Fantasy Football Sleepers Week 6
As fantasy managers, adaption is a key function to the success of your team. Staying locked in on a player despite their poor performance can cost you your league. Understanding the importance of dominating the waiver wire and recognizing potential sleepers as breakout candidates can put you ahead of the curve.
The fulfillment of watching the team you drafted prosper and excel is a glorious feeling, but also rare feat. Leagues are won and lost through free agency and the wire. If managers can stay on top of that area of the game, there is a far greater chance to dominate your opponents every week.
With another installment of my Fantasy Football Sleepers article, together we will identify players with low rostership as a means to further solidify your depth or to fill gaps on your roster that are struggling.
Running Backs
J.D. McKissic (Washington Football Team) – JD McKissic won’t see many touches as a traditional ball carrier, but he offers a somewhat interesting floor as a pass catcher on an offense shallow of offensive weapons. With running backs as thin as ever, McKissic is a solid option for running back-needy teams looks to plug in a guy facing a vulnerable New York Giants defense. McKissic ranks first among running backs with a 47.2% Juke Rate, highlighting his shifty nature. McKissic is also tied for fifth among running backs in targets, compiling 13 receptions over the last two games, an indication that he has a prominent role in Washington’s offense and should maintain solid production this week against a division rival.
Brian Hill (Atlanta Falcons) – Despite serving as Todd Gurley’s backup, Brian Hill has shown glimpses of his potential this season. Although his touches will be limited, if he can break loose a long run, this dart-throw option could pay off in a big way, especially in a good matchup against a Minnesota Vikings defense allowing 132.6 rush yards per game, which is eighth-most in the league.
Zack Moss (Buffalo Bills) – It will be interesting to see what Zack Moss’s health will be like in Week 6, but after returning to practice this week, Moss will presumably retake his 1B duties to Devin Singletary’s 1A usage. Moss has been inefficient as a runner this year, but if he continues to see work in the passing game and converts his Red Zone opportunities, he could make for an intriguing sleeper on a team that likes to run the football against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that surrenders the fourth-most rushing yards per game. Moss is a Hail Mary desperation play for Week 6.
Wide Receivers
Preston Williams (Miami Dolphins) – Perhaps not completely healthy during the first four weeks of the season, Williams exploded for 20 points in Week 5. Set to face a soft New York Jets defense allowing the eighth-most pass yards per game, Williams will look to continue his hot streak with another impressive performance. Williams should be confidently started this week in a cake matchup. Williams has showcased his impressive playmaking ability this season. His 15.8 Average Target Distance is tied for eighth in the NFL, while his 34.8 Air Yards/Reception and six End Zone Targets ranks third among wide receivers. Williams is trending in the right direction, and if he is available on your waiver wire, consider it a gift and quickly add Williams to your roster.
Laviska Shenault Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars) – The 2020 second-round pick has been extremely impressive during the first five weeks of his rookie season, racking up 10+ fantasy points in four out of five games this season. Coming off his best game in which he saw a career-high seven targets, Laviska Shenault looks to capitalize against a susceptible Detroit Lions defense. Shenault is a flex/WR3 with upside this week regardless if D.J. Chark plays or not. If Chark were to miss the contest, Shenault’s value would rise significantly. Do not act surprised if Week 6 is Shenault’s best game of the season to date. Shenault’s rostership will skyrocket after this week, so managers need to be prepared and stay ahead of the curve by adding Shenault this week.
Tight Ends
Irv Smith Jr. (Minnesota Vikings) – Irv Smith Jr. flashed his potential as a reliable pass catcher last week, hauling in four of five targets for 64 yards. Smith’s days of playing second fiddle to Kyle Rudolph could be coming to an end, as the 2019 second-round pick is poised to establish himself in the Vikings offense by expanding off his best performance of 2020. Smith and the Vikings face a bad Atlanta Falcons defense, making Smith an interesting streaming option this week.
Dalton Schultz (Dallas Cowboys) – After Blake Jarwin went down with a season-ending knee injury, Dalton Schultz has seen a Snap Share of 77.9%. Despite the Cowboys also losing Dak Prescott for the season due to injury, Schultz should be able to maintain some fantasy relevance, even if he is the fifth option on Dallas’ offense. The Arizona Cardinals have been decent against tight ends this season, but when tight ends aren’t producing at a high-level league-wide for fantasy purpose, Schultz provides a solid option with a decent ceiling. His seven Contested Targets is tied for sixth among tight ends and his five Red Zone Targets is tied for ninth among tight ends. For those looking for a tight end, Shultz has the chance to put up respectable numbers this week.
Trey Burton (Indianapolis Colts) – Perhaps the biggest dart throw option on this list, but Trey Burton led the Colts tight ends in targets and receptions last week. Burton will look to build off that performance and step into the role of Phillip River’s number 1 tight end moving forward. Burton is a desperation option for those needing a miracle plug-and-play tight end for Week 6.
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff (Los Angeles Rams) – Goff has quietly put up QB1 numbers all year, averaging just under 20 fantasy points a game. Goff hasn’t turned the ball over quite as much this year while producing at a high level and utilizing the weapons surrounding him. Goff has improved on all facets of his game, raising his Competition Percentage from 62.9% in 2019 to 71.7% in 2020, fourth highest in the NFL. His Quarterback Rating also went up from 86.47 in 2019 to 108.77 so far in 2020. His 75.3% Play Action Completion Percentage ranks third and his True Passer Rating of 111.7 ranks fourth, further highlighting Goff’s efficiency as a passer this season. In Week 6, Goff faces a good but not great San Francisco defense that has been hammered by injuries and proved to be exploitable after the Miami Dolphins dropped over 40 points on the 2019 NFC Champions last week. Goff should be rostered on most teams after this week after he produces another QB1 performance.
Goff is also the cover boy for our NFL Picks article in week 6. Our Pick’em expert likes the Rams, see what other picks he like here.
Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans) – Another quarterback that should be rostered everywhere, Ryan Tannehill has carried over his momentum from last season when he took over the starting job and has produced at a consistent QB1 level since. Coming off his best game of the season, Tannehill has a matchup against the Houston Texans that should equate to a high number of points and a nice fantasy day for the quarterback. Besides leading his team to victory, Tannehill has been performing at a high mark. His 77.8% Red Zone Completion Percentage is second in the league, while his 6.8% Touchdown Rate is sixth-best in the NFL. Despite the Titans run-first approach, Tannehill is comfortable taking shots down the field, ranking sixth in Air Yards/Attempt (five), and eighth in Air Yards/Game (165.5). Tannehill will look to build on his explosive start to the season and continue on his impressive fantasy campaign. Managers should feel comfortable starting Tannehill this week and for the rest of the season.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Miami Dolphins) – After torching the San Francisco 49ers last week, Fitzpatrick has established himself as a viable fantasy quarterback moving forward. Facing the New York Jets this week should bring forth another massive fantasy game. Fitzpatrick has topped 20 fantasy points in each game since the first week of the season, a trend that should continue as long as the Dolphins are in tight or favorable matchups. Fitzpatrick has been extremely impactful for his team with efficient numbers to back it up. Fitzpatrick’s 70.6% Completion Percentage is currently seventh in the NFL. He is also first in the league with a 67.5% Pressured Completion Percentage and third in the NFL in Deep Ball Completion Percentage (64.3%). He also ranks seventh in Total Air Yards (886), Air Yards/Game (177.2) and fifth in Air Yards/Attempt (5.2), an indication that Fitzpatrick enjoys airing the ball out and executes in this area at a high mark. If Fitzpatrick can maintain this level of consistency, he will bring fantasy managers great success this season.
