Fantasy Football Rankings Week 6: Sleepers, projections, starts, sits | Roschon Johnson, Josh Downs and more

The Week 6 fantasy football rankings, game previews, sleepers and more have all the information you need before setting your lineups. Plus, we revisit our childhood in the special Fun with Ranks list. Don’t forget about the buys and sells either, as now is the time to start thinking about shaping your team for the second half.

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Week 6 Waivers | Week 6 SOS Ranks (THU)
Fantasy Football 101 (weather, lineups, trading, more)
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WEEK 6 FANTASY FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

** BYES: GB, PIT **

Broncos at Chiefs, TNF

• Jerry Jeudy has 51.5% of the Broncos’ team air yards in the past two games. That would rank first in the league this season, ahead of Davante Adams and A.J. Brown.
• Isiah Pacheco has 76.7 and 73.9 RBTouch% in the past two games, respectively. That’s 75.5% combined and would rank fourth, only behind Joe Mixon, Josh Jacobs and Travis Etienne, putting Pacheco in bellcow territory.
• Russell Wilson had his lowest AirYD/ATT since Week 1 at just 5.7 (Week 1 was 4.0). That 5.7 mark would be the lowest for all qualified quarterbacks this year behind Geno Smith at 6.2. The Chiefs are tied for the 10th-most AirYD/ATT allowed at 8.0, while the Jets are seventh-stingiest at 6.8.

Ravens at Titans, 9:30 a.m., London

• Gus Edwards leads the Ravens with 51.0 RBTouch%, but he’s not far ahead of Justice Hill in FPPG (7.0 to 6.9). An active Keaton Mitchell would make this backfield entirely avoidable until we get clarity.
• Week 5 was the first time DeAndre Hopkins ran 100% of the routes… and looked 100% healthy and showed the explosiveness (he still has). Not coincidentally, Hopkins had his best game.
• The Ravens allow the eighth-least FPPG to receivers, but it’s weighted in just three touchdowns allowed, as they’ve allowed the fifth-most receptions and 16th-most wideout yards.

Commanders at Falcons, 1 p.m.

• The Falcons have the toughest RushEPA, give up the fifth-fewest RBPPG (10.2) and allow just 3.8 YPC (12th)… but are fifth-most-favorable to slot receivers.
• Brian Robinson is fourth in RBTouch% (73.1), has handled 100% of the Commanders’ G2G rushes, and is T-7 with five goal-line rush attempts.
• Kyle Pitts’ best game since Week 8 of last year came with his third-lowest Route% of his career (64.1%) and lowest this year by 19.2 percentage points.

Vikings at Bears, 1 p.m.

• Cam Akers had 38.9 RBTouch% in his second Vikings game, while Alexander Mattison managed 46 yards and a touchdown on 10 touches — Akers had 7-for-18.
• Justin Fields targets his running backs third-most (22.4% tied with Brock Purdy and Desmond Ridder).
• Roschon Johnson had 22-103-1 on the ground and 10.3 TmTGT% for 12-11-58-0 receiving before Week 5.
• Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn ran 100% of the routes after Justin Jefferson left but Brandon Powell also had 72.7% in the fourth quarter for a deep, desperation play.

Seahawks at Bengals, 1 p.m.

• The Seahawks allow the most plays per game to opponents (72.8), while — for reference — the Browns allow the fewest at 51.8.
• In the Bengals’ best offensive performance this year, they ran 79 plays in Week 5.
• Seahawks run the most zone (85.2%) and DK Metcalf has 2.42 YPRR against zone (28th, min 10 routes) versus 1.30 YPRR against man (78th).
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba saw a bump in Route% and TmTGT% in Week 4 (72.4% and 23.1% were both his highest to date) but still had just 4.3 AirTD/TGT.

49ers at Browns, 1 p.m.

• The Browns run man coverage more than anyone and have the toughest WR EPA matchup.
• Before garbage time in Week 4, Jerome Ford had 70.6 RBTouch% and Kareem Hunt 29.4%, but Hunt didn’t have a single target. Deshaun Watson didn’t play, but Hunt also only ran two routes to Ford’s 25.
• The Browns allow just 51.8 Plays/G (Bills second lowest 56.6) and 0.00 YBC. For how insane that is, the next lowest number as far back as TruMedia goes (2012) is 0.65 YBC by the Buccaneers in 2012, a team we considered benching even fringe RB1s against.

Panthers at Dolphins, 1 p.m.

• The Dolphins lead the league in EPA per Play (0.24), are second in EPA per Dropback (0.33) and first in EPA per Rush — the latter with the biggest gap from first to second (0.22 to 0.09).
• The Panthers are most-favorable in defensive RushEPA while middle of the pack against the pass.
• Since the Week 1 stinker, Adam Thielen is 12th in TmTGT% (28.6), 19th in TmAirYD% (32.5), fourth in targets (44), second in receptions (36), ninth in yards (382) and T-4 with three receiving touchdowns.

Colts at Jaguars, 1 p.m.

• Zack Moss had the first 30+ point RB game against the Titans since Christian McCaffrey played for the Panthers (Week 9, 2019).
• Josh Downs sees a 84.6 RouteTGT%, 27.3 TmTGT% and 39.6 TmAirYD% with Anthony Richardson compared to 80.0%, 23.1% and 18.8% with Gardner Minshew.
• Minshew has completed 68.7% of passes to 59.5% for Richardson, with 6.5 AirYD/ATT to 8.0 and 2.4% TD/ATT to 3.6%.

Saints at Texans, 1 p.m.

• The Texans are seventh in Plays/G (66.8) and sixth in Pass Plays/G (39.6). C.J. Stroud is third in YD/CMP (12.8).
• Dameon Pierce had 100% of the Texans’ RB touches in Week 5. Devin Singletary ran 14 routes and had just one target.
• In his two games since returning, Alvin Kamara has 16.1 FPPG, 71.0 RBTouch% and 27.0 TmTGT%. Those numbers would rank 10th, eighth and first, respectively, on the season (Josh Jacobs is the season leader with 18.8 RBTouch%).

Patriots at Raiders, 4 p.m.

• Only the Browns have a worse EPA per Dropback than the Patriots (-0.25 to -0.32).
• Jimmy Garoppolo has the worst EPA per Dropback when pressured (min 20 dropbacks), but he has the sixth-best when not pressured. The Raiders allow the second-lowest pressure rate, and the Patriots force only the 20th-highest mark.

Cardinals at Rams, 4 p.m.

• Matthew Stafford made Cooper Kupp his first read on 40.0% of his passes, which is fourth-highest for the season. Puka Nacua was 26.7% in Week 5 after 36.5% in the first four weeks — that 26.7 mark would still be good for 28th.
• After being the first read 15.2% of the time before Week 5, Michael Wilson was just 6.3% last week, and watching the Bengals coverage, they kept Wilson in front of them, delaying his ability to get open.
• The Rams are sixth in EPA/Play, ninth in EPA per Dropback, and sixth in EPA/Rush, and the Cardinals are sixth-most favorable to passing and seventh-most to wide receivers.

Eagles at Jets, 4 p.m.

• The Eagles stop runners regularly on the first tackle attempt with a league-low 1.86 YAC rushing (Bills worst at 4.70, Broncos second at 3.56).
• Breece Hall had the third-highest Week 5 RB score, but was just 11th in RBTouch% with Michael Carter equaling him with three targets.
• The Eagles allow the fewest FPPG to RBs (9.1) and only the 49ers allow fewer RB rushing yards per game (49.2 to 43.4).

Lions at Buccaneers, 4 p.m.

• Lions are the best matchup for slot receivers in EPA (Rams second, Vikings third).
• The Lions allow the third-fewest RB rushing yards per game (49.6) and have only given up a combined 17-113-0 receiving to them.
• Jared Goff has the fifth-best EPA/Dropback when not pressured, and while the Buccaneers have the 24th-lowest pressure rate, Goff has a 0.16 EPA/Dropback indoors versus 0.04 outdoors with 4.9 TD/INT vs. 2.2 TD/INT the past two years. This will be a real test if Goff can show up outdoors.

Giants at Bills, SNF

• Only Bryce Young and Joe Burrow have worse YD/ATT than Daniel Jones’ 3.8 mark when pressured. Jones doesn’t regularly look downfield when scrambling and hones in on the first-down marker. The Bills have the 10th-highest pressure rate.
• James Cook’s RUATT% dropped to a season-low 50.0 in Week 5, but the Giants present a get-right spot being the third-most favorable matchup for running backs in RushEPA.
• Once Tyrod Taylor came into the game, Darren Waller had a 36.4 TmTGT% after 20.8 on the season with Daniel Jones.

Cowboys at Chargers, MNF

• The Cowboys have the highest pressure rate (50.9%), but Justin Herbert has the third-best QBR and sixth-best EPA per Dropback when pressured with 12.6 AirYD/ATT (fourth).
• Tony Pollard’s fantasy points have dropped weekly, and his touches have dropped each week since Week 2 with just 45.8 and 50.0 RushATT% the past two games.
• The Chargers have the seventh-lowest opponent Rush% but have given up a rushing touchdown in three of their four games, and Pollard had 14 G2G rushes and nine goal-line attempts, with the next closest Cowboy having two each. Similar to James Cook, the opportunity is here for Pollard to reverse his downward trend.
• The Chargers allow the most yards per target and second-most YPRR to slot receivers.

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WEEK 6 FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPERS

These are sleepers (DuckTales and Darkwing Duck style — Woo-oo is worthy of the risk in most leagues, and Dangerous is if you need a Hail Mary). They will not mimic my rankings 100%. This is about chasing upside and often carries more risk — put simply, they are upside plays you might consider over a solid floor option.

Woo-oo Worthy

• QB: Jared Goff, DET
• RB: Rhamondre Stevenson, NE; James Cook, BUF
• WR: Chris Godwin, TB; K.J. Osborn, MIN
• TE: Logan Thomas, WSH

Let’s Get Dangerous

• QB: Baker Mayfield, TB
• RB: Alexander Mattison, MIN; Chuba Hubbard, CAR
• WR: Drake London, ATL; Josh Downs, IND
• TE: Tyler Conklin, NYJ

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WEEK 6 BUY LOW, SELL HIGH

These are players to maximize value on, as a “Buy Low” doesn’t mean trade for them everywhere, and a “Sell High” doesn’t mean getting rid of them at all costs. These are simply potential under and overvalued players in trades.

Buy Low

• QB: Daniel Jones, NYG (big rushing uptick when Saquon Barkley plays)
• RB: Tony Pollard, DAL; Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (schedule eases up); Miles Sanders (health)
• WR: Chris Olave, NO; Deebo Samuel, SF (better after CLE but if he goes off versus them, too late); DeVonta Smith, PHI; CeeDee Lamb, DAL (should go off in this matchup)

Sell High

• QB: Jared Goff, DET (next two games are outdoors)
• RB: Breece Hall, NYJ (only if get Top 10 value); Raheem Mostert, MIA (if RB1 value since Jeff Wilson could spoil it)
• WR: Jordan Addison, MIN (only if you get Top 20 value to avoid risk he’s no better); DJ Moore, CHI; Gabe Davis, BUF (if Top 25 value)

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FUN WITH RANKINGS!

Back to “fake” life stuff after last week’s list of things that will hurt after turning 30. I’m a ’90s kid, as I feel the majority of you are, so why not reminisce with the greatest NickToon shows of our childhoods?

Top 10 NickToon Cartoons

1. SpongeBob SquarePants — I mean, what other cartoon has its own Top 10 song list? The memes, jokes… everything. It’s the CMC of NickToon shows.
2. Hey, Arnold! — Not just one of the best NickToons, it’s one of the best cartoons for 90s kids dealing with some important issues, which might have even gone over our heads at the time.
3. Doug — Life lessons, love and laughs. Doug was as awkward as every kid watching it, and his dog, Porkchop, is one of the best dogs of all time.
4. Avatar: The Last Airbender — Looks too good for NickToons, and introduced many to a manga-based, anime-like style of animation.
5. Rugrats — Who would have thought a cartoon based on life from the eyes of babies could be so good — and talk about deeper issues… how about even death?
6. The Ren & Stimpy Show — I was worried my parents would see me watching it and stop me. There were some disgusting jokes, some that were fairly adult-level and others we definitely missed at the time, but yet, I still know the Log song!
7. Rocko’s Modern Life — Might have even been more adult than Ren & Stimpy with some of its jokes, but also, laundry day is the most dangerous day!
8. Fairly OddParents — Magic created laughs for each episode. Skews lighthearted and less serious than most on this list.
9. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters — Monsters who try — often failing — to scare everyone turn out to be pretty amusing and fun.
10. CatDog — It’s a dog and cat in one body. Yea, it’s as weird as you might imagine, as even their house looks like them.

Honorable Mention: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — It’s the best iteration of any TMNT cartoon, but it didn’t feel like it fit — both for the time it came out (2012) and style looking nothing NickToon about it. But go back and watch it. Amazing.

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WEEK 6 FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

These can differ from my rankings, and my ranks are the order I’d start players outside of added context, such as, “Need highest upside, even if risky.” Also, based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR

Download Link Added Thursday

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WEEK 6 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

• There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to properly work.
• ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently, so take with a grain of salt).
• Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)