Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 6
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our weekly rankings.
Start
Marcus Mariota, QB, Titans
vs. Browns
Fresh off a four-touchdown performance against the Dolphins, Mariota should have another big day at home against the lowly Browns. No quarterback has produced less than 18 fantasy points against the Browns this season.
Fearless prediction: 278 yards passing, 2 TDs, 59 yards rushing, TD
Other QBs to start
- Alex Smith, Chiefs
- Blake Bortles, Jaguars
Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals
at Patriots
Jeremy Hill is battling an injury and is no lock to play. Even if Hill does, the Bengals may opt to play up-tempo shotgun football in an attempt to keep up with the high-scoring Patriots, which means plenty of Bernard on the field. Bill Belichick always schemes to take away his opponent's best weapon, and for the Bengals, that's A.J. Green. Expect a lot of open dump-offs to Bernard, who could do big damage in garbage time.
Fearless prediction: 52 yards rushing, 77 yards receiving, TD
Other RBs to start
- Ryan Mathews, Eagles
- T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars
- Frank Gore, Colts
- Jamaal Charles, Chiefs
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Chiefs
at Raiders
Maclin has disappointed owners this season, but he has a get-right opportunity coming off the Chiefs' bye week. The Raiders have surrendered big weeks to almost every No. 1 wideout (and some No. 2s) this season.
Fearless prediction: 99 yards receiving, TD
Other WRs to start
- Will Fuller, Texans
- John Brown, Cardinals
- Cameron Meredith, Bears
Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles
at Redskins
Ertz managed just three catches for 37 yards in his return from a multi-week rib injury in Week 5, but his role in the Eagles' offense should expand this week. The Redskins have struggled to defend the tight end lately.
Fearless prediction: 77 yards receiving, TD
Other TEs to start
- Charles Clay, Bills
- Jesse James, Steelers
Sit
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
at Seahawks
It's rare that we recommend benching the leading point producer in all of fantasy football, but Ryan faces a tall task in going on the road to Seattle to play a team coming off its bye. The forecast calls for heavy rain, making this a matchup that could see both teams lean on the running game.
Other QBs to sit
- Kirk Cousins, Redskins
- Andy Dalton, Bengals
Matt Jones, RB, Redskins
vs. Eagles
Jones simply hasn't produced against anything but the weakest competition in his career, and the Eagles' defense is anything but weak. Making matters worse is Redskins head coach Jay Gruden's suggestion that the team may start giving some of Jones' touches to backup Rob Kelley. Stay away.
Other RBs to sit
- Duke Johnson, Browns
- Jalen Richard, Raiders
- Chris Ivory, Jaguars
Quincy Enunwa, WR, Jets
at Cardinals
Enunwa's fantasy stock is rising with news that Eric Decker was placed on IR, but this is a tough matchup against a Cardinals secondary eager to prove it hasn't lost a step. Patrick Peterson should shadow Brandon Marshall, but that won't necessarily open things up for Enunwa, who plays primarily out of the slot and should see plenty of Tyrann Mathieu there.
Other WRs to sit
- DeSean Jackson, Redskins
- Allen Hurns, Jaguars
- Phillip Dorsett, Colts
Dwayne Allen, TE, Colts
at Texans
The Texans have shut down some of the best tight ends in football this season, including Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce, and Delanie Walker. Allen isn't in their class and probably won't be the first tight end to put up big fantasy stats on this defense.
Other TEs to sit
- Jason Witten, Cowboys
- Dennis Pitta, Ravens
Stash
Ladarius Green, TE, Steelers
Green is nearing a return from the PUP list after ankle surgery (and rumors of concussion symptoms) and the reports on his progress are glowing. Jesse James has three touchdowns in five games as the Steelers' de facto No. 1 tight end with Green out. If you have space to stash Green now and wait a few weeks until he's back at full speed, do it.
Robert Kelley, RB, Redskins
Head coach Jay Gruden has suggested UDFA Kelley could start stealing some touches from starter Matt Jones. Considering how ineffective Jones has been, it's not out of the question that Kelley will steal his job entirely. In deep leagues, the rookie is worth stashing.
Quit
Golden Tate, WR, Lions
Tate hasn't topped 41 yards receiving this season and doesn't have a touchdown. There's a chance he will awaken and make some noise down the stretch, but there's no reason to keep him on your roster if there are players on the waiver wire who are actually producing.
DeVante Parker, WR, Dolphins
Almost any piece of the Dolphins' offense is droppable at this point.
Tajae Sharpe, WR, Titans
Remember when every fantasy analyst (including this one) concluded that a fifth-round rookie would be the Titans' No. 1 receiver this season? What were we thinking?