Week 6. Another slate to appease our DFS fix. What?! Only a couple of more weeks before it’s all about treats and tricks? Oh, how I like to have fun in these intros. Trust me, it’s not just for the clicks. A selfish endeavor I must admit; purely for giggles and kicks. But you can’t stop reading because the words transfix like Miyagi trying to catch a fly with two chopsticks. There will be no politics, only a mention about the amount of fantasy points produced by one Bo Nix.
Houston and Minnesota have a bye this week.
We’ve got 10 games on this main slate. Per DraftKings Sportsbook, three games have spreads of three points or less. The biggest favorite is Green Bay at home over Cincinnati by 14 points. Five games have a total of at least 45 points, with DAL/CAR the highest at 49.5 points. The lowest total is the CLE/PIT at 37.5 points. There are five home dogs.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.75M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st].
Quarterback
Stud
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers ($6,500) – Prescott has put up at least 25 FPTS in three of five games this season, with a high of 34 FPTS. He’s playing at an elite level right now, completing 71.3% of his passes and leads the NFL in completions, pass attempts and first downs. What’s assisted in the robust numbers has been the defense, or lack of in Dallas. The pass defense has allowed 12 touchdowns and the second-highest EPA per dropback. This game has the highest total on the slate and Carolina is expected to put up points. And they are home dogs. If so, then Dak will have to remain aggressive. Carolina is dead-last in pressure rate at 8.3%.
Other Options – Baker Mayfield ($6,600), Justin Herbert ($6,300), Jordan Love ($6,200), Brock Purdy ($6,100) if he plays
Value
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys ($4,800) – Well, here we go again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. But as Alphaville sang, “Forever Young.” Young has failed to hit 200 yards passing in all but one game this season. He has finished with double-digit FPTS in every contest, but only one above 20 FPTS. In that one game, though, he produced 26.3 FPTS. Dallas will likely score points, forcing Carolina to keep pace. Dallas is fourth in pressure rate, but has allowed 12 passing touchdowns and the second-highest EPA per dropback.
Other Options – Drake Maye ($5,900), Mac Jones ($5,600) if he plays, Cam Ward ($4,600), Dillon Gabriel ($4,400)
Running Back
Stud
Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($7,300) – The Packers are coming off their bye so they should be well-rested. Green Bay is also at home as the biggest favorite on the slate at 14 points. The game script should be very favorable for the run game and Jacobs should get plenty of opportunities to punch it in. Cincinnati has also allowed the ninth-highest EPA per carry this season.
Other Options – Jonathan Taylor ($8,500), Christian McCaffrey ($8,400), De’Von Achane ($7,800), Ashton Jeanty ($6,900), Javonte Williams ($6,400), Kyren Williams ($6,300)
Value
Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys ($5,800) – Last week, Dowdle rumbled for 206 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in lieu of Chuba Hubbard. He also caught three of four targets for 28 yards. Hubbard hasn’t practiced this week and is unlikely to play in Week 6, which means Dowdle should be the bellcow for the Panthers once again. And it’s a revenge game for Dowdle as he began his career with the Cowboys and played four seasons in Dallas. The matchup is a good one as Dallas has allowed the 11th-highest EPA per carry.
Other Options – Rashaad White ($6,000), Quinshon Judkins ($5,900), Rhamondre Stevenson ($5,300), Hassan Haskins ($5,000), Kimani Vidal ($5,000)
Wide Receiver
Stud
George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers ($6,800) – Last week, Pickens only caught two of four targets for 57 yards, as he was shadowed by Sauce Gardner. He still scored a touchdown, though, something he’s done in four straight contests. The Panthers do not have a shutdown corner, so Pickens should get back to getting peppered with targets. In the prior three weeks, he garnered 11, nine and nine targets. CeeDee Lamb hasn’t practiced yet and will likely be out in Week 6. If he does return, then pivot off Pickens.
Other Options – Puka Nacua ($8,700), Emeka Egbuka ($7,200), Davante Adams ($6,700)
Value
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots ($4,600) – New England has one of the best run defenses in the NFL, so the Saints’ offense will likely tilt towards the air. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez will likely shadow Chris Olave, which should allow Shaheed to run wild in the secondary. And this game will be on the fast New Orleans turf. Last week, Shaheed caught four of five targets for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Other Options – Tetairoa McMillan ($6,000), Stefon Diggs ($5,800), Ladd McConkey ($5,700), Keenan Allen ($5,600), Michael Pittman Jr. ($5,400), Romeo Doubs ($5,200), Matthew Golden ($5,000), Calvin Ridley ($4,900), Ryan Flournoy ($3,600)
Tight End
Stud
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($4,700) – Kraft leads the Packers with 20 targets on the season. Despite that, his game high is only seven targets. He has scored two touchdowns on the season and finished with 124 yards in Week 2. The matchup is one of the best for tight ends as Cincinnati has allowed 34 receptions (2nd), seen 49 targets (1st), 345 yards (4th) and four touchdowns (2nd).
Other Options – Trey McBride ($5,500), Jake Ferguson ($5,300), Tyler Warren ($4,900), Hunter Henry ($4,300)
Value
Hunter Long, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Seattle Seahawks ($2,500) – Brenton Strange is out with an injury so Long should be the beneficiary. Long received a season-high 60% of snaps after Strange went down last week. Long leads the tight ends with three red zone opportunities and the matchup is as good one because Seattle is tough to run on and have been generous to tight ends: 35 receptions (1st), 45 targets (2nd), 313 yards (8th) and three touchdowns (3rd).
Other Options – Jake Tonges ($3,700), David Njoku ($3,500), Harold Fannin Jr. ($3,400), Michael Mayer ($3,100), Oronde Gadsden II ($2,600)
Defense/Special Teams
Stud
Packers DST vs. Cincinnati Bengals ($3,700) – The Packers are coming off their bye so they should be well-rested. This game is at home after being on the road the prior two weeks. There is some uncertainty with the matchup because the Bengals made a quarterback change to Joe Flacco. He is a veteran and could stretch the defense, but he hasn’t been good for a few years and the offensive line is porous. Green Bay is sixth in pressure rate while only blitzing at the 25th-highest rate.
Other Options – Rams DST ($3,500), Colts DST ($3,300), Patriots DST ($3,100)
Value
Jaguars DST vs. Seattle Seahawks ($2,800) – The Jaguars lead the league with 14 takeaways, 10 of those interceptions. Sam Darnold has been very good this season, but he has to travel across the country for this one.
Other Options – Seahawks DST ($2,700), Browns DST ($2,500)
