2025 Fantasy Football Week 6: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em

After Chuba Hubbard suffered a calf injury in Week 4, Rico Dowdle stepped up. In Carolina’s win over the Miami Dolphins, Dowdle rushed 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown.

Hubbard is questionable to play this week, but even if he returns, he might be eased back into the lineup. Dowdle should see the lion’s share of carries against a weak Dallas Cowboys defense.

Sit: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints, RB

At 30 years old, the days of Alvin Kamara dominating in fantasy are certainly behind him. Through five weeks of the season, he ranks 24th among running backs, with less than 300 rushing yards and only one touchdown.

The Saints’ offense played well against the New York Giants, but that was an outlier. They’re facing a Patriots team that held James Cook to 49 yards, and his first game without a touchdown this year.

Start: Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots, WR

The Patriots pulled off an upset win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football, and the entire offense now feels like a “start ‘em”. Stefon Diggs has seemingly returned to form, shredding Buffalo’s defense with 10 catches for 146 yards.

New England is facing off against a worse defense in the Saints. With zero touchdowns on the season so far, Diggs is due to hit some paydirt. This is a great fantasy matchup for him and Drake Maye, ride with the Pats here.

Sit: Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars, WR

Brian Thomas Jr. is a terrific wide receiver, one who’s usually an automatic start. The Jaguars’ offense has been fun to watch, but it isn’t exactly a fantasy juggernaut. They’re 4-1 as well, which makes BTJ’s lack of production even more confusing.

New head coach Liam Coen has found a way to utilize Trevor Lawrence’s abilities. Whether it’s a lack of targets or hard-to-catch passes, Thomas Jr. isn’t playing to his potential. He’s facing off against a tough Seattle defense on Sunday. If you have other options, they might be worth exploring.

Start: Evan Engram, Denver Broncos

Evan Engram started 2025 slowly, but after missing Week 3 due to a back injury, he’s bounced back to become one of Bo Nix’s favorite targets. He’s had 13 passes come his way in the last two weeks, and finally found the endzone in Week 5.

Engram still hasn’t had a breakout game, but he’s in a productive system where he’s being fed the ball. Bo Nix will likely continue to lean on him, and he’s facing an abysmal New York Jets defense. 

Sit: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It might be tempting to pick up and start Cade Otton after last week’s performance. The tight end had a season high in targets (five), catches (four), and yards (81). The Buccaneers were in a shootout with the Seattle Seahawks, and it seemed like everyone was eating.

Tampa Bay is facing the San Francisco 49ers, and their defense is not friendly to tight ends. They’ve allowed less than 100 yards and only one touchdown to tight ends in 2025. Otton’s Week 5 production was fun, but don’t expect him to replicate it.

End Of My Fantasy Football Rant

Ball knowledge is important in Fantasy Football, but luck plays a major factor. James Cook is among the best running backs in the NFL. He had a down week while Rico Dowdle, a backup, rushed for over 200 yards. Fantasy is unpredictable, but sometimes, it’s easy to figure out who should stay on the bench.

Check out my full NFL Week 6 Preview & Predictions Here!