Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 6 Matchups to Consider
We’ve hit the part of the season where we need to evaluate good players meeting bad matchups. The bye weeks are creeping in, the injuries are piling up, and suddenly the decisions get harder. Use these matchups as a think tank on what to do with certain mid-tier players and to help you brace for turbulence. These are the matchups that could make you sweat on Sunday, so take a long, hard look at your roster if you’re starting these players.
Always make sure to use the Ballers’ weekly rankings before finalizing your lineup each week! Also, utilize the Ultimate Dashboard to see what Andy, Mike, and Jason would suggest you do with your roster to make it its absolute best!
Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones
QB - IND
Daniel Jones is the most efficient fantasy QB this season and is the league leader in total EPA (55.06). Now free from the shackles that are the NY Giants, he is getting it done in the air and on the ground. The Colts’ offense has leaned on his decision-making and designed runs near the goal line, keeping his weekly floor higher than most thanks to three rushing TDs.
This week’s matchup against the hapless red birds isn’t as tasty as it might seem at first glance. The Cardinals’ defense ranks 6th against fantasy QBs, allowing only 15.2 fantasy points per game. On top of that, ARI ranks fourth in EPA per rush, which could make life harder for Jones via his legs. If QB running room is hard to find (and run game struggles in general), he could spend most of Sunday grinding for passing yardage instead of fantasy fireworks.
Justin Fields
QB - KC
Justin Fields ranks fourth among QBs in scramble rate (10.08%) and seventh in success rate (51.70%), showing how often he turns broken plays into rushing opportunities. Despite that mobility, his 2.87-second time to throw shows a QB still relying on improvisation rather than structure because not many teams are getting that type of protection league-wide. The O-line is playing well, ranking second in the NFL in that metric for any QB with a minimum of 100 plays. He has plenty of time to make passing plays.
He draws a brutal test against DEN, whose defense ranks 1st in success rate (38%). With the Broncos limiting opponents to -0.11 EPA per rush, Fields’ trademark rushing edge may not carry the same fantasy upside. The Broncos are only giving up 1.2 TDs (rushing and passing) on average per game this season.
Running Backs
Derrick Henry
RB - BAL
Derrick Henry has struggled to find rhythm this season outside of Week 1, recording a -10.91 total EPA and ranking outside the top 35 among RBs in that department. His -0.17 EPA per rush reflects limited per-play impact.
The Rams rank first in fewest fantasy points allowed to RBs (13.3 FPA) and tie for the league lead in fewest rushing TDs allowed (2). With Baltimore’s team plagued by injuries and Henry’s median projection at 12.3 points, expectations should stay tempered in a matchup that looks like an uphill battle.
Jaylen Warren
RB - PIT
Jaylen Warren has been steady but lacking big-play juice, posting a gnarly 0% explosive run rate (obviously league-worst) across his 132 rushing yards. He’s averaging only a worrying 3.07 yards per carry. However, there are some bright spots. He’s gaining most of his yardage after contact (105 yards), meaning there’s effort on his part but not separation. His 44.19% success rate indicates efficiency on a per-down basis, even if the chunk plays haven’t come.
This week sets up as one of his toughest matchups yet. CLE ranks first in EPA per rush at -0.22 and limits opponents to a 40% success rate. With the Browns also allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs, Warren’s 9.1-point projection highlights a capped ceiling in a game where efficiency will be hard to find. The Browns lead the league in Yards per Carry allowed with 3 YPC, which is .3 lower than the next closest team.
Michael Carter
RB - TEN
Michael Carter was a hot waiver wire pick-up last week, but remains an ancillary piece in the Cardinals’ offense as a whole, producing just 52 rushing yards, albeit with a decent 26.32% success rate. He’s averaging a disgusting 2.74 yards per carry and hasn’t generated an explosive run this season (0% explosive rate), limiting his fantasy value to efficiency, a few catches, and occasional goal-line usage.
This week’s matchup against IND doesn’t offer much relief. The Colts’ defense ranks fifth in EPA per play at -0.08, placing them among the stingiest units in football. They’ve consistently limited ground efficiency, and Carter’s 8.6 Fantasy point projection should serve as a guide to manage expectations.
Wide Receivers
Jameson Williams
WR - DET
Jameson Williams has struggled to find rhythm, totaling just six receptions for 92 yards across his last three games despite seeing 12 targets in that stretch. His efficiency has cratered, averaging under 25 yards per game in back-to-back weeks and catching only 25% of his targets against CLE before dipping to a single catch in Week 5. The big-play ability that defines his profile hasn’t shown up.
He draws KC this week, a defense ranked third in pressure rate at 36.13%, capable of forcing quick throws. That defensive pressure aligns poorly with Jameson’s big-play-or-bust profile that needs routes to develop, while Jared Goff has a clean pocket. That being said, one play is all it takes, and KC is fourth worst against explosive play rate, allowing a 20+ yard gain on 10% of plays.
Khalil Shakir
WR - BUF
Khalil Shakir, red-zone extraordinaire, has been a surprisingly reliable red-zone option for Josh Allen, running 27 routes and catching six passes for 38 yards on a 25% target share. His 85.71% catch rate and 46 yards after the catch highlight efficiency to go on top of his one TD around the goal line.
This week’s matchup against ATL could suffocate his fantasy ceiling. The Falcons’ defense allows opponents an average of only 51 plays per game —the fewest in the NFL —and leads the league in passing yards allowed at just 150.5 per game (a full 17 yards fewer than the next-closest defense). With such limited volume and elite pass suppression, Shakir’s 8.1-point projection comes with serious floor risk in a game likely to feature a slower pace and minimal passing yardage.
Tee Higgins
WR - CIN
Tee Higgins has seen steady involvement but uneven production while operating with a 17.53% target share. He is a downfield threat (13.33-yard aDOT), but inefficiency has limited his weekly impact thanks to a 48.15% catch rate. Now, with Joe Flacco taking over at QB after being traded earlier this week, Higgins may get a production bump post-Jake Browning.
The Bengals should be passing from the kickoff. GB enters as 14-point favorites and ranks as the NFL’s best defense when leading, allowing just a 20% success rate and a -0.94 EPA/Pass, goodness gracious, far and away first in the NFL in each. That defensive dominance suggests Flacco may be forced into a predictable passing script.
Tight Ends
Darren Waller
TE - FA
Darren Waller has been hyper-efficient in limited volume, scoring three TDs on just nine receptions, an unsustainable 33% TD rate. He’s totaled an awesome 105 receiving yards and 11.44 aDOT over the past two weeks, though, and should remain a preferred red-zone option for Miami.
This week’s matchup against the Chargers is a difficult one. LAC ranks second in defensive red zone success rate (holding offenses to a mere 30.61% clip) and has been especially tough on TEs, giving up just 6.9 fantasy points per game. With such limited efficiency allowed to the position, Waller’s scoring streak faces a significant test.
Kyle Pitts Sr.
TE - ATL
Kyle Pitts is doing some things well and is a consistent TE this season, ranking 6th at the position with 20 receptions. He’s converted 83.33% of his targets and generated 205 receiving yards, showing improved efficiency and reliability in ATL’s short-to-intermediate passing game.
This week’s challenge: BUF. The Bills’ defense ranks first in the NFL in pressure rate at 43.64%, creating constant disruption for opposing QBs. They’re also allowing just 4.6 fantasy points per game to the position, second-fewest in the league. With limited time for plays to develop, Pitts’ volume and scoring opportunities could both take a hit.