As we hit Week 6, big injuries at the receiver position will lead to new opportunities, while QB bye weeks need to be addressed.

Bye weeks and injuries continue to wreak havoc across the fantasy football landscape, leading to immense frustration among managers. And with the Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins and Vikings all getting the week off, hitting the waiver wire or digging deep into the bench now becomes quite important for the majority of fantasy managers. 

On top of all of that, the trend of underperforming stars continued In Week 5. Heavily-started talents Chris Olave (3 PPR points), Deebo Samuel (3), Dalton Kincaid (5.4), Marvin Harrison Jr. (5,6) and George Pickens (5.6) posted shockingly bad production despite having plus-matchups. In addition, high-expectation fantasy standouts like Travis Etienne Jr., Breece Hall, De'Von Achane, Tank Dell, Mark Andrews and Patrick Mahomes are still not delivering anywhere near their expected ROI.

So, amid all of that, which players should you turn to this week, and which ones should you look to avoid starting? Please remember that for purposes of this space, our weekly “starts” are players we’re targeting who are being started in 70% or less of Sleeper leagues at time of writing.

If you are under .500, don’t panic, as there is still plenty of time to turn your season around. With five weeks of data to sift through, it’s time to dive deep into our suggested starts and sits for Week 6:

STARTS

WR Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons

at Carolina; Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Mooney has been sensational in his first season in Atlanta, averaging 15 PPR fantasy points per game. In Week 5, he posted the third-most points (31.5) among all WRs with a two-TD showing vs. Tampa Bay. 

The speedy wideout, who heads into the Week 6 showdown with Carolina as the overall WR15, has thrived with opposing defenses focusing on Drake London. Owning a 22% target share, Mooney should be expected to surpass Sleeper’s WR34 (11.6 PPR points) projection for the fourth time this season.

Starting in just 46% of Sleeper leagues, Mooney draws a favorable matchup against a Panthers defense that has allowed an average of 147.2 yards per game and eight touchdowns total to opposing wideouts. 

WR Tank Dell, Houston Texans

at New England; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET 

Houston will be without the services of star WR Nico Collins for at least the next four games after he was put on IR with a hamstring injury suffered last week against the Bills. As painful as that news is for those who rostered Collins, the news is a major boost for Dell owners.

So far, Dell has been a major disappointment, ranking as the overall WR72 averaging a paltry 7.4 PPR points per game. 

In Week 6, Sleeper’s projected WR40 (10.2 points) draws a favorable matchup against a Patriots defense that has surrendered the eighth-most passing yards (1,254) on the season. Dell is poised to exploit a New England secondary that is surrendering a whopping average of 13.8 receptions and 164.2 yards per game to opposing wideouts. .

Despite his early-season struggles, this could be the perfect get-right spot for Dell to reclaim a prominent role in Houston's offense, with Collins’ targets (6.4 per game) up for grabs. The second-year wideout, who hauled in seven touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie, is only being started in 51% of Sleeper leagues. Don’t leave him on your bench in Week 6.

QB Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

at Carolina; Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET 

Cousins, who was averaging a dismal 11.6 fantasy points per game through the four games, exploded in Week 5 and finished as the overall QB1 with 35.4 fantasy points. The veteran threw for 509 yards and four TDs against Tampa Bay, and while those gaudy numbers aren’t likely to be replicated, he looks more and more comfortable in a Falcons uniform and has another great matchup.

Cousins, who is being started in only 21% of Sleeper leagues, will face a Carolina pass defense that is surrendering the third-most yards per attempt (8.1), the sixth-highest completion percentage (70.8%) and the second-most 40-plus-yard completions (4) to opposing QBs this season. 

If you need a bye week replacement for Patrick Mahomes or Sam Darnold, don’t hesitate to start Cousins.

RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

at New York Giants; Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET 

Brown, started in just 40% of Sleeper leagues, needs to be shown more respect by fantasy managers. While the status of Zack Moss (ankle) is uncertain, Brown could be in line for lead-back duties against a Giants defense yielding an average of 5.6 receptions and 48.8 receiving yards in the air to opposing RBs.

The overall RB27 in PPR formats is primed to crush Sleeper’s projection of RB23 (11.4 PPR points). Brown, who is averaging an impressive 5.6 yards per rush, is a trustworthy RB2 for those owners looking for a bye week replacement for Kyren Williams, Aaron Jones, De’Von Achane or Kareem Hunt.

WR Wan'Dale Robinson, NY Giants

vs. Cincinnati; Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

We listed Robinson in this section last week, and he did not disappoint, slotting in as the overall WR16 with 16 PPR fantasy points. It appears that the vast majority of fantasy managers are still sleeping on the third-year receiver, though.  

Owning an impressive 28.1% target share, Robinson has 11-plus PPR fantasy points in four of five games this season – good for overall PPR WR19.

In Week 6, Robinson draws a favorable matchup against a Bengals defense that allowed six opposing WRs to post double-digit PPR production: (Rashee Rice, Terry McLaurin, Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette, Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers). Robinson is only being started in 52% of Sleeper leagues but can easily exceed his WR25 projection (12.6 points) – even if Malik Nabers (concussion) is able to return after sitting out Week 5 against Seattle. 

SITS

QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

at NY Jets; Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET 

After two 30-plus performances in the first three weeks, Allen has struggled immensely. Over his last two games, he has averaged a disappointing 10.9 fantasy points in losses to the Ravens and Texans. Allen, who sits 22nd among all QBs in passing yards (945), belongs on the bench this week in a AFC divisional showdown with the Jets.

In Week 6, Allen will face a stout Jets pass defense that has allowed the second-fewest passing yards (806) and touchdowns (2) this season.

Historically, Allen has struggled against the Jets, throwing more interceptions (11) against New York than any other opponent in his career. Expect a third consecutive bad outing under the primetime lights of Monday Night Football.

TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills

at NY Jets; Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

In a correlated play with our suggested sit of Buffalo’s QB, the data suggests that fantasy managers should try to avoid Allen’s top receiving option.

Kincaid has only hauled in 15 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown in five games. Despite being on the field for 60.8% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps and leading the team in targets (24), he has failed to top 47 receiving yards in any game this season. 

In Week 6, Kincaid will face a Jets defense that has not allowed any touchdowns and only 25.6 yards per game to opposing TEs this season.

The TE position has been a wasteland, and you may not have a better-seeming alternative, but after Kincaid has posted single-digit PPR production in four of five games, fantasy managers need to temper expectations for a player being started in 87% of Sleeper leagues.

RB Brian Robinson Jr., Washington Commanders

at Baltimore; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET 

Robinson, started in 73% of Sleeper leagues, is an RB2 according to Sleeper’s RB16 projection (12.3 PPR points) for Week 6. On Sunday, he has a brutal matchup against a Ravens defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards (302) of any team this season. Even further, no opposing running back has eclipsed 46 yards on the ground, while the Ravens have only surrendered three rushing touchdowns to the position.  

Despite ranking as the overall RB9, averaging 15.5 PPR fantasy points per game, Robinson isn’t the slam-dunk start he’s proven to be thus far.

RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

vs. Detroit; Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET 

Dowdle was sensational last week, finishing as the overall RB3 after posting 19.4 PPR points against the Steelers. Despite stealing lead-back duties from Ezekiel Elliott, the emerging talent cannot be trusted in a tough Week 6 home meeting with the Lions.

Even after a blow-up performance by Kenneth Walker III in Week 4, the Lions have held opposing RBs to just 58.3 rushing yards per game. Dowdle, who has 24-plus receiving yards in three of five games, will find it hard to produce in the passing game facing a Detroit front seven that has held Kyren Williams (four receiving yards), Bucky Irving (0), Rachaad White (five) and James Conner (eight) in check.

With a slew of startable running backs on bye and a handful of others out injured, it will be difficult to bench the Cowboys’ best backfield threat, but fantasy managers need to dial back expectations for Sleeper’s expected RB24 and his 11.3 PPR-point projection. 

QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

at Denver; Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET 

Despite needing a replacement for Mahomes, Darnold and Matthew Stafford, fantasy managers should not put their trust in Herbert. 

He just had a week off to rest his injured ankle, but he has a brutal matchup against a Broncos defense that has allowed the second-fewest yards per attempt (5.8) of any defense over the first five weeks of the season. A showdown with Denver’s defense, which has secured more interceptions (5) than passing touchdowns allowed (4), is one to avoid in Week 6.  

Despite bye weeks and injuries, Herbert simply cannot be counted on for a tough, Mile High road test.

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