Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week 6

I don’t just throw darts at a board. Every recommendation you’re about to read is forged in the fires of analysis. I’ve dived into snap counts and target shares, crunched player utilization data, and I’ve cross-referenced those numbers with recent results and projected defensive matchups. But that alone doesn’t win championships. After all the numbers are crunched, I add the final, crucial ingredient: my battle-tested spidey-sense. My gut feeling that turns data into ‘dubs. It’s my blood, sweat, and tears of the process that gives us the edge. With all that in mind, here is my advice on all those Week 6 Start/Sit decisions that will make or break your fantasy football matchups this weekend.

Week 6 Start/Sit

QUARTERBACKS

Start: Justin Herbert (LAC @ MIA) – Soft-tissue Miami coverage looks attackable in the intermediate zones, and this game’s script favors 35-40 dropbacks. PFF’s pass-rush/coverage blend has graded Miami closer to league-average than elite, which Herbert can neutralize with quick-game/YAC staples. Usage is bankable: top-tier dropback volume, condensed target tree, and red-zone pass rate should keep the ceiling intact.

Start: Matthew Stafford (LAR @ BAL) – Baltimore’s outside corners can be stressed by the Rams’ motion/stacks, and Stafford has been aggressive on early downs. Even with a respectable Ravens pass-rush grade, Stafford’s time-to-throw plus play-action keeps pockets workable. Usage trends point to 35+ attempts with premium target consolidation to his top two options. (More on that below.)

Sit: Michael Penix Jr. (ATL vs BUF) – Buffalo disguises post-snap looks well and limits explosive pass plays; that’s a tough read-heavy assignment for a mehhhhhh starter. Buffalo’s secondary typically grades out in the top-third, shrinking windows in the intermediate. Atlanta’s offense tilts run-first in neutral situations, capping raw dropbacks and fantasy ceiling.

Sit: Aaron Rodgers (PIT vs CLE) – Cleveland’s defense pairs top-tier pass-rush and sticky coverage, a combo that historically squeezes big plays and forces shorter times-to-throws. Pittsburgh’s neutral-script tendencies lean conservative with a steady rush rate, which trims Rodgers’ opportunities. Unless he spikes early efficiency, you’re betting into a unit that converts pressure at a high rate and caps downfield shots – making Rodgers more floor than ceiling this week.

RUNNING BACKS

Start: Josh Jacobs (GB vs CIN) – Cincinnati’s front can be moved in gap schemes and has leaked chunk gains after contact. Run-defense and tackling have graded the Bengals unevenly, a signal to lean into Green Bay’s run rate near the stripe. Jacobs’ snap share and short-yardage monopoly keep 20-touch, TD equity squarely in play.

Start: Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WSH vs CHI) – Chicago has been more forgiving to running backs in the passing game than to perimeter wideouts, and a home script should keep Washington leaning into RB touches. The Bears’ run-defense and tackling have been so-so at best, making screens and angle routes an efficient way to chunk yards. Plus, usage is trending up for Croskey-Merritt – more inside-the-10 work and growing third-down snaps give him both floor and TD equity.

Sit: Jaylen Warren (PIT vs CLE) – Cleveland’s front is stout on early downs and limits yards before contact, forcing backs into low-success carries. The Browns’ run-defense/pass-rush combo is among the toughest weekly puzzles for RBs. With Warren sharing key snaps and sometimes ceding goal-line work, the touch floor is fragile.

Sit: Chase Brown (CIN @ GB) – Green Bay’s defense tackles well in space and typically rallies to RBs on outlet work. The Packers’ linebackers generally offer fewer freebies than most on angle routes and screens. With role volatility in an extremely uneven offense with Browning at the helm, and a hostile Lambeau script, Brown profiles as TD-or-bust this week (most weeks).

WIDE RECEIVERS

Start: Davante Adams (LAR @ BAL) – The Rams can stress Baltimore’s perimeter with isolation and stacked releases, giving Adams clean wins on slants, digs, and back-shoulders against outside corners that have been more vulnerable than the safeties. Even if the Ravens’ pass-rush/coverage shows up, Adams’ elite release package and quick-hitting route tree mitigate any pressure and create immediate throwing windows. Usage stays premium – high target rate, steady red-zone involvement, and full-time snaps keep double-digit targets firmly in play.

Start: Deebo Samuel (WSH vs CHI) – Chicago’s zone looks can be pushed by pre-snap motion and cross-field misdirection, which sets up Deebo’s signature in-breakers, jet action, and YAC-heavy touches. As previously mentioned, the Bears’ second level has shown inconsistent tackling/fit discipline, making schemed touches and screens usable plays. Usage stays premium – rushing attempts plus manufactured targets give him a sturdy floor with real red-zone juice.

Sit: Zay Flowers (BAL vs LAR) – If Cooper Rush starts, the Rams’ simulated pressures and match-zone rules are built to squeeze a late-to-trigger passer, forcing checkdowns and stalling drives. Los Angeles has limited first-read access outside and compressed throwing windows, which is a bad combo for a QB struggling with accuracy and turnover-worthy plays. Expect Baltimore to lean run-heavy to hide the quarterback, shrinking Flowers’ target volume and lowering the quality of his looks.

Sit: Jameson Williams (DET @ KC) – Kansas City’s safeties squeeze vertical shots and funnel throws underneath, reducing Williams’ splash-play odds – which is where his value lives. The Chiefs’ coverage scheme has trended strongly, forcing WRs into efficiency over explosiveness. His role remains high-variance with target spikes tied to the game script, not stable usage.

After you digest our Week 6 Start/Sit, make sure to check out our top Waiver Wire Pickups for the week!

TIGHT ENDS

Start: Tucker Kraft (GB vs CIN) – Cincinnati has been more generous to TEs on seams and sit routes than to boundary WRs. The Bengals’ coverage spacing can be exploited – an area where Kraft excels. Kraft’s role is secure in this scheme with end-zone targets and play-action crossers, giving him a stable floor and decent ceiling in most matchups.

Start: Jake Ferguson (DAL @ CAR) – Let’s face it – with CeeDee shelved, Jake is the clear-cut TE1 in fantasy. So we obviously keep riding. Carolina’s underneath zones are very attackable, a Ferguson specialty. The Panthers’ second-level discipline has wavered recently in grading, which boosts TE efficiency. With a massive target share and red-zone looks, Ferguson is a volume-plus-TD must-start.

Sit: Darren Waller (MIA vs LAC) – The Chargers’ coverage rules are especially stingy against tight ends – safeties squeeze, and YAC has been limited with sound tackling. In this matchup, Miami’s path likely runs through perimeter speed and RB matchups, leaving Waller with capped volume and lower-quality targets. He’s been great so far, don’t get me wrong – I just don’t like the matchup.

Sit: Chig Okonkwo (TEN @ LV) – The Raiders have quietly handled tight ends with bracket leverage and physical reroutes. Even with an average pass rush, fewer busted zones in the hook/curl are bad news for Chig’s route tree. Plus, as Cam Ward has evolved week to week, that camp chemistry with Chig fades. And with talk of Gunna Helm’s role increasing, I don’t like it for Chig. His role remains boom-or-bust with inconsistent targets outside of schemed shot plays.