Welcome to Week 6 of The Outlook! We’re into our second week of bye weeks and the first week with four teams on bye. We’re expanding the player pool, but the NFL is already doing that for us with injuries galore. We’re starting to separate the wheat from the chaff here in fantasy football, with players who may have been one- or two-week wonders failing to maintain their fantasy relevance. These include players such as Dalton Kincaid, Kalif Raymond, Dontayvion Wicks and Tyler Shough. Nevertheless, we must persist, and we’ll be giving you the fantasy goodness in three parts as we dive into every NFL game and break down each player’s fantasy value both now and in the not-so-distant future.
We’ve grouped the games here to make it easier to find the matchups
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 know to help you 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 below were compiled via DraftKings Sportsbook on Tuesday night for SEA-DEN, HOU-JAC, CHI-ATL, BAL-CLE and TEN-IND.
Teams on bye in Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings.
Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos
- Favorite: Seahawks -3
- Game Total: 40.5 (tied for the lowest game total in Week 6)
- Implied Point Total: Seahawks 21.75, Broncos 18.75
Seahawks Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
RB Emanuel Wilson
Seattle leaned on Wilson for a whopping 77% of the team’s rushing attempts in Week 5, as he finished with 20 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. He also caught both of his targets for 11 yards. Wilson has been the bell cow for the Seahawks over the last two weeks since Jadarian Price was placed on injured reserve. His workload is strong enough to keep him in your lineups, even with a Zach Charbonnet return looming. That doesn’t seem likely to happen on a short week against the Broncos on Thursday, but it could happen in Week 7 at home against Kansas City.
Fantasy Advice: Continue to plug Wilson into your RB2 spot while he’s still getting solid volume.
Broncos Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: None
QB Bo Nix
Head coach Sean Payton took back play-calling duties for the Broncos, and … it looked like the Broncos’ offense we’ve seen over the last couple of seasons. Numerous players earned carries, and a bunch of receivers got involved, thinning out opportunities. However, nothing of note really happened, although Denver STILL scored 23 points and edged out the Chargers. Nix threw just 27 times for 123 yards and a touchdown, although he added 10 rushing yards. It’s incredibly difficult to watch what Nix did here and feel good about the Broncos’ offense for fantasy, knowing we’re back to this “everybody gets a turn” offense. And I mean that 100% derogatorily.
Fantasy Advice: Against Seattle, even at home, you’re playing with fire if you start Nix in fantasy in Week 6.
Broncos RBs
Well, we found the apple of Payton’s eye in this offense, or at least we did in Week 5 against the Chargers. That would be J.K. Dobbins, who carried the ball 18 times for 68 yards and a touchdown. RJ Harvey was a clear and distant second option, with three carries for seven yards and just one target, one week after catching 10 balls. This is borderline malpractice, especially considering the Broncos had to score 13 points in the fourth quarter just to pull ahead of the Chargers and win the game. Dobbins (52%) outsnapped Harvey (37%), but Harvey had a wide lead in routes run … not that it mattered in the counting stats.
Denver’s offense has been disappointing across the board this season, yet there were a couple of things you could point to that were working nearly as intended. Two of those were Dobbins and Harvey. Now? Dobbins seems like a pretty solid lock for low-value touches with the occasional touchdown, while Harvey’s fantasy floor is incredibly low. You really can’t start him, or at the very least, you won’t feel comfortable doing so. I have Harvey on a good number of teams, and he’s barely a consideration over players like Blake Corum and Woody Marks.
Fantasy Advice: Dobbins feels infinitely safer than Harvey when projecting backfield workloads, but against Seattle, which allows the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, Dobbins is merely a midrange flex play. Harvey is a desperation flex, with the hope that he’ll get some receiving volume. Sadly, even that isn’t guaranteed.
Broncos WRs
We have to ask some questions here.
Jayden Waddle is on pace for career lows across the board over a full season (66-694-3 on 99 targets). Even with a touchdown last week against the 49ers to salvage some of his day, Waddle has just seven receptions for 54 yards over his last two games combined. This is why Denver traded a first-, third- and fourth-round pick? To barely use him? Courtland Sutton hasn’t scored more than 10 fantasy points in any of his five games this season. Pat Bryant showed promise but is now on injured reserve. It all just stinks.
Back to Week 5, when Payton wrestled play-calling duties back from offensive coordinator Davis Webb and showed the youngin’ how it’s done. As a result, no Broncos receiver had more than four targets, and only one (Evan Engram) had more than three receptions. Waddle caught two balls for 19 yards, Sutton caught Nix’s only touchdown on a 2-18 line and Troy Franklin, who saw his route participation spike to 62% without Bryant, could muster only two catches for 16 yards. Gross. All of it.
Fantasy Advice: We have a five-week pattern of this Denver offense underwhelming fantasy managers to a considerable degree, and no players are more affected than the wide receivers. Waddle is just a flex play in a tougher matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Sutton is a desperation flex. You can forget about anybody else here.
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Favorite: Jaguars -3
- Game Total: 42.5
- Implied Point Total: Jaguars 22.75, Texans 19.75
Texans Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: WR Nico Collins
QB C.J. Stroud
Houston’s offense sputtered, with no touchdowns scored and four field goals from Ka’imi Fairbairn in the first half. The Texans scored two touchdowns after halftime to cruise to a dominant 26-3 win over the Titans. Stroud was solid, finishing 26-of-34 for 261 yards and two total touchdowns, one passing and one rushing. Stroud hasn’t been amazing, per se, but he’s been functional, finishing as QB13 in Week 5. With Collins back in the lineup over the last couple of weeks, Stroud has his elite weapon back to lift the entire offense. He can return to the low-end streaming radar for Week 6 in London.
Fantasy Advice: Stroud falls on the QB2 side of the quarterback-streaming equation when the Texans head across the pond to England to face the Jaguars.
RB Woody Marks
The Texans lost David Montgomery very early in the game to a groin injury, so Marks saw the bulk of the work, finishing with 19 total touches for 85 yards: 15 carries for 62 yards and four receptions for 23 yards. With Montgomery considered “week-to-week,” that opens the door for Marks to get a couple of weeks with the backfield to himself. Marks has been rather inefficient in his limited NFL action, so the upside of a workhorse role is somewhat dubious. He has the sixth-worst success rate (34.9%) among 41 qualifying running backs. That said, he’s been WAY better than Montgomery, so perhaps we’ll see a somewhat rosier outlook in the interim.
Fantasy Advice: With Monty likely out for at least a couple of weeks, Marks will get volume-based RB2 treatment during that time, starting with a London game against the Jaguars, who allow the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
One of the most important Texans developments in Week 5 had nothing to do with the box score: Harrison was inactive for Arizona as his trade to Houston was announced by Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans after the team’s win over Tennessee. Harrison’s Cardinals line through four games was five catches, 85 yards and a touchdown—not great! Harrison reunites with Stroud, his college quarterback at Ohio State, so there’s some familiarity. It’s unclear whether Harrison will suit up for the Texans in their London game against the Jaguars. Even if he does, he almost certainly won’t see more than a package of plays and limited snaps.
Fantasy Advice: Harrison can’t be started in Week 6, even if he’s active. Keep him stashed until we see him on the field and can determine his role among Houston’s solid receiver group.
TE Dalton Schultz
The Texans didn’t have to do any heavy lifting against the Tennessee Titans, as Houston kicked four field goals to take a 12-3 halftime lead. Against the Titans, that is a VERY comfortable lead, folks. Anyway, on an afternoon when seven Texans had at least three targets and nobody had more than Collins’ six, Schultz was among that group of seven. Still, the volume wasn’t there, as Schultz mustered just a 3-30 line on four targets with 69% route participation. After his 12-140 outburst in Week 2 against the Dolphins, Schultz has managed only eight receptions for a not-so-nice 69 yards over his last three games. We know what Schultz is at this point.
Fantasy Advice: Schultz will run 70–75% of routes and be moderately involved in the team’s offense each week. That’s only good enough for midrange TE2 production as a streaming option against the Jaguars, an above-average defense against fantasy tight ends so far this season.
Jaguars Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: WR Parker Washington
QB Trevor Lawrence
Currently on the fringes of fantasy QB1 territory as the overall QB12, Lawrence threw for 331 yards on 24-of-39 passing (62%), with two passing touchdowns and one interception. Both scores went to Parker Washington. Speaking of Lawrence, he was QB11 in Week 5 and has a second consecutive game in London against the Texans before a much-deserved Week 7 bye.
Fantasy Advice: Lock in Lawrence in London as a solid QB1 this week against the Texans, who rank 16th against opposing fantasy quarterbacks this season.
RB Bhayshul Tuten
Tuten has been getting more work little by little over the last few weeks. His route participation has gradually increased from 31% in Week 3 to 41% in Week 4 and 48% in Week 5. The same goes for his snaps, as Tuten set season highs in each of the last two weeks, logging 59% and 68% against the Eagles. That increased playing time helped him earn 22 carries for 72 yards, plus two catches on three targets for 24 yards. Tuten has just two touchdowns on the season, but more should be coming soon with the increased volume. Either way, we’re seeing some stability here, as Chris Rodriguez Jr. had only two carries and one target in Week 5. It’s still a work in progress with Tuten, but the intent to get him more involved is clear.
Fantasy Advice: Consider Tuten a solid midrange RB2, with volume on his side despite a brutal matchup against Houston, which allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.
Jaguars WRs
Jacksonville’s passing-game production among wide receivers flowed through Washington, who caught six of eight targets for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Outside of that, production was very lean, as it seems to be a free-for-all with Jakobi Meyers (2-37), Brian Thomas Jr. (no receptions on three targets) and Josh Cameron (3-43) all putting up mediocre lines behind Washington and Brenton Strange. Thomas is losing routes (59%) and is barely worth rostering at this point, while Meyers just isn’t consistently involved in the team’s offense. Cameron is the one who probably should be on the field more, as the team is making an effort to get him more involved. All in all, it’s a loaded group of pass-catchers.
Fantasy Advice: Meyers and Thomas are barely rosterable, but I would much rather hold Meyers. Cameron is only an option in the deepest of leagues. However, if his route participation increases at the expense of Meyers or Thomas, Cameron becomes an intriguing pickup to see whether he can continue to capitalize.
TE Brenton Strange
It’s been a very solid stretch over the past two weeks for Brenton Strange, with eight targets in each game. He started with a 7-95 performance in Week 4 against the Bengals. Last week in London, Strange was similarly productive, posting a 7-68 line as Lawrence’s second target. With the rest of the non-Washington receivers fighting among themselves for targets, Strange has been fairly solid. However, with so many other mouths to feed, he feels like a riskier play than he should.
Fantasy Advice: I’m hesitant to anoint Strange as anything more than a fringe TE1/TE2 starter because the target competition could send his production to zero. With four teams on bye and Detroit’s Sam LaPorta unavailable, you could do worse than Strange. The matchup with Houston is tough, however.
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
- Favorite: Bears -3
- Game Total: 49.5
- Implied Point Total: Bears 26.25, Falcons 23.25
Bears Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: None
QB Caleb Williams
Williams missed his third straight game in Week 5, leaving the Bears with Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum sharing quarterback duties. Bagent completed 12 of 21 passes for 87 yards with two interceptions, while Keenum went 11 of 19 for 108 yards and an interception. Together, the duo threw three interceptions and produced just 195 passing yards. So, that’s not good. Getting Williams back? GOOD!
Fantasy Advice: Williams slots back into fantasy lineups as a low-end QB1 while he gets his legs back under him. His return will markedly improve the offensive environment against a Falcons team that has allowed at least 286 passing yards to three of the five quarterbacks it has faced.
Bears RBs
Chicago’s passing game ran through its backs in Week 5, with D’Andre Swift posting nine carries for 43 yards and a touchdown, plus four catches on five targets for 30 yards. Between Swift and Roschon Johnson, they accounted for 11 targets (28.2% target share). With Kyle Monangai out, the Packers were able to clamp down and shellshock the Bears with downfield passing, putting Chicago into catch-up mode pretty quickly. Things should get better with Williams returning to pose a much greater threat to opposing defenses.
Fantasy Advice: Swift is a locked-in RB2 for this matchup, but Monangai is a wild card for Week 6. If he plays, he’s flex-worthy against a Falcons team giving up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to running backs.
WR Luther Burden III
Chicago found different ways to get the ball to Burden, who had four carries for two yards and four catches on six targets for 47 yards. Even with six targets, the overall distribution was spread across a half-dozen receivers, given the 40 pass attempts between Bagent and Keenum. Things are bound to get a little better and more efficient with Williams returning—at least in theory. At least the effort to get him the ball in multiple ways is encouraging, even if the production wasn’t quite there.
Fantasy Advice: Williams’ return boosts the value of each Chicago receiver, so I’m willing to slot Burden into fantasy lineups as a low-end WR3 or high-end flex option against Atlanta in Week 6.
WR Rome Odunze
Odunze led the Bears in targets with nine, a season high, but caught only three balls for 46 yards. On a day when the Bears’ offense managed just 195 passing yards on 40 attempts and the ball was still spread around, Odunze had opportunities but couldn’t capitalize. I feel like a broken record at this point, but considering Chicago has been operating its offense with second- and third-string quarterbacks, getting Williams back should give the offense a real shot in the arm.
Fantasy Advice: Odunze’s opportunities have increased from his three targets in Week 1, but the efficiency hasn’t followed. Here’s hoping Williams’ return sparks a turnaround for Odunze as a weekly flex option heading into Week 6 against Atlanta.
TE Colston Loveland
It’s been an unbelievable (derogatory) first five weeks of the season for Loveland, who has a season-long line of 13 receptions for 110 yards and zero touchdowns. That puts him at TE33, sandwiched between Eli Raridon and Oronde Gadsden. For context, Loveland’s Week 18 performance last season (13 targets, 10-91-1) almost eclipses his entire five-week total. He’s on pace for 75 targets and a 44-374-0 line. To say Loveland has been a disappointment is putting it mildly. His performance at the end of last season really felt like he was turning a corner toward becoming a superstar, which is how he was drafted this summer. It has to get better, right? Perhaps Williams’ return will spark a turnaround for Loveland. Other than that, I think we’re all at our wits’ end.
Fantasy Advice: I mean, it doesn’t feel good to start him each week, but if you drafted him in the second or third round, you’re a bit stuck unless you landed Juwan Johnson or another waiver-wire option. Anyway, the Falcons have been strong against most position groups, but they’ve been below average against fantasy tight ends this season. Does Loveland’s resurgence begin here? I’m fine with starting him as a low-end TE1.
Falcons Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London
RB Brian Robinson
Little went right on the ground for Robinson, who managed seven carries for 16 yards (2.3 per carry) and had no targets. That illustrates the pitfalls of relying on a backup running back in a game script like Atlanta’s against the Ravens. With the game going into overtime and the Falcons passing a bit more in the second half, there wasn’t much opportunity left for Robinson. His stat line illustrates the fragility of backup running backs and the danger of assuming they’ll have standalone value after a three-touchdown game. Even getting carries isn’t a given, and touchdowns are even less predictable.
Fantasy Advice: Robinson is one of the best contingent plays in fantasy football, but he should stay on your bench for the time being.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns
- Favorite: Ravens -4.5
- Game Total: 40.5 (tied for the lowest game total in Week 6)
- Implied Point Total: Ravens 22.5, Browns 18
Ravens Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: QB Lamar Jackson (when healthy), RB Derrick Henry, WR Zay Flowers
QB Tyler Huntley
You want to know why Huntley is a coveted backup quarterback? He didn’t have to be Superman in place of Jackson, but he certainly did enough to keep his team in the game, throwing for 201 yards and two touchdowns while adding 20 yards and another score on the ground. That was good enough for QB10 on the week. He did his job, throwing to the Ravens’ playmakers like Flowers and letting Henry handle much of the heavy lifting.
Fantasy Advice: If Huntley gets another start in place of Jackson, consider him a high-end QB2 for that matchup against Cleveland.
TE Mark Andrews
A lost fumble and four uninspiring targets from Andrews, and I just don’t know how people keep putting him in their fantasy lineups at this point. Nostalgia? Brand name? Andrews is TE21 right now, with just one top-12 weekly finish, and that was thanks to a touchdown. He’s not the same player he once was, and he hasn’t been particularly useful for fantasy football in nearly two seasons. It feels blunt, but man, Andrews had an opportunity to play off Flowers in this offense without Ja’Kobi Lane and with a hot-and-cold Rashod Bateman. That was supposed to lead to a resurgence for Andrews as a fantasy asset. It’s sad!
Fantasy Advice: Andrews is touchdown-dependent at this point, so I’m not putting him in my lineups unless I’m really up against it with players on bye.
Browns Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: None
RB Quinshon Judkins
Judkins is Cleveland’s lead back “in theory,” as he handled 61% of the team’s rushing attempts, but he put up just 50 total yards on 14 carries and four targets. Raheim Sanders continued to handle a decent chunk of routes and snaps, recording five total touches against the Jets. It was an inefficient game overall for the Browns, who averaged just 3.0 yards per play, the lowest mark of Week 5. Speaking of 3.0, that’s also Judkins’ yards-per-carry average for the season. A lot isn’t right in Cleveland, and it’s going to take time to fix things. Unfortunately, we’re in the third decade of trying since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999.
Fantasy Advice: Judkins is very much an “eat your vegetables” volume-based RB2 for fantasy against the Ravens in Week 6. Baltimore has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Browns WRs
With KC Concepcion catching one pass for five yards before leaving the game with a concussion, the trio of Browns receivers running the most routes included Denzel Boston (3-46-1), although his production was nothing new. Veteran Jerry Jeudy (3-19 on five targets) also saw more time on the field, running routes on 89% of dropbacks. Isaiah Bond led the Browns in receiving yards (74) and targets (seven) against the Jets. Keep tabs on Concepcion’s status heading into Week 6 against the Ravens, as his absence would likely leave this trio with the most routes.
Fantasy Advice: Boston is a fairly solid midrange WR3 with upside to lead Cleveland’s receivers in Week 6, but Jeudy and Bond can be safely left off fantasy rosters. Concepcion must clear concussion protocol, but if he suits up, consider him a low-end flex play.
TE Harold Fannin Jr.
Technically, Fannin is a top-12 fantasy tight end at TE11, but he sure doesn’t feel like a great start right now. Outside of the touchdown he scored against the Steelers in Week 4, Fannin has just eight targets, four receptions and 31 yards over his last two games. He’s still running plenty of routes, with 85% route participation for the season, but Watson just isn’t looking for him the way Shedeur Sanders did in the back half of 2025. Fannin has simply been a mere mortal. Perhaps Boston and Concepcion are providing legitimate threats on the outside for Cleveland? Whatever the reason, Fannin’s lack of utilization is definitely a concern through five games.
Fantasy Advice: The hope is that the Browns realize they need to incorporate Fannin more into the offense to provide greater diversity. For now, he’s a low-end TE1 in an offensive environment that doesn’t do him many favors.
Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts
- Favorite: Colts -7
- Game Total: 44.5
- Implied Point Total: Colts 25.75, Titans 18.75
Titans Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: None
Titans RBs
Tony Pollard handled 14 carries for 52 yards before the game script turned against him against the Texans. That’s where Tyjae Spears came in, earning a team-high nine targets and catching all nine for 28 yards. Spears was the very definition of a “PPR scam” against Houston in Week 5, but overall, this is a low-floor, low-ceiling running game for the Titans. As long as Cam Ward poses little threat in the passing game and can’t get this offense to score points, any hope of a sustainable running game will be severely hampered.
Fantasy Advice: Against the Colts in Week 6, Pollard has a puncher’s chance of providing fantasy value, with Indianapolis allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Even with four teams on bye, there aren’t many scenarios in which I’d recommend Spears in fantasy lineups.
Titans WRs
*Sigh.*
I think this offense might be cooked until something big happens. It might take a different quarterback than Ward, a different offensive coordinator or both! There’s a decent amount of talent in this wide receiver group, starting with Carnell Tate, who earned five targets but caught only one for six yards. He also had a catch-and-run opportunity wiped out by a holding penalty.
Wan’Dale Robinson chipped in with a 6-53 line on seven targets. Here’s the thing: You’re clearly rostering Tate and probably rostering Robinson as well. But are you starting them? You can’t feel good about it. This is the worst offense in football, and it starts with Ward. He hasn’t looked like he belongs in the NFL after a season and change.
Fantasy Advice: This offense desperately needs some juice, and I’m not sure we’re going to get it this season. For now, keep Tate and Robinson on your rosters, but you can also drop Robinson if you need to pick up another player who can help you immediately.
Colts Fantasy Notes
Must-Start Players: RB Jonathan Taylor
Colts WRs
It’s honestly a wonder that Josh Downs has been effective this season, given the awful quarterback play from Daniel Jones. It’s been pretty bad, but Downs still has 20 receptions through five games, which is a minor miracle! Downs earned six targets against the Steelers, producing a 3-47 line with 99 air yards. Speaking of air yards, that’s exactly how the Colts attacked the Steelers. Indianapolis recorded 498 air yards in Week 5—the highest total of any NFL team that week and the second-highest total of any team this season, behind the Rams’ Week 3 game against the Broncos.
Nine targets made Keenan Allen the busiest receiver on the field for the Colts, even though he caught only five for 45 yards. After missing Week 4, Allen returned to his lowest snap share of the season (45%) and ran routes on just 62% of dropbacks. At this stage of his career, it’s hard to think of Allen as anything more than a target and reception compiler.
Fantasy Advice: Downs is still by far the safest bet in this Colts wide receiver room for targets, receptions and touchdowns. That makes him a solid WR3 despite the lack of consistency with Jones at quarterback. Allen is a fine flex, but his ceiling is a bit capped these days.
TE Tyler Warren
We talk about Downs being the most bankable wide receiver in this offense, but the best overall pass-catcher for the foreseeable future is Warren. Warren increased his aDOT to 9.9 yards in Week 5 against the Steelers and saw some nice downfield volume, with nine targets and a 7-83 line. Both figures led the Colts on the day. Warren is on pace for 100 receptions this season, but honestly, the only thing holding him back is the offense. We know it’s a Taylor-centric offense, but Warren’s work over the middle and his yards-after-catch ability could transform the passing game and give Jones and his fellow pass-catchers the help they sorely need.
Fantasy Advice: The only thing keeping me from calling Warren a must-start fantasy option is the fact that his offense tends to let him down at times. But he’s a TE1 through and through against a Titans team that has been competent against fantasy tight ends, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: The Outlook - Week 6 (SEA-DEN, HOU-JAC, CHI-ATL, BAL-CLE, TEN-IND)
