Roman Bruno
Content Contributor
The classic, all-helpful Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em series has reached Woodward Sports! This will be a weekly series by yours truly, and I hope for it to be your main source for fantasy football advice throughout the season. Have any questions? I have the answers! Welcome to Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Week 6.
Start ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins (MIN) @ Miami Dolphins
Cousins has not been very consistent this season, but he gets a great matchup this week against a Dolphins team led by third string QB Skylar Thompson. The Dolphins defense has been great for QBs in fantasy, as they have allowed the second-most fantasy points-per-game to the position (22.5). Miami has also allowed 277 yards per game, in addition to a 8:1 TD:INT ratio. This game should not cause any concerns for fantasy managers. Fire up Cousins this week as a top QB streamer in Week 6.
Geno Smith (SEA) vs. Arizona Cardinals
Who would have thought Geno Smith would be one of the best fantasy QBs this season thus far? Smith has proved a lot of people wrong and is playing at a high level with the cast of weapons around him. He faces the Arizona Cardinals this week, a team that has given up the eighth-most fantasy points to QBs this season. It seems as though Smith has graduated from a streaming option to a weekly starter, and managers should treat him as such. Smith’s impressive start to the season also gives managers more confidence in WRs DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to produce. Keep riding the Smith train.
Running Backs
Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) @ Cleveland Browns
Stevenson had a monster performance last week against the Detroit Lions, the worst defense in the league. He finished the game with 25 rushes for 161 yards. With Damien Harris expected to miss some time, Stevenson will be the bell-cow starter with increased volume. He was one of the top waiver wire pickups of the week. This week, Stevenson faces a Browns defense that has given up 93.8 rushing yards-per-game and the fourth-most fantasy PPG to RBs (28.7). Stevenson can be locked into starting lineups until the Pats Week 10 bye. Feel very confident in Stevenson this week.
Kenneth Walker III (SEA) vs. Arizona Cardinals
K9 was another top waiver wire pickup this week when Rashaad Penny was ruled out for the season with a broken fibula. Seattle has some other depth options that will have a role, but Walker should be the starter moving forward. Many thought Walker was one of the best, if not the best running back from the 2022 Draft. He will have an opportunity to prove that this week. Although the Cardinals have only given up 76 rushing yards-per-game to RBs, Walker has a lot of upside and should be started as a RB2/high-end FLEX option. He is the star of this week’s Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em. Let’s see what the rookie from MSU can do!
Wide Receivers
Michael Pittman Jr. (IND) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts offense has been a major letdown this season. Many thought Matt Ryan was an upgrade from Carson Wentz, but the offense has not seen much improvement. Michael Pittman Jr. was expected to breakout this season, but through five weeks, he has not lived up to the hype. Use this as a vote of confidence for him, as they take on a Jaguars defense that has given up some great fantasy performance to the WR position. Look for Ryan and Pittman to get back on track in this game to propel them forward as competitors in the division.
Gabe Davis (BUF) @ Kansas City Chiefs
Davis was on an absolute tear last week in their blowout win against the Steelers. Davis only caught three passes, but totaled 171 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills offense is most successful through the air, and Josh Allen will throw it all over the yard. Buffalo gets a juicy matchup this week against the Chiefs, a rematch from last year’s Divisional Round. Davis finished that wild playoff game with 201 yards and four touchdowns. KC has allowed 38.7 fantasy PPG to receivers this season, so expect Davis to have another fantastic game.
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill (NO) vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Swiss army knife Taysom Hill dominated last week, finishing with four total touchdowns. Read this article to see why Hill was a top waiver wire pickup this week and what he can provide to fantasy teams this season. As a streaming TE, Hill is a viable option. If you have a tight end on bye this week, it is not a bad idea to plug Hill in and see what happens. His ceiling is very high.
David Njoku (CLE) vs. New England Patriots
Njoku has been impressive this season, as he has finished the last three games with 70+ receiving yards. He is seeing a decent amount of targets, proving that he has a sustainable role in the Browns offense. Njoku is becoming more than just a weekly streamer. If he keeps up this production, he can be a TE you can start almost weekly.
Defense/Kicker Streamers of the Week
In addition to the skill player Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Ems, here are my top streaming options for Defense/ST and Kicker:
Cleveland Browns vs. New England Patriots
Chase McLaughlin (IND) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Sit ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Carson Wentz (WAS) @ Chicago Bears
Wentz was limited in practice this week with a shoulder injury, but he will be active for Thursday Night Football against the Bears. The injury is still concerning, however. One important stat to note is that when Wentz throws for 300+ yards, he finishes the game with 22+ fantasy points. When he fails to reach 300+ yards, he gets less than 10 fantasy points. It is hard to believe Wentz will be throwing it a whole lot, especially if they are leading for most of the game. The Bears defense only allows 197 passing yards-per-game as well, so the roadmap for a letdown performance is there. Avoid Wentz if possible.
Marcus Mariota (ATL) vs. San Francisco 49ers
Mariota has been a streaming option in previous weeks, but this matchup against the 49ers is not favorable. San Francisco has allowed 8.91 fantasy PPG to QBs, the lowest in the league. Mariota does not throw it enough either to warrant the consideration of a good performance, as he has thrown the ball 25 times or fewer in the last three games. There is not much upside for Mariota this week, and it would be best to find another streaming option.
Running Backs
Najee Harris (PIT) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Should fantasy managers be concerned about Najee the rest of the season? I think water will find its level eventually, but it does not seem like he will pay off his early ADP price. The sophomore only has one touchdown this season and has yet to eclipse 100 rushing yards in a game. Harris goes up against a stout Buccaneers defense as well, so it is hard to trust Harris this week and potentially beyond. Rookie Kenny Pickett still has to settle into the offense and that has seemed to have impacted Najee too. It will be tough to leave him on the bench, and perhaps some teams cannot afford to bench him. Start him if you have to, but bench him if you have better options.
AJ Dillon (GB) vs. New York Jets
Dillon has been in a serious slump since the opening weekend of the season. He has not reached the endzone since Week 1. Last week in London, Dillon had a season-low in snaps and touches. He will always be RB2 behind Aaron Jones, so it has been hard to rely on consistency. Dillon still has the talent and potential to work his way back to a weekly FLEX play, but he needs to be on the bench for now. Even though it is a nice matchup against the Jets, managers will have to swallow the pill and leave Dillon out of starting lineups.
Wide Receivers
DJ Moore (CAR) @ Los Angeles Rams
With QB P.J. Walker expected to suit up as the starter for the Panthers, it is really hard to trust any Panthers WR. Moore has not been a very productive fantasy option this season, as he has yet to have a 14-point game this season. He does not get a favorable matchup this week either, as the Rams defense will always provide a dangerous challenge. Moore is too unpredictable to start, and if he does have a good game within the next few weeks, look to trade him while his stock is up.
Jakobi Meyers (NE) @ Cleveland Browns
Meyers had his best game of the season last week against a poor Lions defense, hauling in seven balls for 111 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots offense was able to do whatever they wanted, but they will now face a Browns defense that will certainly be more of a challenge. Rookie QB Bailey Zappe has done well the past two weeks, but I believe the Browns will be the team to make him look like the Day 3 rookie that he is. Look for other options this week if possible, as the Browns solid defense will look to overwhelm Zappe.
Tight Ends
Hayden Hurst (CIN) @ New Orleans Saints
Hurst had a nice game week week, totaling six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Hurst is a touchdown-dependent tight end, so it is hard to trust him to produce in back to back weeks. The volatility is not something managers should be interested in, and even if Hurst does find the endzone, he can still put up a dud performance. Not much of a high ceiling, and he should be benched this week against a Saints defense that has only allowed 33 yards-per-game to TEs this season.
Dalton Schultz (DAL) @ Philadelphia Eagles
Schultz has been hampering a knee injury the last couple weeks and has not been much of a factor in the Cowboys offense. Expectations have been relatively high for the TE, but he has yet to produce to the level of his ADP. He went without a catch the last two games, but that was with Cooper Rush. He can be a fine option when Dak Prescott returns from injury, but bench him in he meantime.
Stay tuned for next week’s Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em!
Photo Credit: Bob Breidenbach / USA TODAY NETWORK
