NFL Fantasy Football 2025: Start ‘em, Sit ‘em – Week 6
Welcome back to Fantasy Football Start ‘em, Sit ‘em – where each week we explore some of my best picks for who should be starting in fantasy managers’ lineups, and who should be sitting the week out.
Week 5 saw some more players drop. Raiders star TE Brock Bowers was a late addition to the injury report and sat out – his health should be monitored, Chargers rookie RB Omarion Hampton was placed on IR with an ankle injury and will miss the next four games, and Bucs RB Bucky Irving will likely be sidelined a second week in a row.
Houston and Minnesota are also on byes, meaning fantasy managers will be without C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Justin Jefferson, and Jordan Mason.
Ian’s Record: 20-20
Start ’em
Matthew Stafford (QB, Rams) at Ravens
Stafford is red hot, and how could he not be? He’s 100% healthy and working perfectly in Sean McVay’s offense with receivers that don’t drop anything. He currently leads the league with 1,503 passing yards and an 11:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Baltimore is broken with Lamar Jackson sidelined. They’ve allowed 81 combined points in their last two games – and in those games both Patrick Mahomes and C.J. Stroud tossed four touchdown passes. No doubt about it, Stafford’s gonna go off again.
Panthers RBs* vs Cowboys
Chuba Hubbard is hoping to return this week after being sidelined with a calf injury last week – if he does, he’s a no doubt start. If he doesn’t, Rico Dowdle becomes the no doubt start. Hubbard made it obvious last year and the beginning of this year how dangerous he is, and Dowdle just averaged nine yards a carry on 23 touches against Miami.
Dallas’ run defense (4th most fantasy points) has been just as bad as Miami’s (5th), so I’m expecting another big day on the ground for Carolina. If you have Dowdle, monitor Hubbard’s status. Or throw him in for fun regardless – he’ll probably get a few more explosive plays anyway.
DeVonta Smith (WR, Eagles) at Giants
It’s been a strange first few weeks for Jalen Hurts and his wide receivers (especially A.J. Brown, hence why I went with Smith), but I like Smith to find the endzone after finally breaking 100 yards receiving last week against a very good secondary.
New York just lost an ugly one where they allowed Rashid Shaheed to torch them for an 87-yard touchdown. That’s not likely to be repeated, but I like Smith to get fed while most of the focus goes to A.J. Brown.
Jake Ferguson (TE, Cowboys) at Panthers
I spoke too soon on Ferguson.
Since CeeDee Lamb’s early departure against Chicago in week 3, Ferguson has caught 27 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns, making him the number one fantasy tight end entering week 6.
It’s possible Lamb could try to come back this week, but it makes more sense for Dallas to rest him before they host Washington at home. If this is the case, Ferguson is in for another big day as Carolina remains bad against TEs.
Sit ’em
Justin Fields (QB, Jets) vs Broncos
Fields has strung together a strong couple of games since coming back from a concussion, but he’ll cool off this week as they prepare to host Denver in what could very well be a pretty low scoring game.
Fields’ last two outings came against Miami and Dallas – two of the leagues’ worst defenses right now. I don’t trust New York’s battered offensive line to keep Nik Bonnito and co. away from him all afternoon, nor do I trust Fields to get it done with his legs against them. Plus, this is still a really good secondary that’s only handed opposing receivers one touchdown thus far.
Jaylen Warren (RB, Steelers) vs Browns if he plays
Warren surprisingly missed week 4 with a knee injury, but will likely return this week following the bye. However, a strong showing from Kenneth Gainwell puts Warren’s usage and workload in question going forward.
More simply, it’s hard to trust any Steelers RB this week against Cleveland, who time and time again just shut down every running back they face. And you know who else has been doing that? The Pittsburgh Steelers. This will be a throwing affair regardless of who is taking more reps between Warren and Gainwell.
Keon Coleman (WR, Bills) at Falcons
Couple reasonings here: One, Dalton Kincaid seems to be taking targets away from everyone and Coleman is still behind Shakir, and Two, Atlanta will put him in trouble more times than he’ll get open. It’s a touchdown or bust unfortunately.
Mark Andrews (TE, Ravens) vs Rams
Remember what I said about the Ravens earlier? Yeah keep that in mind with Andrews too.
BYES: HOUSTON TEXANS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
