JUMP TO:
Welcome to the Week 6 edition of fantasy football starts and sits from The Sporting News.
"The Decider" is your one-stop shop for fantasy start/sit lineup advice in 2025 -- a unique mashup of rankings and matchup breakdowns to help you make those tough decisions on whom to play and not to play:
- There are several high-drafted fantasy players who should be in lineups every week when they're active. Those are the "regular starts."
- For those borderline options with favorable matchups, they are "stronger starts," while the recommended sits are "weaker starts."
- We're also basing our advice on 12-team, half-point PPR to split the difference between shallow and deep leagues and full-PPR and standard formats.
Going beyond the redraft league starts and sits, "The Decider" also includes some DFS picks for different styles of games on DraftKings and FanDuel.
Keep scrolling for how to put the best fantasy football lineups on "the field" for your critical fifth game with tips on starts and sits this week.
➕ FANTASY LINEUP TIPS: Week 6 Sleepers | Week 6 Busts | Week 6 Waiver Wire
Fantasy Football Week 6 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks
Must-start Week 6 QBs
- Josh Allen, Bills (at ATL)
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at NYG)
- Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at CAR)
- Jayden Daniels, Commanders (vs. CHI)
- Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. DET)
- Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (vs. SF)
- Justin Herbert, Chargers (at MIA)
- Drake Maye, Patriots (at NO)
Strong Week 6 QB starts
9. Matthew Stafford, Rams (at BAL): He can follow what C.J. Stroud did to this reeling pass defense on the road with better wide receivers overall.
10. Daniel Jones, Colts (vs. ARI): He just needs to get some rushing and a shot at a third TD because he has a high floor in a red-hot offense.
11. Jordan Love, Packers (vs. CIN): The Bengals stink all-around defensively and Love can build on his hot Week 4 in Dallas at home.
12. Caleb Williams, Bears (at WAS): He should be game for a second-year shootout rematch with Daniels.
13. Bo Nix, Broncos (vs. NYJ): The Jets' defensive meltdown is real and spectacular.
14. Mac Jones, 49ers (at TB): You can use him again for the high-scoring affair with Mayfield.
DFS QB Week 6 pick
- Justin Herbert, Chargers (at MIA, $6,300 on DraftKings, $8,500 on FanDuel): The running game is missing Omarion Hampton and the Chargers can smash through the air with more volume there in a great matchup for all of his receivers against the Dolphins.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker Week 6 QB plays
15. Bryce Young, Panthers (vs. DAL): Do this at your own risk as the Cowboys have enough in their front to contain him from destroying them on the back end.
16. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs. SEA): He's gritty and gutty but the Seahawks' pass defense is tough except for backs and tight ends.
17. Justin Fields, Jets (vs. DEN): You can't feel so easy about him as a plug and play against a hot defense in the London fog.
18. Kyler Murray, Cardinals (at IND): He is too hard to trust on the road with his inconsistency as a passer and runner.
19. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (vs. CLE): This is a low-scorign defensve-minded game where the groud will be king.
20. Jared Goff, Lions (at KC): He doesn't run which hurts him in this road matchup a lot.
📈 Click for our full set of fantasy football weekly rankings.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Start 'Em: Running backs
Must-start Week 6 RBs
- Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. ARI)
- Josh Jacobs, Packers (vs. CIN)
- Saquon Barkley, Eagles (at NYG - if active)
- Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. BUF)
- Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (at TB)
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at KC)
- Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (vs. TEN)
- De'Von Achane, Dolphins (vs. LAC)
- James Cook, Bills (at ATL)
- Quinshon Judkins, Browns (at PIT)
- Javonte Williams, Cowboys (at CAR)
- Kyren Williams, Rams (at BAL)
- Rico Dowdle, Panthers (vs. DAL)
- JK Dobbins, Broncos (vs. NYJ)
- Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (vs. CHI)
- Travis Etienne, Jaguars (vs. SEA)
- Tony Pollard, Titans (at LV)
- Derrick Henry, Ravens (vs. LAR)
- Breece Hall, Jets (vs. DEN)
- David Montgomery, Lions (at KC)
- Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (at JAX)
Strong RB Week 6 plays
22. Rachaad White, Buccaneers (at SF): You got to keep rolling with his dual role with Bucky Irving out again.
23. Cam Skattebo, Giants (vs. PHI): He'll get the necessary combined volume to comiple with a good shot at a TD.
24. Rhamdondre Stevenson, Patriots (at NO): He has restored himself as a backfield factor and this matchup is nice.
25. Hassan Haskins, Chargers (at MIA): The former Michigan back steps into a great spot with Hampton hurt.
26. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (at JAX): This former Michigan back (before UCLA) will get it done because the Jaguars give up rushing scores.
27. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (vs. DET): He scored twice on the Jaguars and is still geting key red zone and receiving looks.
DFS RB Week 6 Picks
- Josh Jacobs, Packers (vs. CIN, $7,300 on DraftKings, $8,700 on FanDuel): He can rip through a bad AFC North run defense for multiple scores.
- Kyren Williams, Rams (at BAL, $6,300 on DraftKings, $8,400 on FanDuel): He can rip through a bad AFC North run defense for multiple scores.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Sit 'Em: Running backs
Weaker RB Week 6 plays
28. Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. NE): The numbers just aren't there with Spencer Rattler not giving him checkdowns in Kellen Moore's offense.
29. Chase Brown, Bengals (at GB): Let's just pray this is a reverse jinx in a tough spot.
30. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers (vs. CLE): Whether it's him or Jaylen Warren, this matchup is awful.
31. D'Andre Swift, Bears (at WAS): This is more of a game where he's not involved in reliable production.
32. Michael Carter, Cardinals (at IND): He will have a tough time with the Colts' inspired front.
33. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (at NO): For now it's back to Stevenson in key spots. Stay tuned.
👮 PROTECT YOUR BACKFIELD: RB handcuff rankings and depth charts
Fantasy Football Week 6 Start 'Em: Wide receivers
Must-start Week 6 WRs
- Puka Nacua, Rams (at BAL)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at KC)
- Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (vs. TB)
- Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (vs. SF)
- Rome Odunze, Bears (at WAS)
- Davante Adams, Rams (at BAL)
- Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. DEN)
- Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals (at GB)
- George Pickens, Cowboys (at CAR)
- Deebo Samuel, Commanders (vs. CHI)
- Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (vs. DAL)
- Xavier Worthy, Chiefs (vs. DET)
- Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. LAC)
- DK Metcalf, Steelers (vs. CLE)
- Drake London, Falcons (vs. ATL)
- Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. NYJ)
- Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (at IND)
- A.J. Brown, Eagles (at NYG)
- DeVonta Smith, Eagles (at NYG)
- Quentin Johnston, Chargers (at MIA)
- Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. MIA)
- Ladd McConkey, Chargers (at MIA)
- Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (vs. SEA)
- Tee Higgins, Bengals (at GB)
Strong WR Week 6 starts
25. Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. LAR): He still is getting it done rather well with Cooper Rush and the Rams are good enough to burn in garbage time.
26. Calvin Ridley, Titans (at LV): He came to life in Arizona and stay cooking in the desert in an easier matchup.
28. Chris Olave, Saints (vs. NE): The Patriots can struggle with his routes well into the red zone.
29. Kendrick Bourne, 49ers (at TB): He might need to be the man again with Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings ailing.
30. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs. ARI): Keep going with him vs. his father's former team.
31. Stefon Diggs, Patriots (at NO): He keeps it up, too, against the Minneapolis Miracle familiar NFC foes.
32. DJ Moore, Bears (at WAS): He can get it done after ripping the Commanders in back-to-back games.
33. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (vs. NE): He can score on a long play for a second straight week.
DFS WR Week 6 picks
- Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (vs. SF, $7,200 on DraftKings, $8,100 on FanDuel): Egbuka has been crushing it near the top and you can pay up expecting him to follow Nacua and Adams vs. the 49ers.
- Davante Adams, Rams (at BAL, $6,700 on DraftKings, $7,800 on FanDuel): He can give the Ravens all kinds of trouble in the red zone and he's also been making more downfield plays.
- Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (vs. DAL, $6,000 on DraftKings, $6,600 on FanDuel): He tends to start hot then cool off without scoring. That changes on the Cowboys' struggling cornerbacks.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers
Weaker Week 6 WR plays
34. Jameson Williams, Lions (at KC): The action hasn't been there deep of late so it's hard to feel him vs. the Chiefs' secondary.
35. Jakobi Meyers, Raiders (at IND): The whole non-Bowers passing game looks bad for the Raiders.
36. Khalil Shakir, Bills (vs. NE): Go back to cooling on him and Keon Coleman.
37. Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (at SF): He's been a little too much eased into action.
38. Jerry Jeudy, Browns (at PIT): He's getting lost between the rookies and tight ends.
39. Romeo Doubs, Packers (at CIN): He needs a TD to cash in or it's bust.
40. Matthew Golden, Packers (at CIN): He needs a big-play TD to cash in or it's bust.
41. Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (vs. PHI): It's the tight end show with Dart without Malik Nabers.
🧰 NEW - FANTASY TOOLS: NFL Player Stats | NFL Transactions | NFL Depth Charts | Fantasy Injury Reports
Fantasy Football Week 6 Start 'Em: Tight ends
Must-start Week 6 TEs
- Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (at CAR)
- Tucker Kraft, Packers (vs. CIN)
- Tyler Warren, Colts (vs. ARI)
- Trey McBride, Cardinals (at IND)
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. DET)
- Dalton Kincaid, Bills (at ATL)
- Sam LaPorta, Lions (at KC)
- Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at TB)
Stronger Week 6 TE starts
9. David Njoku, Browns (at PIT): Turns out he needed the trust of Dillon Gabriel, not former Brown Joe Flacco, to be trusted again.
10. Juwan Johnson, Saints (vs. NE): The matchup is too good vs. the team that gave a hundy to Kincaid.
11. Hunter Henry, Patriots (at NO): He'll get back on track with a TD on the other side.
12. Brenton Strange, Jaguars (vs. SEA): They'll go back to him more often with the matchup dictating such for sure.
13. Darren Waller, Dolphins (vs. LAC): The matchup doesn't feel great but the usage does.
DFS TE Week 6 pick
- Tucker Kraft, Packers (vs. CIN, $4,700 on DraftKings, $6,700 on FanDuel): Sam LaPorta woke up to smash this spot against the Bengals and a healthier Kraft at home after the bye will to.
Fantasy Football Week 6 Sit 'Em: Tight ends
Weaker TE Week 6 starts
14. Jake Tonges, 49ers (vs. TB): The Bucs did give up two scores to A.J. Barner but let's not chase those, please?
15. Zach Ertz, Commanders (vs. CHI): The Bears are decent against the tight but worse on wide receivers.
16. Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs. LAR): He's really been slowed down by Rush.
17. Mason Taylor, Jets (vs. DEN): The increased targets are nice but this matchup isn't at all with a TD being the only hope.
18. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. BUF): Both the Bills and Falcons are tough on tight ends.
19. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (at PIT): Fade Fannin in relation to Njoku because you're just hoping for a TD.
Fantasy Football Week 6: Defense/special teams best starts
- Green Bay Packers (vs. CIN)
- Philadelphia Eagles (at NYG)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (vs.CLE)
- Denver Broncos (vs. NYJ)
- Los Angeles Rams (at BAL)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. SEA)
- Cleveland Browns (at PIT)
- Las Vegas Raiders (vs. TEN)
- Indianapolis Colts (vs. ARI)
- Dallas Cowboys (at CAR)
- Buffalo Bills (at ATL)
- New England Patriots (at NO)
- Tennessee Titans (at LV)
- Detroit Lions (at KC)
DFS Week 6 D/ST pick
- Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. SEA, $2,800 on DraftKings, $4,000 on FanDuel): They have been consistent in forcing big turnovers and getting key sacks with their young playmakers in the new defense and it keeps up vs. the long-traveling Seahawks.
🎙️LISTEN: Get more of Vinnie Iyer's weekly fantasy football analysis five days a week by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.
📋 More Week 6 fantasy advice:
- Saquon Barkley injury fantasy tip: Pick up AJ Dillon or Will Shipley?
- Omarion Hampton injury fantasy outlook: Pick up Chargers' Hassan Haskins or Kimani Vidal?
- Joe Flacco Bengals fantasy tips: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Chase Brown
- RB Drops Week 6 • WR Week 6 Drops • TE Week 6 Drops