It’s that time of the fantasy football season, the weather is turning, bye weeks are happening, injuries are piling up, and fantasy managers everywhere are scraping the waiver wire like it’s the clearance rack. With the Vikings and Texans both on bye in Week 6, plenty of reliable fantasy starters, from Justin Jefferson to Nico Collins, are off the board. Add in the mounting injuries to big names and suddenly, you’re staring at your lineup, wondering if it’s time to take a chance on some fresh faces — like how we told you to start Rico Dowdle, Stefon Diggs, Michael Carter, and Rashid Shaheed last week.
That’s where the Week 6 sleeper crew comes in.
We’ve got a mix of intriguing options stepping into bigger roles and dream matchups that could turn desperation plays into fantasy gold. TreVeyon Henderson is one fumble away from taking over the Patriots’ backfield. Hassan Haskins might get the first crack at a Dolphins defense that’s been trampled on the ground. And Jake Tonges just turned in a mini George Kittle impersonation and now draws another tight end-friendly matchup.
These aren’t regular starters (yet), but with bye weeks hitting hard and the injury bug running wild, finding the right sleeper could be the difference between a win and a long, sad scroll through your league’s standings. Let’s break down who’s worth starting and why each of these under-the-radar players could come through for you in Fantasy Football Week 6.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 6 SLEEPERS & STREAMERS
BRYCE YOUNG, QB CAROLINA PANTHERS
Bryce Young finally showed some signs of life in the Panthers’ 27-24 comeback win over the Dolphins, completing 19 of 30 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t a flawless outing; three sacks and two turnovers kept fantasy managers from overreacting, but Young deserves credit for engineering the rally from a 17-0 hole. His seven-yard strike to Xavier Legette jumpstarted the comeback, and his four-yard touchdown to Mitchell Evans sealed the win. If he gets wideout Jalen Coker (game-time decision) back this week, that could give his passing game a much-needed spark.
Now, here’s the fun part: if there’s any defense that can make Young look like the late-2024 version of himself again, it’s the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve been a fantasy cheat code for opposing QBs, allowing the most passing yards per game, most yards per attempt, and the second-most passing touchdowns. It’s risky, but if you’re digging deep for a Week 6 streamer, Young might be sneaky-good at home against Big D.
HASSAN HASKINS, RB LA CHARGERS
Greg Roman made it clear that both Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal will be involved Sunday against the Dolphins, but don’t expect a clear bell cow. With Omarion Hampton now on IR, the Chargers’ backfield is officially up for grabs, and Haskins could get the first crack at leading the way. He and Vidal split snaps evenly (14 apiece) in Week 5, though neither got much going in the loss to Washington. Still, with Haskins’ power-running style and familiarity with Jim Harbaugh’s system from their Michigan days, he’s the best bet to emerge if someone’s going to seize control of this messy committee.
And oh, the matchup couldn’t be juicier. The Dolphins have been gashed on the ground, giving up the most rushing yards per game, the highest explosive run rate, and yards after contact per attempt. If Haskins gets rolling early, he might just rumble his way into fantasy relevance in Week 6.
TREVEYON HENDERSON, RB NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
TreVeyon Henderson’s rookie year has been a slow burn, but there are signs the Patriots might finally be ready to see what the kid can do. With Antonio Gibson done for the year and Rhamondre Stevenson coughing up yet another fumble, Henderson saw a season-high 65% snap share in Week 5, handling six of the team’s 12 RB carries and running a route on nearly 60% of dropbacks. He only managed 27 total yards on eight touches, but his increased playing time is the headline. The second-rounder from Ohio State has the explosiveness and pass-catching chops New England’s offense has been missing out of the backfield, and now he just needs the opportunity to turn volume into production.
That chance might finally come this week against the Saints. New Orleans has been one of the league’s most average run defenses, giving up chunk gains and plenty of receiving work to opposing backs. If Stevenson’s leash shortens after yet another turnover, Henderson could get the biggest workload of his young career. He’s still more of a speculative flex play than a sure thing, but this week might be his best shot yet to prove he belongs in fantasy lineups instead of on the waiver wire.
MATTHEW GOLDEN, WR GREEN BAY PACKERS
Matthew Golden is quietly starting to make noise in Green Bay’s offense. The rookie caught 5-of-6 targets for 58 yards in Week 4’s 40-40 tie with the Cowboys, continuing to earn Jordan Love’s trust as one of his go-to perimeter options. While he hasn’t found the end zone since Week 2, Golden’s role is steadily growing: over his last two games, he’s posted a 67.5% route share, 14.7% target share, and a hefty 40.8% air-yard share, per FantasyPros’ Derek Brown. That’s led to back-to-back top-40 fantasy finishes (WR37 and WR30), and he’s averaging 55 yards per game with strong efficiency at 2.12 yards per route run.
The rookie’s downfield chemistry with Love could show up again this week against the Bengals, a defense that’s been middle-of-the-pack against perimeter receivers but vulnerable to big plays outside the numbers. Golden has two red-zone targets and four deep shots on the year, so another breakout could be brewing. If you’re fishing for a Week 6 flex with upside, Golden might be ready to cash in on his expanding role in Green Bay’s passing attack.
JOSH DOWNS, WR INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Josh Downs was busy in Week 5, hauling in six of eight targets for 54 yards in the Colts’ dominant 40-6 win over the Raiders. It wasn’t a flashy performance, but it was steady. In typical Downs fashion, he got it done by winning in the short areas of the field. His six catches led the team, and the 54 yards marked a new season high. Daniel Jones continues to spread the ball around, but Downs’ reliable hands and quick separation keep him involved week after week, especially in PPR formats where volume is king.
Looking ahead to Week 6, Downs draws a sneaky-good matchup against the Cardinals. Arizona has played solid overall pass defense this season, but they’ve been downright leaky against slot receivers, giving up the fifth-most fantasy points and second-most receiving yards per game to the position. That’s exactly where Downs does his best work. If you’re searching for a safe floor flex or a PPR streamer, Downs could be the move in what shapes up as another high-volume slot day at home.
JAKE TONGES, TE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
George Kittle, who?! Jake Tonges stepped into the spotlight Thursday night and made the most of it, catching seven of 11 targets for 41 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers’ 26-23 overtime win over the Rams. With Kittle (hamstring) sidelined and multiple wideouts, including Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall, out as well, Tonges became an unexpected focal point in the offense for Mac Jones. He tied Kendrick Bourne for the team lead in targets and opened the scoring with a six-yard TD grab on San Francisco’s opening drive. It wasn’t just a fluke, either, as Tonges looked comfortable in the passing game and earned Mac’s trust all night.
Even if Kittle returns soon, Tonges has shown he can handle a full tight end workload, and he gets another juicy spot in Week 6 against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has been one of the softest defenses in the league versus tight ends, allowing the tenth-most overall fantasy points and the second-most receiving touchdowns to the position. If you’re streaming tight ends or need a one-week plug-in, Tonges is absolutely worth a look, especially while the 49ers’ pass-catchers remain banged up.
