Fantasy football has been as unpredictable as ever this season (possibly even more than normal). There have been injuries, but the main culprits are some early-round picks, such as Ja’Marr Chase, Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Brian Thomas Jr., and others just straight up underperforming.

In a season as difficult to predict as this, it’s hard to decide who to start and who to sit. Luckily, we did the research for you, so you don’t have to worry about it.

NFL Senior Writer, Luke Hubbard, and NFL Content Chief, Tim Wood, give their picks on who you should start and who you should sit in Week 6.

Start ‘Em

Quarterbacks

Luke’s Picks

Bryce Young: Going to put myself out there a bit on this one. Bryce Young isn’t a name synonymous with fantasy success, but this week he plays a Dallas Cowboys team that is giving up 31.4 fantasy points to opposing QBs. I’m not saying he’s going to give you 30+, but if you have a need at QB this week, Young is probably available on waivers and could have a big game.

Justin Herbert: I know he’s averaging 15 points per game in his last two, but Justin Herbert has a really good matchup this weekend against the Miami Dolphins, who allow 26.8 points per week to opposing QBs. The Chargers are going to throw the ball more than normal with Omarion Hampton out, so if they’re going to win this game, Justin Herbert is going to have a big day.

Tim’s Picks

Sam Darnold: This is a function of where vibe checks meet stats. Darnold is coming in on fire, putting up 36 fantasy points (FP) last week vs. the Bucs. The Jags have a middling secondary and are giving up an average of 2) FP to QBs. I also think the game script is going to lean toward either shootout or come-from-behind passing; either way, a fantasy win here.

Jordan Love: I very much wanted to say Drake Maye and/or Bo Nix here, but I fear both are in trap-game scenarios that will impact their numbers. The Packers are at home against a Bengals D that has given up 22.4 FP per game to QBs to date. This is the safest start rec for me outside of Herbert.

Running Backs

Luke’s Picks

Chase Brown: Brown’s fantasy stock has tanked ever since Jake Browning took over at QB, but it’s about to shoot right back up with Joe Flacco under center. During the first four games of the season, Flacco targeted his running backs 8.5 times per game. Brown is an elite receiving back, and with a bad offensive line, he will be the beneficiary of a lot of checkdowns. The rushing yards might not be there, but he should see a lot of work as a receiver.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt: Many of you have been starting Bill for weeks now, waiting for his breakout game, and you finally got it last week. Jacory Croskey-Merritt went off for 27 points and should be in for another big week on Monday night. The Chicago Bears allow 23.6 points per game to opposing running backs through their four games this season, and I expect this game to be close, so Bill should see a lot of receiving and rushing work.

Tim’s Picks

Ashton Jeanty: The Raiders rookie has emerged as a legit RB1 pick with 50 FP over his past two games, including a respectable 15.9 against a Colts team highly ranked against the run. Jeanty gets a home game against the 30th team against the run in Tennessee. Plus, RBs love to outdo the last guy, so look for a bunch of guys wanting to challenge Dowdle’s 205-yard mark to set the new league-wide mark. Jeanty has the best shot this week.

Kyren Williams: The weather is looking to be awful in Baltimore, which is going to lead to a lot of run game and a huge footing advantage for the offense. And also, my fantasy team is begging for Luke to be right on Brown.

Wide Receivers

Luke’s Picks

Tet McMillan: The Carolina Panthers’ rookie has been a viable starting option every week, but this could be the breakout game we’ve been waiting for. The Panthers play the Cowboys, who also give up the most points to receivers this year. Tet McMillan has been targeted 8+ times every game this year, and with the Cowboys’ secondary struggling, he should have some big play opportunities.

Xavier Worthy: Since returning from injury, Xavier Worthy has played well, but we expected more, especially with Rashee Rice out. This week I expect him to have a huge performance against the Detroit Lions. It should be a shootout, and the Lions’ secondary hasn’t necessarily been the greatest. Patrick Mahomes is going to throw it early and often, and Worthy should be on the receiving end of plenty of those passes.

Tim’s Picks

Rome Odunze: Just looking at stats, this shapes up to be a shootout both ways. I lean away from Commanders here because the Bears are rested coming off a bye. Odunze has been a steady producer (15-16 FPPG) with a 36-point breakout against the Lions who are 29th against WR. The Commanders are 26th in FP given up to WRs.

Jerry Jeudy: I’m not fully on the Dillon Gabriel bandwagon yet, but the Steelers are 23rd in FP against WR, and I’m just trusting my aura gut here. The Steelers are not a 3-1 team, and I think Gabriel is going to torch their secondary.

Tight Ends

Luke’s Picks

Mason Taylor: After two big games where he’s been targeted a combined 19 times, Mason Taylor is a must-start this week. Justin Fields loves his 6-foot-5 tight end, and now that he’s got a good grasp on the playbook, he should be a big part of the Jets’ offense every week.

AJ Barner: AJ Barner is a name many fans hadn’t heard before this year, but he’s making a name for himself. He’s TE11 through five weeks and has had back-to-back games with 12+ points. If you have a TE1, I’d start him over Barner, but for those of you looking for any sort of help at the position, add Barner and start him this week. Sam Darnold likes him and it should be a high-scoring game in Jacksonville.

Tim’s Picks

Let me start by saying that I hate tight ends in fantasy. I love them in the game, especially when teams get creative and go 2 TE sets (it’s unfortunate we can’t talk about the Patriots’ 2 TE set from back in the day because of the scandal and tragedy behind one of the duo, but it was revolutionary at the time.) 

Brock Bowers and Trey McBride seemed to be single-handedly changing the mindset on usage coming into 2025, but there’s no leaguewide push toward making them any more relevant to fantasy players. Force me to pick a couple and I’ll go Hunter Henry (Saints are 29th in FP given up to TEs) and Jake Ferguson (Panthers 31st vs. TE).

Sit ‘Em

Quarterbacks

Luke’s Picks

Justin Fields: Even though statistically Justin Fields hasn’t been great this year (except for in the fourth quarter), he’s been a good fantasy quarterback. However, I’d bench him this week. The Jets have to fly across the pond to face a stingy Denver defense that gives up 14.2 points per game to the opposing QB. Yards are going to be hard to come by for the Jets, so I’m sitting Fields in my league.

Tua Tagovailoa: I know Tua’s had a stretch of not-so-bad games recently, but if you were considering starting him, don’t. The Chargers’ defense has been pretty stingy against the pass this year. Without Tyreek Hill, I expect the Chargers to shut down the Dolphins passing attack this weekend.

Tim’s Picks

Matthew Stafford: The data says it should be a stellar day for the slinger, as the Ravens are 31st against QBs currently. The weather is saying something completely different. Monitor it closely. This is purely said on weather and the fact that the rain and winds could cause passing to be minimal. 

Daniel Jones: Arizona is giving up the fifth-fewest points to quarterbacks and regardless of how the offense plays, the Cardinals defense is going to come motivated to atone for three straight brutal losses. 

Running Backs

Luke’s Picks

James Cook: May this pick come back to bite me? Yes, but according to the data, James Cook should struggle this week. The Atlanta Falcons have allowed the least points per game to opposing RBs this season, and they’ve only given up 39 receiving yards to RBs all year. It’s hard to sit someone of Cooks’ caliber, but he proved last week he’s capable of a stinker every now and then.

Alvin Kamara: Another guy that’s hard to sit, but you might need to, is Alvin Kamara. The Saints’ RB1 is a bit banged up and was out-touched by Kendre Miller a week ago. On top of that, the Saints face a pretty stout Patriots defense, which gives up just 12.0 points per game to opposing RBs.

Tim’s Picks

All Steelers running backs: I don’t care if it’s Jaylen Warren or Kenneth Gainwell getting the bulk of the carries. If you can, sit the Steelers backs this week against a Cleveland D that has given up the fourth-fewest points to running backs through five games.

All Chiefs running backs: Same play here. I don’t care if it’s Isiah Pacheco or Kareem Hunt, I’m just not liking the Chiefs’ running game this week against the Lions. Detroit has been giving up just 12.4 FPPG to running backs, seventh best in the NFL to date.

Wide Receivers

Luke’s Picks

Garrett Wilson: Garrett Wilson has sneakily had a very good season. He’s currently WR5 in PPR leagues and is coming off three straight 19+ point games. So why should you sit him? Well, just like Fields, I hate the Jets’ matchup for fantasy. The Broncos’ defense has been very good this year, and they have to travel to London, which is always a sloppy game. I don’t expect the Jets to throw the ball very well, so I’d sit Wilson this week if you have a good second option.

Brian Thomas Jr.: After a slow start to the year, Brian Thomas has had back-to-back double-digit efforts, but this week the Jags face a Seahawks defense that is pretty good against the pass. BTJ and Trevor Lawrence are still building a connection, so while it may be tempting to start your late-first, early-second round pick, he might let you down again.

Tim’s Picks

George Pickens: Don’t be fooled by his seeming ascent of the fantasy rankings. Carolina is third best in the league, giving up just 14 FPPG to wideouts. I just don’t like the matchups. He is going to get targets, I just don’t think it’s going to add up to the double digit points you expect from a WR1.

Keon Coleman: I’m tired of riding this rollercoaster on Coleman to begin with, but especially when it comes against the seventh-best defense against wideouts. Atlanta surrenders just 16.5 FPPG to the position.

Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson: Johnson was TE1 through the first couple of weeks of the season, but has fallen off quite hard recently. He’s been a bit banged up, and Spencer Rattler is finally building a connection with his wideouts. Johnson could still have some good games here and there, but I think he’s too inconsistent to start every week.

Dalton Kincaid: The Bills’ TE1 is coming off a pretty big game against the Patriots on Sunday night, but this week he gets a Falcons defense that has given up 69 total yards to TEs in four games. It’s always hard to sit your starting tight end because of how thin the position is, but if someone like Mason Taylor is available, go get him and start him.

Tim’s Picks

Kyle Pitts: You finally got the production you were hoping for from Pitts last week, with 18 fantasy points against the Commanders. Resist the urge to double down. Buffalo is giving up just 2.6 FPPG to tight ends through five games.

Darren Waller: I know, you finally have a Dolphins player producing. You want to ride this wave for a third straight week after two straight 18-point outings from the rejuvenated Waller. The Chargers are giving up just 4.2 FPPG to the position.

Best Flex Start

Luke’s Pick: Quinshon Judkins

The Browns’ new RB1 is the best flex play for this weekend. With a rookie QB set to start again, the Browns should run the football early and often with Quinshon Judkins, and even when they do pass, expect him to be a pretty big part of the pass game as a checkdown option.

Tim’s Pick: Josh Downs

He’s finally healthy and is primed to get his best target share of the year against the Cardinals. He finally had a double-digit point performance last week. I am feeling a 20-point performance against Arizona.