Boom or Bench: Week 6 start/sit fantasy tips
Boom or Bench provides insight and analysis to help you handle your difficult fantasy football starting lineup decisions every week.
QB: Bears' Caleb Williams at Commanders
Williams has the benefit of coming off a bye week heading into this matchup with the Commanders. The entire Bears offense should be rested and ready to take advantage of a Washington defense that's surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
The 23-year-old had an underwhelming outing in Week 4 against the Raiders, but an interception and a pair of fumbles largely influenced that. Thankfully for Williams, Washington has only three takeaways this season, good for 29th in the NFL. Look for the USC product to make the most of his chances on Monday Night Football.
Projection: 264 passing yards, passing TD, 31 rushing yards, rushing TD
Other QBs primed to boom:
Seahawks' Sam Darnold at Jaguars
Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence vs. Seahawks
RB: Titans' Tony Pollard at Raiders
Pollard hasn't been particularly exciting this campaign, but he also hasn't had a breakout game. He has a chance for one against a Raiders defense that has allowed more rushing touchdowns than every team other than the Titans this season. Las Vegas has also surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points per contest to running backs.
Although the Raiders have been solid at limiting running backs in yardage despite the points they've allowed, Pollard has posted at least 60 rushing yards in all but one game this year. He should get the volume on Sunday to add another one of those performances to his resume, and it should be enough to get him into the end zone.
Projection: 69 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, 3 receptions, 2 TDs
RB: Panthers' Rico Dowdle vs. Cowboys
Panthers starter Chuba Hubbard is day-to-day with a calf injury, which could set Dowdle up to lead the backfield for the second consecutive week. While the 27-year-old's value is lower if Hubbard suits up, he proved he deserves more opportunities after exploding for 234 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins.
It'll be difficult for Dowdle to match that production even if Hubbard does play, but if there's any team it can be done against, it's the Cowboys. Dallas has the worst total defense in the league, has allowed 30.8 points per game, and has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per contest to running backs. Adjust your expectations if Hubbard returns, but Dowdle is worth considering as a flex start even if he does.
Projection: 87 rushing yards, 21 receiving yards, 2 receptions, TD
Other RBs primed to boom:
Commanders' Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs. Bears
Broncos' J.K. Dobbins at Jets
WR: Eagles' DeVonta Smith at Giants
Smith had his first 100-yard game of the season against the Broncos, hauling in eight of his 10 targets for 114 yards. He's set up for another strong outing against a Giants defense that's allowed the third-most fantasy points per contest to receivers. Only the Cowboys have given up more yards, and no team has surrendered more receptions to the position. This also bodes well for A.J. Brown.
Smith has been the Eagles' most effective receiver this season, and that should continue on Thursday Night Football. The 26-year-old has recorded at least 53 yards in three of Philadelphia's last four games. Additionally, Smith posted 64 yards or more in four of his six contests against the Giants, and he scored in three of those matchups.
Projection: 90 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD
WR: Saints' Chris Olave vs. Patriots
Rams superstar Puka Nacua is the only wide receiver in the NFL who's been targeted more than Olave this campaign. His yardage totals have been modest, but he's had at least 54 yards in all but one game. He's due to turn those targets into more against a Patriots defense that's allowed the eighth-most fantasy points and is tied for fifth in touchdowns allowed per game to wide receivers.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler has been effective at finding his wideouts this season, posting at least a 66.7% completion rate in every contest but the team's opener. If Rattler can connect a bit more consistently with Olave, who has a 61.1% catch rate, he could start putting up big weekly numbers.
Projection: 79 receiving yards, 7 receptions, TD
Other WRs primed to boom:
Packers' Romeo Doubs vs. Bengals
Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan vs. Cowboys
TE: Ravens' Mark Andrews vs. Rams
Andrews' prospects are a lot better if Lamar Jackson returns to the lineup against the Rams, but he could be set up for a strong week even if Cooper Rush is under center again. The Ravens struggled to get much of anything going against the Texans, so look for them to find ways to quickly get the ball to playmakers like Andrews this week.
The 30-year-old has played against the Rams only twice, averaging 67 yards on four receptions in those contests. An output close to that average could be enough to make Andrews a TE1 for the week with how inconsistent the position has been this season. I also think he's a strong candidate for red-zone targets.
Projection: 62 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD
Other TEs primed to boom:
Saints' Juwan Johnson vs. Patriots
49ers' Jake Tonges at Buccaneers
QB: Colts' Daniel Jones vs. Cardinals
Jones has cooled down a bit since his blazing start to the year, but he's still been a strong fantasy asset. However, I don't expect him to be nearly as effective against a Cardinals unit that, despite ranking in the bottom five in passing yards allowed, has given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Arizona ranks 11th in takeaways with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries and has surrendered only five passing touchdowns against three interceptions this season. The Cardinals have also done well shutting down quarterback rushing production, limiting the position to 48 yards on 13 carries.
Projection: 234 passing yards, passing TD, INT, 14 rushing yards
Other QBs to bench:
Cardinals' Kyler Murray at Colts
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers vs. Browns
RB: Dolphins' De'Von Achane vs. Chargers
You might "have" to start Achane, and I understand that. However, Miami's matchup with the Chargers seems tailor-made to shut Achane down. The Bolts are among the 10 best defenses in limiting fantasy points, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns to running backs. They're also 10th in rushing yards allowed to the position among the teams that have played five games this campaign.
Achane struggled as a runner against the Panthers, tallying 16 yards on 10 carries. He scored a receiving touchdown to salvage his week, but he only had 30 yards on his six receptions. The Chargers have allowed three touchdowns to running backs this season, including zero receiving scores. The chances of Achane hitting pay dirt to finish with a solid fantasy performance are low.
Projection: 32 rushing yards, 27 receiving yards, 3 receptions
RB: Buccaneers' Rachaad White vs. 49ers
With Bucky Irving still day-to-day with shoulder and foot injuries, White may wind up being the Bucs' top back against the 49ers. Both could be in for a tough time if they suit up. San Francisco is 10th in fantasy points allowed to running backs, largely thanks to its ability to keep rushers out of the end zone. The Niners have given up four touchdowns to the position this season.
White finished with a strong fantasy week against the Seahawks because of his two scores on the ground. However, his efficiency was poor, averaging just 2.93 yards per carry. The performance marked his third consecutive week averaging fewer than three yards per carry. While Irving will be a more reliable option if he can suit up, I'd be hesitant to rely on him in a tough matchup when he's nursing two injuries.
Projection: 48 rushing yards, 9 receiving yards, 2 receptions
Other RBs to bench:
Seahawks' Kenneth Walker at Jaguars
Browns' Quinshon Judkins at Steelers
WR: Chargers' Keenan Allen at Dolphins
Allen has failed to post double-digit fantasy points in back-to-back weeks. It's unlikely that he'll rebound in a big way against a Dolphins defense that ranks 11th in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers and sixth in receiving yards surrendered to the position.
Allen figures to see a decent number of targets, but he's scored only one touchdown in seven career games against Miami. With Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston also likely to receive plenty of targets, it's hard for me to trust that Allen will find the end zone again.
Projection: 47 receiving yards, 5 receptions
WR: Bengals' Tee Higgins at Packers
Higgins is a tough sell this week, regardless of whether Jake Browning or the newly acquired Joe Flacco starts at quarterback. The Packers are sixth in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers and 11th in passing defense this season. While Higgins is talented, those numbers figure to be a big problem for the WR2 in an offense that's struggled to consistently put anything together without Joe Burrow.
Higgins has been held under 50 yards in all but one game this year. The only contest he eclipsed that mark was a 56-yard outing against the Jaguars. The 26-year-old will almost certainly need to score a touchdown for a respectable fantasy output against the Packers, but that feels unlikely between Chase being the clear No. 1, the quarterback struggles, and Green Bay's defensive strengths.
Projection: 41 receiving yards, 4 receptions
Other WRs to bench:
Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle vs. Chargers
Bills' Keon Coleman at Falcons
TE: Commanders' Zach Ertz vs. Bears
Ertz has seen a decline in his production over the previous three contests. That includes a zero-point game against the Chargers last week despite the Commanders scoring 27 points versus a strong L.A. defense without Terry McLaurin. Ertz's grip on the starting role may also be loosening, as he played only 30 snaps compared to John Bates' 28.
Although Ertz likely won't be blanked again, he likely won't have a big bounce-back game against Chicago. The Bears have allowed only one touchdown to tight ends this season and rank ninth in points allowed to the position.
Projection: 28 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Other TEs to bench:
Falcons' Kyle Pitts vs. Bills
Jets' Mason Taylor vs. Broncos
Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.