Fantasy Football Week 6: Sunday Morning Game-Day Preview

Another Sunday full of NFL action is upon us. This, of course, also means another full day of fantasy football. In this piece, we focus on preparing you for the busy day of gridiron entertainment ahead. 

The Buffalo Bills' LeSean McCoy is set up with inviting matchup metrics against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. Could McCoy lead the slate in fantasy production? We'll know the answer by Sunday night. 

One quick note for how we format this piece each week: The road team is the first team listed in the title. For example, we listed the Philadelphia Eagles first in the slide's title, as they travel to Washington to face the Redskins this week.

Join us in canvassing the league with specific matchup metrics for each game on the Sunday slate. Feel free to share your lineup questions and predictions for the day in the comments below. 

Fantasy Football Week 6: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Redskins

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Game Preview

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Philadelphia Eagles' Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz are looking to become the first rookie coach and quarterback to start 4-1 since the 1970 merger. The Washington Redskins' Kirk Cousins, meanwhile, claims a QBR of 83.8 against the Birds, his highest rate against any opponent in his career. Even with their duo of rookies, the Eagles head into the game as slight road favorites, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

The Redskins' Jordan Reed has been ruled out with a troubling recent concussion, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Fantasy Fixtures

Eagles

Given how fickle the running back position has been this season in fantasy football, we can stomach Ryan Mathews' variant workload because he dominated touches and snaps last week. It also helps to consider the Redskins allow 5.28 yards per carry to backs, the most in the league.

Jordan Matthews has 20.6 percent of the team's targets this season and is a worthy WR3 with some upside against a depleted Redskins secondary missing multiple starting safeties. With tight end proving so shallow, Zach Ertz is a low-end TE1.

Redskins

Matt Jones is a low-end RB2 thanks to earning at least 14 touches in the past four games. DeSean Jackson is a boom-or-bust big-play weapon with some narrative fun against his former squad.

Sleepers and Streamers

Wentz is a solid streaming option, as the depth of the position keeps him from being a surefire starter on the road this week. Darren Sproles earns streaming status in point-per-reception leagues against this fallible Washington front seven.

With Reed ailing, high-percentage target Jamison Crowder is a meaningful flex streamer in PPR leagues. As for Cousins, he's only a true starter in deeper leagues (think at least 12 teams), given the Eagles have the NFC's highest sack rate.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins

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Game Preview

Since getting shut down in Week 3 in Philadelphia, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense has led the NFL with 3.08 points per drive and a gaudy clip of a touchdown on 41.7 percent of drives. The Miami Dolphins, meanwhile, have scored just 0.81 points per drive over this span, the lowest rate in the league. Given these disparate trends, it's easy to understand the Steelers enter South Florida as sizable favorites in a game with a healthy implied point total, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

As ESPN.com's Mike Clay notes, the Steelers' Markus Wheaton has been ruled out, and Sammie Coates is unlikely to play. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports tailback Arian Foster is a game-time decision.

Fantasy Fixtures

Steelers

The triumvirate of fantasy superstars Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell are must-star commodities in all formats. Roethlisberger has produced a touchdown on more than 12 percent of his passes over the past two weeks. Brown leads the NFL in receptions, while Bell has produced more than 150 yards from scrimmage in each start so far. We'd also send out the Pittsburgh defense against an inept Miami offense.

Dolphins

Jarvis Landry is third behind only Brown and the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones in receptions since the start of last season. With such reception volume and the potential for game script to trend pass-heavy for a team that is likely to trail, Landry is a fine WR2 in standard formats and a WR1 in PPR leagues.

Sleepers and Streamers

If Foster plays, he's a worthy RB2, given his ability to build total yardage via the passing game. DeVante Parker is similarly a candidate for garbage-time production for the Fins.

The Steelers' Eli Rogers could thrive with Coates and Wheaton ailing, as he tallied 15 targets over the first two games.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears

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Game Preview

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Jacksonville Jaguars would become just the second team in NFL history to begin six straight seasons at least 1-4 or worse. The Jags at least claim a middle-of-the-pack offense, as they average 1.83 points per drive, 14th in the league.

Chicago, meanwhile, averages just 1.42 points per drive this season, 27th in the league. According to Odds Shark, Jacksonville has a chance to earn its coveted second win, as the Bears are just slight home favorites in a battle of struggling cross-conference teams.

Injury Updates

The Bears' Eddie Royal is unlikely to play after missing practice this week with a lingering calf ailment, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

Fantasy Fixtures

Jaguars

According to an ESPN database, Allen Robinson has been targeted on seven of Blake Bortles' 10 end-zone targets this season. With 25.6 percent of the team's targets, Robinson is a high-ceiling WR1 for this road trip. Julius Thomas is also a viable starting option at tight end based on his valuable red-zone work. Bortles is a borderline QB1 option given his productive touchdown rate, as he's tied for second in the league with 42 passing scores since the start of last season.

Bears

The Bears' Alshon Jeffery has just a 17.4 percent share of the team's targets, but his vertical skill set—he's averaging 17.9 yards per catch—supports a high ceiling against an exploitable pass defense. Zach Miller has emerged as a strong TE1; he's leading the team in red-zone targets since Brian Hoyer took the starting signal-caller gig over in Week 3.

Jordan Howard has enjoyed a massive share of touches for the Bears over the past two games and is an elite total yardage asset and borderline RB1 heading into Week 6.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Jags' T.J. Yeldon is a flex option thanks to taking over the majority share of touches in the backfield in Week 4. Allen Hurns is now a streaming option but has some upside in game with a healthy point total.

The Bears' Cameron Meredith is again a solid streaming option with Royal looking unlikely to play. Hoyer is also poised for another strong streaming showing, as the Jaguars have allowed a generous touchdown rate.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans

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Game Preview

The last time the Cleveland Browns played the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, they orchestrated the biggest comeback on the road in league history. Pulling off such a feat won't come as easy this time, as the Browns are sending rookie Cody Kessler to face the Titans' aggressive zone blitz. After their offense finally showed up in Week 5, the Titans are poised as heavy favorites, according to Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

Josh McCown has been ruled out for the Browns.

Fantasy Fixtures

Browns

Isaiah Crowell is a risk/reward RB2, as he's been prolific on a per-touch basis but faces a Titans front that has ceded the third-fewest fantasy points to backs in ESPN leagues. Wideout Terrelle Pryor has consumed a valuable 26.5 percent target share and the Titans are ranked 28th in pass coverage for the season, thus he's a worthy WR2.

Titans

The Browns have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards to tailbacks this season, which sets up workhorse DeMarco Murray for another stellar showing. Tight end Delanie Walker also has a choice matchup, with the Browns allowing the most yards per game to the position.

Sleepers and Streamers

Marcus Mariota merits interest as a streaming option given the team's position as a healthy home favorite over a susceptible defense. The Titans defense is also a viable streaming option, facing a rookie signal-caller on the road.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots

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Game Preview

The New England Patriots' Tom Brady makes his first home start of the season against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. According to Odds Shark, the Bengals are sizable road dogs, which could lead to some interesting and valuable game script for fantasy purposes.

Injury Updates

ESPN's Field Yates reports the Cincinnati Bengals' Tyler Eifert will sit out another game.

Fantasy Fixtures

Bengals

Superstar wideout A.J. Green is the lone must-start asset on the Bengals, although shares of tailback Gio Bernard in PRR leagues are intriguing given the team's potential to prove pass-heavy if trailing.

Patriots

Brady, Julian Edelman and the tandem of tight ends Martellus Bennett and Rob Gronkowski are all strong starting options. The backfield is a bit more intriguing, as LeGarrette Blount is a worthy RB2 given his valuable goal-line role and receiving back James White is a high-floor flex in PPR formats.

Sleepers and Streamers

Jeremy Hill has a low floor and mostly thrives when afforded a high volume of touches. With some lingering injury concerns, he is a boom-or-bust flex asset.

Fantasy Football Week 6: San Francisco 49ers vs. Buffalo Bills

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Game Preview

The San Francisco 49ers' Colin Kaepernick makes his first start since Week 8 of last season. With the team's heavy usage of the zone-read offense, it's fitting to finally see Kaepernick get a chance to run Chip Kelly's offense. It might not be pretty, however, as the 49ers have punted on 48.5 percent of their drives, the fourth-highest rate in the league.

The Buffalo Bills are leading the league in rushing since installing Anthony Lynn as the offensive coordinator, and their pass rush is now fourth in the league after finishing 31st last season. With the 49ers losing four straight, they enter Orchard Park as sizable underdogs, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

Neither team has fantasy-relevant injury news of note this week.

Fantasy Fixtures

49ers

With a strong share of the early-down work and a valuable goal-line role, Carlos Hyde is the lone relevant starting option on this lackluster San Francisco offense.

Bills

LeSean McCoy is in an ideal spot to produce massive numbers, as the 49ers allow the most yards per game to tailbacks. Shady can exact some revenge on his former coach. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is a borderline QB1 asset thanks to the 49ers' generous defense and his valuable rushing floor. The Bills' surging pass rush is a fine fantasy option against Kaepernick and the San Francisco offense.

Sleepers and Streamers

Wideout Robert Woods hasn't been consistent of late, but his target share is steady, and the matchup is nice enough to earn him flex interest in PPR formats. The same goes for Jeremy Kerley, as he's been a steady target for the 49ers and could earn a batch of looks with the team positioned as a road dog.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Giants

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Game Preview

The Baltimore Ravens play in close games at an unusually high rate; they've played in games decided by eight or fewer points in 19 of the past 21 outings. It makes sense then that the New York Giants at home are favored by just over a field goal, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

Mike Wallace is expected to play despite being listed as questionable, per the Ravens' Twitter feed. Things look doubtful for Steve Smith Sr., however, as his ankle injury lingers.

Bob Glauber of Newsday reports Rashad Jennings is due to return after an extended absence.

Fantasy Fixtures

Ravens

We can't say the Ravens boast even one true must-start option, but tailback Terrance West merits interest as a high-end flex given his surge in efficiency last week and potential for increased work under a new offensive coordinator.

Giants

As the rare superstar fantasy asset on the roster, Odell Beckham Jr. could earn valuable snaps facing an exploitable Baltimore secondary, particularly Shareece Wright.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Ravens' Wallace is an intriguing deep threat in deeper formats with Smith ailing. The Giants' Jennings could earn a nice workload for a rushing offense in need of a talent infusion.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Los Angles Rams vs. Detroit Lions

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Game Preview

To put the Los Angeles Rams' offensive struggles in context, Case Keenum is ranked last in the NFL in QBR this season, while tailback Todd Gurley has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry in the past 13 games. The Rams are tied with the Houston Texans for the fewest points scored per game. The Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford has tallied a QBR of 78.8 in the team's two wins and a rating of just 57 in three losses.

Injury Updates

Tailback Theo Riddick has been ruled out, per ESPN's Michael Rothstein.

Fantasy Fixtures

Rams

Despite the enduring struggles of the offense, Gurley is a high-ceiling RB1 against a Lions front that has ceded the second-most yards per carry to backs this season.

Lions

With top cover corner Trumaine Johnson sidelined, Detroit's Marvin Jones has elite upside in this matchup. This also extends to Stafford, who is well-positioned against a thin Rams secondary. The Lions are a top D/ST option, given the sweet matchup and the return of Ziggy Ansah to the fold.

Sleepers and Streamers

It's well past the point for Golden Tate to earn trust as a must-start asset, but he's a fine streaming option in deeper PPR leagues. Detroit's Justin Forsett is also intriguing as a streamer with Riddick sidelined.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints

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Game Preview

Turnovers helped drive the Carolina Panthers' Super Bowl run last season, as they led the league with 39 takeaways and a plus-20 turnover margin. Turnovers are again proving pivotal for the Panthers this year, but in the negative sense, as only the New York Jets have a worse differential on the season.

The New Orleans Saints haven't started 0-3 at home since 1995. The Panthers offense will likely need to show up in the Superdome in order to net the road win, as the Saints average 2.53 points per drive this season, fourth-most in the league.

Injury Updates

According to the team's Twitter feed, the Panthers' Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart and Kelvin Benjamin are listed as questionable, but both are expected to play after practicing throughout the week.

The Saints' Willie Snead is reportedly at full strength after dealing with a lingering toe ailment, per Christopher Dabe of the Times-Picayune.

Fantasy Fixtures

Panthers

Newton is an obvious must-start, as he tallied five touchdowns in the Superdome last season and New Orleans has allowed the most points per drive in the league. Benjamin has become a risky touchdown-or-bust asset given the variance of the past three games, while Greg Olsen is the most bankable tight end in the league at this stage.

Saints

Drew Brees is a completely different fantasy asset at home versus the road, as he's averaged a whopping 25.6 fantasy points in the Superdome since the start of last season compared to 13.7 on the road over this stretch.

Starting shares of Brandin Cooks and Snead are intriguing against a young and depleted Carolina secondary. Feature back Mark Ingram has 43 touches over the past two games, helping support an increasingly high floor for production for this RB2 asset.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Saints' Michael Thomas has scored in consecutive games, but with Snead returning to form, Thomas is merely a risk/reward commodity. The same goes for tight end Coby Fleener, who has one big game surrounded by weak outings. Fleener is a streaming asset despite the offseason hype.

The Panthers' Stewart is also a bit of risky start, but he is a strong sleeper based on the Saints' soft rush defense.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders

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Game Preview

The Kansas City Chiefs offense has struggled this season with just 1.47 points per drive, 26th in the league. Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders offense ranks eighth in the league with 2.33 points per drive. The pressure will be on the Chiefs to keep pace with the Raiders' exciting offensive arsenal.

Luckily for the Chiefs, the Raiders have allowed the seventh-most points per drive (2.32) and the second-most yards per attempt (8.85) in the league. In a pivotal division battle, the Raiders are poised as home dogs given their susceptible defense, according to Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

Oakland's Latavius Murray has been ruled for a second straight game, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The team's top tight end, Clive Walford, returned to practice and is trending toward playing, according to ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez.

Fantasy Fixtures

Chiefs

Jeremy Maclin has consumed nearly 23 percent of the Chiefs' passing targets and is due for a positive correction in fantasy points. Facing a Raiders defense that allows the most fantasy points to receivers in ESPN leagues is a prime setup for this to occur. Travis Kelce remains a trusted must-start option, especially as the Raiders have ceded 76.4 yards per game to tight ends, third-most in the league.

Adam Teicher of ESPN.com warns of a defeating share for touches in the Chiefs backfield. At this point, we favor Jamaal Charles and his elite efficiency over Spencer Ware, with both existing in a unique boom-or-bust situation as flex assets.

Raiders

Derek Carr is approaching trusted QB1 status, as he has tallied at least 21 fantasy points in four of five games this season in standard ESPN formats. Even as the Chiefs have a talented secondary, we dig both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree as top options; Kansas City has proved to be exploitable this season in surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers in ESPN leagues.

Sleepers and Streamers

The Raiders' DeAndre Washington earned more snaps than Jalen Richard last week and has proved to be elusive this season, so he's the back of choice heading into Week 6. Both rookies are low-floor flex options with legitimate upside.

For the Chiefs, Alex Smith is a solid streaming option in what could be a division shootout. There could be the potential for high winds in this game, so keep an eye on this factor.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers

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Game Preview

The Dallas Cowboys last beat the Green Bay Packers in Aaron Rodgers' third career start back in 2008. This game matches the league's top rushing offense (Dallas leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns) with a Packers defensive front that has allowed just 1.99 yards per rush, fewest in the league. The Packers are listed as home favorites in what should be a revealing battle of conference contenders.

Injury Updates

Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News reports Dez Bryant has been limited throughout the week with a lingering knee ailment. George doesn't expect the team to "push it" with regard to its superstar. Bryant can be considered a game-time decision, so prepare accordingly.

Packers tailback Eddie Lacy is listed as questionable but made a positive turn in practice at week's end and is likely to play, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. With James Starks ruled out, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Lacy could feast on touches and snaps.

Fantasy Fixtures

Cowboys

Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott is a must-start asset. The Ohio State product leads the league in yardage and has at least 18 touches in every game this season. Even with the Packers' stingy rush defense, Elliott's heavy workload drives a stable production floor. It's a tad riskier to trust fellow rookie Dak Prescott, as the Packers have the second-highest pressure rate on opposing passers this season. Prescott is a streaming option versus a true QB1 for this trip to Lambeau Field.

Packers

Lacy is a fine starting option against a Dallas defense that ranks 28th against the run on Pro Football Focus. Rodgers earned one of the stronger projections at the position on ESPN this week and is once again an obvious starting asset.

With a touchdown in each game, Jordy Nelson has been a red-zone maven so far this season. Randall Cobb remains a solid WR3 with increased upside given the potential for a larger rushing role in what is a thin depth chart at tailback.

Sleepers and Streamers

Davante Adams has scored a touchdown in three of four games, which gives him flex appeal in fantasy leagues. With Bryant looking unlikely to go and given his rapport with Prescott, the Cowboys' Cole Beasley is a fine flex option in PPR formats.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks

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Game Preview

This marquee matchup offers a classic strength-on-strength battle. The Atlanta Falcons are looking to become the first team to win three times in Seattle since Pete Carroll took over as the head coach in 2010. The Falcons lead the league with 2.93 points per drive and in touchdowns per drive (they have entered the end zone on 32.7 percent of drives).

The Seattle Seahawks have allowed just 1.20 points per drive, third-fewest in the NFL. They have surrendered a touchdown on just 11.1 percent of drives—fewest in the league. Fresh from their bye week, the Seahawks are positioned as nearly touchdown favorites, per Odds Shark.

Injury Updates

Atlanta's superstar Julio Jones told reporters he's feeling some general soreness in his knee, but he is good to go for this pivotal NFC showdown. For Seattle, tailback Thomas Rawls remains sidelined with a leg ailment.

Fantasy Fixtures

Falcons

It's difficult to sit Matt Ryan, as he leads the NFL in QBR and is second in touchdowns per game. Seattle, however, is allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in ESPN leagues. We understand if you ride Ryan's hot hand, but consider him to be in the streaming tier at the position given the adverse matchup metrics.

Jones is even more difficult to fade given his proven pedigree as a fantasy superstar. We can't sit him, but expectations are merely tempered with Richard Sherman and the Seattle secondary's stingy allowance rates. As for the team's tandem of productive backs (Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman), they are in a similar spot to Jones with tempered expectations but have enough of a production pattern to trust as RB2 assets.

Seahawks

Russell Wilson was quiet as a fantasy asset through the first three weeks, but a big Week 4 offers hope for the beginning of a positive trend. The Falcons have allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in ESPN leagues, which makes Wilson a fine QB1 candidate at home.

As for Wilson's top targets, the resurgent Jimmy Graham merits TE1 consideration, with Atlanta allowing the sixth-most yards per game to the position. Wideout Doug Baldwin claims a 23 percent share of Wilson's attempts so far, buoying high-floor WR2 value.

Atlanta has also been generous to opposing tailbacks, allowing 4.24 yards per rush, 12th-highest in the league. This helps Christine Michael's bid as a borderline RB1 option.

Sleepers and Streamers

Second-year speedster Tyler Lockett was among the most productive vertical threats in the league as a rookie, so he's a low-floor, high-ceiling flex in deeper leagues.

Fantasy Football Week 6: Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

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Game Preview

Protecting Andrew Luck Sunday night could prove paramount for the Indianapolis Colts, as the star signal-caller has been sacked a league-high 20 times. He has been sacked at least five times in each road game this season, but it helps that the Houston Texans rank just 25th in pressure rate over the past two weeks—creating a rush, hurry or hit on just 20.3 percent of opposing dropbacks. Through the first three weeks of the season, Houston ranked fifth in the NFL with a pressure rate of 30.3 percent.

Even in the face of such a leaky line, the Colts average 2.49 points per drive, fifth-most in the league. With a sizable implied point total for this game hovering around 48 points, per Odds Shark, Houston's offense will be tasked with reviving a Texans offense that is ranked last in the league with just 1.25 points per drive. Conversely, the Colts rank 28th in the league, allowing 2.38 points per drive on defense.

Injury Updates

The Colts' star wideout T.Y. Hilton is listed as questionable with a hip ailment. Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star advises we can ignore any questions about Hilton's availability, as he'll certainly play.

For the Texans, we find a similar situation with speedy rookie receiver Will Fuller certain to play despite being listed as questionable with a hamstring ailment. Fuller practiced in limited fashion throughout the week.

Fantasy Fixtures

Colts

On pace for just over 4,700 yards in the air and with helpful rushing upside, Luck remains a high-floor QB1 in this pass-happy Indy scheme. Hilton is also a must-start asset, as his dominant 27.6 percent market share of the team's targets supports a productive fantasy pattern. The Texans have ceded the 12th-most yards to running backs this season, helping support steady RB2 value for Frank Gore.

Texans

Lamar Miller is due for a positive correction in the scoring department, as he's on pace for well over 350 touches and 1,400 yards from scrimmage despite not scoring yet this season. The Colts have allowed the third-most fantasy points to backs this season in ESPN leagues, so the recipe for a breakout is present.

DeAndre Hopkins has scored in three of five games, but investors are still missing the awesome high-floor target rate from last year. That said, he remains a solid WR1 option as the top target on a home favorite against a soft defense. Some dangerous variance has entered Fuller's production pattern, so he's a boom-or-bust WR3 in the DeSean Jackson mold.

Sleepers and Streamers

Deploying Phillip Dorsett or Dwayne Allen isn't ideal in 10-team formats, but we can appreciate some deep-league appeal, given the Colts' volume-driven passing game.

Data such as pressure rate, target share and rushing allowance sourced from an ESPN database.