Fantasy Football Week 6: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
With Patrick Mahomes under center, the Kansas City Chiefs are a good team to target for fantasy football sleepers when they have key players on the sideline. They're on a bye week, and so are the Minnesota Vikings with their sixth-ranked scoring offense.
As those teams take a week off, managers must look elsewhere for waiver-wire gems and players who can replace key fantasy contributors such as Mahomes, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones.
In Week 6, we will target the early Sunday game in London and an intriguing matchup involving a rookie quarterback who is set to make his first career start.
Don't worry. The risk is worth the reward with all the players listed below.
As usual, all selections are available in more than 50 percent of leagues based on FantasyPros' consensus roster percentages.
QB Daniel Jones vs. Cincinnati Bengals (15 Percent Rostered)
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Daniel Jones is in a bit of a groove as of late. He's finished within the top 11 among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring in three of the last four weeks.
In Week 5, he finished 11th in fantasy points without his rising star wideout Malik Nabers (concussion protocol). He threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns with Darius Slayton, rookie tight end Theo Johnson and third-string running back Eric Gray as his top pass-catchers.
Head coach and offensive play-caller Brian Daboll has helped Jones make strides, and that may continue against the Cincinnati Bengals' 19th-ranked pass defense, which is tied for second in touchdowns allowed (10).
If Nabers returns to action, Jones could have another top-11 (or better) fantasy scoring outing among quarterbacks for the fourth time in a month.
RB Antonio Gibson vs. Houston Texans (35 Percent Rostered)
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Last week, the New England Patriots benched Rhamondre Stevenson for Antonio Gibson, though the former outgained the latter from scrimmage (92-56) and scored the team's only touchdown of the contest.
Still, the Patriots have become wary of Stevenson's ball-security issues, so Gibson's increased workload may grow in the coming weeks.
Moreover, the Patriots plan to start rookie Drake Maye over nine-year veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett this week.
With Maye behind a shaky offensive line and throwing to a mediocre wide receiver corps, he may dump off a lot of passes to the running backs. As a hybrid tailback-receiver and former collegiate wideout, Gibson could see more than a handful of targets on Sunday.
Also, the Houston Texans have a couple of young high-end cornerbacks in Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Both allow passer ratings lower than 64 and have surrendered just one touchdown combined.
Consequently, Maye will probably rely on short passes to move the ball through the air.
Lastly, the Patriots could feed Gibson and Stevenson on the ground, going against a Texans defense that allows 4.8 yards per carry, which ranks 25th leaguewide.
RB Roschon Johnson vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (16 Percent Rostered)
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Even though D'Andre Swift racked up 120-plus scrimmage yards for the Chicago Bears in Weeks 4 and 5, Roschon Johnson has carved out a decent role in the red zone.
Over the last two weeks, the 2023 fourth-round pick scored three touchdowns from within one yard of the goal line.
As the short-yardage ball-carrier within striking distance of a score, Johnson should be rostered in more leagues, especially this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed six rushing touchdowns in five games.
The Texas product has handled at least 10 touches in two of the last three weeks, so he's getting enough volume to make a consistent impact in the Bears offense.
If rookie quarterback Caleb Williams finds Johnson on more short passes as he did in Week 3 (four receptions for 32 yards), he could easily be a top-20 fantasy running back.
If you plan to start Johnson, make sure he's in your lineups before the Bears-Jaguars' 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff in London.
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RB Dare Ogunbowale at New England Patriots (2 Percent Rostered)
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Let's circle back to the matchup between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots for another running back sleeper.
The Texans list Dare Ogunbowale as their third-string running back on the depth chart, but he may have a solid role as a ball-carrier and pass-catcher this week.
Running backs Joe Mixon (ankle) and Dameon Pierce (hamstring) have missed the last few games because of injuries. On Wednesday, the former didn't practice, and the latter logged a limited session.
Even if one or both tailbacks return to action in Week 6, Ogunbowale may contribute in the short passing game with wideout Nico Collins (hamstring) on injured reserve.
Over the previous two weeks, Ogunbowale hauled 10 out of 11 targets for 104 yards and a touchdown. He's an underrated cog in the Texans' No. 1-ranked passing offense.
WR Jalen Tolbert vs. Detroit Lions (13 Percent Rostered)
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Last week, Jalen Tolbert had a performance that may precede a full breakout in his third season with the Dallas Cowboys.
Last week, the 2022 third-round pick caught a four-yard pass for a touchdown with 20 seconds left in regulation, giving the Cowboys the go-ahead score against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This shows that quarterback Dak Prescott trusts him in big moments.
Against the Steelers, Tolbert registered career highs in catches (seven) and receiving yards (87). He didn't see double-digit targets in a game until that performance.
The South Alabama product can put a stronghold on the Cowboys' No. 2 wide receiver position while Brandin Cooks (knee infection) is on injured reserve for at least three more contests.
Tolbert could keep his momentum going against the Detroit Lions, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers and ranked 27th in pass defense.
WR Ray-Ray McCloud at Carolina Panthers (8 Percent Rostered)
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In Week 5, the Atlanta Falcons passing attack clicked on all cylinders, with quarterback Kirk Cousins throwing for 509 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in an overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 36-year-old could rack up another 300-plus yards against the Carolina Panthers' 22nd-ranked pass defense, which bodes well for his wide receiver corps.
Before Cousins posted eye-popping numbers against the Buccaneers, he established a solid rapport with Ray-Ray McCloud.
The 27-year-old has replaced Rondale Moore in the slot receiver position, and he's making the most out of his opportunities. He has 52 or more receiving yards in three out of five contests.
Entering Week 6, McCloud is third on the Falcons in targets (31), catches (21) and receiving yards (229). He could extend his streak of six-plus receptions to three games in a favorable matchup with the Panthers' pass defense.
WR Rashod Bateman vs. Washington Commanders (7 Percent Rostered)
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The Baltimore Ravens operate in a way that's similar to former offensive coordinator Greg Roman's years with the team. They have a dominant ground attack, though their top receivers have WR2/WR3 fantasy value in play-caller Todd Monken's system.
Last week, Rashod Bateman had his best outing of the season, catching four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. While some may say that's a fluky performance because Lamar Jackson threw the ball 42 times in a high-scoring contest, the fourth-year wideout is playing a career-high 71 percent of Baltimore's offensive snaps.
On the field for nearly three-quarters of the Ravens' offensive snaps, Bateman will have a chance to rack up yards and reach paydirt in a matchup with the Washington Commanders, who are giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. They are also tied with the Carolina Panthers for most passing touchdowns allowed (11).
However, managers should monitor the Ravens' injury report. Bateman missed Wednesday's practice because of a groin injury.
TE Chigoziem Okonkwo vs. Indianapolis Colts (8 Percent Rostered)
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Coming off their bye week, the Tennesee Titans have some uncertainty at quarterback as Will Levis battles a shoulder injury.
Even if backup signal-caller Mason Rudolph makes the start against the Indianapolis Colts, managers should take a look at Chigoziem Okonkwo.
The 2022 fourth-round pick had an underwhelming stretch through September, recording eight receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. But he could have his best outing of the season against the Colts, who struggle mightily to cover tight ends.
Indianapolis allows the third-most fantasy points to tight ends, and it has surrendered a touchdown to a player at the position in its previous three games.
Under defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, the Colts employ a heavy zone scheme, which is susceptible to athletic tight ends like Okonkwo, who can find coverage holes on short to intermediate routes and the seam areas of the defense.
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Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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