The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 6 (Fantasy Football)
Hi folks, and welcome to this Week 6 edition of the Fantasy Footballer’s Starts of the Week. Every Thursday, the Ballers pick some of their favorite plays based on matchups and trends that they think can exceed expectations for fantasy football. These players aren’t necessarily guys who blow up every week, but for one reason or another, we really like their chances at a big gam in Week 6. Below is this week’s list of names who you should be excited to get into your lineup.
If you would like to listen to the full Thursday episode and hear what Andy, Mike, and Jason had to say about their picks, click the link:
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB Caleb Williams @ ATL
Caleb was a full participant at practice yesterday, setting him up to make his return this week for a positive matchup against the Falcons. Atlanta has been putting up a ton of points since Michael Penix returned from injury, which could set up a shootout-type game script for Caleb Williams and the Bears. You have been holding Williams on your bench for too long. Get him back into your lineups this week.
RB Marshawn Lloyd vs DAL
Lloyd SZN is back on! He found the endzone twice last week against Chicago. This week, he finds himself in a 53.5-point over/under against Dallas, who has allowed the most rushing yards in the league and the most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to the RB position. It has been a wild ride for the Packers’ run game this year, but Andy believes you can lean on Lloyd in your flex spot this week.
WR Matthew Golden vs DAL
Golden should also be a great play this week in the same matchup. He has seen no less than a 21% target share in any game this year, and is currently on pace for 82 receptions, 1350 yards, and seven TDs. He is an every-week start right now, but you should feel excited about his potential in this high over/under matchup.
TE Tyler Higbee vs ARI
Tyler is on fire! He has recorded at least five catches AND 60 yards in each of his last three matchups. This streak coincides with the injury to Terrance Ferguson, so you can trust that the volume will still be there for Higbee this week. His matchup against Arizona is also fantastic. In addition to the fact that they are just a horrible football team, the Cardinals rank 28th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to the TE position. Higbee is a solid start in your TE1 spot this week.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
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QB Jordan Love vs DAL
Insert name of starting QB going against Dallas here. The Cowboys defense is who we thought they were, and that is not a good thing. In addition, their offense is good enough to put up a bunch of points and keep games competitive. Finally, Green Bay’s offense, led by Jordan Love, has been putting up a bunch of points themselves and flashing plenty of explosiveness. All those factors combine to make Jordan Love a top-5 play at the QB position this week.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson vs NYJ
The Patriots offense seems to have found their groove, and the Jets defense certainly isn’t going to stand in their way of keeping it rolling this week. Treveyon Henderson should be out, opening the door for Rhamondre to see big volume. Last week without Henderson, Stevenson saw an 85% snap share, leading to 18 carries and six targets. If those trends continue, Stevenson is a great RB2/Flex play in Week 6.
WR Tre Tucker vs BUF
This is another game environment you should be targeting for fantasy. Even as 5.5-point underdogs, the Raiders carry a 24-point implied team total into this one. They should also be throwing a bunch to try and keep pace with Buffalo’s offense, and the targets can’t all go to Brock Bowers. Tucker has averaged a modest 5.4 targets per game this year, but his 54.8 yards per game offer a solid floor for your fantasy team. He could also hit the over on that average this week against a Buffalo defense that ranks dead last in fantasy points allowed to the WR position. Tucker is not a must-start, but he can certainly fill in if you have got injuries and byes to contend with this week.
TE Harold Fannin vs BAL
Fannin posted a dud for your fantasy team last week, but his utilization in terms of snap share continues to hover around 90%. Baltimore’s defense is good, but they are more vulnerable through the air than on the ground, and the Browns are going to need to throw to keep pace in this game. The floor is low for Fannin in a lackluster Browns’ offense, but there aren’t many TEs who offer the 20-point upside that Fannin possesses.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
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QB Brock Purdy vs Commanders
The Commanders’ defense can’t stop anybody. They are dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points to QBs, allowing 8.4 points above expected to the position. Purdy is already averaging 23.3 fantasy points per game this year, so add 8.4 more to that, and you have got yourself one heck of a week. The 49ers implied team total is 29 points in this game, and Brock Purdy is going to smash.
RB Braelon Allen vs Patriots
Allen has been an absolute workhorse in Breece Hall’s absence. He has amassed 44 opportunities in the two games since Hall’s injury, and while the matchup with New England isn’t great on paper, the Jets seem to stay committed to the run despite their struggles as a team. Allen is an RB2 play based on volume alone this week.
WR Denzel Boston vs BAL
Boston is sneaking his way into every-week starter territory thanks to his consistently large role in Cleveland’s offense. He has seen seven targets or finished as a top-20 WR in all five weeks this season, and he leads all rookies in receiving yards (and basically every other category). As mentioned before with Fannin, the Ravens’ defense allows fantasy points through the air. Boston can be trusted as a high-upside Flex option this week for fantasy.
TE Dalton Kincaid vs Raiders
If you have Dalton Kincaid on your roster, you are pretty disappointed with his production as of late. After a red-hot start to the season, Kincaid posted his third consecutive stinker last week in what should have been a great matchup in a shootout. Here we are again, with Buffalo once again carrying a huge implied team total (29.5) into this week’s matchup. The route participation has been there for Kincaid, so you should probably run him out there one more time and hope he can connect with Allen on some of those downfield plays we saw in Weeks 1 and 2. If he cannot, you might consider shutting him down for a while or perhaps placing a landmine on the waiver wire for your leaguemates.