Yet another NFL Sunday is upon us, meaning it’s time for the latest edition of our weekly must-starts column. Last week’s selections saw a bit of a down week as Justin Herbert and Woody Marks flopped, but Garrett Wilson posted a nice outing of 19.1 points to salvage the column and keep us at 1-for-3. The process certainly wasn’t bad though, so we run it back once more.
We now enter Week 6 of the campaign, officially 1/3 of the way through once this week’s games end. There’s plenty of data to look at, and after crunching the numbers, we’ve got another three must-start players. Whether a player to build lineups around or an insane value with matchup and salary, these are guys who can smash and win you a contest this week. Let’s jump right in.
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QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots, $5,900
If you’re anything like me, your love for Drake Maye has only grown this season. The Patriots’ young signal-caller averaged 19.9 FPPG and posted at least 21 DKFP in three of his five contests, so there’s some solid fantasy production here with both a stable floor and high ceiling thanks to his rushing prowess. Very quietly, the second-year stud has nearly paced the NFL in completion percentage at 73.9% (trailing only Jared Goff’s 75.2%). Maye is also fifth in passing yards with 1,261 despite having nowhere near the caliber of weapons the top-four QBs do (Stafford, Prescott, Jones and Mayfield, for those keeping score at him). Now, his seven passing touchdowns are relatively pedestrian, but he’s racked up 110 yards and two rushing scores on the ground, some respectable numbers. New England enters a matchup against the Saints in Week 6, a team with an average-at-best defense that’s given up 11 passing touchdowns and lacks standout cornerbacks. Game script should lean favorable to the Patriots, and with Stefon Diggs emerging as a standout receiver once more, Maye sees the potential to boom.
RB Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys, $6,400
When Javonte Williams signed with the Cowboys on a one-year prove-it deal, the potential for a rebound campaign felt possible, albeit unlikely. With five games under his belt in Dallas, the 26-year-old’s resurgence has become one of the most heartwarming stories in the sport. A brutal knee injury a few years back left his career in jeopardy, but he now shows every bit of potential he once held as a top-ranked fantasy halfback. Williams averages 21.5 FPPG with at least 13 DKFP in every game and 19 or more DKFP in four of five contests. He’s a touchdown-scoring machine with five on the year but also sees bell-cow usage with the 10th-most carries (79), third-most rushing yards (447) and 13th-most targets (18) among halfbacks. The bruising back doesn’t have the long speed he once did, but he’s averaging a very efficient 5.7 yards per attempt with nine explosive runs of 10+ yards as well. The opposing Panthers have quietly cleaned up their historically bad rush defense, at least somewhat, but they’re middle-of-the-pack at best against the run and Williams will have plenty of touches and scoring opportunities while operating in this high-octane offense.
WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts, $5,400
We close out list of three with a wide receiver as usual. Michael Pittman Jr.’s comeback story from a horrible back injury suffered last season also belongs up there with Williams’ own return to form, and while he’s not a superstar, he’s sure worth a look in lineups this weekend. The Colts’ top wideout ranks 14th in receptions (26), 28th in yardage (273) and fifth in touchdowns (4) among all players at his position… with Daniel Jones as his quarterback. Indianapolis’ offense sits among the NFL’s elite units this season thanks to the new signal-caller and Shane Steichen’s scheme work, and they don’t show signs of slowing down. A crafty route-runner with good size, Pittman Jr. faces a Cardinals defense ranked 28th in passing yards allowed and 18th in defensive EPA/pass. In a game which should be competitive for at least the first half, there’s not too much concern about getting game-scripted out and the matchup appears soft for the Colts’ passing attack. At this salary, Pittman Jr. is an easy mainstay in lineups.
