The 2025 NFL season is somehow a quarter of the way through, proving that time flies when you're having fun winning DFS contests. The Sporting News surges forward to Week 6, with its top daily fantasy sleepers and values of Sunday's main slate.
The best way to win prizes in DFS: target value picks. That's where this column comes in — we scour the DFS player pools, pinpoint the most overlooked and undervalued names, and serve them up for you on a proverbial platter.
If you can't find the best deals, you probably won't be winning on Sunday. Let us do the research for you — we'll highlight the best players at every position on DraftKings and FanDuel, so you can create an optimal lineup and cash in on Sunday.
Let's take a gander at our biggest hits last week, with each player's DK salary and ultimate Week 5 fantasy production:
| Pos. | Player | Week 5 matchup | Salary | Points |
| QB | C.J. Stroud | Texans at Ravens | $5,200 | 36.8 |
| QB | Dak Prescott | Cowboys at Jets | $6,000 | 28.3 |
| QB | Justin Fields | Jets vs. Cowboys | $5,600 | 25.9 |
| QB | Jaxson Dart | Giants at Saints | $5,300 | 18.6 |
| RB | Breece Hall | Jets vs. Cowboys | $5,600 | 21.5 |
| RB | David Montgomery | Lions at Bengals | $5,200 | 18.2 |
| RB | Tony Pollard | Titans at Cardinals | $5,400 | 26.6 |
| RB | Quinshon Judkins | Browns at Lions | $5,500 | 15.8 |
| WR | Jaylen Waddle | Dolphins at Panthers | $5,400 | 26.0 |
| WR | Courtland Sutton | Broncos at Eagles | $6,000 | 17.9 |
| WR | Michael Pittman Jr. | Colts vs. Raiders | $5,100 | 14.9 |
| TE | Darren Waller | Dolphins at Panthers | $3,500 | 18.8 |
| TE | Cade Otton | Buccaneers at Seahawks | $3,300 | 12.1 |
| DST | Houston | Texans at Ravens | $2,400 | 17.0 |
Another strong week in the books! We had several booms, including Stroud, Prescott, Fields, Pollard and Waddle. Darren Waller lit it up again and Houston did its thing against Cooper Rush and the Ravens. Excuse us while we brush the dirt off our shoulders.
Let's keep this train rolling! Here's The Sporting News' Week 6 DFS sleepers and fantasy football value picks for DraftKings and FanDuel tournaments, highlighted by a running back explosion of an encore and a projected wide receiver mega-breakout!
MORE: Learn how to play NFL DFS
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 6: QB value picks
Drake Maye, Patriots at Saints (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,800)
Maye took a big step on Sunday Night Football, besting the Bills in Buffalo (alliteration!). It looked positively Brady-esque. And, while he only scored 12.1 DK points and actually saw his DFS price tags go down, we see it as a strong opportunity to buy in ahead of a matchup with New Orleans.
Before the game in Orchard Park, Maye had scored 23.2, 21.2 and 26.3. The Saints, meanwhile, have surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to the quarterback position this season. It may be October, but this Sunday (in best JT voice), "It's gonna be Maye."
Sam Darnold, Seahawks at Jaguars (DK: $5,400 | FD: $7,400)
How glad are the Seahawks that Geno Smith went to Vegas and they landed Darnold!? The veteran has been great for Seattle while Smith has been horrendous for the Raiders.
Sam the Man put up a season-high 31.6 DK points last week vs. Tampa Bay, and now he faces a Jags D that has allowed the seventh-most QB fantasy points in 2025. This is a great price.
Other QBs whose Week 6 values exceed their price tags:
- Jordan Love, Packers vs. Bengals (DK: $6,200 | FD: $8,300)
- Mac Jones, 49ers at Bucs (DK: $5,600 | FD: $7,500)
- Bryce Young, Panthers vs. Cowboys (DK: $4,800 | FD: $7,000)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 6: RB value picks
Quinshon Judkins, Browns at Steelers (DK: $5,900 | FD: $7,100)
The Browns don't suck, and Judkins' breakout has been one of the biggest reasons why. His floor over the past three weeks has been 16.5, and his high score on the young season is 21.5 at Detroit but his ceiling might be closer to 30.
The Steelers have wilted against the run. Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker III both racked up 105-plus rushing yards against them. Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott combined for 26.6 PPR points against them. Fire up the Judmaster 3000.
Rico Dowdle, Panthers vs. Cowboys (DK: $5,800 | FD: $6,600)
Dowdle obviously can't be considered a sleeper after exploding for 32-plus PPR points last week against Miami, but he can be viewed as a value at $5,800. Even if Chuba Hubbard (calf) returns to the lineup, Dowdle's gonna do damage.
Dallas has surrendered the sixth-most PPR points to running backs this season, allowing an average of over 120 ground yards per game. Oh, and Dowdle used to play for the Cowboys but Jerry Jones wouldn't give him an RB1 bag. Go off, Rico Suave!
More strong Week 6 RB values:
- Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks at Jaguars (DK: $6,100 | FD: $7,000)
- Tony Pollard, Titans at Raiders (DK: $5,500 | FD: $6,000)
- Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots at Saints (DK: $5,300 | FD: $5,700)
- Michael Carter, Cardinals at Colts (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,100)
- Hassan Haskins, Chargers at Dolphins (DK: $5,000 | FD: $5,600)
SET YOUR LINEUPS: Weekly fantasy rankings
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 6: WR value picks
Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers vs. Cowboys (DK: $6,000 | FD: $6,600)
The breakout is coming! The breakout is coming! Tet has been good — damn good — beating cornerbacks and getting separation with consistency. Now, Bryce Young seems to be finally clicking a bit. And, most importantly, Carolina plays the Dallas defense this week.
No team has been more generous to opposing wideouts than the Cowboys. They're going to get absolutely destroyed this weekend, and McMillan won't be this cheap again for a while.
Stefon Diggs, Patriots at Saints (DK: $5,800 | FD: $5,900)
Diggs seems to finally be healthy for the first time in a while, he's acting motivated and showing leadership skills, and he just balled out against his former team in Buffalo (10 catches on 12 targets for 146 yards and 27.6 DK points).
Now the veteran wideout gets to play against New Orleans!? Yeah, we're stacking Diggs with Maye wherever we can. We're on the boat, baby!
More strong Week 6 DFS values at WR:
- Ladd McConkey, Chargers at Dolphins (DK: $5,700 | FD: $6,400)
- D.K. Metcalf, Steelers vs. Browns (DK: $5,500 | FD: $7,200)
- Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Cardinals (DK: $5,400 | FD: $6,200)
- Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals at Colts (DK: $5,300 | FD: $6,900)
- Calvin Ridley, Titans at Raiders (DK: $4,900 | FD: $5,700)
- Tre Tucker, Raiders vs. Titans (DK: $4,700 | FD: $6,100)
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 6: TE value picks
Darren Waller, Dolphins vs. Chargers (DK: $4,000 | FD: $6,000)
Waller has been one of the only bright spots in South Beach of late, as he legitimately looks like the Dolphins' second-best pass-catcher. Who saw this coming!?
Waller's got 36.5 PPR points over the past two weeks, and he should be active early and often in a game that should involve plenty of passing. Wall up!
More Week 6 TEs worth a look:
- Jake Tonges, 49ers at Bucs (DK: $4,700 | FD: $5,600)
- AJ Barner, Seahawks at Jaguars (DK: $3,600 | FD: $5,500)
- Harold Fannin Jr., Browns at Steelers (DK: $3,400 | FD: $5,300)
- Juwan Johnson, Saints vs. Patriots (DK: $3,300 | FD: $5,200)
WEEK 6 LINEUP TIPS: Start 'Em Sit 'Em | Sleepers | Busts
Best NFL DFS sleepers for Week 6: D/ST
Indianapolis Colts vs. Cardinals (DK: $3,300 | FD: $4,200)
The Colts now have three awesome D/ST performances on the season (vs. MIA, @ TEN, vs. LV). Now they get to tee off against a Cardinals squad that couldn't get out of its own way last week against the lowly Titans.
With Arizona's two top running backs hurt, Marvin Harrison Jr. having a rocky sophomore season and Trey McBride somehow not getting going, the Cardinals should make Indy look pretty good at home this weekend.
More sleeper D/ST plays for Week 6:
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 49ers (DK: $2,900 | FD: $3,600)
- Seattle Seahawks at Jaguars (DK: $2,700 | FD: $4,700)
FANTASY FOOTBALL TOOLS: NFL Player Stats | Transactions | Depth Charts | Injury Reports