As the fantasy football season rages on into the heart of the campaign, managers continue to face crucial start/sit decisions as it pertains to their lineups.
Fortunately, only two teams have the week off. Teams on a bye in Week 6 include the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our player projections for Week 6:
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stafford has yet to finish a week as a QB1, but this is the matchup that he could do it. The veteran slinger has his top weapon Cooper Kupp back in full, and the Cardinals have struggled immensely against quarterbacks for fantasy purposes. They’ve allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (21.0) and the fourth-most passing yards (1,372) to opposing quarterbacks this season. Stafford is a strong QB2 with QB1 upside this week.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers
It has been an odd season for Prescott considering the fact that he hasn’t been needed in a handful of blowout victories, and then the San Francisco 49ers handled the Cowboys offense with ease in Week 5. While there may be better matchup plays available depending on the league, Prescott is a fine emergency option for those in need. The Chargers have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (20.9) and the most passing yards per game (299.8). This should be an opportunity for Prescott to bounce back with a quality game for those in need of a QB2 or streaming option.
Sit ‘Em
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons
Howell gave managers a scare with a poor first half in Week 5, but he bounced back with a strong finish as the QB5 on the week. However, this is a matchup we should be avoiding. Atlanta may not look like a scary defense on paper, allowing 15.3 fantasy points per game to the position, but they rank fourth in pressure rate (28.2%). Meanwhile, the Commanders have allowed the eighth-highest pressure rate (28.3%) and the second-most sacks (29). This projects to be a low-scoring game as well so there are better options with higher upside than this one.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This may seem like a poor idea considering how well the Lions offense has been playing, but the home/road splits continue to be true for Goff’s fantasy output. On the road, Goff is averaging just 12.7 fantasy points per game, down from 22.8 points per game at home. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have been solid against quarterbacks, allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game (13.1) to opposing quarterbacks. The offense is good enough for Goff to give a serviceable outing, but the information we have at hand suggests managers may want to look for a higher-upside option.
Running Back
Start ‘Em
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Most managers aren’t even debating this considering the landscape at the position, but Williams has been a bit inconsistent over the last three weeks. This should be a good time for a boom game, though, against a Cardinals defense that has allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game (28.7) and eight total touchdowns to the position this season.
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Though we could continue to see more of Cam Akers as he gets re-acclimated to Kevin O’Connell’s version of Sean McVay’s offense, Mattison still appears to have a hold on the starting role. He’s been solid for fantasy purposes, posting double-digit fantasy points in all but one game this season. The Bears have allowed the third-most PPR points per game (30.3) as well as eight total touchdowns to opposing running backs this season.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
We called on Moss as a sit last week, and it could not have been more wrong. Apologies for that. Though we shouldn’t expect another game like that from Moss and with Jonathan Taylor expected to see an increased snap count, Moss is still a solid flex play. The Jaguars have been solid against the run, allowing the seventh-fewest PPR points per game (15.2) to the position, but Moss proved he can still thrive in tough matchups. This will be a crucial week in terms of how the Colts backfield is split, but we can stay in the flames with Moss as a flex play.
Sit ‘Em
Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons
This could be one of those ground-and-pound games that features Robinson heavily, but the matchup doesn’t seem to bode well for upside purposes. Averaging 54.2 rushing yards per game, Robinson has been saved by touchdowns. They may be difficult to come by this week as the Falcons have allowed the fewest PPR points per game (12.2) to the position. They’ve also allowed just 3.8 yards per attempt and are one of just three teams to have yet to allow a single touchdown to running backs.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions
As someone who was pretty high on White during the middle rounds of fantasy drafts, this is a tough one. He simply hasn’t been efficient enough to trust in poor matchups like this one. The volume has been nice, but he’s averaging just 51.5 rushing yards per game and has found the end zone one time. Things don’t get easier this week as the Lions have allowed the second-fewest PPR points per game (12.6) and fourth-fewest rushing yards (248) to the position. On top of that, they’re allowing a paltry 3.1 yards per attempt and just two total touchdowns to opposing backs.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints
Though Pierce has been better from a fantasy production standpoint over the last three weeks, he’s still been incredibly inefficient. He hasn’t logged over 3.5 yards per attempt in a single game and has just one game in which he’s recorded more than 66 rushing yards. Meanwhile, the Saints have allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points per game (14.4) and the seventh-fewest rushing yards (311) to the position this season.
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sometimes we have to take risks. Higgins is dealing with a rib fracture that forced him to miss Week 5, and he’s been limited at practice for most of this week. If he’s active, be willing to take a chance given the matchup and what we saw from Joe Burrow and the passing attack last week. The Seahawks have allowed the most PPR points per game (48.2) to the position this season. It’s a risky move, but if Higgins is close to full health, it could pay off in a big way.
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons vs. Washington Commanders
The passing offense for Atlanta has been incredibly frustrating this season, but they showed signs of life in Week 5. Desmond Ridder looked like a competent NFL quarterback, and London had arguably his best game of the season, posting a 6-78-0 receiving line on a season-high nine targets. The Commanders have allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game (44.4), the second-most receiving yards (1,032), and the most receiving touchdowns (nine) to the position this season. London is a fringe WR2 with upside this week.
Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills vs. New York Giants
A truly volatile receiver by nature, Davis has quelled those issues by finding the end zone in four consecutive games. Though that typically screams regression, this is a good matchup to buy into for a boom game. The Giants have allowed the 10th-most PPR points per game (37.1) to wideouts this season to go along with allowing six receiving touchdowns to the position in five games.
Sit ‘Em
Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns vs. San Francisco 49ers
This has more to do with the quarterback situation than anything else. Cooper has been a fine fantasy asset when Deshaun Watson has been healthy, but the QB will be inactive again due to a shoulder injury. While the numbers might show the 49ers defense as a middling opponent against wide receivers, they’re allowing just 9.9 yards per reception to the position. With PJ Walker under center, managers should severely temper expectations if they can’t find a pivot option.
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles
What started out as a promising campaign has quickly turned into another season of debating whether to put Wilson in the starting lineup. Despite seeing a robust 32% target share this season, the quality of those targets has nullified any value coming his way. Wilson has failed to finish as a WR2 when he hasn’t found the end zone this season and while the Eagles have surprisingly allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game (44.9) to the position, it’s the trenches that raise concerns. The Eagles have a stellar pass rush, boasting the fifth-highest pressure rate (28%) in the NFL. Conversely, the Jets have allowed the highest pressure rate (32.6%) and just lost starting guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to a torn Achilles.
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans
Managers may not have a choice but to start Olave so this is to simply temper expectations. Despite his immense talent, Olave cannot be trusted in fantasy lineups right now. The shoulder injury to Derek Carr is still clearly limiting his throwing, and it has impacted Olave (toe) in the worst way. The second-year wideout has just three receptions on 11 targets for 16 yards over the last two weeks. Now, he draws a matchup against a Texans secondary that has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points per game (25.4) and just one touchdown to the position this season.
Tight End
Start ‘Em
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
Kmet has been heating up over the last two weeks, leading all tight ends with 21.4 PPR points per game. Over that span, he’s seen a 24.6% target share, ranking third-best among tight ends behind only Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews. We’re going to stick with Kmet this week against a Vikings defense that has allowed the sixth-most PPR points per game (17.3) to the position over the last three weeks.
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
We called on Ertz as a start last week and while it wasn’t an amazing performance, he did find the end zone. For most tight end streamers, that’s really all we can ask for. We’re looking to the veteran once again in this matchup against the Rams. His 22.5% target share on the season ranks third-best among tight ends as the Rams have allowed the most PPR points per game (21.8) and receiving yards (275) to the tight end position over the last three weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints
Though Schultz falls into the “heating up” category coming off two finishes inside the top six at tight end, the matchup here is a frightening one. On the season, the Saints have allowed the second-fewest receptions (14) to go along with the fewest receiving yards (99) and PPR points per game (6.0) to the position while allowing just one touchdown. The Texans also have allowed the seventh-highest pressure rate (26.7%) so C.J. Stroud could be under some duress in this matchup.
Darren Waller, New York Giants at Buffalo Bills
It was nice to see Waller bounce back last week with season-high marks, posting an 8-86-0 receiving line on the back of a 37% target share. But this is a matchup we need to avoid. Sitting Waller isn’t the easiest decision, but there isn’t much upside here, and he has a minor groin injury to complicate things. The Giants will be without Daniel Jones while the Bills have allowed the third-fewest PPR points per game (6.9) to tight ends. This game could be a massacre, so we should be avoiding Giants players at all costs.
