Week 6 - Players to Start and Sit

Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 8:25 pm ET

This is the Fantasy Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FN. Rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.

Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Justin Jefferson, Patrick Mahomes, or Christian McCaffrey. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.

Start 'em Justin Fields (CHI, QB)
It may be frustrating to have Justin Fields this year - especially after the first three games where he averaged just 13.3 points. He bounced back nicely in the previous two games averaging 30.4 points. He should be able to keep it going against the Vikings who have surrendered multiple 20+ fantasy point days.

7th Most Pts to QB

Start 'em Kirk Cousins (MIN, QB)
Kirk Cousins will be without elite WR Justin Jefferson, but he should still remain productive with the weapons that he will have. He has thrown at least two touchdowns in every game this season and the matchup couldn't be better. The Bears have given up the 2nd-most fantasy points to the position. Even without JJ, Cousins should be able to provide a fringe QB1 day.

2nd Most Pts to QB

Start 'em Raheem Mostert (MIA, RB)
It's interesting to look back at the average draft position from earlier this summer. In PPR formats, he was being taken in the 12th round. He's currently the 2nd-best RB after Christian McCaffrey. The Dolphins have lit the fantasy world on fire, and with De'Von Achane placed on I.R. today, Mostert should feast on a Panthers defense that has been bleeding fantasy points.

2nd Most Pts to RB

Start 'em Alexander Mattison (MIN, RB)
With Cam Akers in the rotation, Alexander Mattison's touches may be limited, but the matchup here is too good to pass up. The Bears have given up the 3rd-most fantasy points to the position this season. We would keep Mattison in the low-end RB2 discussion and penciled into our lineups.

3rd Most Pts to RB

Start 'em Adam Thielen (CAR, WR)
There's no question that Adam Thielen has become Bryce Young's favorite target. He leads the team in targets and has delivered two 100+ yard games in the past three weeks. Other than the stinker in Week 1, Thielen has been on fire regularly posting double-digit performances. He'll have a decent matchup this week against the Dolphins where Carolina will almost certainly be playing from behind.

13th Most Pts to WR

Start 'em Jordan Addison (MIN, WR)
With Justin Jefferson sidelined, it's going to be a lot of K.J. Osborn and Jordan Addison. In our opinion, Addison is a much more dynamic and talented player and will likely see more targets in a plus matchup against the Bears. If Curtis Samuel and Courtland Sutton can bring home double digits against the Bears the past two weeks, surely Addison can do the same.

10th Most Pts to WR

Start 'em Logan Thomas (WAS, TE)
Given his medical history, you may not get many opportunities to start Logan Thomas. This is a week where we're all in on him though. After seeing 11 targets last week, Thomas has become a nice safety blanket for Sam Howell. The Falcons may be stingy in other areas defensively, but they've given up the 2nd-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. He's on the bubble for us as a low-end TE1/high-end TE2.

2nd Most Pts to TE

Start 'em Zach Ertz (ARI, TE)
There's plenty of competition in Arizona for touches at the TE position with both Trey McBride and Geoff Swaim, but Zach Ertz is the TE to own here. The matchup is fantastic as the Rams give up the 6th-most fantasy points to the position. Dallas Goedert finally returned to fantasy relevance against them last week putting up a whopping 25 points. Ertz won't see that many points, but still enough to finish in the Top 12.

7th Most Pts to TE

Start 'em Buffalo Bills (BUF, DEF)
Nobody gives up more points to opposing defense/special teams than the New York Giants. The Bills already had a stout defense, but we expect them to pressure Daniel Jones (assuming he plays) all day long. Look for Buffalo to capitalize on the sacks, forced fumbles, and low scoring from the Giants.

Most pts to DEF

Start 'em Brandon Aubrey (DAL, K)
The best kicker that you've never heard of: Brandon Aubrey. His consistency grade on Fantasy Nerds is an "A" as he's averaging an incredible 11.2 fantasy points per game. Last week was the first time all year that he didn't deliver double-digits and that was against the Niners on Sunday night. Look for him to bounce back against the Chargers.

14th Most Pts to K

Sit 'em Daniel Jones (NYG, QB)
When he's not running for his life behind that atrocious offensive line, Daniel Jones is being tasked with putting the team on his shoulders. He's efficient in pass completion, but he has thrown three times as many interceptions as he has touchdowns. If you take out his one big game, he has averaged 6.1 fantasy points. That is not a typo - 6 POINTS! Adding to his woes is a ridiculously tough matchup against the Bills and Jones becomes an automatic sit for us.

Feweset Pts to QB

Sit 'em Gardner Minshew (IND, QB)
With Anthony Richardson placed on I.R. this week, Gardner Minshew will get the start. He had sub-par games this year against Houston, Baltimore, and Tennessee so we know what his floor looks like (avg 10.1 points). He has a great matchup this week against the Jaguars, and while he may very well outperform his projections, would you feel comfortable plugging him into your lineup? We don't.

8th Most Pts to QB

Sit 'em Miles Sanders (CAR, RB)
In a decent matchup, we're just not expecting much out of Miles Sanders. In fact, we're starting to expect very little out of him on the season. When you remove the one good game that he's had, Sanders is delivering just 6.7 points per game. Include his one good game and that average goes up to 8.8 points - not enough to really consider him even in flex territory.
UPDATE: Miles Sanders has been declared inactive for Week 6.

15th Most Pts to RB

Sit 'em Jonathan Taylor (IND, RB)
Well that wasn't quite the season debut that we all were expecting, now was it? 4.4 fantasy points isn't going to get the job done. Obviously, Jonathan Taylor's workload will increase after seeing just six carries, but Zack Moss isn't going away after racking up 165 rushing yards and two scores last week...with Taylor in the game. Until we start to see his usage increase, it's difficult to recommend Jonathan Taylor as anything but a flier or potential flex option.

9th Fewest Pts to RB

Sit 'em Tutu Atwell (LAR, WR)
A popular waiver wire pickup, Tutu Atwell went from three straight double-digit games to open the season to single digits in the games that followed. With Cooper Kupp back in action, we saw the target share heavily split between Kupp and Puka Nacua last week. For Atwell to be fantasy relevant, there would need to be an injury to one of those players. Until that happens, he can be safely dropped in most leagues.

7th Most Pts to WR

Sit 'em Jahan Dotson (WAS, WR)
The darling of the preseason, Jahan Dotson has largely been invisible this season producing just one game with double digit points. A lack of efficiency with his targets combined with a tough matchup (Atlanta gives up the 7th-fewest fantasy points) makes Dotson a must-sit for us.

7th Fewest Pts to WR

Sit 'em Hunter Henry (NE, TE)
Folks, in the past two weeks, we've just watched two of the worst games in Bill Belichick's career. The offense is just not humming and that extends to Hunter Henry. After starting the season with two games of at least 16 fantasy points, Henry has averaged just 4.2 points in the subsequent three games. Vegas has allowed just two players to reach double digits and Pat Freiermuth was the tops at 13 points. Until Mac Jones can be a bit more consistent, it's tough to recommend Hunter Henry as a start.

12th Most Pts to TE

Sit 'em Juwan Johnson (NO, TE)
The good news: Juwan Johnson has a Consistency Grade of A. The bad news: he consistently gets just 4.4 points on average when on the field. The Saints simply don't need him. They have plenty of weapons in the backfield and at receiver that they rarely need to look his way. Until he starts to become a bigger part of this offense, he can be dropped.

5th Most Pts to TE

Sit 'em Washington Commanders (WAS, DEF)
In what should have been an easy matchup, the Commanders were completely owned by the Bears last week to the tune of 282 passing yards, 178 rushing yards, and 40 points on the scoreboard. The Bears had not won a game this season up until that point. Now Washington will play a Falcons team that has been more stingy with fantasy points. There are better options to stream this week at the DST position.

11th Most Pts to DEF

Sit 'em Jake Moody (SF, K)
We like Jake Moody and we love the San Francisco offense, but this isn't the week to keep him in your lineup. The Browns have done a great job keeping kickers from putting points on the board. Only one kicker has managed double digit points. If anyone can be the second person to do it, it's Moody but we'll take our chances streaming someone else this week.

2nd Fewest Pts to K

Join the Discussion

If asking a sit/start question, be sure to provide your scoring format and contribute to answering questions from other FN members as well.

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 12, 2023 11:07 am

PPR start/sit question... TIA!

I'm starting Pacheco at RB tonight for sure... but what about RRice? Currently my WRs are: Deebo, GDavis, TMcLaurin and Rice... KJ Osborne is also available still on waivers but I think I'd rather have Gabe Davis anyway (who I picked up Tues instead).

Due to match-up only, would you consider starting GDavis over Deebo? I think Rice needs to stay on my bench and not even flex since my other RBs are Pollard, Swift and Hall - all guys I'd start over Scary Terry OR Rice (3 WR/RB flex spots)... thoughts?

Nerd CommentedOct 12, 2023 12:52 pm

I don't know that I would start Rashee Rice over any of those guys. I looked at Rice's game log and it's not very impressive (not that all of those guys are consistently delivering either). Maybe Rice goes off in this one, but I think the odds are better with the rest of your roster (watch me eat my words tonight).

I totally get the matchup question, but I would struggle to start Davis over Deebo.

Nerd CommentedOct 15, 2023 2:18 pm

Ugh. Did not anticipate Deebo leaving with an injury.

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 12, 2023 11:08 am

Oh and I use your lineup analyzer already and I know it says Deebo > Davis... but... ;)

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 12, 2023 1:23 pm

yeah, holding Rice for the 2nd half or an injury to another KC wideout. I agree, tough to start Gabe over Deebo indeed, thanks for the input!

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 13, 2023 11:13 am

pacheco worked out fine... glad i kept rice on the bench although he's shaping up to be the next Tyreek Hill for KC (I hope!) :)

Nerd CommentedOct 13, 2023 2:45 pm

He will be. Right now though, Pacheco and Kelce are the only two consistent must-start options in that offense. The rest of the offense is a weekly boom or bust candidate.

Hinzie22 CommentedOct 13, 2023 11:30 pm

Which 2 would you choose (.5 ppr): D Foreman, C Hubbard, or Josh Palmer? Thanks!

deibs81 CommentedOct 14, 2023 12:30 pm

Similar situation. I need to choose between D. Foreman and C. Hubbard, but in a full PPR league. Going with Hubbard now that Sanders has been ruled out and betting he'll get a ton of catches with Carolina playing from behind.

TOBIAS CommentedOct 14, 2023 12:45 pm

Foreman will be out to prove a point and Hubbard with Sanders out!

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 15, 2023 8:33 am

palmer

mrock CommentedOct 15, 2023 11:10 am

Foreman and Hubbard

Anirudh Yadlapati CommentedOct 14, 2023 2:47 pm

Should i start kittle or ertz?

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 15, 2023 8:33 am

kittle

mrock CommentedOct 15, 2023 11:10 am

Kittle

Michael Hasso CommentedOct 14, 2023 3:32 pm

I have a wr2 and flex spot to fill. Who do I start out of Garett Wilson, Chris olave, Nico Collins, and kj osborne

Michael Hasso CommentedOct 14, 2023 3:33 pm

*full PPR league

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 15, 2023 8:33 am

olave, KJ

mrock CommentedOct 15, 2023 11:10 am

Olave and Collis

Rand Hutchison CommentedOct 14, 2023 3:33 pm

Week 6 TE Engram or LaPorta PPR?

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 15, 2023 8:33 am

engram

mrock CommentedOct 15, 2023 11:10 am

Engram. LaPorta is questionable

adkinsk1 CommentedOct 14, 2023 3:37 pm

Been going back on forth on starts for Week 6. Any thoughts on the following:
Rachaad White or Kendre Miller?

Flowers or Demercado in Flex?

KJ Osborn or Garrett Wilson? Normally would sit anyone against Eagles D (esp Jets players) but with Carter, Evan’s and Slay out, think Wilson could have a good game. But just unsure if I trust Zach to make that happen.

Thanks!

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 15, 2023 8:34 am

wilson here