With the bye weeks upon us and injuries continuing to mount, finding sleepers is more important than ever. Heading into Week 6, there are a few obvious breakout candidates plucked straight from the waiver wire (Kenneth Walker III, Eno Benjamin, Jimmy Garoppolo), but our full list of potential matchup-based contributors can help with deeper start ’em, sit ’em conundrums.
As we do every week, we remind you that any of the sleeper picks below could wind up being busts this week. We like to take chances with this list because listing obvious “must-starts” doesn’t help anyone. You shouldn’t start the players below over consistent, proven producers. However, even if your lineup is loaded in season-long leagues, our sleeper picks can help you find potential daily fantasy values, as the prices of these players should be affordable.
We had some nice hits last week with Travis Etienne Jr., Hayden Hurst, George Pickens, and the Patriots’ D/ST, but overall, we were let down by a few players despite good matchups. We’ll do better this time around or your money back.
WEEK 6 FANTASY PICKS: Start ’em, sit ’em
Let’s get to it with our Week 6 sleeper picks.
Week 6 Fantasy Sleepers: Running backs
Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs Cardinals (Iyer). Walker takes over this backfield as expected with Rashaad Penny succumbing to a leg injury. He can start his march as a league-winner this week.
Eno Benjamin, Cardinals at Seahawks (Sloan Piva). Benjamin capitalized on his opportunity after James Conner (ribs) and Darrel Williams (knee) left Arizona’s Week 5 loss to the Eagles. The third-year back could be primed for a breakout week if he gets the start against the Seahawks, who have allowed RBs to net 130.8 rushing yards and fourth-most fantasy points to RBs. Even if Conner is active, Benjamin can do enough to be a flex.
Mike Boone, Broncos @ Chargers (Matt Lutovsky). Melvin Gordon is clearly the Broncos’ lead back in the post-Javonte Williams’ era, but Boone played 41 percent of snaps and handled 10 touches (85 total yards) last Thursday. He looked more explosive and elusive than Gordon, and we know that Boone is just a Gordon fumble away from handling the majority of the RB touches. The Chargers allow the third-most fantasy points to RBs, so even if Boone just sees another 10 touches, he can have flex value. The upside is there for more, though.
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Quarterbacks
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers at Falcons (Iyer). This matchup feels great for Jimmy G to put up some solid back-end QB1 numbers even without passing a ton on the willing birds of prey.
Geno Smith, Seahawks vs. Cardinals (Piva). Smith has revived his career in Seattle, demonstrating a version of himself we’ve never quite seen. He’s thrown multiple TDs in each of the past three weeks, during which he has averaged over 304 passing yards per game. He leads the NFL in completion percentage (75.2) and QB rating (113.2), and he now faces a Cardinals D that has allowed right around 20 fantasy points per game this season.
Daniel Jones, Giants vs. Ravens (Lutovsky). Jones’ ceiling is always capped because of Saquon Barkley wildcat snaps near the goal line, but the young signal-caller is quietly developing a nice floor thanks to at least 37 rushing yards in each of the past three games (184 total). In a game against Baltimore’s last-ranked pass defense, he should add more passing yards, putting him in position for a top-12 QB finish this week.
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide receivers
Adam Thielen, Vikings at Dolphins (Iyer). Thielen did nothing of note last week watching Justin Jefferson go off, but he’ll deliver for Kirk Cousins again in a great big slot spot.
Alec Pierce, Colts vs. Jaguars (Piva). Matt Ryan likes the rookie Pierce, who has hauled in 12-of-15 targets for 161 yards over the past two weeks. As long as defenses focus their primary attention on Michael Pittman and Jonathan Taylor (ankle), Pierce could be a weekly sleeper. The Jaguars defense has been surprisingly good this season, but they have allowed WR2s like Joshua Palmer and Nico Collins to have decent games. Pierce is a sneaky flex in deep PPR leagues.
Isaiah McKenzie/Khalil Shakir, Bills @ Chiefs (Lutovsky). McKenzie didn’t play last week because of a concussion, but he’s scored in three of his first four games this season. Shakir caught three-of-five targets for 75 yards and a TD while filling in for McKenzie last week. Whoever is starting in what should be a shootout against the Chiefs’ leaky pass defense is bound to have a good game.
WEEK 6 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Tight ends
Will Dissly, Seahawks vs. Cardinals (Iyer). This could be an NFC West tight end scoring bonanza (hello Zach Ertz) given both teams are awful at covering the position.
Evan Engram, Jaguars at Colts (Piva). Engram has been one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite targets for most of this season, and they connected on six-of-10 targets for 69 yards last week against Houston. This week, he gets a Colts defense that’s allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
Irv Smith Jr., Vikings @ Dolphins (Lutovsky). Smith is quietly seeing steady targets, averaging just under six per game since the start of Week 2. It’s only a matter of time before he catches another touchdown or gets free for a couple of big gains. Against a Dolphins’ defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to TEs, Smith Jr. has major upside.
WEEK 6 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Defense
New England Patriots at Browns (Iyer). Bill Belichick knows Jacoby Brissett well, and Brissett won’t like his revenge game very much.
New Orleans Saints vs. Bengals (Piva). The Saints have the second-best third-down and red-zone defense in the NFL, and they have a sneaky good pass rush that has produced nine sacks over the past three games. Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis should wreak havoc on a Bengals offensive line that doesn’t look to have improved much despite all the offseason spending.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Saints (Lutovsky). The Bengals haven’t allowed more than 20 offensive points in a game this year, posting an average of 16.6 offensive points allowed this season. That’s borderline elite, and with six sacks and seven takeaways in the past three games, it’s clear this defense can take advantage of favorable matchups. The Saints have turned it over at least two times in each of the past four games (12 total), so regardless of whether a gimpy Jameis Winston (back) or Andy Dalton starts, the Bengals will have opportunities for points.
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