are flex plays at best, even in this favorable matchup.

High Risk/High Reward

Cardinals DST: The Arizona defense is legit, and while this may look like a favorable matchup on paper, the Redskins can score plenty of points. I'd use them, but just like with Seattle, there's potential for disappointment here.

Kirk Cousins: He has a pretty good matchup on paper and played well last week. Arizona gives up more yards in the air than on the ground, and their secondary isn't nearly as good as their run defense. I can see Cousins throwing for a bunch of yards and a couple of touchdowns here.

DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon: Jackson has been playing well and is going up against a secondary that he might be able to burn. He's still a bit boom-or-busty, but I'd start him with a fair amount of confidence. Garcon is a mess right now, and isn't getting nearly enough targets (3, 6, 16, 4 over the past four weeks). At this point he's essentially a boom-or-bust wide receiver week to week, but is an acceptable gamble in PPR leagues. If you have other consistent WR options, consider starting them instead.

Notable Matchups

Arizona Quarterbacks: If Carson Palmer plays, it changes the entire Arizona offense and elevates the potential for their wide receivers. If they don't, and either Drew Stanton or Logan Thomas plays, I would avoid this situation for your fantasy teams.

Jordan Reed: Reed is expected back this week, and is always a solid fantasy tight end when healthy. This is a tricky situation though since he's been off the field for a while, and Niles Paul is still in the picture. Arizona gives up a lot of points to tight ends, so start Reed if you need to. But this may be a week to watch and analyze (rather than start either player), and start a different TE if you have another viable option.

Giants @ Eagles - Sunday 10/12 @ 8:30 EST

Matchups We Love

Andre Williams: There's a lot of potential here, and there will be plenty of touches for Williams this week in what should be a high scoring affair. I'd consider Williams a solid RB start this week, as he should carry the load and looked good last week filling in for Rashad Jennings.

Jeremy Maclin: Maclin is an every week start and WR1. He is leading the NFL in targets and has been a fantasy football monster.

Matchups We Hate

LeSean McCoy: Because of where you drafted him, you almost have to start McCoy, but even in his monster 2013 season, the Giants were able to hold him to a combined 95 yards on 38 carries and a score in two games. His already disappointing season may continue this week.

Zach Ertz: He is pretty much a TE2 at this point. His production just isn't there, he's been inconsistent, his playing time has been decreasing and the Giants give up the least amount of points to tight ends. Avoid him unless you have no other options this week.

High Risk/ High Reward

Eli Manning: Any time you use Eli, it's a gamble, but he seems to finally be adjusting to his new offensive scheme. He also has a good matchup in what should be a high scoring game. He makes for a solid bye week fill in, and could have a monster day for you. He also could throw three picks, but I like his chances overall.

Notable Matchups

Giants Wide Receivers: Rueben Randle has 10 targets in each of the last three games, and Eli Manning has already stated that he wants to get him the ball as much as he can. Victor Cruz is seeing targets, but has been inconsistent week to week. He's settled into a high-upside WR3/flex option at this point. Odell Beckham looked good in his first ever NFL game last week, and should only see more playing time and targets going forward. He's a decent WR3/flex going forward, especially in PPR leagues, as the Giants base offense runs three-wide receiver sets.

Darren Sproles: Sproles is essentially a flex play for PPR leagues these days, although the upside is always there. He just isn't getting a consistently high volume of snaps and touches, making him an unreliable fantasy option.

Larry Donnell: Although Donnell was shut out last week, that will most likely be an outlier for his season. He's still a red zone focus for Eli Manning, and with so many offensive weapons defenses won't be able to focus on shutting him down like they did last week.

49ers @ Rams - Monday 10/13 @ 8:30 EST

Matchups We Love

Frank Gore: Frank the Tank has been running well all season, and doesn't seem to be slowing down. He has a tasty matchup on paper against the Rams rushing defense, and the 49ers should bring their running attack as the focus of their offensive game plan.

Matchups We Hate

Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham: Zac Stacy is working through an injury that forced him to leave last week's game, and is facing an extremely tough 49er rushing defense. If he doesn't end up suiting up, then Cunningham would step into the lead running back role for the Rams. Either way this is a week to avoid the Rams running backs unless you have no other choice.

Vernon Davis: Davis has been battling injuries for a lot of the season, but it's looking like he will suit up this week against the Rams. That's the good news. The bad news is that the Rams have been very good against tight ends since last year, so it's a risky week to start him. He may have a big game, or he may end up leaving with another injury. Given he's playing Monday night, there's added risk, so if you have another TE option consider starting them instead.

High Risk/High Reward

Colin Kaepernick: Kaepernick has been playing well for the most part this year, but this is a game where the 49ers may end up running the ball all day. He should be a fine start, but may not have as big a ceiling as other weeks.

Michael Crabtree: He had a bad game last week, but is the primary passing for Kaepernick always. He's a high-upside WR3 at worst every week in PPR leagues, and the matchup is a good one this week. He should get targets and receptions, but may not have a high ceiling either.

Notable Matchups

Brian Quick: Quick has been a legit breakout and fantasy football stud this year, especially in PPR leagues. He had a monster game last week and has been a target and receptions hog for the Rams. The 49ers secondary is vulnerable, so Quick may be in line for another productive day. I wouldn't expect two touchdowns, or even one necessarily, but a handful of receptions and yards should be his floor.

Austin Davis: The 49ers have been limiting the production of opposing quarterbacks the past few weeks, and the same could happen again this week. Davis may have a decent game, but may also be in for a long day at the office. I'd avoid him unless it's a two-quarterback league.

Anquan Boldin: Boldin hasn't really been a great fantasy option week to week. In PPR leagues, he's racked up 9.20, 8.70, 6.60 and 4.40 points over the past four weeks. He'll get a few grabs every week, but doesn't really offer much upside. Only start him if you don't have any better options.