Week 6 brings more bye week issues, as well as some big injuries- meaning the need for fantasy streamers is real! As always, I will try and look past most obvious waiver candidates, targeting Week 6 Streamers that are available in less than 40 percent of all ESPN leagues. My selections will be based on their matchups, recent play, and upside potential in deeper PPR formats.
After some schedule shuffling by the NFL, your Week 6 byes are:
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- New Orleans Saints
- Seattle Seahawks
Week 6 Fantasy Streamers: QB
Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA) – 26.5% (vsNYJ)
I’ve listed Fitz multiple times in the past, and you’ll notice that his roster percentage has gradually risen from 2.4 to 26.5 percent as the season has gone along. That’s because the gunslinger is hotter than ever right now, with four straight 20-plus point performances in fantasy. Last week might have been his best game yet, with 350 yards and three touchdowns in a rout over the San Francisco 49ers. Now he faces a pathetic New York Jets defense at home in a rivalry game against a franchise he used to quarterback for. Sorry Dolphins fans, Tua-Time will have to wait until Fitz-Magic cools off.
Andy Dalton (DAL) – 0.8% (vsARI)
The “Red Rocket” is a possible waiver candidate depending on how deep of a league you’re in, but I’ll also list him as a stream-worthy QB. Taking over for Prescott (injured for the rest of 2020) in a loaded Cowboys offense, Dalton was able to make some big throws in the narrow victory over the New York Giants on Sunday. I don’t expect the former Bengals quarterback to put up 40-point fantasy performances like Dak did, but he should be serviceable if this offensive line holds up. As for this weekend, Dallas is at home against a decent Cardinals defense, but one that will likely be missing its top defensive playmaker (edge rusher Chandler Jones).
Honorable Mentions
Kirk Cousins (MIN) – 21.2% (vsATL)
I’ve learned my lesson on guys like Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones this season. A juicy matchup doesn’t necessarily mean fantasy success for these sub-par quarterbacks. Still, against the worst pass defense in football (Atlanta), Cousins is worth an honorable mention… even after he let me down last week against Seattle.
Jarrett Stidham (NE) – 0.6% (vsDEN)
This one is obviously only an option if Cam Newton doesn’t play. Stidham isn’t great, but he does have some ability to put up points in this well-run offensive unit. Denver’s defense has been terrible this season (mostly due to key injuries), and away from home the Broncos don’t stand much of a chance against the Patriots offensive line, or their nifty possession receivers.
Week 6 Fantasy Streamers: RB
I’ll be the first to admit it, my Week 5 running back streamers missed the mark. Duke Johnson didn’t have an impact in the passing game like I had hoped he might, and although Brian Hill was okay, Trenton Cannon never saw much of the field for Carolina. Let’s regroup here in Week 6, as we sift through what is a very thin RB free agency market at the moment.
J.D. McKissic (WSH) – 22.6% (@NYG)
Washington Football Team does not run the ball well, but their offense has been at its best in recent weeks when using both Antonio Gibson and McKissic as pass-catchers out of the backfield. With 13 receptions and 86 receiving yards over the last two games, McKissic has become a viable PPR running back. Kyle Allen loves to check down to his backs (he used to do the same in Carolina all the time with McCaffrey), and the Giants generally don’t have the coverage linebackers to handle RB’s with these specialties.
Matt Breida (MIA) – 26.2% (vsNYJ)
It has been the Myles Gaskin show in Miami so far this season, and I’ve listed Gaskin on this report in past weeks, but now I’m listing one of the people he surpassed in camp. Matt Breida has big-play potential with blazing speed, but the former 49ers running back has yet to play a major role in this offense. In Week 5, Breida finally saw a crack of daylight in the snap-share, with nine carries for 28 yards and one catch for 31 yards. It’s not much, but the Dolphins may run the ball a lot if they lead the Jets early in Week 6 (which they should). Breida could easily bust one or two rushes out against this very susceptible defense, making him a streamer candidate on Sunday.
Honorable Mentions
La’Mical Perine (NYJ) – 1.8% (@MIA)
Frank Gore will probably end up right back on waiver wire reports this week after Le’Veon Bell’s release, but his lack of production this year makes him a very weak start candidate most games. I’m not going to argue that any of the Jets running backs have “boom” potential right now, but if one did, it would probably be rookie La’Mical Perine. The Jets are in full-on rebuild mode, so they’ll want to give the youth plenty of burn, rather than players like Gore who have no place in the Jets future. Also keep an eye on Ty Johnson, who the Jets recently picked up off waivers from Detroit.
T.J. Yeldon (BUF) – 0.2% (vsKC)
Yeldon finally saw snaps in Week 5 as rookie Zack Moss missed another game and Devin Singletary struggled. The veteran back did not disappoint, averaging 7.4 rush yards on seven carries, with a 22-yard touchdown catch added on late. If Moss plays against the Chiefs, it’s probably best to avoid Yeldon, but his production is hard for the Bills coaching staff to ignore.
Mike Boone (MIN) – 0.2% (vsATL)
Another streamer that’s only worthwhile if the starter doesn’t play. Mike Boone is third on the Vikings depth chart behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. This offense always uses two backs however, and Cook picked up a groin injury in Week 5. If Cook is out, Boone might be a nice stream spelling Mattison against this porous Falcons defense.
Week 6 Fantasy Streamers: WR
Chase Claypool (PIT) – 13.5% (vsCLE)
Everyone knows about Chase Claypool’s huge rookie breakout last weekend, four touchdowns (one rushing) on 11 targets. The 116-yard game was a fantasy explosion for the Steelers second round pick, and if he clears waivers there’s no reason not to take a shot on him in Week 6. This Pittsburgh wide receiving core is wide open behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Claypool may have just stole the WR2 role ahead of a juicy matchup with a 31st ranked secondary.
Damiere Byrd (NE) – 3.4% (vsDEN)
The Broncos secondary has been extremely weak since losing a couple key members to injury, and Damiere Byrd has been a consistent contributor in this New England offense no matter which quarterback is throwing the ball. He had 80 yards off 10 targets the last time the Pats took the field.
Honorable Mention
Adam Humphries (TEN) – 4.5% (vsHOU)
With Corey Davis sidelined with Covid-19, Adam Humphries returns to a large vacancy in the Titans receiving core. Look for Tannehill to hit his favorite possession receiver more than usual against a top-heavy Texans secondary.
Breshad Perriman (NYJ) – 17.8% (@MIA)
If Perriman does make his long awaited return, he will immediately start in a Jets offense that will most likely be throwing the ball a lot this weekend against Miami.
Week 6 Fantasy Streamers: TE
Irv Smith Jr. (MIN) – 4.5% (vsATL)
With four catches on five targets in primetime, Irv Smith finally took a step in the right direction in Week 5. He has the talent to easily overtake a washed up Kyle Rudolph on passing downs, but this is the first time he has clearly done it in 2020. There’s definitely risk attached, but the Falcons can’t guard anyone (31st ranked against tight ends), so Smith has solid upside potential again in Week 6.
Cameron Brate (TB) – 2.9% (vsGB)
The matchup isn’t great, but I’m doubling down on Cameron Brate (who I correctly listed as a Week 5 streamer). Tom Brady has been raving about Brate since camp, and now that O.J. Howard hit IR, he’s finally on the field with the legendary quarterback. Brate was an immediate favorite target of Brady on Thursday night, as the two linked up for 44 yards on five receptions (six targets). Look for the tight end to contribute for the Bucs moving forward.
Watch List: David Njoku (CLE) – 2.4%
The Browns use multiple tight ends with Hooper and rookie Harrison Bryant always involved, but Njoku was the best of the three during Week 1 (the only game he played before returning from injury last week). Keep an eye on him.
Week 6 Fantasy Streamers: D/ST
Miami Dolphins – 3.1% (vsNYJ)
There are actually a few decent options this week, but my favorite is definitely the Miami Dolphins. It’s a good bet to pick against the Jets right now, as far as fantasy defenses are concerned, and Miami has been trending in the right direction in general. This defense had five sacks and three turnovers in San Francisco last week, so a home matchup against Joe Flacco and the injury-ravaged Jets should be a breeze compared to that.
New York Giants – 1.7% (vsWSH)
One could easily make the argument that the Washington Football Team D/ST is also a good Week 6 streamer (facing a poor Giants’ offensive line with their group of pass rushers), but Washington burned me last week as the Rams gouged them on big plays over and over. Because of that, I’ll side with Big Blue’s defense in this head-to-head. NYG has actually been quietly consistent in 2020, ranked 12th for Team D/ST right now. The G-Men will look to stifle this lousy run game and hassle Kyle Allen in the pocket.
P.S. Washington allowed eight sacks last week, which is actually three sacks worse than the Giants fared against Aaron Donald and LA.
Honorable Mention
Tennessee Titans – 12.7% (vsHOU)
Deshaun Watson is always scary as an opponent, but this Texans offense is not what it once was. Tennessee should control the game clock with Derrick Henry, leaving few opportunities for Houston to put points on the board (not to mention that this Titans D is coming off their best performance of the year against Buffalo). Tennessee also has the type of unit that you can hold onto after Week 6.
Week 6 Fantasy Streamers: K
Jason Sanders (MIA) – 5.0% (vsNYJ)
Woah! All of a sudden Jason Sanders is a fantasy superstar with the Dolphins. 10 for 10 on field goals and 14 for 14 on kicks over the past two weeks. In the perfect combination of a blossoming offense and a hot kicker, Sanders deserves to be on more fantasy rosters than five percent this week as Miami faces off against the Jets.
Younghoe Koo (ATL) – 34.7% (@MIN)
Koo looked healthy returning from injury going four for four on kicks in Week 5, and now he faces off against the Vikings who are currently the defense that gives up the most points to kickers in 2020. That rank is definitely less crucial for the kicker position than other positions, but either way this is set up to be a shootout between two desperate teams, and that’s always good for kickers.
Thanks for reading! Check in next week for more streaming options or tweet @the_mizzardFF with questions, or for fantasy football advice.
That’s it for our fantasy streamers for Week 6 come back next week for more! Remember, you can always reach out to us on social media with any questions we are on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. And don’t forget to check out our weekly rankings!
Image Credit: Scott Galvin – USA TODAY Sports
