Hopefully, you took our predictions last time, which worked well for your squad. Welcome to another edition of The Sporting Tribune’s Start Sit Em. Let’s get into the action:
Quarterbacks:
Start ‘Em:
Joe Burow vs. Seahawks:
Throughout the first four weeks of the season, Burrow looked bothered by that calf injury and wasn’t moving well enough, and as a result, he had the lowest completion percentage of his career throughout the first four games. Last week, he started to look like the old healthy Joe Burrow. Burrow threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns against the Cardinals. He was moving much better in and out of the pocket and avoided getting sacked a few times. Yes, this matchup against the Seahawks might be a bit tougher due to their ability to generate a good pass rush, but as long as Burrow is moving well again, he is a starter every week.
Kirk Cousins vs Bears:
Even though Justin Jefferson will be on IR for the next four weeks due to a hamstring injury, we still like Cousins’s matchup in week six against the Bears, who allow the most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at 27.2 PPG. Cousins has enough weapons in TJ Hockenson, Jordan Addison, and KJ Osborn to put up solid numbers against the Bears. Cousins has scored 19 Fantasy points in three of the last four games, and we would like this trend to continue here. Start Cousins with confidence.
Matthew Stafford vs Cardinals:
In his first game with Cooper Kupp back, Stafford threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns. He now has two explosive playmaking wide receivers to throw to in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. Stafford’s ceiling is only getting higher with Kupp back and healthy, and he has an opportunity to build off last week in a nice matchup against the Cardinals, who have allowed the fourth-most passing yards and the sixth-most touchdowns in the NFL.
Sit ‘Em:
Deshaun Watson vs Niners:
Watson’s shoulder is still bothering him even after the bye week, and if he is ready to go, this will be his biggest challenge against a stout Niners defense. The Niners have only allowed one quarterback to score more than 15.9 points this season, and the Niners get pressure at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL at 40%. Watson has the fourth-lowest passer rating under pressure and the third-lowest completion percentage. We advise against starting Watson this week.
Jared Goff vs Bucs:
You might be shocked about this one, but Jared Goff has only averaged 12 Fantasy PPGs on the road instead of 22 Fantasy PPG at home. That does not bode well going into this matchup on the road against the Bucs. Who have allowed 243 passing yards and one passing touchdown per game at home in 2023. Sit Goff for this one.
Running Backs:
Start Em’
Isaiah Pacheco vs Broncos:
Pacheco has been rock solid this season, scoring at least 13.4 PPR Fantasy points for three weeks in a row, and is in a prime spot to continue his solid play in a week six matchup against the Broncos. Who has allowed the most Fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Start Pacheco with confidence.
James Cook vs Giants:
Cook had arguably his worst Fantasy game of the season against the Jaguars last week, scoring just 5.1 Fantasy points. Cook still leads the backfield in snaps, carriers, and targets. This is an excellent get-back game for Cook against the Giants. Who has allowed the second-most rushing yards and third-most rushing touchdowns to running backs this season. Cook is a superb starting option for this week.
Zack Moss vs Jaguars:
Despite Jonathan Taylor’s return, Moss played 80 percent of the snaps with 23 carries for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He scored at least 20.7 PPR points in three last five games. Although the Jaguars allow the seventh-fewest Fantasy points to opposing running backs, the volume usage Moss presents while Taylor works his way back into the mix is too appealing to ignore.
Sit Em’:
Jerome Ford vs Niners:
Ford’s production relies solely on touchdowns to stay fantasy-relevant. He was limited to single-digit Fantasy points without a touchdown in week four. Next up for Ford is a tough matchup against one of the premier defenses in the league, the Niners. They have allowed the feast total rushing yards to running backs and have only allowed two rushing touchdowns to running backs at only 3.7 yards per carry. If you have Ford on your Fantasy team, bench him this week.
Javonte Williams vs Chiefs:
Williams is back in week six after missing last week due to an injury. Yet, this will be a running back by committee offense with the explosive Jaleel McLaughlin and the traditional blue-collar running back in Samae Perine. Williams has yet to score a touchdown this season and has been held to under 10 PPR points in every game this year. The Chiefs have only allowed two running backs to have a rushing touchdown this year, and this would be the time to keep Williams on the bench.
Rachaad White vs Lions:
Outside of week two, White has only averaged 8.3 Fantasy PPG. The Lions are a tough matchup for running backs who have been held to 3.1 yards per carry, and running backs have only scored twice against the Lions this season. We don’t recommend starting White in this difficult matchup.
Wide Receivers:
Start Em’:
Jordan Addison vs Bears:
With Justin Jefferson going out with a hamstring strain, Addison saw an increase in volume with six catches for 64 yards last week against the Chiefs. We expect this high volume to continue with Jefferson sidelined. There is no better opportunity to keep up this high volume against the Bears, who have allowed the third most touchdowns to receivers. Start Addison with confidence.
Adam Thielen vs Dolphins:
Thielen has been on a tear in Fantasy lately; he has been a top-20 receiver in the last four weeks, averaging 23.7 Fantasy PPG. He faces the Dolphins, who allow wide receivers the 10th most Fantasy points. With the Panthers likely falling behind early in the game, Thielen will eat up a lot of targets. Continue to start him.
Jakobi Meyers vs Patriots:
Meyers has had a very productive year, scoring at least 15.5 PPR points in three of the last four games, and this smells like an excellent revenge game against his former team in New England. With no pass rusher, Matthew Judon, Meyers can hit paydirt against his former team.
Sit Em’:
Amari Cooper vs Niners:
Cooper is best with a quality, healthy quarterback at home to be effective. Last time the Browns took the field was week four, and no Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson- Robinson started in place. Cooper had one catch for 16 yards on six targets in that game. Whoever the QB is for Sunday, we still don’t trust Cooper in a difficult matchup against the Niners. Fade Cooper for this matchup.
Cortland Sutton vs Chiefs:
Sutton is coming off his worst game of the season last week against the Jets, with one catch for 13 yards on three targets. He should have another tough showing against the Chiefs on the road, and Sutton has only accumulated four catches for 40 yards and one touchdown in his past two games. We don’t recommend starting your week off with Sutton in your lineup for Thursday.
Terry McLaurin vs Falcons:
McLaurin finished with five targets out of the 51 times the Commanders threw last week. McLaurin has had only had six targets or fewer in all but in one game this year and has only topped 60 receiving yards once. He has a difficult matchup against an improving Falcons defense, which has allowed the fourth fewest yards to receivers. It’s a tough matchup, plus McLaurin’s decrease in usage; we recommend better-starting options here.
Tight Ends:
Start Em’:
Logan Thomas vs Falcons:
Last week, Thomas saw an uptick in volume, with 11 targets and catching nine receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. There is potential here to build on that performance against the Falcons. Who has allowed the fifth most yards to tight ends and has given up the second most Fantasy PPG to the position. Thomas is an excellent streaming tight-end option this week.
Sit Em’:
David Njoku vs Niners:
Njoku has been a disappointment this season, scoring at least seven points in three of his first four games and four or fewer in those contests. This trend does not bode well heading into this matchup against the Niners, who have allowed only one touchdown and the eighth fewest Fantasy points to tight ends this season.
Defense/ Kickers:
Start Em’:
Raiders D vs Patriots:
The Patriots have thrown six interceptions, tied for the second most in the NFL, and Mac Jones has ended up on the bench in consecutive games. Although the Raiders are not in the same tier as the Cowboys or the Saints, they are still in play as an excellent streaming option against a broken Patriots offense.
Nick Folk vs Ravens:
Folk has been on a nice stretch of late as he has scored nine Fantasy points in four of his past five games, and he has a good matchup against the Ravens, who have allowed the fourth most Fantasy PPG to kickers. Folk is a good option for this week.
Sit Em’:
Jets D vs Eagles:
The Jets have been in some good battles this season and have caused problems for high-profile offenses like the Chiefs and the Bills, but the Eagles are a whole other breed. They can beat you in various ways with their high-flying passing attack and excellent ground game with their top-notch offensive line. There should be no defense started in Fantasy against the Eagles.
Graham Gano vs Bills:
Outside of his 12-point Fantasy outing against the Dolphins last week, Gano scored eight or fewer points in every game. With the Giants offense stuck in neutral, especially with Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley banged up, look elsewhere for better-kicking options.
