Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: NFL Week 6 fantasy tips on start, sit, stream and more (2024)

Eric Moody, ESPNOct 15, 2021, 01:24 PM ET
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The ESPN+ cheat sheet provides a rundown of the best tips from all of our fantasy football content. You'll find answers to the biggest start/sit questions of the week, along with injury updates, matchup advantages and wild-card plays from Matthew Berry, Eric Karabell, Mike Clay, Tristan H. co*ckcroft, Matt Bowen, Field Yates, Seth Walder, Al Zeidenfeld and myself. It's all the best advice in one handy article.

Here's what our experts are saying about Week 6 in the NFL:

Top Fantasy Football Tips for Week 6

Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

It's a joy to watch Burrow throw to Ja'Marr Chase. He has a passer rating of 150.1 when targeting the rookie receiver. This duo could connect early and often against the Lions on Sunday. I'm very high on Burrow this week and so is our very own Matthew Berry. "He has multiple touchdown passes in every game this season, and he very likely will keep that streak going Sunday against a Lions defense that is plucky, no doubt, but is still allowing a league-high 10.0 yards per pass attempt and a league-high 13.7 yards per completion," says Berry in this week's heartwarming Love/Hate. The Lions' defense has a bottom-three pass DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average). This metric measures a team's efficiency by comparing success on every single play to a league average based on situation and opponent.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence has improved in every game this season. Jaguars offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and head coach Urban Meyer have catered to his strengths in the offense. "Lawrence has averaged 19.7 PPG over the past two weeks, with 15 carries and two rushing scores during that stretch, and this week he gets a Miami defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season," says Berry. Please allow me to paint a picture of what Lawrence's Week 6 could look like. Quarterbacks against the Dolphins so far in 2021 have averaged 37.6 pass attempts, 25.2 completions, 297 passing yards, 2.4 passing touchdowns, 0.4 interceptions, and 24.73 points per game.

Cleveland Browns' running game

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are essentially the NFL's version of the Bash Brothers. They are imposing the will of the Browns' running game on opponents and the Cardinals are on the schedule this week. Chubb and Hunt together have averaged 29 rushing attempts and 163.6 yards per game. "Arizona ranks third in defensive efficiency (expected points added per play, with garbage time down-weighted), but the unit does have a pretty major weakness: stopping the run," writes Walder in his rundown of the offensive and defensive line matchups to exploit or avoid. "Arizona ranks 31st in both run stop win rate and yards per carry allowed. And against Cleveland? That looks like a problem."

Playing the matchups

Taylor Heinicke, QB, Washington Football Team

Heinicke is the epitome of a matchup-based streamer and someone I recommended in my fantasy football streaming pickups column. It appears Berry and I are aligned with our love for Heinicke this week against the Kansas City Chiefs. "It's worth noting that Heinicke does have 40-plus rushing yards in each of his past two games and this week faces a Chiefs team that has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season and the third-most yards per pass attempt (Taylor ain't scared to chuck it deep)," writes Berry.

Darrel Williams, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

"Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a knee injury in the third quarter on Sunday night that is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks. While Williams didn't handle a major rushing load in his place (just five carries), much of that can be attributed to the Chiefs playing at a major deficit," writes Field Yates in recommending Week 6 pickups. "Williams stands to see a significant workload and has plenty enough ability to make good on those touches." Williams provided us with a glimpse of what he's capable of last season when Edwards-Helaire was injured. In the Chiefs' two playoff games to get to the Super Bowl, Williams racked up 153 total yards and a touchdown on 31 touches. He's an excellent plug-and-play RB2 against a Washington Football Team defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points per game overall (120.24) so far this season across all positions.

Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

"Harris is averaging 23.8 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, with at least 20 touches and 90 scrimmage yards in each of those games," writes Berry. Harris has a plus matchup against a Seattle Seahawks defense that has given up some exceptional performances to running backs this season. Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Alexander Mattison, Trey Sermon and Darrell Henderson averaged 26.6 touches and 142.4 total yards against Seattle's defense.

Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos

Williams and Melvin Gordon have a similar opportunity share (rushing attempts plus targets) this season. "Williams has two advantages, however: He was the superior runner in Week 5, doubling Gordon's yards per attempt (7.6-3.8), and despite his shared-role status, is perceived as the lesser of the two, having been started in fewer ESPN+ leagues than Gordon every week," writes co*ckcroft in his analysis of the best and worst matchups at each position for NFL Week 6. "Williams is the upside play facing this favorable matchup, however, as the clearly quicker of the two, with 18.5% of his runs clocked at 15-plus mph, compared to Gordon's 8.3%. The Raiders have been especially weak against speedy running backs, having allowed five runs that went for 20-plus yards already."

Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals' matchup against the Lions represents a high ceiling game for the entire offense. The receivers will be a big part of that ascension. "The Lions have one of the league's shakiest cornerback units on paper, so it might surprise you to learn that they've allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, including the 10th fewest to the perimeter and third fewest to the slot," Clay writes in his Week 6 Shadow Report of the best and worst WR/CB matchups. "However, a closer look shows that they've actually allowed the seventh-most fantasy points over expected to the position." Clay goes to explain why that is, "They've faced very little volume, including the fewest WR routes (371), fifth-fewest targets (82) and ninth-fewest end zone targets (four). Detroit is allowing 16.2 yards per receptions and 11.2 yards per target to the position, both of which are worst in the league."

Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
James Washington, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

"Seattle is allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers (eighth-most over expected), including the fourth-most to the slot," writes Clay. "The Seahawks have allowed 194-plus yards to wideouts in four straight games and 48-plus fantasy points to the position in three straight outings. Only the Titans have allowed more yardage to the position." We have Claypool and Johnson both ranked in the top 20 in our wide receiver rankings. They've combined for 18.3 targets and 161.4 receiving yards per game this season.

Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Woods averaged only 6.2 targets and 43 receiving yards per game from Weeks 1 through 4. Then he caught 12 of 14 targets for 150 yards last week against the Seahawks. "Sean McVay schemed up zone coverage to create middle-of-the-field voids for wide receiver Robert Woods," writes Bowen in his Week 6 film room. "While I'm not counting on Woods to produce another 27.0 PPR [total] this week versus the Giants, he will get the split-safety looks that McVay can scheme up. More middle-of-the field throws, more in-breakers and more target volume. He will be back in my lineup as a solid WR2 in Week 6." Top WR scorers against the Giants have averaged 8.6 targets, 6.4 receptions, 68.6 receiving yards, and 16.94 points per game.

Mike Gesicki, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

"The Jaguars have the third-most adjusted fantasy points allowed to tight ends (5.4), not to mention afforded the position the third-most PPR fantasy points per target (2.4), but what stands out most has been the type of talent amassing those numbers against this defense," writes co*ckcroft. "C.J. Uzomah (26.5 points, Week 4), Pharaoh Brown (10.7, Week 1) and MyCole Pruitt (8.4, Week 5) have had big days against the Jaguars, which bodes well for a more-involved tight end like Gesicki." The veteran tight end has averaged 7.5 targets per game since Week 2.

Injuries of note

Quarterbacks

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: Murray (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Jackson missed Thursday's practice with an illness, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants: Jones (concussion) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.

Running backs

Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals: Edmonds (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers: McCaffrey (hamstring) was a officially a nonparticipant at practice Thursday.

Damien Williams, Chicago Bears: Williams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday due to a positive test for the virus, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus reports.

Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals: Mixon (ankle) was a nonparticipant in Thursday's practice in what might have amounted to a maintenance day, Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site reports.

Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns: Hunt (wrist/knee) didn't practice Thursday.

Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns: Chubb (calf) wasn't spotted at practice Thursday and is set to go down as a nonparticipant on the Browns' injury report.

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys: Elliott (ribs) logged a limited practice Thursday.

Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos: Gordon practiced Thursday in a limited capacity.

D'Andre Swift, Detroit Lions: Swift (groin) remained a limited practice participant Thursday.

Jamaal Williams, Detroit Lions: Williams (hip/illness) did not participate in Thursday's practice. However, the situation is eerily similar to last week's and he was active. Williams should be treated as likely to play.

Lottery tickets

Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos

"Patrick has been busy in the two games since (K.J.) Hamler went down, as he has 15 targets and a total of 10 catches," Yates writes. "Patrick has scored double-digit fantasy points in four of his five games this season and should remain a fixture in the Denver passing game until (Jerry) Jeudy returns." Clay also mentioned that Sutton has an unfavorable matchup against the Raiders' Casey Hayward this week while Patrick stands to benefit and could exceed expectations in a pass-heavy script.

Mecole Hardman, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

"The 'shiny objects' on the Chiefs offense in this surprisingly fast-paced and high-scoring environment against Washington are obviously Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce," Zeidenfeld writes. "However, we shouldn't overlook Hardman. Only five receivers in the league had more targets than Hardman last week when he posted 12 in the Chiefs' 'Sunday Night Football' game against the Bills. Washington is allowing the second-most air yards per passing attempt in 2021. That lines right up with Hardman's greatest skill: speed." co*ckcroft also mentioned that the Football Team surrendered "23.6 PPR fantasy points per game to receivers lined up out of the slot. He has run half his routes out of the slot thus far."

Zack Moss, RB, Buffalo Bills

"Moss has at least 12 fantasy points in every game this season and since (his) Week 2 (debut) he ranks in the top six among running backs in both red zone and goal-to-go carries," Berry writes. "There should be plenty of red zone opportunities this week against Tennessee's defense, which allows 4.7 yards per carry to running backs." Moss out-touched Devin Singletary (14-7) and played on 74% of the snaps last week. The Titans are allowing 127 total yards and a touchdown per game to running backs.

Devontae Booker, RB, New York Giants

Booker according to Yates, is "obviously not the player that Barkley is, but Booker's workload should be large enough to expect borderline RB2 value until Barkley returns, especially considering that he's an adept pass-catcher." Booker could see 15 to 18 touches against the Rams.

Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears

Herbert finished last week's game against the Raiders with 18 rushing attempts compared to Damien Williams' 16, and Herbert played more snaps. The Bears will continue to lean heavily on the run in an effort to hide rookie quarterback Justin Fields. Damien Williams tested positive for COVID-19 and has been ruled out for Week 6 against the Packers. Herbert's a solid RB2 against a Green Bay defense that allowed 16.88 points per game to opponents' top RB scorers.

Ricky Seals-Jones, TE, Washington Football Team

"Seals-Jones was exactly what we thought he would be in place of Logan Thomas, who was placed on IR last week. He ran around on 77.1% of Washington's Week 5 dropbacks, which is exactly the sort of usage that Thomas was seeing before going down with a hamstring injury," Zeidenfeld writes. "No team has allowed more red zone drives than Kansas City, and Seals-Jones provides a big target (with a low aDOT) which is easily convertible into catches."

Big question of the week

What will the Raiders look like offensively?

The ripple effect of former head coach Jon Gruden's resignation and email revelations flows through not only the Raiders organization, but the entire NFL. While there are clearly much more important issues at play, fantasy managers are wondering how it will affect the rest-of-season outlooks for Derek Carr, Darren Waller, Josh Jacobs and other fantasy-relevant players. The Raiders looked flat offensively against the Bears last week. How they play against the Broncos in an AFC West contest might well provide the beginnings of an answer to that question.