It’s time for week 6, and Andy, Mike, and Jason delivered five days of expert analysis (and plenty of tilting)! Remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Monday – Studs & Duds + Broken Offenses
News
Xavier Worthy was listed as questionable with an ankle issue, but is expected to play Monday night. Brock Bowers could miss multiple weeks with a bone bruise as the team focuses on his long-term health. Bucky Irving is dealing with a shoulder injury and is expected to miss at least two games, giving Rachaad White more opportunities.
Jordan Addison was briefly benched for missing a walkthrough, but rebounded with the game-winning TD. Kyler Murray left with a foot injury, returned, and said only “we’ll see” about his status. Omarion Hampton left with a left ankle injury and was seen in a walking boot, suggesting a possible high-ankle sprain. Kimani Vidal filled in late.
Antonio Gibson left with a knee injury, opening the door for more work from TreVeyon Henderson. Rhamondre Stevenson scored twice and is the team’s preferred back, despite fumbling again. Darius Slayton injured his hamstring and did not return, leaving the Giants short-handed ahead of Thursday night against the Eagles.
Studs
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
QBs: C.J. Stroud led all passers with four TDs in a blowout win over Baltimore. Dak Prescott followed with a strong outing minus CeeDee Lamb, while Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold both delivered top-five finishes in a shootout. Justin Fields rounded out the group, salvaging his week with a massive fourth quarter.
RBs: Rico Dowdle exploded for 206 rushing yards and a score, finishing as the RB1. Jonathan Taylor and Kyren Williams stayed hot, while Javonte Williams continued his consistent production. Ja’Cory Croskey-Merritt broke out with two TDs and heavy usage, establishing himself as a weekly starter. Michael Carter, Breece Hall, J.K. Dobbins, and Rhamondre Stevenson also found the end zone.
WRs: Emeka Egbuka was the top scorer with nearly 28 points and now ranks third among WRs on the season. Ja’Marr Chase, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jaylen Waddle, Deebo Samuel, and Stefon Diggs all posted WR1 numbers. Puka Nacua remained automatic, while Rashid Shaheed and Kendrick Bourne provided surprise value.
TEs: AJ Barner, Jake Ferguson, and Theo Johnson each scored twice, while Darren Waller and Sam LaPorta also found the end zone. Dalton Kincaid posted his first 100-yard game, and Mason Taylor drew 12 targets, joining Brock Bowers as the only rookie TEs with that feat in their first five games.
Duds
QBs: Justin Herbert’s slump continued with another one-score game as the Chargers’ offense sputtered. Drake Maye looked sharp but finished with no passing TDs and just 12 fantasy points.
RBs: James Cook managed under five points, Alvin Kamara left hurt and split work with Kendre Miller, and Chase Brown stayed unusable in Cincinnati’s broken offense. Woody Marks flopped after last week’s breakout, and Derrick Henry’s late TD masked another inefficient outing.
WRs: A.J. Brown and Jameson Williams both disappeared again, while Chris Godwin and Jakobi Meyers failed to deliver in favorable spots. Quentin Johnston remains invisible, and Marvin Harrison Jr. was bafflingly ignored despite early success.
TEs: Trey McBride disappointed in another stagnant Cardinals game, while Zach Ertz, Juwan Johnson, and Hunter Henry were all no-shows. Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely also failed to capitalize on their matchups.
Tuesday – Week 6 Waivers + Full Stream Ahead, Nasty Boys
News
Omarion Hampton was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury and will miss at least four weeks, leaving the Chargers’ backfield in flux again. Commanders coach Dan Quinn said he’s optimistic Terry McLaurin will play in Week 6, while Packers receiver Christian Watson has been designated to return from IR and could be back within the next two weeks. The Bengals are considering a change at QB after Jake Browning’s turnover issues, creating uncertainty around Ja’Marr Chase’s reliability and trade value.
In Arizona, Kyler Murray’s foot will be monitored after briefly leaving Sunday’s game, but he’s expected to play; if not, Jacoby Brissett would start. Lamar Jackson is not expected to return, with Tyler “Snoop” Huntley next in line for the Ravens after Cooper Rush’s poor showing. Washington’s Antonio Gibson is out for the year with a torn ACL, possibly opening more work for TreVeyon Henderson. Saquon Barkley didn’t practice Monday but is expected to suit up Thursday despite general soreness.
Waiver Wire
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RBs: Michael Carter is the top add after taking over Arizona’s backfield, clearly out-snapping Emari Demercado and showing reliability as both a runner and receiver. Kareem Hunt should be rostered everywhere with steady volume, and Brashard Smith continues to mix in more for the Chiefs. Kimani Vidal flashed late for the Chargers and is worth a flyer with Hampton out, though Hassan Haskins is the safer early-down option. Kendre Miller continues to earn touches behind Alvin Kamara and is a smart bench hold. Don’t drop RJ Harvey, even though JK Dobbins is dominating the RB touches in Denver.
WRs: Kendrick Bourne leads the way after his 142-yard breakout and is a solid WR3 with consistent targets. Romeo Doubs is worth a pickup coming off the bye as a TD threat, while Ryan Flournoy is a one-week fill-in if CeeDee Lamb sits. Isaiah Bond offers volume in deeper leagues, and Alec Pierce is a serviceable spot start. Jerry Jeudy is droppable outside of deep benches, along with Elic Ayomanor.
TEs: Mason Taylor (Mee-Yow) is the best plug-and-play option after drawing 12 targets last week, giving him TE1 value. Jake Tonges (“McBasketball”) has redzone upside in a strong offense, while AJ Barner continues to produce. Theo Johnson is a longer-term stash after a two-TD game.
DSTs: PIT is the top stream, facing rookie Dillon Gabriel and a struggling Browns offense in a low-total game. LV is a solid play against Tennessee’s shaky O-line, while NE gets a turnover-prone Jets team at home. IND is also in play versus Washington’s weak protection. Check if GB was dropped on bye – they are big favorites against CIN this week.
Check out the full waiver wire rankings on the website and, as a FootClan member, use the ultimate dashboard waiver tool that is adjusted to your league.
Full Stream Ahead
Andy: 49ers QB (vs TB)
Whoever starts for San Francisco is Andy’s top streamer of the week against a vulnerable Bucs defense. Both Mac Jones and Brock Purdy have shown QB1 ability.
Jason: Matthew Stafford (at BAL)
Stafford leads the NFL in passing yards and now faces a Ravens defense ravaged by injuries that just allowed C.J. Stroud to light them up.
Mike: Bryce Young (vs DAL)
Bryce Young has a path to fantasy relevance against a Cowboys defense that ranks dead last in expected points per pass attempt.
Wednesday – Fantasy Draft Redo + TNF Preview, League Winners
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Backup Options
If you struck out on waivers, there are still a few names worth grabbing. At RB, Sean Tucker is still interesting with Bucky Irving out again, and Isaiah Davis may need another injury to be relevant. Zach Ertz was dropped in many leagues after a zero last week, but he’s shown strong chemistry with Jayden Daniels and remains a viable TE streamer. Cade Otton quietly played 92% of snaps and posted 81 yards, making him a solid plug-in while Tampa’s receivers remain banged up.
For a deeper stash, Isaac Teslaa could see expanded snaps if Kalif Raymond sits. He’s flashed whenever given chances and could carve out a role in Detroit’s passing game.
News
The Bengals traded for Joe Flacco, giving a slight boost to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, though expectations should stay tempered behind a struggling offensive line. Flacco provides stability but little mobility, so it’s an upgrade from Jake Browning; just not a major one.
In Cleveland, Dillon Gabriel is set to start, with Shaduer Sanders developing as the backup. The Browns may evaluate Sanders later this season, but the team remains committed to winning now. Lamar Jackson faces an uphill battle to play this week, with Baltimore likely to rest him through the bye. Brenton Strange hit IR with a quad injury, which should open more downfield looks for Travis Hunter.
In Los Angeles, Nyheim Hines joined the Chargers’ practice squad as Omarion Hampton works back from injury, but the backfield remains a short-term committee and is tough to trust. Jaylen Warren’s “arrow is pointing up” for a return, and the Steelers’ backfield could see a timeshare shift if he’s fully healthy.
TNF Preview
4-1 PHI at 1-4 NYG (PHI -7, O/U 40.5)
Philadelphia looks to rebound after a rare loss, while the Giants try to stop a four-game skid. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert are all in play against a New York defense ranked near the bottom vs WRs, despite Philly being ranked 31st in passing yards this season. Saquon Barkley remains a volume RB1, but the matchup is rough behind a struggling offense.
Cam Skattebo continues to handle lead-back duties, while Tyrone Tracy Jr. likely eases in. Jaxson Dart offers some rushing upside in SuperFlex leagues but carries turnover risk against a takeaway-heavy Eagles defense. Theo Johnson has solid usage but faces one of the league’s toughest TE matchups. Philly’s defense is a top-tier start in what should be a controlled Eagles win.
Fantasy Draft Redo
The Ballers sat down to a two-round draft as if the season were starting this week. There were, not surprisingly, some big changes from their final mock draft on August 29th.
Round 1: Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Puka Nacua, Christian McCaffrey, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Justin Jefferson, Ceedee Lamb, De’Von Achane.
Round 2: James Cook, Nico Collins, Emeka Egbuka, Kyren Williams, Drake London, Josh Allen, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Quinshon Judkins, Javonte Williams, Ashton Jeanty, Derrick Henry.
Risers: Rookies Emeka Egbuka and Quinshon Judkins, along with Javonte Williams, saw the biggest jumps.
Fallers: Malik Nabers (injured), Ladd McConkey, Chase Brown, A.J. Brown, Brian Thomas Jr., and Tee Higgins have fallen far from the first two rounds.
Thursday – Starts of the Week + Week 6 Breakdown, Dart Throws
News
Tyrone Tracy will return for Thursday Night Football, and Darius Slayton is out. Cam Skattebo remains the preferred fantasy play until proven otherwise. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans both missed practice with injuries, putting Cade Otton on the streaming radar if either sits. Alvin Kamara is day-to-day with an ankle issue, fueling trade rumors that also include Breece Hall, linked to the Chargers, Chiefs, and Texans as possible landing spots.
Brock Bowers didn’t practice and is expected to miss time, while Michael Mayer logged a full session and should start. Amon-Ra St. Brown sat out Wednesday but isn’t a major concern yet. Terry McLaurin’s Monday night status looks doubtful, leaving few viable pivots.
For the 49ers, Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall remain out, with Mac Jones likely to start again against Tampa Bay. Joe Flacco will start for Cincinnati, with the Bengals hoping his quick grasp of the offense will improve the passing game; however, the offensive line remains a major concern.
Starts of the Week
Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
QBs:
- Mike: Jordan Love vs. CIN: The Bengals are a top-4 matchup for QBs, averaging 250 yards and 2 TDs per game.
- Jason: Drake Maye vs. NO: He’s playing sharp football with rushing upside and a great dome matchup.
- Andy: Matthew Stafford vs. BAL: He’s on fire with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams with two-plus TDs in four straight games.
RBs:
- Mike: Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs. CHI: Expect a big game after a strong workload and elite efficiency.
- Jason: Breece Hall vs. DEN: It’s a prime matchup against a run-funnel defense.
- Andy: Rico Dowdle vs. DAL: The revenge game with Chuba Hubbard hurt; Dallas ranks 28th vs. RBs.
WRs:
- Mike: Chris Olave vs. NE: He continues to get a huge target share with TD regression coming.
- Jason: Tetairoa McMillan vs. DAL: He is a dominant WR against the league’s worst WR defense.
- Andy: A.J. Brown vs. NYG: Andy’s TD guarantee of the week.
TEs:
- Mike: Jake Tonges vs. TB: Put on your steel underpants. He has a strong target share and a good matchup.
- Jason: Juwan Johnson vs. NE: Don’t bail after two bad games. He’s in a bounce-back spot with high snap share and volume potential.
- Andy: Tucker Kraft vs. CIN: He has a full-time role and is going against the best TE matchup in football.
Fantasy Forecast
3-2 DEN vs 0-5 NYJ (DEN -7.5, O/U 43.5, London)
Bo Nix is a viable streamer against a struggling Jets defense. Breece Hall and J.K. Dobbins are locked-in starters, while R.J. Harvey is off the radar. Garrett Wilson remains a start, and Mason Taylor’s role continues to grow.
2-3 ARI at 4-1 IND (IND -7, O/U 46.5)
Kyler Murray is questionable, with Jacoby Brissett likely to start if he sits. Michael Carter is the preferred Arizona back, and Marvin Harrison Jr. is close to an auto-start. Jonathan Taylor headlines the Colts’ offense, with Michael Pittman a solid WR2 and Josh Downs losing steam. Both starting TEs in this game, Tyler Warren and Trey McBride, are elite options.
3-2 LAC at 1-4 MIA (LAC -4.5, O/U 44.5)
Justin Herbert hasn’t topped 20 fantasy points since Week 1, but he’s still in play against a beatable Dolphins defense. With Omarion Hampton out, the Chargers will deploy a committee of Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal. Waddle, Achane, and Waller are must-starts for Miami.
3-2 NE at 1-4 NO (NE -3.5, O/U 45.5)
Drake Maye is Jason’s QB start of the week. Rhamondre Stevenson’s volume keeps him in RB2 territory, and TreVeyon Henderson is a flex option with Antonio Gibson on IR. Chris Olave remains a steady WR2, while Alvin Kamara and Juwan Johnson are playable but could be limited by game flow.
1-4 CLE at 3-1 PIT (PIT -5.5, O/U 37.5)
The Steelers’ defense is a top streaming play against rookie Dylan Gabriel. Cleveland will rely on Quinshon Judkins, but points should be scarce. Expect Pittsburgh to lean on Jaylen Warren and control the game script at home. DK Metcalf is a solid start coming off a big game before the bye.
2-2-1 DAL at 2-3 CAR (DAL -3, O/U 49.5)
Rico Dowdle is coming off the overall RB1 performance, making him a strong play in a revenge game against the Cowboys. George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, Javonte Williams, and Dak Prescott are all must-starts. Tetairoa McMillan is Jason’s WR start of the week.
3-2 SEA at 4-1 JAX (JAX -1.5, O/U 47.5)
Sam Darnold and Trevor Lawrence both project as midrange QB1s in a potential shootout. Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne are locked-in starters, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a target hog, and Brian Thomas Jr. has yet to break out this season. A.J. Barner is a TE redzone threat for Seattle.
3-2 LAR at 1-4 BAL (LAR -7.5, O/U 44.5)
Matthew Stafford stays hot with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams both dominating targets. Kyren Williams is a must-start RB1. Derrick Henry has surprisingly fallen out of the “auto-start” category. Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews are in the “stay away” category without Lamar Jackson.
Friday – Week 6 Matchups + Skatteboooom!
104 players were drafted ahead of Cam Skattebo in the 2025 NFL draft. He is proving that to be a mistake, rushing for three TDs on Thursday night against the defending champs. He is the human equivalent of smelling salts, bringing new life to the Giants.
News
Alvin Kamara remained limited with an ankle injury, while Kyler Murray returned to practice after missing earlier sessions and is expected to start Sunday. Quentin Johnston stayed limited, and Chuba Hubbard is likely to miss another game for Carolina, where offensive line injuries could affect Rico Dowdle’s production.
Lamar Jackson missed another practice, and Zay Flowers was limited. In Tampa Bay, Chris Godwin is not expected to play, Mike Evans is uncertain, and rookie RB Bucky Irving will likely sit, which boosts Cade Otton’s fantasy value.
For San Francisco, Jauan Jennings returned to limited practice, but Brock Purdy and Ricky Pearsall remained out. Mac Jones was limited and should start again. Xavier Worthy did not practice after dealing with swelling issues, making him a risky fantasy option.
Fantasy Forecast
1-4 TEN at 1-4 LV (LV -4.5, O/U 41.5)
Ashton Jeanty is a lineup lock against a weak Titans run defense. Geno Smith and Cam Ward have struggled badly. Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker split targets with Michael Mayer, who is a deeper TE option with Brock Bowers out. Calvin Ridley is sketchy, and Tony Pollard is a low-end flex with Tyjae Spears back.
2-3 CIN at 2-1-1 GB (GB -14, O/U 44.5)
Joe Flacco gets the start for Cincinnati, but this offense is likely to struggle at Lambeau. There could be a lot of screens for Ja’Marr Chase and Chase Brown. Jordan Love is a top QB play, Josh Jacobs is a locked-in RB1, and Tucker Kraft is a solid TE start.
4-1 SF at 4-1 TB (TB -3, O/U 47.5)
Christian McCaffrey should dominate a short-handed Bucs defense. Jauan Jennings could cancel out Kendrick Bourne’s upside, and Mac Jones is a viable streamer. Baker Mayfield will have to lean on Emeka Egbuka, Rachaad White, and Cade Otton with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined.
4-1 DET at 2-3 KC (KC -2.5, O/U 52.5)
Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff headline a high-scoring matchup. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs are must-starts always. Jameson Williams is a scary start despite high expectations, and Sam LaPorta is coming off a big game. Tyquan Thornton gains value if Xavier Worthy sits, and the KC RBs are all TD-dependent.
4-1 BUF at 2-2 ATL (BUF -4.5, O/U 49.5)
Josh Allen is a strong bounce-back candidate with Stefon Diggs locked in as a WR1. James Cook faces a tough matchup but remains locked. Dalton Kincaid was limited this week in practice, but has been quite productive. Bijan Robinson and Drake London are must-starts, while Kyle Pitts is a risky play against the top TE defense.
2-2 CHI at 3-2 WAS (WAS -4.5, O/U 49.5)
Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams are both strong fantasy QBs in a likely shootout. Deebo Samuel is Daniels’ top target, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt is a solid start against a leaky run defense. Rome Odunze has overtaken DJ Moore as Chicago’s top fantasy option. D’Andre Swift is inefficient but will get the opportunities.
Fantasy Faceoff
Andy is now 8 for 8 in the last two weeks in PrizePicks, while Mike spun the wheel of shame for the second straight week. Watch to see the boys’ PrizePicks this week, and don’t forget to join Mike for Sunday Live to get all of your last-minute lineup decisions answered.
Good luck in week 5, FootClan!
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