There were four undefeated teams heading into Week 6: Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Tennessee were all looking to defend their pristine records.
Three of them did just so—while setting league records, to boot.
Derrick Henry became just the second player in NFL history with multiple games with at least 200 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns against a single opponent when he led the Titans to a thrilling overtime win. Chase Claypool’s sixth touchdown made him the first wide receiver since the 1970 merger to reach the milestone in five games.
With Green Bay’s blowout loss and the Steelers and Titans going head-to-head in Week 7, just how many teams will be left standing?
BYE: Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings
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QB: Matthew Stafford // DET
Stafford is a must-start in nearly every single lineup this week. Yes, he might not dazzle anyone with his 17-fantasy point average, but he’s poised to have a breakout week coming off a BYE and straight into a dream matchup against the Falcons. Atlanta has conceded an average of 33 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks—including Kirk Cousins and his three picks.
RB: Justin Jackson // LAC
The Chargers’ backfield has a monstrous duo in Jackson and Joshua Kelley. However, the stats prove that Jackson has the upper hand over Kelley in snaps and touches, which gives him a slight edge over his teammate in fantasy. Jackson will put the rest from BYE to good use against a Jacksonville defense that has allowed running backs to average 24 fantasy points.
Honorable Mentions: Devin Singletary (BUF), D’Andre Swift (DET), Ronald Jones (TB)
WR: Terry McLaurin // WAS
It’s concerning how thin the Football Team is at receiver—with rookie Antonio-Gandy Golden now out, Washington is down to only four WRs on their active roster. This should boost McLaurin’s value as the leader of the pack heading into a game against the horrid Cowboys defense and their apparent tendency to hand out fantasy points like Halloween candy.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Boyd (CIN), Christian Kirk (ARI), Tee Higgins (CIN)
TE: Austin Hooper // CLE
Hooper got off to a slow start this season but has since proven himself a worthy fantasy starter. In the past three games, Hooper has logged 134 yards and a touchdown on 23 targets for over ten fantasy points per game. It’s encouraging to know that he’ll be playing the Bengals, who just gave up 87 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 24 fantasy points to Jack Doyle and Trey Burton.
D/ST: Buffalo Bills
Any defense playing against the Jets makes them a no-brainer start. Gang Green has allowed opposing defenses to mutilate them to the tune of a 15-point average, including a 30-point game in Week 3 against the Colts in which Sam Darnold was picked off three times. We don’t have to write much more for you to get the gist, right?
K: Randy Bullock // CIN
Joe Burrow has been throwing dimes this year, which opens up plenty of scoring opportunities for his teammates. One of the beneficiaries is Randy Bullock and his consistent stream of double-digit games. Cincinnati hosts the Browns this week—the last time Bullock played against them, he had an impressive 12-point outing.
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QB: Drew Brees // NO
This future Hall of Famer is struggling to find his footing this season, and it shows. Brees has only averaged 17.8 fantasy points and a QB rating of 77.12 in six weeks without his favorite target, Michael Thomas. It doesn’t look like he’ll be scoring many more playing a Carolina defense that has only allowed one quarterback to log over 20 points against them.
RB: Damien Harris // NE
Harris’ value experienced a sudden uptick with teammate James White out of the lineup earlier in the season. Now that White is back, Harris is struggling to compete with him and Rex Burkhead for snaps, which was evident in his measly 19-yard game last week for 4.3 fantasy points. You’ll be better off starting White or Burkhead instead this week.
(Not-So) Honorable Mentions: Le’Veon Bell (KC), Phillip Lindsay (DEN), Jerick McKinnon (SF)
WR: Tyler Lockett // SEA
Just like Harris, Lockett is part of a talented receiving corps that also features DK Metcalf. While the two are undoubtedly a dynamic duo, only one of them can have a bigger share of targets—and that person is not Lockett. It certainly doesn’t help that their upcoming opponents in the 49ers are among the stingiest fantasy defenses against wide receivers.
(Not-So) Honorable Mentions: Henry Ruggs III (LV), Jerry Jeudy (DEN), Michael Gallup (DAL)
TE: Eric Ebron // PIT
The Steelers’ tight ends have been a bit of an afterthought. Ebron had a breakout week earlier this season against the Texans with Diontae Johnson concussed and the rest of the receiving corps closely guarded, but that surely won’t be the case this week. The Titans have kept tight ends including Noah Fant, Tyler Eifert, and Kyle Rudolph to an average of 10 points.
D/ST: Denver Broncos
Vic Fangio may be “thoroughly impressed” with his team’s performance but reality will come crashing back next game. Kansas City has Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and now Le’Veon Bell is playing for their offense. This Madden-like lineup has yet to allow a double-digit game to defenses this season and the Broncos won’t be the first.
K: Ka’imi Fairbairn // HOU
Fairbairn had a solid 2019 season with the Texans, but he’s since become a fantasy benchwarmer at best with an average of 8 points per game. He won’t fare any better against the Packers with their top-ten defense. Green Bay has only allowed kickers to convert six field goals this season and have held three of five opposing kickers to under four fantasy points.
Waiver Claims
QB: Carson Wentz // PHI
Wentz, much like the rest of the NFC East, was a stat-line disaster to begin the season. Losing his starting offensive line and favorite targets in Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz won’t help, but it’s important to note that Wentz still scored over 20 fantasy points in each of his past four games with a ragtag offense, making him a good streamer candidate against the Giants.
RB: J.D. McKissic // WAS
Washington’s backfield is one of the rare highlights in their otherwise underwhelming offense, as both McKissic and Antonio Gibson have produced quality stat lines. McKissic has an advantage due to newfound reception targets on top of his carries. He’ll face a Cowboys defense that has allowed the most rushing touchdowns and the second-most rushing yards.
Honorable Mentions: Boston Scott (PHI), Giovani Bernard (CIN), La’Mical Perine (NYJ)
WR: Tim Patrick // DEN
Patrick has found his tempo while filling in as the Broncos’ WR1 while Courtland Sutton is out with an ACL tear. He’s logged 257 receiving yards for two touchdowns on 19 targets in the three weeks since Sutton’s injury.
With this stat line in mind, Patrick is a good streamer option or even a low-end FLEX in deeper leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Cole Beasley (BUF), Keelan Cole (JAX), Preston Williams (MIA)
TE: Dallas Goedert // PHI
Another Eagle appears on the waiver wire priority list, why? You’ve guessed it: injuries. Zach Ertz will be out for the next 3 to 4 weeks due to an ankle issue and could be a candidate for IR within that time frame. Don’t be concerned that he’ll suffer a drop in performance after coming back from a broken thumb—Goedert has a high snap count waiting for him.
D/ST: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals defense has come up clutch with at least one interception in each of their past five games and an average of 10 fantasy points per game. They play a bent-out-of-shape Baker Mayfield this week, who has been picked off six times this season including two this past week by Pittsburgh alone.
K: Michael Badgley // LAC
Badgley missed a heartbreaking 50-yard attempt that could’ve saved the Chargers from ultimately losing to the Saints in overtime. Though, it wasn’t Badgley’s fault that his offense blew a 17-point lead. There’s much to look forward to in this upcoming matchup against the Jaguars, who have allowed double-digit games to opposing kickers in three straight games now.
Featured Image: Wade Payne/AP Sports
