Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings

These rankings will be updated throughout the week up until Sunday at 1 PM ET for injuries or other reasons. [Note: our rankings are for standard (non-PPR) leagues, but you can simply move guys up or down based on whether or not they are expected to catch passes]

 

QUARTERBACK

1. Tom Brady (@ NYJ)

2. Drew Brees (v DET)

3. Deshaun Watson (v CLE)

4. Aaron Rodgers (@ MIN)

5. Cam Newton (v PHI)

6. Matt Ryan (v MIA)

7. Kirk Cousins (v SF)

8. Carson Palmer (v TB)

9. Matthew Stafford (@ NO)

10. Philip Rivers (@ OAK)

11. Alex Smith (v PIT)

12. Marcus Mariota (v IND)

13. Derek Carr (v LAC)

14. Carson Wentz (@ CAR)

15. Jacoby Brissett (@ TEN)

16. Jameis Winston (@ ARI)

17. Ben Roethlisberger (@ KC)

18. Jay Cutler (@ ATL)

19. Brian Hoyer (@ WAS)

20. Josh McCown (v NE)

21. Case Keenum (v GB)

22. Trevor Siemian (v NYG)

23. Jared Goff (@ JAC)

24. Joe Flacco (v CHI)

25. Kevin Hogan (@ HOU)

 

Tom Brady is the clear top quarterback against the Jets, especially with Aaron Rodgers being downgraded in Minnesota and potentially without Jordy Nelson… Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford have good shootout potential this week… Deshaun Watson has been absolutely spectacular, and he needs to be in lineups against the Browns; he might be a top-five guy as a rookie… Cam Newton seems to be back, and he is fortunate to get the Eagles in Carolina… Coming out of a bye, Matt Ryan should turn things around against Miami… Carson Palmer should have an easier time staying upright against Tampa Bay, and they don’t have the players in the back end to stop Arizona’s weapons… Marcus Mariota plays on Monday night, so as long as there’s positive clarity about his status before Sunday, he is worth considering in a good matchup… Derek Carr should be back against the Chargers, but he’s been up-and-down against them through three seasons… Jacoby Brissett is a streaming option against Tennessee… Pittsburgh can probably look like Pittsburgh at any time, but you should probably get Ben Roethlisberger out of lineups until it happens.

 

. . .

 

RUNNING BACK

1. Kareem Hunt (v PIT)

2. Le’Veon Bell (@ KC)

3. Todd Gurley (@ JAC)

4. Leonard Fournette (v LAR)

5. Melvin Gordon (@ OAK)

6. Jordan Howard (@ BAL)

7. Jay Ajayi (@ ATL)

8. Mark Ingram (v DET)

9. DeMarco Murray (v IND)

10. Devonta Freeman (v MIA)

11. Ameer Abdullah (@ NO)

12. Tevin Coleman (v MIA)

13. C.J. Anderson (v NYG)

14. Lamar Miller (v CLE)

15. Christian McCaffrey (v PHI)

16. Carlos Hyde (@ WAS)

17. Doug Martin (@ ARI)

18. Mike Gillislee (@ NYJ)

19. Aaron Jones (@ MIN)

20. Jerick McKinnon (v GB)

21. Javorius Allen (v CHI)

22. Latavius Murray (v GB)

23. Elijah McGuire (v NE)

24. Marshawn Lynch (v LAC)

25. Alvin Kamara (v DET)

26. James White (@ NYJ)

27. Ty Montgomery (@ MIN)

29. Duke Johnson (@ HOU)

29. Frank Gore (@ TEN)

30. Samaje Perine (v SF)

31. Tarik Cohen (@ BAL)

32. LeGarrette Blount (@ CAR)

33. Jonathan Stewart (v PHI)

34. Andre Ellington (v TB)

35. Alex Collins (v CHI)

36. Derrick Henry (v IND)

37. Marlon Mack (@ TEN)

38. Jamaal Charles (v NYG)

39. Adrian Peterson (v TB)

40. D’Onta Foreman (v CLE)

41. Chris Thompson (v SF)

42. Wayne Gallman (@ DEN)

43. Theo Riddick (@ NO)

44. Matt Forte (v NE)

45. Isaiah Crowell (@ HOU)

46. Jalen Richard (v LAC)

47. Shane Vereen (@ DEN)

48. Chris Ivory (v LAR)

49. Matt Breida (@ WAS)

50. Dion Lewis (@ NYJ)

51. Charcandrick West (v PIT)

52. Corey Clement (@ CAR)

53. James Conner (@ KC)

54. Austin Ekeler (@ OAK)

55. Kenyan Drake (@ ATL)

56. Kerwynn Williams (v TB)

57. Zach Zenner (@ NO)

58. Kenjon Barner (@ CAR)

59. Orleans Darkwa (@ DEN)

60. Mack Brown (v SF)

 

This looks like a strong week for running backs, with Kareem Hunt and Le’Veon Bell as every-week, high-end RB1 plays at the top… Leonard Fournette certainly isn’t lacking any confidence… Jay Ajayi has game-flow concerns against Atlanta, but he’s getting fed and will explode once some holes open up… Fantasy owners should stick with DeMarco Murray and hope he comes through on Monday Night Football… Ameer Abdullah should be back to 17-20 touches again after Detroit gave him just 10 carries in their worst game of the season; New Orleans is as good a matchup as he will have… Get both Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman in lineups against the Dolphins… C.J. Anderson has two other good backs that will get touches, but the Broncos should be playing ahead against the decimated Giants… Christian McCaffrey could see extended playing time against the Eagles on Thursday night with veteran Jonathan Stewart handling 21 touches on Sunday… Both Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara are worth plays in a game you probably want as many players as possible in… The 49ers might have won their first game of the season if they stayed committed to Carlos Hyde, but they didn’t; he’s probably more of a solid RB2 now… Doug Martin looked really good in his first action of 2017… So did Aaron Jones in his first career start; he could draw another in Week 6… Jerick McKinnon exploded on MNF and looks like the preferred fantasy play until Latavius Murray is 100%, and Case Keenum playing probably gives McKinnon a bigger edge with less scoring opportunities… Elijah McGuire could see a heavy workload if Bilal Powell doesn’t play… LeGarrette Blount has been really good, but he should stay out of lineups on a short week against an elite front… Trade alert! As I was doing these rankings, Adrian Peterson was traded to the Cardinals, which could only be good for his fantasy outlook, but we should probably wait to put him in lineups until at least Week 7.

 

. . .

 

WIDE RECEIVER

1. Julio Jones (v MIA)

2. Antonio Brown (@ KC)

3. DeAndre Hopkins (v CLE)

4. Jordy Nelson (@ MIN)

5. Chris Hogan (@ NYJ)

6. T.Y. Hilton (@ TEN)

7. Brandin Cooks (@ NYJ)

8. Keenan Allen (@ OAK)

9. Michael Thomas (v DET)

10. Golden Tate (@ NO)

11. Larry Fitzgerald (v TB)

12. Davante Adams (@ MIN)

13. Demaryius Thomas (v NYG)

14. Alshon Jeffery (@ CAR)

15. Adam Thielen (v GB)

16. Tyreek Hill (v PIT)

17. John Brown (v TB)

18. DeSean Jackson (@ ARI)

19. Pierre Garcon (@ WAS)

20. Jarvis Landry (@ ATL)

21. Kelvin Benjamin (v PHI)

22. Michael Crabtree (v LAC)

23. Mike Evans (@ ARI)

24. Devin Funchess (v PHI)

25. Randall Cobb (@ MIN)

26. Marvin Jones (@ NO)

27. Emmanuel Sanders (v NYG)

28. Sammy Watkins (@ JAC)

29. Terrelle Pryor (v SF)

30. Amari Cooper (v LAC)

31. Danny Amendola (@ NYJ)

32. Mike Wallace (v CHI)

33. Jaron Brown (v TB)

34. Tyrell Williams (@ OAK)

35. Nelson Agholor (@ CAR)

36. Jamison Crowder (v SF)

37. Will Fuller (v CLE)

38. Rishard Matthews (v IND)

39. Kenny Stills (@ ATL)

40. Cooper Kupp (@ JAC)

41. Jermaine Kearse (v NE)

42. Robby Anderson (v NE)

43. Taylor Gabriel (v MIA)

44. Willie Snead (v DET)

45. Michael Floyd (v GB)

46. Martavis Bryant (@ KC)

47. Marqise Lee (v LAR)

48. J.J. Nelson (v TB)

49. Eric Decker (v IND)

50. Allen Hurns (v LAR)

51. Ted Ginn (v DET)

52. JuJu Smith-Schuster (@ KC)

53. Michael Campanaro (v CHI)

54. Adam Humphries (@ ARI)

55. Donte Moncrief (@ TEN)

56. Laquon Treadwell (v GB)

57. Ricardo Louis (@ HOU)

58. Geronimo Allison (@ MIN)

59. Torrey Smith (@ CAR)

60. Roger Lewis (@ DEN)

61. Travis Benjamin (@ OAK)

62. Kendall Wright (@ BAL)

63. Marquise Goodwin (@ WAS)

64. Seth Roberts (v LAC)

65. Josh Doctson (v SF)

66. Robert Woods (@ JAC)

67. Albert Wilson (v PIT)

68. Bruce Ellington (v CLE)

69. Chris Godwin (@ ARI)

70. Mike Williams (@ OAK)

71. Philip Dorsett (@ NYJ)

72. Breshad Perriman (v CHI)

73. Justin Hardy (v MIA)

74. Bennie Fowler (v NYG)

75. Ryan Grant (v SF)

 

Julio Jones should be healthy and ready to dominate the Dolphins coming off a bye… Jordy Nelson’s status needs to be monitored after he sat out the team’s final drive against the Cowboys, but he’s one of a select few that you can put in lineups against Xaiver Rhodes… Since being held to one catch in the season opener, Chris Hogan has at least 60 yards and a touchdown in every game; he looks like a solid WR1 every week that the opponent doesn’t have an elite left cornerback… T.Y. Hilton is producing without Andrew Luck and now has his easiest matchup of the season… Stefon Diggs is battling a groin issue and will almost certainly be without Sam Bradford, but he torched the Packers in 2016… Alshon Jeffery had just 38 yards the only time he faced a predominantly zone defense, but that was against Josh Norman; I think he’ll have a nice game on Thursday night… Davante Adams might actually benefit from Nelson playing, because it could keep Xaiver Rhodes away from him… John Brown saved fantasy owners with a touchdown, but he got plenty of deep shots that Carson Palmer couldn’t really step into; he should be able to back at home… Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess are both worth a look against the Eagles… DeSean Jackson should benefit from Mike Evans being blanketed by Patrick Peterson… Sammy Watkins voicing his displeasure on Twitter might lead to a big game, but it’s too risky to test against Jacksonville if you have other options… I’ve been hard on Terrelle Pryor, and he still hasn’t done anything this year other than a push-off touchdown reception, but the chemistry might be improved over the bye week, and this is a good matchup… Nelson Agholor leads the Eagles receivers in fantasy points, but he probably has the toughest draw this week against Captain Munnerlyn.

 

. . .

 

TIGHT END

1. Rob Gronkowski (@ NYJ)

2. Zach Ertz (@ CAR)

3. Travis Kelce (v PIT)

4. Delanie Walker (v IND)

5. Hunter Henry (@ OAK)

6. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (v NE)

7. Evan Engram (@ DEN)

8. Coby Fleener (v DET)

9. Kyle Rudolph (v SF)

10. Jordan Reed (v SF)

11. Ryan Griffin (v CLE)

12. Cameron Brate (@ ARI)

13. Jared Cook (v LAC)

14. Benjamin Watson (v CHI)

15. Ed Dickson (v PHI)

16. Martellus Bennett (@ MIN)

17. Austin Hooper (v MIA)

18. David Njoku (@ HOU)

19. Zach Miller (@ BAL)

20. Vernon Davis (v SF)

21. Jack Doyle (@ TEN)

22. Julius Thomas (@ ATL)

23. Antonio Gates (@ OAK)

24. Eric Ebron (@ NO)

25. A.J. Derby (v NYG)

 

 

Rob Gronkowski is the top option is he’s active… Zach Ertz looks like he’s in the tier right below Gronk with Travis Kelce after going for 61 yards and a score in a difficult matchup… Hunter Henry has produced every time he’s actually been targeted… Austin Seferian-Jenkins might be a weekly TE1 if he can stay on the field… Evan Engram is apparently the only pass-catcher left for the Giants… Coby Fleener should be involved after the Lions were just shredded for 175 yards by Ed Dickson, whom Cam Newton probably gained a bunch of trust in, but he’s still off the TE1 map against Philly… Kyle Rudolph has been better with Sam Bradford at quarterback… Ryan Griffin is worth considering against Cleveland… Martellus Bennett is barely averaging 5.0 fantasy points per game.

 

. . .

 

DEFENSE

1. Denver Broncos (v NYG)

2. Baltimore Ravens (v CHI)

3. Houston Texans (v CLE)

4. New England Patriots (@ NYJ)

5. Atlanta Falcons (v MIA)

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (v LAR)

7. Washington Redskins (v SF)

8. Arizona Cardinals (v TB)

9. Los Angeles Rams (@ JAC)

10. Carolina Panthers (v PHI)

11. Green Bay Packers (@ MIN)

12. Kansas City Chiefs (v PIT)

13. Tennessee Titans (v IND)

14. Chicago Bears (@ BAL)

15. Philadelphia Eagles (@ CAR)

16. New York Giants (@ DEN)

17. Minnesota Vikings (v GB)

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ ARI)

19. Indianapolis Colts (@ TEN)

20. Oakland Raiders (v LAC)

 

. . .

 

KICKER

1. Stephen Gostkowski (@ NYJ)

2. Matt Bryant (v MIA)

3. Justin Tucker (v CHI)

4. Matt Prater (@ NO)

5. Will Lutz (v DET)

6. Dustin Hopkins (v SF)

7. Brandon McManus (v NYG)

8. Mason Crosby (@ MIN)

9. Harrison Butker (v PIT)

10. Ka’imi Fairbairn (v CLE)

11. Graham Gano (v PHI)

12. Jake Elliott (@ CAR)

13. Adam Vinatieri (@ TEN)

14. Greg Zuerlein (@ JAC)

15. Giorgio Tavecchio (v LAC)