Is it really Week 6 already? This season is going fast and yet, depending on how your team is doing, you may want it to slow down a little. This week there are four teams on bye (Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings, and Rams) so there are some key players that fantasy managers will be without. But all that means is the chance for other players to step up. As is the case with any sleeper, none of the names mentioned below are a sure thing, but every one of them should have a shot to overproduce. Here are my sleepers for Week 6.
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WEEK 6 FANTASY SLEEPERS
Start Stat %, Via Sleeper
KIRK COUSINS (QB)
ATLANTA FALCONS @ CAR (36% START)
After four modest weeks, Kirk Cousins broke out in a big way against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completing 42 of 58 passes for 509 yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception. This performance easily made him the QB1 for the week and has catapulted him to QB13 on the season. We can’t expect him to attempt nearly 60 passes every week, but with an embarrassment of weapons, Cousins won’t need 50+ attempts to produce for his fantasy managers. This week Cousins will face off against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are allowing the sixth most points to opposing quarterbacks and just made Caleb Williams look like a seasoned veteran. Cousins and the Falcons should be able to put up a lot of points in this one. Week 6 isn’t a big week for significant quarterbacks on bye, but if you’re without or have been underwhelmed by your starter then don’t hesitate to call on Cousins for help. He is a top 10 option with top five upside this week.
CHASE BROWN (RB)
CINCINNATI BENGALS @ NYG (50% START)
Coming into the season, Chase Brown was a popular sleeper. Even if you believed in the talent of Zack Moss the consensus was that Brown was too talented not to see the field. The Bengals appear to agree. Throughout the season, Brown has seen his snap share and opportunities rise, and when given the chance he has been productive. Over the last two weeks, Brown has been a top 12 option at running back with 32 total touches and three touchdowns. Zack Moss is still the lead back but has been less effective with only one top 12 performance in five games. It wouldn’t be surprising to see this backfield develop into a 50/50 split, and if things fall right for Brown, he could take over the job outright. This week Brown has a meeting with the New York Giants. The Giants have been solid against running backs this season, but with Brown’s ability to produce on the ground and through the air, he should have plenty of opportunities to reward his managers. He’s a high-end RB2 this week, especially in PPR formats.
TANK BIGSBY (RB)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS VS. CHI (IN LONDON – 27% START)
Anyone who claimed they saw this coming, is not telling you the truth. But through five weeks, Tank Bigsby has proven to be one of the best handcuffs with standalone value in fantasy. Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, Bigsby ran the ball 13 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns. He also added one reception for 28 yards. This performance made him the RB1 for the week and caused everyone to scramble to the waiver wire to pick him up. Bigsby is even leading the league with 8.0 yards per attempt. Head Coach Doug Pederson has come out and said that Travis Etienne is still “the guy” but that doesn’t mean they won’t ramp up Bigsby’s involvement. They could do that as early as Week 6 when Jacksonville takes on Chicago in London. The Bears are an elite defense, but they have been much better against the pass than the run, which works in Bigsby’s favor since he is rarely involved in the passing game. With so many injuries and four teams on bye this week, Bigsby is a decent flex with touchdown upside who could easily outperform his projection.
ROME ODUNZE (WR)
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS VS. CHI (IN LONDON – 42% START)
Staying with the game in London, you may want to consider playing Rome Odunze this week. Odunze’s season has been more downs than ups, but three weeks ago against the Colts, Odunze flashed his massive upside when he finished as a top seven WR with 20.4 fantasy points. He’s also on the field a lot. Even when all the pass catchers are healthy Odunze enjoys a 75-80% snap share. The Jacksonville Jaguars are allowing the second most fantasy points to wide receivers (29.7) and while common sense tells us that DJ Moore should score a large portion of those, it would be wise of Chicago to try to get others involved. Last week the Jaguars allowed Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Michael Pittman to finish among the top 30 wide receivers. Even more surprising is that it was Alec Pierce who had the best showing with 20.8 fantasy points and a WR8 finish. There is no reason history can’t repeat itself when Rome lands in the UK.
JALEN TOLBERT (WR)
DALLAS COWBOYS VS. DET (17% START)
It may be time to take Jalen Tolbert seriously. Tolbert has cemented himself as the No. 2 option in the passing game and in a Dallas offense that has attempted more than 30 passes in all but one game; being Dak Prescott’s second choice has a lot of value. We saw a glimpse of this when the Cowboys took on Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football, and Tolbert caught seven of 10 targets for 87 yards and a touchdown. He may not get double-digit targets every game, but if the Cowboys run game continues to struggle, they should lean heavily on the passing game, adding value to all the Cowboys’ pass catchers. In Week 6, Tolbert will face a Detroit defense, allowing wide receivers 26.3 fantasy points per game. The Lions are also stout against the run, which could force the Cowboys into an air attack, which should be a shootout. While Detroit focuses on slowing down CeeDee Lamb, Tolbert could find plenty of room to operate. He is a solid flex play with WR2 upside this week.
CADE OTTON (TE)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ NO (21% START)
The tight end position has been a bit rough this year. Players that we thought would be elite have been inconsistent at best, while names we never considered starting before the season look like safe floor plays now. Cade Otton lands in that category, and could have a great opportunity in front on him in Week 6. Otton is no better than the third option on his team and has only had one top 12 week. But with Mike Evans having a history of failing to produce when going up against Marshon Lattimore, Baker Mayfield might need to look Otton’s way more often this week. Chris Godwin should lead the team in targets (and fantasy points) but the Saints have been generous to tight ends and if he finds himself open in the middle of the field (or in the endzone) Mayfield will look his way. With rookie QB Spencer Rattler starting there is some concern that the game will get out of hand early and the Buccaneers won’t have to pass much. But by that time, Otton may have already rewarded his managers. If you’re without your usual starter or are streaming the position, Otton is a nice option.
