Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Stars to Play and Bench

The fantasy football landscape has been fairly murky during the 2025 NFL season, and after five weeks, things aren't a whole lot clearer.

While several traditional fantasy stars have shined through, injuries have muddied the overall picture. With a handful of sophomore slumps and a serious lack of off-the-wire stars, lineup decisions have been tough.

Fortunately, even mid-tier starters can come through in the right matchups.

Here, you'll find some start/sit recommendations for Week 6 point-per-reception (PPR) play.

Start: Rico Dowdle, RB, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

With Chuba Hubbard sidelined by a calf injury, Rico Dowdle got a chance to shine for the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. He finished with a whopping 234 scrimmage yards to go with three receptions and a touchdown.

Naturally, Hubbard's status will bear watching entering Week 6, as he's considered "day-to-day."

Dowdle has likely earned a bigger piece of the backfield pie, though, and Hubbard probably won't be at 100 percent if he does suit up this week. Plus, Dowdle will get to face his former team when the Dallas Cowboys visit on Sunday.

Will Dallas provide Dowdle with some extra motivation? Probably. Have the Cowboys struggled to stop the run? Absolutely. Dallas has surrendered six rushing touchdowns, along with the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing RBs this season.

Sit: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kirk Irwin

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown was a legitimate league-winner last season, which he finished with 54 receptions, 1,350 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns.

However, Brown has been hurt by the absence of Joe Burrow and by Zac Taylor's aversion to leaning on the run game. Despite having a backup quarterback behind center, Brown hasn't topped 16 carries since Week 1 and has logged 10 or fewer carries in each of the past three games.

The Bengals may or may not start the newly acquired Joe Flacco over Jake Browning at quarterback this week. Regardless, it's hard to trust that Taylor will suddenly lead with the run.

Starting a low-volume back against a solid defense is a recipe for disappointment. The Packers have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Start: Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy was questionable entering Week 5 because of ankle and shoulder injuries. He ended up playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars but had a somewhat modest game.

Worthy caught six passes and logged a carry but finished with just 51 scrimmage yards.

Barring an injury setback, though, Worthy should be closer to 100 percent against the Detroit Lions on Sunday night. The Chiefs will likely need to lean on their passing game too, as they chase a Detroit Lions team that can score points quickly.

Detroit is averaging 34.8 points per game this season. It has also allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers and recently lost starting corner Terrion Arnold to a shoulder injury. Worthy should have a good chance to top the century mark in scrimmage yards this week.

Sit: Khalil Shakir, WR, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

The Buffalo Bills' receiver room has been a nightmare for fantasy managers. Buffalo's "everyone eats" offense has been good for the team but has made it impossible to predict who will shine in any given week.

Buffalo has three different pass-catchers with two receiving touchdowns apiece. It also has four players with at least 170 receiving yards and three with at least 200 receiving yards. Khalil Shakir leads the team with 29 targets and 22 receptions, but even he has been prone to the down week.

Shakir had a good-not-great six catches for 45 yards last week and just one catch for 12 yards back in Week 2.

This is a tough week to trust Shakier, as the Bills are set to visit the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta has been more vulnerable to the run than the pass this season, which could lead to a lower volume for Shakir. The Falcons have also surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.