Week 6 brings another round of bye weeks, and this time we’re missing at least six players drafted in the first two rounds of most fantasy drafts. That’s a whole lot of production to replace. Let’s be real. No one expects you to find Jahmyr Gibbs-level production on the waiver wire, but that doesn’t mean we’re waving the white flag. With the right matchups and opportunities, we can give ourselves the best chance to stay competitive and walk away with a Week 6 win.
Bye Weeks: Cincinnati, Miami, Detroit and Minnesota
QB: Jordan Love, Green Bay vs. Dallas
Why I like him: The Packers have had their share of struggles this season, but Love hasn’t been the problem. Despite ongoing issues along the offensive line, Love enters Week 6 with the third-most passing yards in the NFL. Green Bay
finally seemed to exorcise some demons in its Week 5 win over Chicago.
Unlike in previous seasons, when predicting where the targets would go in Green Bay felt like a weekly guessing game, Love now has two reliable options in Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. Both rank among the top 10 in receiving yards through five games, giving Love two legitimate weapons in the passing game.
This week, Love faces a Cowboys defense that has been particularly generous to opposing quarterbacks, allowing an average passer rating of 121.6, 231 passing yards and two touchdowns per game. With his receiving weapons producing and a favorable matchup on tap, Love has everything he needs to deliver another strong fantasy performance.
The play: Love is a solid QB1 streaming option in Week 6, with upside for a top-10 finish against a Dallas defense that has struggled to contain opposing passing attacks.
RB: Emanuel Wilson, Seattle vs. Denver
Why I like him: Wilson has taken full advantage of his opportunity since Jadarian Price landed on injured reserve. Over the past two games, Wilson has carried the ball 41 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns, while George Holani has been relegated to a backup role with no indication that’s changing anytime soon.
The matchup makes Wilson even more appealing. Seattle travels to Denver in Week 6 to face a depleted Broncos defense that has struggled to stop the run. Denver has already surrendered four rushing touchdowns and is allowing 4.5 yards per carry — the eighth-highest mark in the league. With a steady workload and a favorable matchup, Wilson has a great opportunity to keep the momentum going.
The play: Wilson is a solid RB2 or flex option in Week 6, particularly for fantasy managers looking to replace production lost to bye weeks.
WR: Khalil Shakir, Buffalo vs. Las Vegas
Why I like him: Shakir has quietly become a reliable piece of the Bills’ passing attack, commanding an 18.8% target share and accounting for 23.4% of the team’s first reads this season. With DJ Moore battling injuries, Shakir has stepped up, averaging 51 receiving yards per game.
Fresh off an overtime win in Los Angeles, Buffalo heads to Las Vegas for a favorable matchup against a Raiders defense allowing 32.5 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. With the Bills’ offense firing on all cylinders, Shakir has a great opportunity to turn his steady involvement into a productive fantasy outing.
The play: Keep an eye on Moore’s injury status, but even if he suits up, Shakir is a strong flex option in Week 6 with a favorable matchup and a productive Buffalo offense behind him.
TE: Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia vs. Carolina
Why I like him: The Eagles’ offense has been absolutely decimated by injuries. An already struggling offensive line is relying on younger and less experienced players, nearly the entire backfield is dealing with significant injuries and DeVonta Smith is still working his way back from a hamstring injury. Philadelphia is running out of reliable options, making Goedert’s return in Week 5 even more important.
Goedert couldn’t have picked a better time to return. In the Eagles’ London matchup against Jacksonville, he led the team with nine targets, commanding a 22.5% target share. With so many moving pieces on offense, Jalen Hurts needs a familiar, dependable target right now.
Goedert also gets a favorable Week 6 matchup against a feisty Carolina Panthers team. Their defense allows an average of five receptions and 53 receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends. With the Eagles needing to lean on their healthy playmakers, Goedert should have plenty of opportunities to produce.
The play: Goedert is a solid TE1 streaming option in Week 6, with the potential for another high-volume performance as Hurts looks for stability in a depleted Eagles offense.
FLEX: Brenton Strange, Jacksonville vs. Houston
Why I like him: Bet you didn’t see this one coming. Strange is second on the Jaguars in target share, trailing only Parker Washington. Strange has commanded an 18.8% target share, the eighth-highest mark among tight ends, and has run routes on 70.3% of Jacksonville’s passing plays. Those aren’t exactly the numbers you’d expect from a tight end who has largely flown under the fantasy radar.
Strange is averaging 10 fantasy points per game in traditional PPR formats, and this week’s divisional matchup against Houston gives him another opportunity to produce. The Texans have already surrendered some big performances to opposing tight ends this season, making Strange an intriguing option for fantasy managers looking to fill a hole in their lineups.
The play: Strange is a legitimate flex consideration in PPR leagues this week, particularly for managers dealing with bye weeks and injuries. In tight-end premium formats, he’s a no-brainer.
One Last Thing
We’re in the heart of the fantasy season, and staying focused can give you an edge. Some of your league mates will start losing interest, especially if their teams aren’t winning, but don’t let that be you. Keep paying attention to usage, matchups and opportunities. Those little decisions can make all the difference when the playoff race heats up. Keep grinding.
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Stacy’s Streamers: Five Players to Start in Week 6
