Fantasy Football start or sit, Week 6: Start Ben Roethlisberger vs. Browns

Fantasy football starts and sits for Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season.

Week 5 may have been the most hectic week of the NFL season yet, with multiple teams having players test positive for COVID-19, which led to schedule uncertainty and the ultimate cancellation of the Broncos versus Patriots game. Fantasy football managers were forced to make the tough decision of starting or sitting Tuesday night players due to the possibility of a last-second cancellation.

If you managed to survive the chaos of Week 5, now you must deal with the challenging bye weeks of Week 6. The Saints, Chargers, Raiders and Seahawks all have the week off, which means that players like Russell Wilson, Chris Carson, Alvin Kamara, Josh Jacobs, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett that have helped you get to where you are this season will not be available.

There is also always the chance for more schedule mixups with more positive COVID-19 tests possible to strike at any moment.

All that considered, here are some players you should feel confident sliding into the starting fantasy football lineup and those who should stay on the bench in Week 6.

Note: All fantasy stats info via Fantasy Pros.

Fantasy Football Starts for Week 6

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh (vs. Cleveland)

Ben Roethlisberger has been one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks so far, throwing for at least two touchdowns and finishing between 19 and 22 fantasy points in all four of his starts thus far.

In Week 6, he gets his easiest matchup of the year against a Cleveland defense that is eighth-worst against opposing quarterbacks on the year. With the emergence of wide receiver Chase Claypool, the Steelers have a deadly three-headed receiving corps and Big Ben is their leader.

Projection: 293 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 23.7 fantasy points

QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit (vs. Jacksonville)

Matthew Stafford is another quarterback who has put together a solid year thus far and has put up his best two weeks on the season with the return of his top wideout, Kenny Golladay. Now he draws a great matchup against Jacksonville, who just gave up 359 yards and three touchdowns to Deshaun Watson in Week 5.

Look for Stafford to put up a QB1 week and if he is sitting on your waiver wire, make sure you scoop him up both for this week and next week’s matchup with Atlanta.

Projection: 318 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 18 rushing yards, 26.5 fantasy points

RB Alexander Mattison, Minnesota (vs. Atlanta)

Alexander Mattison is going to be the top waiver add this week and with good reason. Even though he is not on the same level as Dalvin Cook, he has shown that he is one of the most capable backups in the NFL when given the chance. Couple that with the fact Minnesota is averaging 30 rush attempts a game and Mattison is a no-brainer RB1 this week against a pitiful Atlanta defense.

Projection: 132 total yards, 6 receptions, 1 touchdown, 22.2 fantasy points

RB Antonio Gibson, Washington (vs. New York)

Antonio Gibson was a huge disappointment in Week 5 as he looked to be in line for a heavy workload but was replaced by JD McKissic when Alex Smith touched the field. Regardless, Gibson is clearly the most talented player in the Washington backfield and, with the receiving work he has been getting, he offers a solid PPR floor with the chance to break a big play at any second.

Projection: 98 total yards, 5 receptions, 1 touchdown, 18.3 fantasy points

WR Marquise Brown, Baltimore (vs. Philadelphia)

Hollywood Brown had his best week of the year in Week 5 against Cincinnati, catching six of 10 targets for 77 yards and a touchdown. Brown’s target share has been extremely promising, as he has seen at least six targets in every game. The problem lies with Lamar Jackson, who is completing only 63.7 percent of his passes.

Things will get better for both of them and it will start against Philadelphia, who boasts the seventh-worst defense against opposing wideouts. Start Brown with confidence as a high-upside WR2 in Week 6.

Projection: 6 receptions, 89 yards, 1 touchdown, 17.9 fantasy points

WR Mecole Hardman, Kansas City (vs. Buffalo)

Mecole Hardman is viewed as the ultimate boom-bust player who can put up a top-five week just as soon as he can lay a goose egg. However, with the injury to Sammy Watkins, Hardman should step into more volume. With his ability to break a big play, he can put up a WR1 week if he sees five quality targets from Mahomes.

I would not be in a rush to slot him in over any proven starters but, if you are hurting at the wide receiver position, the WR2 for the best offense in the NFL could be on your waiver wire.

Projection: 4 receptions, 82 yards, touchdown, 16.2 fantasy points

Fantasy Football Sits for Week 6

QB Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina (vs. Chicago)

Teddy Bridgewater has looked fantastic over the past couple of weeks but all good things must come to an end. Chicago has been the second strongest defense against quarterbacks this year, and Bridgewater has not shown enough yet to be matchup proof. Feel free to hold onto him or scoop him up if he gets dropped as he gets matchups with New Orleans and Atlanta right after.

Projection: 192 passing yards, 25 rushing yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 13.2 fantasy points 

RB Kenyan Drake, Arizona (vs. Dallas)

It is hard to bench Kenyan Drake, as you likely sunk a lot of draft capital into him and he continues to see heavy volume each week. He is currently sixth in the league in carries, yet sits at the RB31.

Dallas is middle of the road against the run but Drake offers almost no floor if he does not fall into the end zone, as he is uninvolved in the passing game. If you can pivot to a player that you may have picked up like Myles Gaskin or even Chase Edmonds in a PPR league, I would do so.

Projection: 67 total yards, 1 reception, 7.2 fantasy points

WR D.J. Moore, Carolina (vs. Chicago)

D.J. Moore finally came through for fantasy managers in Week 5, though he was still overshadowed by Robby Anderson, who out-targeted Moore 13-5. Now he gets a tough matchup against Chicago and, with him never being one to score touchdowns, if this low target trend continues he is no more than a WR3 in these tough matchups.

Projection: 5 receptions, 59 yards, 8.4 fantasy points. 

TE Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay (vs. Green Bay)

Many thought Rob Gronkowski would step into a bigger role with O.J. Howard suffering a season-ending injury, though he was only able to turn six targets into three receptions for 52 yards in Week 5, albeit against Chicago. Even though the six targets is promising, he is not the end zone threat he once was and has yet to catch a touchdown, something his teammates, Howard and Cameron Brate, both managed to do.

Now he draws a matchup with Green Bay, who has been the fifth strongest defense against tight ends thus far. Not only should Gronk be sat, but he should probably be on your waiver wire.

Projection: 3 receptions, 38 yards, 5.3 fantasy points.