Time is flying, we are now entering Week 6 of the 2021 season, and continuing our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. This week, we have a long day of action with the second game in the UK being played. So a reminder to make sure you have your Miami and Jacksonville players out of your flex positions. I’ll actually be attending the game, so looking forward to seeing some NFL action after the Jets and Falcons game.
This week we have some bye weeks to deal with:
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- New York Jets
- San Francisco 49ers
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Start 'Em
Matt Stafford @NYG
Stafford is having a great start to his Rams career. This offense is flying, and the Giants defense is not really doing well this year. In fact, they are one of the worst in the league. Stafford is a must start really at this point of the season every week.
Trevor Lawrence v MIA (UK)
Lawrence was supposed to be the saviour for the Jaguars and the NFL, but that hasn’t really happened yet. He should have an opportunity to do well against a Miami defense that has looked shaky in their secondary.
Taylor Heinicke v KC
At some point, the Chiefs are going to improve on defense. Well, that is if they are actually going to be contenders. The Washington offense has found a way to move the ball, and the Chiefs haven’t found a way to stop it.
Joe Mixon @DET
Mixon should be ok to play in this game, at least the reports that I have seen say he will. Detroit are the worst team in the league against the RB position, which is unlikely to change. The Bengals offense has been effective, and Perine (who just ended up on the COVID reserve) is going to be out of the rotation.
James Robinson v MIA (UK)
Robinson is getting a similar level of volume to what he had last season, which is great for fantasy. If he managed to get into the endzone a little more then he would be fantastic, as he was last season. The Dolphins defense has struggled this season, second behind Detroit, against the position, so there’s that too.
Myles Gaskin @JAX (UK)
Gaskin had a good season last year, a solid RB2 option each week. That hasn’t transpired to this season, at least not on the ground. Last week, Gaskin had a bunch of targets which gave him a good fantasy day. This week, he could see a similar level. But, more crucially, the Jaguars have struggled to stop players advancing on them on the ground.
Latavius Murray v LAC
If ever there was a game in which Murray was going to stamp himself as the RB1 on the offense this is it. Yes, Lamar Jackson had a great passing display against the Colts, and rushes the ball too, but this is Murray’s game to stand up.
Brandin Cooks @IND
Cooks is having the season that I expected. Targets, receptions and yards galore, but lacking TDs. Cooks has a massive target share, which gives him great appeal in PPR leagues especially. Against the Colts, who have given up an average of 29.7 points to the position. That should mainly be going to Cooks in this offense.
Marvin Jones v MIA (UK)
This is starting to feel like it’s a case of start whoever you have in this game. Well, both teams have suspect defenses which gives opportunity for the offense to improve. Jones has been great for the Jaguars this season, with a healthy target share.
Chase Claypool v SEA
Claypool should be inline for a good game against Seattle this week. The Steelers are without Juju Smith-Schuster, who is now out for the season with a shoulder injury. That should allow fro Claypool to see more targets (Diontae Johnson is a must-start every week really, so that’s why I didn’t mention him).
Odell Beckham v ARI
I’ll be honest, this might be me talking myself into starting him this week. But it kinda makes sense. Beckham hasn’t had a big game yet this season, despite his target share and his downfield ability. Arizona have been good on defense, but have allowed some big chunk plays.
Mark Andrews v LAC
I might have had Marquise Brown as a sit this week (spoiler if you read the sits after) but I can’t find a way to sit Andrews. Not that you are likely to. But the Chargers defense really struggles to stop production at the position, being one of the worst in the league
Ricky Seals-Jones v KC
Seals-Jones stepped in immediately for Logan Thomas (who is now on IR). That ended in a game where he had nine targets, which converted into five reception for 41 yards. The Chiefs have struggled to stop TEs being productive, giving up 11.7 points on average to the position. If you have lost Kyle Pitts to the bye week, or still looking to fill a George Kittle gap in your lineup Seals-Jones is a fine add.
Dan Arnold v MIA (UK)
Arnold was traded to the Jaguars, and didn’t make a big impact in his first game. His second though, this past week, he had a great performance, 6 receptions for 64 yards (but no score). The defense for Miami should allow for some plays to Arnold, who would be a second option for a bye week fill in (behind Seals-Jones mentioned above)
Cincinnati Bengals @DET
The Bengals had a decent time out against the Packers last week. Well, apart from Davante Adams performance. This week they take on Detroit, who have managed to score points, but are missing pieces on offense now. This could be a trap game and the Lions pull everything together, but I’m fine to risk that.
Minnesota Vikings @CAR
The Vikings are second in sacks this season having faced some teams that have good protection so it’s not a fluke. Sam Darnold started the season well, but has shown signs of old recently. Making the Vikings a fine streaming option.
Miami Dolphins @JAX (UK)
Miami were a strong defense last year, but haven’t shown that this season. I have to believe at some point that changes. It could well be this week, with Lawrence struggling with turnovers with eight INTs so far this season.
Mason Crosby @CHI
Let’s get it out of the way, I’m a Packers fan so there might be some bias here. But, Crosby is a good kicker. Ignore what happened against the Bengals, both kickers struggled, so let’s chalk it up to some external issues. The Bears defense is effective enough to force some stalls on offense, which should allow for opportunities for Crosby to put some ghosts to bed.
Evan McPherson @DET
McPherson was the other guy in that game, where both kickers just seemed to refuse to win the game. But, McPherson has been solid enough this season. Detroit have allowed the most points to kickers, which isn’t too surprising given their defensive struggles.
Sit 'Em
Mac Jones v DAL
The Patriots didn’t do what was expected last week. The Texans managed to put up a fight. The Cowboys have enough playmakers on defense that make me want to avoid Jones. Even if they have struggled to stop QB production this season.
Baker Mayfield v ARI
The Browns are a run-first offense, it’s their DNA. That doesn’t give alot of opportunity for Mayfield to air the ball out too much. He may have had a decent game against the Chargers, but alot of that came on chunk plays with poor coverage. Avoid.
Chris Carson @PIT
Carson didn’t play last week, but is likely to see the field this week. The issue is this matchup is a tough one, with Pittsburgh allowing just 12.1 points on average to the position. When you factor in the likely involvement of Alex Collins, and the absence of Russell Wilson, I’d sit Carson for this week if possible.
Damien Harris v DAL
Harris missed some time last week with injury, but he did manage to get back on the field. The Cowboys are a tough unit to run on, and with Rhamondre Stevenson in the mix Harris is likely to struggle to make an impact on this game.
Marquise Brown v LAC
You aren’t going to sit him I get it, but you should at least consider it. The Ravens are still a run-first offense, and the Chargers are a defense that funnels the offense through the run, frustraing receivers. You might have some boom plays, but I’m not feeling too confident putting him in my lineups if there are better options
Robby Anderson v MIN
I’m sad about how Anderson has gone this season. I didn’t think he would be great, but I thought he would be better than he has been. If Christian McCaffrey is back this week, then that’s even fewer targets available against a defense that can cause problems.
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Robert Tonyan @CHI
Toyan was great last season. But he is yet to really get going. He has just nine receptions for the season, and only a single TD. The Bears are one of the better units against the position too, giving up on average 4.8 points to the position. Oh, and they also just limited Darren Waller to a mediocre performance too.
Dalton Schultz @NE
The Cowboys TE has been good the past couple of weeks. Well, the whole offense has been good. This week they matchup against a Patriots unit. They’ve struggled to stop receivers having good games, and managed to limit production to TEs. Part of that will be the calibre of the players they have faced, but if you can find a better option I’d take it.
Baltimore Ravens v LAC
The Ravens are a defense that are hard to bench, because you remember the old days of when they were a top option. That’s not really the case though. The Ravens are missing pieces through injury, and as a reuslt I’d look to avoid a potent offense like the Chargers this week.
Greg Joseph @CAR
Joseph had a great week last week, so you might just think to keep him in your lineup. I don’t blame you, finding a kicker can be a pain- but this week I’d look for another option. The Panthers are one of the better teams when it comes to kicker production. There are better options this week.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 6 of the 2021 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Image Credit: Bob DeChiara – USA TODAY Sports
