Hey, folks! We’re back with our third and final block of games for the Week 6 NFL slate. We’re covering the late games here, along with Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football!
We’ve compiled the groupings of games here to make it easier to find the games you want:
- Block 1: SEA-DEN, HOU-JAC, CHI-ATL, BAL-CLE, TEN-IND
- Block 2: NYJ-NE, NO-NYG, CAR-PHI, PIT-TB
- Block 3: ARI-LAR, LAC-KC, BUF-LV, DAL-GB, WAS-SF
“The Outlook” will give you details, stats, angles, recommendations and everything else you need to make your fantasy football decisions. Every fantasy-relevant player on each team playing this week will be profiled in this article. We want everyone reading this to bring home championships in their fantasy leagues!
I’m incredibly excited to bring this article to all of you this season, and I hope you all enjoy the ride. If you have any questions, feel free to find me on Bluesky
(@ktompkinsii.bsky.social) and tag me in a post with any lineup questions you have. I’ll do my best to answer them for you.
Let’s get into it!
All game and implied point totals listed were compiled via DraftKings Sportsbook on Thursday for ARI-LAR, LAC-KC, BUF-LV, DAL-GB and WAS-SF.
Teams on bye in Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings.
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
- Favorite: Rams −12.5 (largest favorite in Week 6)
- Game Total: 51.5
- Implied Point Total: Rams 32, Cardinals 19.5 (the Rams have the highest implied team total in Week 6)
Cardinals Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: TE Trey McBride
QB Jacoby Brissett
Arizona’s passing game faced a ton of pressure from Detroit in Week 5, ultimately allowing five sacks, but Brissett still produced solid numbers. He finished 29-of-47 for 292 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Although the Cardinals had a favorable fantasy matchup in the passing game heading into the contest, Arizona trailed 24–7 at halftime after the Lions spotted the Cards an early touchdown in the first quarter. Still, Brissett finished as QB7 overall, giving him two top-seven weekly finishes in his past three games. Up next is a murderer’s row of matchups for Brissett: the Rams, the Broncos, a reprieve against Dallas, Seattle, the Rams again and Kansas City. It’s going to be some TOUGH sledding ahead.
Fantasy Advice: While Brissett could eke out some fantasy value in negative game scripts, he isn’t a recommended start right now in single-quarterback leagues. It’s a different story in two-quarterback leagues, however, as he’s one of the better options despite the tough schedule over the next half-dozen games.
Cardinals RBs
Against a clear pass-funnel defense, with Detroit incredibly susceptible to the pass but stout against the run, 1.8 yards per carry was NOT getting it done for Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love. He had 12 carries for just 22 yards. Tyler Allgeier didn’t fare much better on the ground, totaling just three carries for seven yards. The Cardinals’ backfield feels like it wants to turn a corner with Love as the featured back, but it just can’t get there at the moment. Love handled two-thirds of the team’s rushing attempts, but Allgeier is still on the field plenty for pass protection and route running, accounting for 44% of routes per dropback compared with Love’s 28%. It’s not a backfield to endorse right now, even with Love’s immense talent.
Fantasy Advice: The Cardinals’ backfield is pretty uninspiring right now despite the talent within it. Allgeier is a handcuff and barely rosterable as it is, while Love is a flex play with bye weeks here. Can Love put everything together for a strong midseason run and a push through the fantasy playoffs?
WR Michael Wilson
After two straight weeks of double-digit targets, Wilson came back to Earth with the rest of us mere mortals living our lives on this floating rock. If there was going to be a matchup in which Wilson could have kept his hot streak going, it would have been this one at home against the Lions. Alas, Wilson managed just seven targets, turning four catches into 30 yards. He even threw a seven-yard pass to Brissett on a trick play, but his day was much quieter than anticipated. With the Cardinals hitting the “eject” button on Marvin Harrison Jr. and sending him to Houston earlier this week, Wilson becomes Arizona’s top wide receiver. In most weeks, he can dominate targets alongside Trey McBride. Not a bad spot, and let’s not forget: Wilson is still on pace for 167 targets this season!
Fantasy Advice: Despite a disappointing performance from Wilson in Week 5, keep him in your lineups as a target-rich, low-end WR2 in most weeks, even against the Rams in Week 6.
WR Kendrick Bourne
With Harrison moving on to Houston, Kendrick Bourne will probably see a little more work. To be fair, Bourne had been on the field for at least 75% of routes in every week leading up to Week 5. In Week 5, his route participation dropped to 61% and his snap share fell to 49%, both season lows. Bourne did post a 5-70 line on seven targets in the loss while playing slot receiver, lining up inside on 73% of snaps. If you’re looking for an under-the-radar flex option, Bourne could be that player for the Cardinals going forward, barring anything unforeseen.
Fantasy Advice: Bourne is a low-end flex option when the Cardinals head to SoFi Stadium to take on the Rams in Week 6. With the game total above 50 points, Bourne could have a solid role this week.
Rams Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: QB Matthew Stafford, RB Kyren Williams, WR Puka Nacua, WR Davante Adams
RB Blake Corum
In this backfield, you know Williams is getting a ton of touches. It’s inevitable. But Corum also exists in his own little universe, as head coach Sean McVay loves to give him his own little Lunchables-sized portion of plays and snaps before getting Williams back in there for the meat and potatoes. Corum saw some extended work, including as a receiver! He caught 3-of-4 targets for 53 yards in addition to his five carries for 19 yards and a rushing score. The question for Corum will always be, “What is his standalone value, exactly?” That’s a fair question. I think he’s a low-end flex play right now. Obviously, he has contingent value, but plugging him into your lineup probably doesn’t feel too good when he’s in your RB2 slot. Trust me, I know. I’ve done it multiple times this season because I’ve had to.
Fantasy Advice: Corum has some low-end flex appeal against the Cardinals, especially because the Rams could turn to him if they build a big lead.
TE Tyler Higbee
Higbee caught five of six targets for 83 yards in Week 5. The fact that he remained so involved even after Nacua saw 24 targets and Adams scored two touchdowns is encouraging. Higbee ran the most routes among the Rams’ tight ends and narrowly outsnapped Colby Parkinson. We’re riding the wave with Higbee, who has recorded three straight TE12-or-better fantasy finishes.
Fantasy Advice: Higbee is a perfectly viable starting tight end in fantasy right now, with excellent matchups over the next two games. He starts this weekend against the Cardinals before heading to Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
- Favorite: Chiefs −8.5
- Game Total: 42.5
- Implied Point Total: Chiefs 25.5, Chargers 17 (the Chargers have the lowest implied team total in Week 6)
Chargers Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: None
Chargers RBs
The Chargers’ ground game belonged to… really, no one in particular. Omarion Hampton handled the bulk of the touches, with 14 carries for 33 yards and one catch for six yards. Kimani Vidal ran eight times for 57 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown in the third quarter, while Keaton Mitchell had six carries for 11 yards and three catches for 18 yards on four targets. It’s been an ugly backfield all season, and there’s been no clarity whatsoever. You can start Hampton at your own peril. There’s just not much rhyme or reason here. Are you really itching to figure this out so you can start a running back on an 0–5 team that looks closer to gutting its roster than fixing its problems?
Fantasy Advice: Anyone who drafted Hampton is probably stuck starting him unless they found or drafted better options. I don’t mind him as a flex option, but there’s so much variance in this backfield that it might as well be a random number generator at this point.
Chargers WRs
Man… this Chargers team got bleak FAST. Ladd McConkey is dealing with a foot injury. He was active last week but didn’t play a snap. Perhaps he plays in Week 6, but what if the Chargers do the same thing they did last week? Quentin Johnston is also limited by a chest injury. Tre Harris left the Week 5 game with a hamstring injury and is considered “week to week.” It’s bad out here. So bad that Marques Valdes-Scantling led the Chargers in routes and snaps in Week 5. Pull the plug.
Fantasy Advice: Unless we get the main players back into this offense and see some competency, we can’t roll anybody out here. I just wanted to write about how bleak this situation is because it IS bleak.
Chiefs Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: QB Patrick Mahomes, RB Kenneth Walker III
Chiefs WRs
With the Chiefs on bye in Week 5, you’d think we’d get some encouraging news about Rashee Rice. Right? RIGHT? Not so fast, my friend. Rice still hasn’t practiced this week because of his hamstring injury. It’s looking less and less likely that Rice will suit up for Week 6 against the Chargers, so Xavier Worthy and potentially Jalen Royals or Cyrus Allen could see a big uptick in routes and snaps. Remember, the Chiefs also lost Tyquan Thornton after he dislocated his ankle.
Fantasy Advice: Worthy is at least a solid flex option, with the passing game opening up if Rice doesn’t play. The other receiver options are wait-and-see plays until we see how things shake out in Week 6 against the Chargers.
TE Travis Kelce
All offseason, I was touting Kelce as a fantasy asset who isn’t dead yet! He’s been at least competent, ranking as TE7 in fantasy points per game. Kelce has sandwiched two top-12 weekly finishes around a TE16 performance and a game in which he caught just two passes for 15 yards before the bye against the Raiders. In terms of earning targets, Kelce has been totally fine, with an 18.3% TPRR and more than 2.00 YPRR. His efficiency has still been there, and he’ll have to shoulder more of the receiving workload if Rice is out, especially with other injuries affecting the depth of the pass-catching group.
Fantasy Advice: Lock in Kelce as a TE1 against a Chargers defense that ranks in the bottom 10 in defending fantasy tight ends.
Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders
- Favorite: Bills −6
- Game Total: 53.5 (highest game total in Week 6)
- Implied Point Total: Bills 29.75, Raiders 23.75
Bills Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: QB Josh Allen, RB James Cook III
Bills Pass-Catchers
The Bills’ receivers, with DJ Moore hurt yet again, are a tough sell for any fantasy lineup. Sure, you have Khalil Shakir handling some work near the line of scrimmage, but the Bills scored 37 points and their leading target earner was Ty Johnson. Just as everyone expected.
The Bills ran the ball a ton, with 37 rushing attempts compared with Allen’s 19 pass attempts. As a result, only Johnson and Shakir had more than one catch. Unfortunately, that included Dalton Kincaid (1-7-0 on two targets) and his precipitous fall from grace after an awesome first two weeks of the season. Moore is unlikely to play in Week 6 against the Raiders, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Bills employed the same strategy they used against the Rams with Moore out.
Fantasy Advice: With Moore likely to miss another game, I’d be willing to start Shakir as a low-end flex and Kincaid as a low-end streaming tight end. That’s about it, as the Bills spread their targets around among so many players.
Raiders Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: TE Brock Bowers
QB Kirk Cousins
Cousins was moderately efficient in a losing effort, going 19-of-28 for 243 yards and a touchdown. Really, he just peppered Bowers, and why wouldn’t you? Bowers finished with an 8-111-1 line, including a catch for Cousins’ only touchdown pass of the day. The game got out of hand later, and Cousins bowed out to give rookie Fernando Mendoza some snaps to finish the game against the Patriots. Cousins is still the starter… for now.
Fantasy Advice: It’s not wise to put Cousins in your fantasy lineup this week against the Bills. However, he’s a viable QB2 in multi-quarterback leagues.
RB Ashton Jeanty
Banged up with a foot injury and listed as questionable heading into Week 5, Jeanty ended up playing but was inefficient, managing just 27 yards on 10 carries. At least he was much better in the receiving game, gaining 50 yards on three receptions. Given the game script, Jeanty wasn’t needed much in the later stages, so Dylan Laube ended up taking some late-game snaps. Jeanty hasn’t been very good outside of his two-touchdown effort in Week 1 against the Dolphins. He hasn’t scored another rushing touchdown and is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. He also has some glaring marks in RYOE (27th among 41 qualified backs) and ranks 33rd among those 41 backs in success rate through five games. How much is his preseason ankle injury bothering him, or is it something else?
Fantasy Advice: Jeanty is worth starting as a midrange RB2 because of his immense talent, but he’s still pretty banged up and isn’t 100% healthy.
WR Tre Tucker
Your quintessential floor play with a splash of upside, Tucker was involved—kind of—in Week 5 against the Patriots. He’s run the most routes for the Raiders in most weeks, but his 4-41-0 line on five targets even included production during Mendoza’s late-game snaps in place of Cousins. Still, you’ll get one or two 100-yard games out of Tucker each season, but let’s hope you aren’t counting on one when you start him in your fantasy lineup. He’s really more of a “break glass in case of emergency” flex play than someone you’re itching to start because of the matchup.
Fantasy Advice: Tucker is a decent flex option in deeper leagues against the Bills, but he isn’t someone I’d necessarily seek out as a starter.
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
- Favorite: Packers −1.5
- Game Total: 53.5
- Implied Point Total: Packers 27.5, Cowboys 26
Cowboys Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: WR CeeDee Lamb
QB Dak Prescott
Two interceptions blemished an otherwise productive day for Prescott, who went 24-of-42 for 316 yards and one touchdown to George Pickens. Prescott should have taken greater advantage of the matchup against the Buccaneers, but Lamb bruised his quad and ran routes on just 60% of dropbacks, finishing with only two receptions for nine yards. The Cowboys managed just 16 points in Week 5, but Prescott is still fantasy’s QB5 on the season and has performed well overall.
Fantasy Advice: Continue starting Prescott in what looks like a favorable matchup against the Packers on Sunday Night Football.
RB Javonte Williams
In a disappointing night for the Cowboys, Williams had his shortcomings, carrying the ball 12 times for 45 yards and an early touchdown. He added two receptions for 17 yards, but with 42 pass attempts and just 13 rushing attempts by the team, it wasn’t a productive night for the ground game. At least Williams found the end zone, right? In most weeks, he’ll have a strong role, with no other back behind him to siphon off work. Still, it was a disappointing performance for the Cowboys on Thursday night.
Fantasy Advice: Williams has a strong role in an offense that is excellent most weeks, so there’s no reason to change course. He remains a solid midrange RB2 with upside in this productive offense.
WR George Pickens
With Lamb hobbled for most of the game, Pickens took over as Prescott’s top option as the Cowboys tried to get back into the contest. Pickens earned a team-high 13 targets, catching nine passes for 130 yards and a touchdown while running routes on 91% of dropbacks. We know Pickens is awesome, but what’s frustrating is that he tends to fade into the background at times. That happened last week when Lamb earned 21 targets against the Texans in Week 4. Lamb should be back on the field when the Cowboys head to Green Bay in Week 6. Hopefully, Pickens can continue to produce with Lamb alongside him. Too often, it has been one or the other rather than both Lamb and Pickens producing in this passing game.
Fantasy Advice: Pickens is a high-end WR3 because of some consistency concerns, but we know he has overall WR1 potential whenever he steps on the field.
Packers Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: WR Christian Watson
QB Jordan Love
To say Love was awesome in Week 5 would be an understatement. He was off the charts good. Literally.
Love went 25-of-31 for 367 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an impressive 11.8 yards per attempt against the Bears. Always an efficiency king whom spreadsheet nerds and stat dorks love, Love aired the ball out to Watson and Matthew Golden, connecting with Watson for a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 53-yard strike in the third quarter. Love recorded his first top-10 fantasy finish of the season and has now thrown two touchdown passes in each of his five starts.
Fantasy Advice: With the Cowboys next on the schedule, Love is an obvious QB1. He could easily repeat his Week 5 performance on Sunday Night Football.
Packers RBs
The Packers’ offensive line woes have been mostly rectified, thanks to guards Laken Tomlinson and Travis Glover, a 2024 sixth-round pick. However, the backfield still has work to do in terms of individual performance. Although MarShawn Lloyd scored twice in Week 5 against the Bears, the trio of Lloyd, Kaleb Johnson and Pierre Strong Jr. averaged fewer than 3.0 yards per carry across 22 attempts for 64 yards. It hasn’t been a fun backfield for fantasy purposes, and honestly, I don’t blame you if you want to wash your hands of it. I did a while back!
Fantasy Advice: Good luck finding consistency in this backfield or even settling on one back you can reasonably start as a flex option. None of these backs are recommended against the Cowboys in Week 6.
WR Matthew Golden
Big plays defined Golden’s day, as he caught six of seven targets for 123 yards. He hauled in several deep targets, and even in a week when Watson crushed it with two scores and 143 yards, Golden still had a hugely successful outing. If any week illustrates just how important Golden is to this team’s offense, this is the one.
Fantasy Advice: Golden rocks. He’s a low-end WR2 in this productive and efficient Packers passing game and should have a nice night against the Cowboys in Week 6 on Sunday Night Football.
TE Tucker Kraft
Kraft caught all five of his targets for 64 yards, taking a bit of a back seat to Watson and Golden while still producing in his own right. Kraft had a 46-yard grab, while his other four catches totaled 18 yards. We’d love to see more yards-after-catch opportunities for Kraft, but he seems to be behind Watson and Golden in Green Bay’s target pecking order right now.
Fantasy Advice: Although Kraft’s upside doesn’t seem especially likely to materialize this season, he’s still a low-end TE1 against a leaky Dallas Cowboys defense on Sunday Night Football.
Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers
- Favorite: 49ers −7.5
- Game Total: 51.5
- Implied Point Total: 49ers 29, Commanders 21.5
Commanders Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: None
QB Jayden Daniels
Is Daniels back? Many are asking. Despite taking some blame for failing to get the Commanders’ offense set and allowing time to run out in overtime to end the Week 5 game in a tie, Daniels still delivered a QB2 performance in Week 5 on the strength of his legs. As a passer, Daniels was pedestrian, completing 17 of 25 attempts for 199 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. However, he rushed for 103 yards and scored twice to keep his team in the game. Daniels isn’t a must-start option by any means, at least not yet. It’s hard to look at the Commanders’ passing-game options and then slap the hood of the car and say, “You can get so many fantasy points out of this baby!” You also can’t expect Daniels to rush for 100 yards and two touchdowns every week. As long as he’s healthy, though, you have to start him.
Fantasy Advice: Given what Daniels can add to your fantasy score with his legs, he’s a solid start whenever he’s active, including against the 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Commanders RBs
With Daniels posing a threat on the ground, perhaps Washington’s running backs deserve to be viewed in a different light. The Commanders have tried so damn hard to make Jacory Croskey-Merritt a thing, and it may have finally worked. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry and finished the afternoon with 11 carries for 82 yards, including a 33-yard rushing touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Meanwhile, Rachaad White played a robust 60% of the snaps but touched the ball just eight times for 20 yards. I’m not calling this backfield fixed or anything, but we’ve seen what a rushing quarterback can do for an entire offense by opening lanes for runners and creating more space for receivers. That’s a good thing!
Fantasy Advice: Even after Croskey-Merritt’s excellent performance, he’s still a low-end RB2 or flex option against the 49ers on Monday Night Football. White remains rosterable, but he’s really more of a handcuff at this point unless the Commanders change their backfield pecking order.
WR Terry McLaurin
McLaurin still ran routes on 76% of dropbacks despite suffering a hamstring injury that put him on the injury report for Week 5. His four targets tied him with Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo for the team lead. McLaurin made the most of his opportunities, finishing with four catches for 62 yards and no touchdowns. The offense was driven by Daniels and Croskey-Merritt on the ground, as the pair combined for three touchdowns and 185 rushing yards. From a fantasy perspective, McLaurin is a perfectly reasonable WR3. He’s averaging 6.5 targets per game and posting a 20.3% TPRR, so his per-route efficiency remains solid for the 31-year-old receiver. Still, he’s not the most exciting name in an offense that may not generate enough passing volume for its receivers every week.
Fantasy Advice: Against the 49ers in Week 6, consider McLaurin a midrange WR3 with some upside if Daniels and the Commanders need to throw more in a negative game script.
49ers Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: QB Brock Purdy, RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle
WR Mike Evans
Evans was the focal point of the 49ers’ offense in Week 5, turning a team-high nine targets into seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. He even added a two-point conversion reception. Evans has been battling broken ribs but remains WR13 overall on the season while gutting through games at 33 years old. I certainly wasn’t doing THAT at 33 years old, I’ll say that. Anyway, Evans led the way across the board against the Seahawks, finishing as WR6 for the week. He continues to be a target-dominant option alongside Kittle for the 49ers. As long as Purdy is out there slinging the ball for San Francisco, all is well for these pass-catchers, especially Evans and Kittle.
Fantasy Advice: Evans is a low-end WR1 when the 49ers host the Commanders and their pass-funnel defense.
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: The Outlook - Week 6 (ARI-LAR, LAC-KC, BUF-LV, DAL-GB, WAS-SF)
