Welcome back to Cap’s Fantasy Corner, your go-to article series for all of your fantasy football needs! In this week’s edition, I’m breaking down my favorite starts and sits at each position, giving you a one-stop-shop for your start/sit questions for Week 6 of the NFL Fantasy Football season. You won’t find obvious starts in this article. If you have Patrick Mahomes, of course, you’re starting him. The point of this article is to preview the best matchup-based starts for your teams. If you want the best fantasy football tools, personalized fantasy coaching, and a team of experts at your disposal this season, then be sure to sign-up for our premium fantasy football season pass.
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Quarterback Starts of the Week
Taylor Heinicke vs. Kansas City Chiefs
In 4-point per passing TD scoring, Heinicke currently stands as the QB16 overall. He’s been inconsistent in terms of scoring, but I believe we’re in for another Heinicki spike week against the porous Chiefs defense. Through 5 games, the Chiefs are allowing the most fantasy points in the league to the quarterback position. The Washington Football Team defense has not lived up to its billing thus far, so I’m fully expecting a high-scoring affair between the two teams this weekend. Beyond a good passing day, Heinicke does offer anywhere from 20-40 rushing yards per game on a weekly basis, which helps raise his floor to a level where I feel comfortable starting him as a fantasy QB1 this week. Heinicke is only being rostered in 8.5% of leagues and started in 3.7%, so he’s a perfect streaming option to hold you over with some teams on a bye week.
Carson Wentz vs. Houston Texans
No one said these start/sits had to be pretty. Hate on Wentz all you will, but he’s eclipsed 20 points 4 out of 5 games this year. Wentz draws perhaps his best matchup of the season against the division-rival Houston Texans. While the Texans looked better last week against the New England Patriots, this defense is still allowing the 13th most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. With the Colts defense looking less than stellar, I’m expecting another 20+ point performance for Wentz this week.
Quarterback Sits of the Week
Ryan Tannehill vs. Buffalo Bills
Ryan Tannehill just has not lived up to the consensus expectations of becoming a late-round QB darling for your fantasy teams. Currently the QB20, Tannehill has been streaky through 5 games, much like the Titans as a whole. Tannehill has failed to crack 20 fantasy points 3/5 games this season and now matches up poorly with the Buffalo Bills defense, who is allowed the fewest points to fantasy quarterbacks this year. If you have another option to pivot to, then look to sit Tannehill this week.
Justin Fields vs. Green Bay Packers
There’s no disputing Fields’ talent and the fact that every fantasy football analyst out there wants Fields to blow up this week, but I can’t start Fields with confidence until he proves it, or until Head Coach Matt Nagy is fired. Through 2 games as a starter, Fields is only averaging 10 fantasy points a week. The Bears are throwing the ball 20 times a game, Fields is only rushing the ball 3 times a game, and the fantasy points just aren’t there yet. To become fantasy-relevant on a weekly basis, Nagy needs to let Fields run and open up the offense. I don’t see that happening since Nagy seems to insist on holding his rookie QB back, so I’m fading Fields until further notice.
Running Back Starts of the Week
D’Andre Swift vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Swift may seem like a “must-start” every week (which he is to me), but I get far too many questions during the week like, “Swift or ____?” Nine out of ten times, the answer is going to be Swift. In Full-PPR scoring formats, Swift comfortably sits as the RB7 overall for fantasy football with an average of 18.24 points per week. The loss of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow hurts, but as a pass-catching back, Swift is less likely to see a significant decrease in fantasy output. The Bengals allow an average of 25.36 fantasy points to running backs each week, and in what figures to be another negative game script for the Lions in a tough matchup against the high-flying Bengals offense, Swift should be utilized early and often in the passing game.
Darrel Williams vs. Washington Football Team
With Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire sidelined multiple weeks with an MCL sprain, you can feel confident in grabbing Williams off of waivers and immediately starting him this week against the Washington Football Team. Washington has not been the elite defense many thought they would be coming into this season. When Edwards-Helaire went down, Williams inherited the majority of the touches in this backfield. Williams has shown good efficiency through limited touches and figures to be a solid RB2 play for as long as Edwards-Helaire is out.
Running Back Sits of the Week
Alex Collins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Even if Chris Carson remains out of the Seahawks’ lineup this week against the Steelers, I’m doing everything I can to leave Collins on my bench. In an expanded last week against the Los Angeles Rams, Collins only had 9.20 PPR points on 15 rushes and 2 catches. The Steelers defense allows the 4th fewest fantasy points to running backs, so Collins is a fade for me this week, regardless of Chris Carson’s status.
Devin Singletary vs. Tennessee Titans
Zack Moss seems to have taken over as the running back you want out of the Bills backfield. Singletary failed to receive double-digit touches last week and is only averaging 8.9 PPR points per week. Unless you’re playing him out of sheer desperation, then leave Singletary on the bench this week in a matchup against the Titans, who allow the 12th fewest points to running backs.
Wide Receiver Starts of the Week
Tee Higgins vs. Detroit Lions
In his first game back from injury, Higgins had 5 receptions on 7 targets for only 32 receiving yards. The catches and targets are there, and I don’t expect the receiving yardage total to stay low against a Detroit secondary that features a folding chair at cornerback (and I’m a Detroit fan). I expect Higgins to break at least one big play for a touchdown in this matchup and he has the potential to give you a week-winning performance in what projects to be one of the higher scoring games on the weekend.
Chase Claypool vs. Seattle Seahawks
I know, Big Ben is washed. I’m not shocking anyone when I say Roethlisberger is not what he once was. However, with Juju Smith-Schuster landing on season-ending injured reserve with the recent injury and surgery on his shoulder, Claypool is in a prime breakout spot against the soft Seahawks secondary. Not only do the Seahawks allow the 5th most fantasy points to wide receivers, but Claypool is coming off a hot 5 catch for 130 yards and 1 TD performance against the Denver Broncos. Claypool’s target share and opportunities should increase this week with the loss of Smith-Schuster. Claypool projects as a high-end WR2 play for me in all lineups this week.
Wide Receiver Sits of the Week
Marvin Jones vs. Miami Dolphins
At first glance, this is a great matchup for Marvin Jones’ fantasy value, but there are concerns lingering that wane my confidence in starting Jones this week. Jones has posted back-to-back weeks of single points performances for fantasy (5.40 and 3.50 points respectively). Pair that with the fact he’s only received 8 total targets the past two games despite the loss of receiver D.J. Chark, and all arrows are pointing down on Jones’ fantasy value. He could also draw coverage from cornerback Xavien Howard in this matchup, which does nothing to help ease the concerns of fantasy managers. With how inconsistent and unpredictable this offense has been all season, I have no choice but to leave Jones on my bench this week.
Cole Beasley vs. Tennessee Titans
Beasley started the year on an absolute tear on the back of a high target volume. That volume has vanished in recent weeks, with Beasley only seeing 4 targets in the last 2 games combined. With the emergence of tight end Dawson Knox in the offense and the involvement of Emmanuel Sanders in recent weeks, Beasley is a full fade for me; even in a plus matchup against the horrifically bad Titans defense.
Tight End Starts of the Week
Zach Ertz vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Remember Zach Ertz? Yeah, he’s still alive and well, folks. With Dallas Goedert landing on the COVID-19 reserve list, this is a perfect time to stream Ertz in your TE-depleted leagues. In full-PPR formats with Goedert in the lineup, Ertz has already posted double-digit points twice this year (15.30 and 12.00). Ertz should see anywhere from 6-8 targets this week in a matchup with the Buccaneers, who allow the 5th most fantasy points to tight ends.
Noah Fant vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Fant posted a measly 5 points last week, but a bounceback should be in order against the Raiders, who allow the 11th most fantasy points to tight ends and now have a coaching staff in flux. Fant has posted double-digit points 3 out of 5 games this year. With fellow tight end Albert O recently landing on season-ending IR, Fant will receive all the tight end targets going forward. With how thin the tight end position is, Fant brings high-upside this week at a spot in your fantasy roster that sorely needs it.
Tight End Sits of the Week
Jared Cook vs. Baltimore Ravens
The matchup is juicy on paper for Cook. The Ravens defense allows the 3rd most fantasy points to tight ends, so it looks like Cook is a smash play at first glance. However, the target share has been streaky for Cook, making him extremely hard to trust weekly. With the continued emergence of tight end Donald Parham in this offense, I can’t justify starting Cook.
Jonnu Smith vs. Dallas Cowboys
Smith had the easiest matchup of the week last week against the Texans, who allow the most fantasy points to tight ends in the league. Smith has done nothing with these prime opportunities thus far this season, while Hunter Henry has emerged as a go-to target for rookie quarterback Mac Jones in recent weeks. Smith should be on your bench this week if you roster him, or dropped to the waiver wire in favor of Henry.
Defensive Starts of the Week
Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots
If you’re not playing the Cowboys DST at this point, then you’re still living in the year 2020. In 2021, the Cowboys have been a Top-5 DST and currently sit at DST4 overall. Last week against the Giants, the Cowboys forced 2 INTs and scored one defensive TD, while holding the Giants to just 20 points. I expect them to keep the hot streak rolling against a struggling Patriots offense this week.
Los Angeles Rams vs. New York Giants
The Rams DST has been middle of the pack (DST16), but expect that to change this week against an injury-depleted Giants offense. The Giants could be without multiple starters (Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay, and more). This is a great matchup for the Rams, who should hold this to a low-scoring affair as well as force multiple sacks and turnovers.
Defensive Sits of the Week
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks
With Russell Wilson out of the lineup, this may seem insane. But, if you watched the past Seahawks game, you would have seen Geno Smith perform more than admirably in spot work. The Steelers defense is not the steel curtain of old and they’ve been giving up a slew of points outside of Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. The only hope here is T.J. Watt getting home on a few sacks, but outside of Watt, the Steelers are a full fade at DST for me.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers had a down showing last week against the Eagles, but don’t be quick to forget just how good this offense is when it’s firing on all cylinders. With the likely return of star running back Christian McCaffrey this week, I’m fading the Vikings DST. I’d expect this game to be a high-scoring matchup. While Darnold is still prone to the occasional bone-headed play, I don’t think it’ll be enough to offset this bad matchup for the Vikings.
I hope you enjoyed these start/sits and that you win all your fantasy matchups this week! To find more of my fantasy advice, follow me on Twitter @ClinicCapp. You can also listen to my weekly podcast, where I go more in-depth about players and matchups each week.
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