Welcome to Week 6 of the NFL season. Last week, we got our first taste of streaming to beat the bye week with four teams out. Week 6 only features two bye weeks, but that does include the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are owned in 56% of leagues and coming off an 18-point performance in a win over Baltimore.
You may also be ready to hate-cut the Patriots’ defense (67% owned) amid their injuries and poor performances, or you may want to steer clear of the Cowboys (99%) as they face Justin Herbert and the Chargers coming off a bye.
No matter your reason, we’re here, as always, with a bunch of defenses available in most leagues and could be in for a big week. Here are our favorite choices for Week 6.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (16% ROSTERED ON YAHOO!)
VS INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | 1 PM
After a two-week stint across the pond in which they scored over 12 fantasy points per game on defense, the Jags have returned to the US and are back in Duval for a divisional matchup against Indianapolis. Jacksonville already beat the Colts in Week 1 and is looking to improve to 4-2 in this one. Anthony Richardson will likely miss this game with a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 5, meaning Gardner Minshew will get the start. Minshew came in last week and finished the game 11/15 for 155 yards, leading the Colts to a win, but Jacksonville will have a full week to prepare for him now.
Jacksonville’s been below average against the pass in 2023, but they’re a top 5 run defense and should be able to contain Indy’s Zack Moss/Jonathan Taylor combo better than the Titans could. Indianapolis doesn’t give the ball away a lot, but Jacksonville is tied for 2nd with 11 takeaways and tied for the league lead with six fumbles forced.
ATLANTA FALCONS (9%)
VS WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | 1 PM
The Falcons have been a top 10 defense so far in 2023, sitting 10th in scoring and 7th in yardage through 5 weeks, but it hasn’t translated to fantasy scoring just yet. They’re averaging two fantasy points per game over their last four contests and have just four takeaways and five sacks (T-Worst) on the year. I think it’s just a matter of time before this unit explodes for a big day, and I like this matchup to make it happen.
Sam Howell and the Commanders offense aren’t terrible, but they’re very prone to making mistakes that defenses can capitalize on. They’re top three in both turnovers and sacks allowed and have yielded the 4th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. With the game at home and a chance for first place in the division up for grabs, I think Atlanta comes to play in this one.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2%)
VS NEW ENGLAND | 4:05 PM
I had the Raiders on my list with an asterisk this week, as I wanted to see them hold up on Monday Night Football before I could trust them at all. But after watching them intercept Jordan Love three times, sack him twice, and finish with 12 fantasy points on the day, I know they’ll be fine in a much easier matchup. Maxx Crosby is an animal and Vegas seems like they’re going to be able to work through their recent injuries in the secondary. And now they get to stay at home and face an offense that opposing fantasy defenses have scored 51 points on over the past two weeks.
The Patriots have turned the ball over ten times, giving up the 2nd-most points to fantasy defenses, and boast the league’s worst-scoring offense at 11 points per game.
Bill Belichick said after a second straight beatdown that Mac Jones is still his QB1, and that’s honestly probably a good thing for the Raiders. The Patriots have issues outside of Jones, but he’s tied for 2nd in the league with six interceptions, and his offense hasn’t scored a touchdown in 10 quarters. New England may be the team to target all year long as a matchup for defensive streamers, and Vegas is next in line.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Houston Texans (28%): Houston’s scored almost 10 fantasy PPG over their last three, and they’ll host a New Orleans offense in the bottom half of the league in passing, rushing, and scoring offense.
Chicago Bears (1%): Chicago put up 10 points on defense in a win last week, and with three days of extra rest, they face a Vikings team that will be missing Justin Jefferson for the foreseeable future.
Los Angeles Rams (2%): The Rams’ defense hasn’t scored more than six points in a game in 2023, but they get a good matchup at home with Arizona as LA looks to improve to .500.
