2021 Fantasy Football: Week 6 Start ‘Em & Sit ‘EmÂ
Let’s take a look at some names to lock into your lineup, as well as a few to stay away from as we prepare for our Week 6 fantasy football matchupss. Don’t forget to set your lineups ahead of tonight’s Thursday Night Football matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And with that, let’s dive into the quarterback lock of the week from tonight’s TNF contest…
Quarterback
Start of the Week: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ pass defense has been one of the best in the league, allowing just under 195 yards per game. They also haven’t played the ageless wonder that is Tom Brady yet. That’s who they will be facing tonight in primetime. This means Hurts is going to have to throw to keep up with the Buccaneers’ offense. Hurts may be without tight end Dallas Goedert, however, his chemistry with rookie wideout Devonta Smith has been exceptional to begin the 2021 season. For Hurts owners, the volume will be there both through the air and on the ground as he’s averaging 36 pass attempts per game, along with just under nine rushing attempts per contest. It also helps that Tampa Bay is allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in the league. Their secondary has been absolutely atrocious. Hurts is going to eat tonight!
Start: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford has clearly developed an excellent rapport with Cooper Kupp, however, the gunslinger finally managed to get Robert Woods involved in the action too in Week 5. Woods managed 11 receptions for a whopping 150 yards last week. After struggling with the Lions for the past decade, Stafford has really put the Rams’ offense on his back. In Week 6, he gets a Giants defense that is allowing 270 yards per game through the air. The G-Men may need to add players off the street to their offense considering the numerous injuries they have endured at the skill positions. Despite the fact that the Rams could put this game away quickly, Stafford will have enough time to accumulate solid stats before this game becomes a blowout. After all, he is averaging 317 yards per game this season, and he should get close to that mark this week along with a couple of touchdown tosses.
Sit: Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
The Bills’ defense has been lights out this season. They’ve collected nine interceptions, as well as being the only team in the league to not yet allow 1,000 yards through the air. Tannehill will have to throw to keep up with the Buffalo offense, but it’s going to be a rough go for him. Julio Jones remains questionable heading into the game, but even if he suits up, I don’t think it matters much. Plus, AJ Brown has yet to get on the same page with Yannehill since returning from a hamstring injury. The Titans are going to run their offense through Derrick Henry as usual. If that doesn’t work, they are in trouble.
Running Back
Start of the Week: Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Mixon was questionable heading into last week’s game with an ankle injury and didn’t seem to make the injury worse. His workload was limited, but he still managed to get into the end zone. Samaje Perine definitely stole some work from Mixon and Perine actually performed well, however, this offense still runs through Mixon. There’s nothing pointing to him not playing, so I look for him to handle a decent-sized workload. If Joe Burrow ends up not playing due to last week’s throat contusion, Mixon will be leaned on even more than usual. Detroit is allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position, so if Mixon is in line for success in Week 6.
Start: James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Dolphins defense has let running backs hurt them both rushing and receiving out of the backfield. Their 33 receptions to RB’s are tied for second-most in the league, and they allow the most points to the position through five weeks. Robinson has tallied 18 rushes in each of his last two games. While he hasn’t been involved in the passing game a ton, he figures to get a few more targets than normal for you PPR owners. Hopefully, Urban Meyer will be aware of how good his running is this week. It’s about time Meyer realized that Robinson is the best offensive player on this roster.
Sit: Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks
Carson is expected to return from a one-week hiatus to face an underperforming Steelers defense. Pittsburgh is allowing 100 yards per game on the ground, but that is actually one of the better averages in the league. Seattle will be led by veteran journeyman Geno Smith in the wake of Russell Wilson’s hand injury. The Seahawks still have some scary weapons in the passing game with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. That is one of the scariest wide receiver tandems in the NFL. Meanwhile, the running game has been pedestrian up to this point and with Wilson sidelined, it likely won’t fare any better in Week 6. The Steelers will look to shut the run game down and force Geno Smith to beat them. I wouldn’t feel comfortable starting any Seahawks this week outside of Metcalf.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers
As much as I hate the matchup in this game for the Seattle running backs, I love the Claypool matchup against the Seahawks secondary. Plus, JuJu Smith-Schuster suffered a season-ending injury last week, which means that Claypool will enter the lineup as an every-down receiver. Last week, Claypool hauled in five catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Expect similar production in Week 6. The Seahawks have allowed 74 receptions to the position as well as six trips to the end zone. Seattle is also in the bottom half of the league in sacks, with 10 thus far. Claypool has been targeted 32 times over the past three games against some bad defenses. He could easily see double-digit targets in Week 6.
Start: Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Pittman appears to finally be asserting himself as the go-to guy for Colts’ QB Carson Wentz. The second-year wideout has been targeted 39 times over the past four games but has still only scored one touchdown. Houston hasn’t been terrible against the run, but that’s a result of them being busy allowing 134 rushing yards per game. While I like Jonathan Taylor in this matchup, Pittman will provide numbers out of your WR3 spot this week. Following a big game in Week 5, return to the well with Pittman.
Sit: Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens
Brown got in on the fantasy smorgasbord on Monday night with nine catches for 125 yards and two scores. He has gotten into the end zone in all but one game this season and has two 100-yard games under his belt after having just one in all of 2020. As impressive as he has been, it figures to be a tough Week 6 against a Chargers defense that is third stingiest to fantasy wideouts. This shapes up to be one of the more entertaining games of the week and a true test for Brown.
Tight End
Start of the Week: Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
Much like the aforementioned Michael Pittman, Cox has begun to develop a solid rapport with his new quarterback. After a slow start, Cox has been targeted nine times over the past two games. As good as Houston’s overall numbers against the passing game look, it can’t be overlooked how generous they have been to the tight end position. With 35 receptions for 377 yards and four touchdowns, they are the worst in the league in defending the position. If you’re getting burned by guys like my sit for this week, Cox is available, and in a great spot for Week 5.
Start: Jared Cook, Los Angeles Chargers
Cook is one of many weapons for emerging superstar Justin Herbert, but his production has been inconsistent. He is still capable of big weeks at the position but has become very touchdown-dependent in this system. The Chargers head into Week 5 against a Ravens defense that suddenly isn’t as scary as it used to be. As bad as Houston is against the position, Baltimore has actually allowed more yards to tight ends. He makes for an intriguing plug-and-play this week.
Sit: Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
As much as I love my fellow Sycamore, he’s killing me! He’s killing you! Other than a decent Week 3 performance against Detroit, Tonyan has been forgotten in this offense. I hold out hope he and Aaron Rodgers get back on the same page, but until then, we need other options. Chicago is one of the best in the league at defending the position, so it won’t be any easier this week. Try to land Cook or Cox off the waiver wire.
Kicker
Start of the Week: Chase McLauglin, Cleveland Browns
He’s 9 for 9 on field goals, and 13 for 13 on extra points. The Browns face a Cardinals team in a matchup that Vegas believes could be in the 50’s for total points. There’s light rain in the forecast at this point in the week, so continue to monitor it closer to game day.
D/ST
Start of the Week: Pittsburgh Steelers
As I said before, Geno Smith isn’t scaring anyone. The Steelers will be after him early and often Sunday. They have been better against the run than the pass, ranking near the bottom in fantasy points allowed to running backs. It will be a long day for the Seahawks offense as I don’t look for them to get much going in this cross country, prime-time matchup.
