A lot of the top teams are either on bye or are off the main slate this week so our work is cut out for us. Make sure to tune into The Fantasy Tailgate every Sunday at 11 AM EST for last-minute advice as a lot happens between writing this now and Sunday morning.
Jags OC Gruden on Laviska Shenault: "We’ve taken a little bit off his plate because James [Robinson] has performed so well. I think we can utilize him a little bit more..
"We’re just scratching the surface with him… It’s our job to get him more touches.”
$4500 DK
— Wolf of Roto Street (@RotoStreetWolf) October 10, 2020
Anyways, onto the DraftKings NFL Week 6 Picks and Sleepers
Let’s ride.
QUARTERBACKS:
- Ben Roethlisberger ($6,700)
- In a slate without Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, and Kyler Murray, we find ourselves combing the ranks for QB value. Roethlisberger is rarely talked about, but he’s one of the more consistent options at the QB position this year. With numerous talented pass-catchers at his disposal, Roethlisberger has scored over 19 DK points in every game this season. Not to mention, he gets the favorable Browns defense at home.
- Kirk Cousins ($6,100)
- While Kirk has had a quiet year thus far, he’ll find few better opportunities for blow-up spots than at home against the Falcons. Atlanta’s defense has been picked on all year, surrendering the 6th most fantasy points per game to QBs. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better matchup at a lower price.
- Ryan Tannehill ($5,900)
- The post-Adam Gase era has done wonders for Tannehill, who looked amazing in Tuesday Night’s win over Buffalo. Since becoming the team’s starter, Tannehill has been a top fantasy QB and now faces a Texans defense that’s struggled to start the year. AJ Brown’s return greatly helps Tannehill’s value and fantasy ceiling.
RUNNING BACKS:
- Derrick Henry ($7,300)
- Between all the top-priced backs this week, Henry is who I’m targeting the most. He has a plus game script as a home favorite while dominating touches at the goal line. As an added bonus, how could you not want him after watching that vicious stiff arm on Josh Norman?
- Mike Davis ($7,000)
- It’s fun to joke about CMC being on the hot seat with how well Mike Davis has done, but he’s actually been a beast in limited time as the RB1. 20+ points and 20+ touches in all three games equals crazy usage and production. This could be his swan song against the Bears before McCaffrey is likely to return in Week 7?
- Jonathan Taylor ($6,400)
- Here’s what’s likely to be a contrarian/pivot pick after seeing his snap rate and usage decrease, but Jonathan Taylor could a Week 6 value play. As home favorites over the Bengals this week, you’d expect Taylor to manage 15+ touches on the day and likely assume goal-line work. Last week, the Ravens rushed for 127 and averaged 6.7 ypc, and the Colts could find themselves in a similar game script unlike last week when they were chasing the Browns all second half.
- Myles Gaskin ($5,400)
- Gaskin is not the sexiest name you’ll find here, but he holds a lot of value and will likely be a popular play this week. Gaskin has averaged roughly 15 touches every game and has good involvement in the passing game. Miami will be home favorites over the Jets this week, and as long as Jordan Howard doesn’t vulture every touch at the goal-line, Gaskin could be a great play.
- Devonta Freeman ($4,900)
- I nearly puked writing his name, but Freeman could actually be of service this week if you want to go cheap at the RB spot. Again, home favorites over Washington favor Freeman despite a tougher opposing front seven. He’s getting goal-line carries and Daniel Jones has had great trouble throwing the ball downfield. This game should be ugly, be Freeman did just miss out on 20 touches last week in Dallas. Unsexy upside with volume.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
- Adam Thielen ($7,300)
- Tops in the league with 47 percent of his team’s air yards, Thielen lands in a smash spot at home against the Falcons defense. He’s coming off back-to-back 30 point games which give me a little caution, but the usage he’s gotten in the offense paired with this horrendous Atlanta team coming in is salivating. Justin Jefferson is also solid at 6k.
- Kenny Golladay ($6,200)
- The Jaguars are a defense we always want to target in daily. However, Golladay is one of the few Lions I’ll ever really trust to play due to his high touchdown upside and his target-hog abilities as Stafford’s WR1. I like his volume and matchup enough this week to consider him in this middle tier of receivers.
- AJ Brown ($5,600)
- Can you say target hog? What a return for AJ Brown, who was all but forgotten after his Week 1 injury and extended absence. Brown was HEAVILY targeted by Tannehill early in the game and caught a beautiful touchdown to start the scoring. Once the game got out of hand, he wasn’t much of a factor. But, you have to love his volume in an offense that is currently missing multiple receivers and forcing these little known rookies into starting roles.
- Laviska Shenault ($5,200)
- The Jags are finally figuring out that they need to get Shenault the ball on a more frequent basis. He’s scored 14 DK points in back-to-back games now and outperformed DJ Chark in Week 5. Shenault is playing very high snap rates in the offense, and he’s finally being unleashed.
- Preston Williams ($4,700)
- Williams finally broke out last week with a 4-106-1 stat line against the 49ers, and the matchup this week with the Jets is ripe for another solid game. Despite being quiet all season, Williams has generally put up good air yards and ADOT numbers. When he connects, the numbers are there but it just hasn’t happened on a consistent basis. Fitzpatrick’s WR2 is a solid cheaper option and tournament play.
- Jeff Smith ($3,000)
- A Hail Mary pick at the stone minimum here. Smith has averaged 10 targets a game in his two appearances so far this year and those numbers alone are enough for consideration. The 3 receptions on 11 targets last week is concerning, but with the Jets chasing and a pass-heavy game script, I could see throwing a dart at Smith hoping for 5-6 catches with any additional being icing on the cake.
TIGHT ENDS:
- Jonnu Smith ($5,200)
- Jonnu sees solid value as one of the most consistent tight ends in the game in a slate without Kelce, Kittle, or Waller. He’s been a consistent option for Tannehill in the Titans offense, as well as a red-zone beast with five touchdowns in four games.
- Eric Ebron ($4,100)
- A fumble cost him from scoring double-digit points last week, but Ebron has seen his volume go up over the past two weeks from his slow start. On the more optimistic side, he’s got only one touchdown thus far, and you can’t count on Chase Claypool to score four every game. Cleveland has been a tight end target for years now, and Ebron seems due for a score this week.
- Irv Smith Jr ($2,500)
- Stone minimum at the tight end spot, Smith offers some upside here based on the matchup with the Falcons and his recent usage. He played a lot of snaps last week in two tight end sets, trailing Rudolph by only 5. He ran 8 more routes though on dropbacks (72.7% of pass plays) and finished with 4-64-0 on 5 targets. Could be a sneaky great play here.
DST:
- Indianapolis Colts ($4,000)
- One of the NFL’s best defenses against the Bengals with their shoddy offensive line could be a fantastic recipe for Week 6 success.
- New York Giants ($3,200)
- This game is likely going to suck, and Washington is sticking with Kyle Allen under center this week. The QB pair of Allen/Smith did not complete a pass that was thrown for more than 6 yards last week. Not to mention, the Giants defense is sneaky decent.
- Miami Dolphins ($2,900)
- I don’t know what the hell they just did to Jimmy G and the 49ers or how they did it, but now they get the Jets at home.
