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Studs to Splurge For
Here we will highlight two players at each position that are in the top-five of their respective position and are deemed worthy of “paying up” for in your lineup. Please note these players will likely be highly owned so if you are looking to differentiate, you will want to pull more players from the next two sections.
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson | $7400 | LAC @ BAL
Not much needs to be said about Lamar Jackson after the performance he put on Monday night against the Indianapolis Colts other than wow. Jackson is averaging a slate-high 29.2 DK points and has a home matchup against a high-powered Los Angeles Chargers offense in Week 6. The total is tied for the second-highest at 51.5 and you can bet points will be scored in bunches. This cheat code quarterback is one of the best ways to get exposure.
Justin Herbert | $7300 | LAC @ BAL
We are bringing it back with Jackson’s opponent for Week 6, Justin Herbert. We just mentioned the expected shootout and Herbert has been nothing short of spectacular in 2021. Both Jackson and Herbert are coming off 40+ point performances and Baltimore has allowed three QB1 performances in five games thus far despite playing against quarterbacks such as Derek Carr, Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater, and Carson Went. Look for Herbert to be dominant yet again.
Running Backs
Austin Ekeler | $7900 | LAC @ BAL
Austin Ekeler has been a touchdown machine, scoring five of them over the past two games and scoring 30+ points in consecutive games. On tap is a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens who were just shredded by Jonathan Taylor on the ground and through the air. It is also worth noting that the Ravens rank 28th against the position. We have talked at length about the points expected to be scored in this one and you can stack Ekeler with Hebert and a receiver if you feel so inclined.
Nick Chubb | $7200 | ARI @ CLE
The matchup is tough in this one, but we cannot argue with the volume Nick Chubb has seen the past three weeks. The carry totals respectively are 22, 22, and 21. In two of those three games, the Georgia alum has hit the 100-yard DK bonus and added a touchdown last week for good measure, totaling 27.0 DK points. Watch the injury reports here as he is questionable with a calf injury. Kareem Hunt is also nursing a wrist injury. If either misses time, pivot to the other and you will have a high-volume back for Week 6 at a solid salary.
Wide Receiver
Davante Adams | $9000 | GB @ CHI
We will keep listing Davante Adams here until he gives us a reason not to. Adams bounced back from a poor performance in Week 4 with 40.6 DK points. The stud wideout has seen 61 targets (12.2 per game) already and continues to take advantage with a 68.9% catch rate. The matchup could be a tough one, but the Bears do rank 26th against the position according to DK and for his career, Adams averages 14.2 PPR points across 14 games (not factoring in the three-point 100-yard bonus).
Justin Jefferson | $8000 | MIN @ CAR
Justin Jefferson has quietly, yes quietly, put up 20+ DK points in three consecutive games. The matchup looks tough on paper. Carolina has only allowed WR1 scores all season but keep in mind they played the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Houston Texans the first three weeks of the season. Corey Davis in Week 1 was the WR5 with 24.2 DK points. Jefferson is the superior receiver and 45 times in five games, good for an average of nine per. Keep on riding the hot streak here.
Tight End
Mark Andrews | $5200 | LAC @ BAL
If you are looking for someone to pair with Lamar Jackson in the Inner Harbor shootout on Sunday, then Mark Andrews is your man. Andrews is coming off a career-high performance Monday night in catches, targets, and yards and scored two touchdowns for good measure totaling 44.7 DK points. The Chargers rank 30th in fantasy points against the position. At just $5,200, look for the stud tight end to easily return 3x value on Sunday.
Dalton Schultz | $4900 | DAL @ NE
While the aforementioned Andrews has been sort of boom or bust in 2021, Dalton Schultz has been a model of consistency and proved so yet again in Week 5. The fourth-year tight end has put up 10.5 or more DK points in four of five games on the season. Schultz has also seen seven or more targets in three straight and is clearly becoming a favorite of Dak Prescott with Michael Gallup mending a calf injury. The Patriots own the number one defense against the position but have not faced a reputable tight end all season (Gronk missed Week 4). The Stanford grad should return value with relative ease at just $4,900.
Sleepers to Separate From the Pack
Up next we give you some players to help differentiate your lineup from the masses and give you the edge you need to compete in some of the bigger tournaments. Just like the section above, we highlight two players at each position except now instead of studs, you get players that are expected to be less than 10% owned on the main slate.
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray | $7900 | ARI @ CLE
The hype train derailed somewhat for Kyler Murray last week leading to a lower ownership percentage for Week 6. Murray is still averaging 26.3 DK points per game despite the 13.66-point performance last week. On deck are the Cleveland Browns who rank 24th against the position. This game has a total of 49.5 and the undefeated Cardinals are underdogs. Look for them to use that as motivation and light up the scoreboard here.
Carson Wentz | $5400 | HOU @ IND
Carson Wentz is coming off a season-high 26.58 DK point performance on Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens. The former Eagles signal-caller threw for over 400 yards and two touchdowns and still has just one interception on the season. The Houston Texans rank 22nd versus the position and at just $5,400, Wentz should have no trouble putting up the 16.2 DK points to return value here. On the campaign, he is averaging 18.0 points but has a high ceiling in Week 6.
Running Backs
Devontae Booker | $5400 | LAR @ NYG
Devontae Booker looked good in relief of Saquon Barkley in Week 5 putting up 20.8 DK points. Booker scored two touchdowns. One on the ground and one through the air. The Los Angeles Rams are a worthy opponent but do rank 20th against the position so it is not impossible for Booker to hit the 15+ DK points he needs to return value. One would think the Giants will try to control the game on the ground to keep the high-powered Rams offense on the sideline. If they can execute that plan, Booker will pay off his low-end salary nicely.
Chase Edmonds | $5600 | ARI @ CLE
Just like Kyler Murray mentioned above, Chase Edmonds is coming off a down performance, thus driving the ownership percentages down. Before Week 5, Edmonds had seen double-digit points in every game of the season and is still averaging 13.6 DK points per game. On the season, the versatile running back has 26 targets and has turned that into 23 catches and nearly 40 additional DK points. The Browns are 4th against the position, but just got torched by Austin Ekeler in Week 5.
Wide Receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown | $4200 | CIN @ DET
Quintez Cephus has been put on injured reserve and his season is likely over. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the next man up and has seen eight targets in consecutive weeks, scoring double-digit points in both of those games. The only things missing are the touchdowns which are likely to come with the Detroit Lions down a receiver and playing in a game with a total of 47. St. Brown only needs about 12 points to return 3x value and we do not see that being an issue in Week 6 given the volume of targets the young wideout will see.
D.J. Moore | $7300 | MIN @ CAR
It is usually good practice to target players coming off a bad performance the prior week. D.J. Moore fits that description in Week 6. The youngster put up a season-low 8.8 DK points in Week 5 after scoring no less than 15.4 points in the prior four games. The Minnesota Vikings are up next and rank 19th against the position. Take advantage of the low ownership and gain some leverage on the field here.
Tight End
Jared Cook | $3200 | LAC @ BAL
The cupboard is bare at the tight end position on the main slate this week. You will likely want to go with a player mentioned in the other sections of this article but if you are looking to differentiate, Jared Cook is a decent dart throw in Week 6. The Ravens rank 29th against the position and we have talked at length about the number of points that should be scored in this one. At just $3,200 we only need about nine points from Cook to hit value. A touchdown accomplishes that.
Darren Waller | $6600 | LV @ DEN
This is more about straight talent than matchup or opportunity. As mentioned above, there are not a ton of options at tight end this week that will not be high owned. The Denver Broncos rank 5th against the position but Derek Carr does love him some Darren Waller. With John Gruden out, the Las Vegas Raiders may go back to what they do best and that is feed Waller.
Fantasy Data Favorites
In this section, we will give you one play from each position for the week that we like the most. This will be a player that likely will give you a high upside at a lower cost than their counterparts and also come with a low ownership projection. Here you go!
Quarterback
Taylor Heinicke | $5800 | KC @ WAS
This game has the highest total of the weekend at 54.5 points. The Kansas City Chiefs defense has given up four QB1 performances in five games. While Taylor Heinicke has been a bit up and down this year, he has put up 20+ DK points in three of his last four. The Washington Football Team is going to have to throw to stay in this one and we get the bonus of Heinicke getting things done with his legs. The UDFA has rushed for over 40 yards in each of his last two games. You get the opportunity to spend up elsewhere by rostering a quarterback that should easily hit 3x value.
Running Back
Joe Mixon | $6400 | CIN @ DET
We will have to watch the injury report here, but if Joe Mixon plays, he has a dream matchup. While the Detroit Lions have been competitive week in and week out, they have been getting gashed on the ground. Aaron Jones put up 41.5 DK points against them in Week 2, David Montgomery posted 25.6 points before getting hurt and his replacement Damien Williams went off for 15+ points after his exit, and finally, Alexander Mattison just popped off for 30.3 versus them last week. If active, the ownership will be low due to injury concerns. This is a play that could potentially break the slate.
Wide Receiver
Marquise Brown | $5900 | LAC @ BAL
We have beat this game to death thus far and saved the best for last. Marquise Brown is having a breakout season and is coming off a season-high 36.5 points in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts. Hollywood is averaging 21.9 DK points per game and his lowest output was still 8.3 DK points in Week 3 versus the Detroit Lions. There will be fireworks in this one and a Jackson/Brown/Andrews stack could be a tasty trio for Week 6.
Tight End
Hunter Henry | $3900 | DAL @ NE
This is not a super sexy play, but for the price, we do not need that. Hunter Henry has put up 13.2 and 19.5 DK points the past two weeks respectively. The Dallas Cowboys are up next and rank 25th against the position. The New England Patriots are going to need to score points to keep up and Henry should be heavily involved. Over the past three contests, he has seen 19 targets compared to 13 for teammate Jonnu Smith. Henry seems to have separated from the pack and only needs about 12 DK points to return value.
Summing It All Up
As we all know, football is unpredictable, we make these picks using the data available to us at fantasydata.com and try to help our readers make educated, thoughtful decisions when creating their DK lineup. If you find this helpful or have any comments, be sure to notate them below. Thank you for reading.
