Fantasy Football Week 6: Flex and PPR Rankings

After a wild end to the week featuring Seattle vs. Washington on Monday Night Football, fantasy football owners have already shifted their focus to the Week 6 rankings for the flex position and in points-per-reception leagues.

With top stars like Drew Brees and Jamaal Charles on bye this week and fantasy juggernauts like Calvin Johnson and Rashad Jennings injured, owners must begin utilizing backup plans in order to steal a win this week.

Here are the overall flex and PPR rankings to get you through Week 6.

Flex Rankings

Rank	Player	Week 6 Opponent
1	DeMarco Murray, Dal, RB	Seattle
2	Demaryius Thomas, Den, WR	New York Jets
3	Matt Forte, Chi, RB	Atlanta
4	LeSean McCoy, Phi, RB	New York Giants
5	Julio Jones, Atl, WR	Chicago
6	Dez Bryant, Dal, WR	Seattle
7	Antonio Brown, Pit, WR	Cleveland
8	Marshawn Lynch, Sea, RB	Dallas
9	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE	Buffalo
10	A.J. Green, Cin, WR	Carolina
11	Julius Thomas, Den, TE	New York Jets
12	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR	Miami
13	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB	Miami
14	Le'Veon Bell, Pit, RB	Cleveland
15	Arian Foster, Hou, RB	Indianapolis
16	Keenan Allen, SD, WR	Oakland
17	Reggie Wayne, Ind, WR	Houston
18	Alfred Morris, Wsh, RB	Arizona
19	Brandon Marshall, Chi, WR	Atlanta
20	Steve Smith, Bal, WR	Tampa Bay
21	Giovani Bernard, Cin, RB	Carolina
22	Zac Stacy, StL, RB	San Francisco
23	Andre Johnson, Hou, WR	Indianapolis
24	Percy Harvin, Sea, WR	Dallas
25	Doug Martin, TB, RB	Baltimore
26	Andre Ellington, Ari, RB	Washington
27	Victor Cruz, NYG, WR	Philadelphia
28	Jeremy Maclin, Phi, WR	New York Giants
29	Kelvin Benjamin, Car, WR	Cincinnati
30	C.J. Spiller, Buf, RB	New England
31	Roddy White, Atl, WR	Chicago
32	Randall Cobb, GB, WR	Miami
33	Alshon Jeffery, Chi, WR	Atlanta
34	Frank Gore, SF, RB	St. Louis
35	Julian Edelman, NE, WR	Buffalo
36	Emmanuel Sanders, Den, WR	New York Jets
37	Sammy Watkins, Buf, WR	New England
38	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR	Baltimore
39	Ronnie Hillman, Den, RB	New York Jets
40	Andre Williams, NYG, RB	Philadelphia
41	DeSean Jackson, Wsh, WR	Arizona
42	Pierre Garcon, Wsh, WR	Arizona
43	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari, WR	Washington
44	Cordarrelle Patterson, Min, WR	Detroit
45	Michael Floyd, Ari, WR	Washington
46	Golden Tate, Det, WR	Minnesota
47	Donald Brown, SD, RB	Oakland
48	T.Y. Hilton, Ind, WR	Houston
49	Brian Quick, StL, WR	San Francisco
50	Mike Wallace, Mia, WR	Green Bay

One of the most impressive players in the NFL this season has been Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray. He has started the season with five-straight 100-yard performances and has totaled five touchdowns.

With an offensive line that is second to none right now and the necessary workload to be a fantasy superstar, Murray is the top player in this week’s flex rankings despite going up against the stout Seattle Seahawks defense. Washington’s rushing attack was shut down by Seattle on Monday, but Murray will have better opportunities behind his offensive line.

Fantasy owners should expect 20 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown. Add in four receptions for another 40 yards, and Murray is still the top dog regardless of which defense he is squaring off against.

Another player worth starting this week is New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz as he takes on the lackluster secondary of the Philadelphia Eagles. Cruz may be coming off a three-reception game, but he amassed back-to-back 100-yard performances in the two previous matchups.

Against a Philadelphia defense allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game (274.2 yards), Cruz should be expected to rack up seven receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown.

One fantasy player who should be plugged in at the flex position is Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate. With Calvin Johnson possibly sitting this week, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com, Tate owners should expect a hefty workload against a beatable Buffalo secondary.

Tate catching six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown is not out of the realm of possibility.

PPR Rankings

Rank	Player	Week 6 Opponent
1	Demaryius Thomas, Den, WR	New York Jets
2	DeMarco Murray, Dal, RB	Seattle
3	Antonio Brown, Pit, WR	Cleveland
4	Dez Bryant, Dal, WR	Seattle
5	Matt Forte, Chi, RB	Atlanta
6	LeSean McCoy, Phi, RB	New York Giants
7	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR	Miami
8	Le'Veon Bell, Pit, RB	Cleveland
9	Julio Jones, Atl, WR	Chicago
10	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE	Buffalo
11	A.J. Green, Cin, WR	Carolina
12	Percy Harvin, Sea, WR	Dallas
13	Julius Thomas, Den, TE	New York Jets
14	Marshawn Lynch, Sea, RB	Dallas
15	Brandon Marshall, Chi, WR	Atlanta
16	Reggie Wayne, Ind, WR	Houston
17	Keenan Allen, SD, WR	Oakland
18	Kelvin Benjamin, Car, WR	Cincinnati
19	Steve Smith, Bal, WR	Tampa Bay
20	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB	Miami
21	Victor Cruz, NYG, WR	Philadelphia
22	Andre Ellington, Ari, RB	Washington
23	Arian Foster, Hou, RB	Indianapolis
24	Giovani Bernard, Cin, RB	Carolina
25	Doug Martin, TB, RB	Baltimore
26	Andre Johnson, Hou, WR	Indianapolis
27	Jeremy Maclin, Phi, WR	New York Giants
28	Alshon Jeffery, Chi, WR	Atlanta
29	C.J. Spiller, Buf, RB	New England
30	Greg Olsen, Car, TE	Cincinnati
31	DeSean Jackson, Was, WR	Arizona
32	Randall Cobb, GB, WR	Miami
33	Larry Fitzgerald, Ari, WR	Washington
34	Martellus Bennett, Chi, TE	Atlanta
35	Emmanuel Sanders, Den, WR	New York Jets
36	Michael Floyd, Ari, WR	Washington
37	Pierre Garcon, Wsh, WR	Arizona
38	Cordarrelle Patterson, Min, WR	Detroit
39	Roddy White, Atl, WR	Chicago
40	Shane Vereen, NE, RB	Buffalo
41	Julian Edelman, NE, WR	Buffalo
42	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR	Baltimore
43	Alfred Morris, Wsh, RB	Arizona
44	Sammy Watkins, Buf, WR	New England
45	Frank Gore, SF, RB	St. Louis
46	Mike Wallace, Mia, WR	Green Bay
47	Golden Tate, Det, WR	Minnesota
48	Andre Williams, NYG, RB	Philadelphia
49	Branden Oliver, SD, RB	Oakland
50	T.Y. Hilton, Ind, WR	Houston

Fantasy owners in PPR leagues understand the importance of receptions, but most think of wide receivers. Despite the misconception, one of the most dangerous fantasy stars in PPR leagues is Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte.

While Forte’s 61 yards rushing on 17 carries was not overly impressive, his 12 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown put him in another PPR stratosphere. The running back now has 36 receptions for 299 yards on the season, as compared to his 319 yards on the ground.

As a key part of Chicago’s offensive unit, fantasy owners should expect a huge day against the lackluster Atlanta Falcons. Forte racking up 150 all-purpose yards and a touchdown is a very realistic expectation Sunday.

One player who continues to climb the PPR rankings is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. After amassing five receptions on 11 targets for 76 yards and a touchdown Sunday, Maclin has the workload and offense around him to be a viable fantasy starter each week.

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Against a beatable New York Giants secondary, Maclin should be able to catch seven passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

Another player who will have a big game this week is Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The veteran caught five passes for 157 yards and a touchdown against a very tough Seattle secondary. With another tough matchup against Arizona, owners should still expect at least five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.

*Stats via NFL.com.

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