Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings Risers and Fallers: Upgrade Stefon Diggs, Jaylen Waddle and more

It is time to set our fantasy lineups for Week 6, and with that in mind, let's follow the data to analyze some of the biggest risers and fallers in the ranks to help you make those start-sit decisions.

Rankings Risers for Week 6

The biggest risers in my Week 6 fantasy football rankings are below.

Dak Prescott enters fantasy QB1 territory in Week 5.

Prescott is throwing the ball very well. In a league where the average quarterback averages 215 yards over the last three years, the Dallas signal caller is averaging the second-most with 271. Despite missing CeeDee Lamb for two games, he is tied for fourth in passing TDs per game at two.

The Cowboys' defense serves as a massive insurance policy on passing volume, given their inability to stop most offenses. However, even in a game where Dallas led last week against the Jets, Prescott still managed to remain hot, finding the endzone four times.

Prescott has discussed using his legs more like he did early in his career, and that element of his game has also shown some life over the last two games. He secured a rushing TD in Week 4 and ran for 28 yards in Week 5.

The Cowboys carry the fourth-highest team total (26.5) this weekend against the Panthers.

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 28.7 (13th)
Median: 18.2 (8th)
Floor: 10.6 (6th)

Prescott joins the top-12 signal callers in Week 5 as my QB8.

QB Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Caleb Williams | Bears: When I create my rankings, one thing I like to do is look at a weighted average between my projections (80%) and a player's fantasy points per game (20%). Williams ranked sixth in that metric. He averages 20.5 points per game and projects 19.3 in my projections this weekend, which comes to 19.5 in the weighted average. The Commanders provide the seventh-highest boost to opposing passing games at 2.3 per game. Williams is my QB5.
Matthew Stafford | Rams: Stafford leads the NFL in passing yards per game (300) and ranks third in passing TDs per contest (2.2). This weekend, the Rams are set to feast on the carcass of the Ravens' defense. Baltimore has encouraged the second-largest DvP boost from opposing signal callers at 6.5 points per game. Stafford is my QB9 in Week 6.
Justin Fields | Jets: Some of our rankers are shying away from Fields as a top-12 option thanks to a matchup against the Broncos—the sixth-hardest matchup with a -3.1 DvP boost. I can understand that, I just couldn't get there myself. Fields is averaging 26.2 points in his three complete games. That is a lot, y'all! He still carries the sixth-highest Xfinity Best ceiling of 31.2 points. Fields is my QB11.

Rachaad White is a mid-range fantasy RB2 against the 49ers.

White dominated the Buccaneers' backfield in Week 5 with Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) sidelined. The veteran back handled a mouth-watering 81% of the snaps, notching an 88 Utilization Score and 23.1 fantasy points.

We have seen White in a role with a 55% snap share or better nine times in the last two seasons. He has averaged 14.4 points in those contests.

While we should temper expectations after the 23.1-point boom, that sort of output is in the range of outcomes. White isn't the most explosive back, but his every-down skillset keeps him on the field during key passing situations, and he is the lead option inside the five-yard line on a high-scoring offense. Tampa Bay ranks eighth in red-zone drives per game at 3.6.

Those outs and the Bucs' healthy team total of 25.25 push White's ceiling outcome sky-high.

Projection Model (using my PPR projections):

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 33.4
Median: 16.2
Floor: 7.7

I have White ranked as a mid-range RB2, but the projection model is even more bullish, suggesting low-end RB1 potential against San Francisco.

RB Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Ashton Jeanty | Raiders: Jeanty has hogged the majority of opportunities in the Raiders' backfield over the last two games. The Raiders face a Titans defense green-lighting the No. 2 DvP boost to the RB position at eight points per contest! With a manageable game script as 4.5-point favorites. Jeanty is a low-end RB1 with high-end RB1 upside in Week 6.
Rico Dowdle | Panthers: Chuba Hubbard (calf) is trending toward another game off, which places Dowdle at the center of the most coveted situation in fantasy football through one month: a matchup with the Dallas defense. The Cowboys deliver RB points on a silver platter with white-glove service—their opponents enjoy an 8.5-point boost. Dowdle erupted for 32.4 points against Miami last weekend in a full-time role. If Hubbard is out, Dowdle is a borderline RB1.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Commanders: While we all want the Bill takeover to be true, there is a range of outcomes on what happens next. However, it is hard not to want to go all-in when you see a juicy matchup like the Bears. Overall, Chicago hasn't been bad against RBs, but on the ground, they have allowed a 22.5-per-game boost in rushing. The Commanders carry the No. 2 team total (27.5). Croskey-Merritt is a low-end RB2 with RB1 upside.
Michael Carter | Cardinals: Carter took over the Arizona backfield even before the Emari Demercado fumble at the goalline in Week 5. The Cardinals are 6.5-point dogs with a weak team total (20.5) against a Colts defense that has held opposing RB units two points below their season average. This is a volume bet, but volume always leaves the door open for outlier performances. Despite the challenges, our projection model—which focuses on variance—still gives Carter an Xfinity Best ceiling of 28.3 points in PPR. Carter is a borderline RB2 with sneaky upside.
New England RBs | Patriots: With Antonio Gibson (ACL) out for the season, we should see a condensed rotation between Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. The Patriots boast a top-eight team total (25.4) in Freedman's game model. Both backs are mid-range RB3s against the Saints.
Los Angeles RBs | Chargers: With Omarion Hampton out, Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal will split the workload for the Chargers. Last weekend, they split carries evenly after Hampton left the game, with Vidal gaining an edge in snap share thanks to pass-down duties. However, that is a small sample from a trailing game script when the backups played on the final drive. Reports indicate Haskins should be the primary back, but we are playing a guessing game on this one. Both backs are low-end RB3 options with upside if you pick the right one.

Stefon Diggs climbs to WR18 in Week 6 after two strong outings.

Diggs lit up the fantasy boxscore in Weeks 4 and 5 with 16.1 and 24.6 fantasy points. The veteran WR earned a 40%-plus target share in both of those contests, y'all.

While his limited playing time is a bit concerning, it's clear that Drake Maye has gone into missile-lock mode when Diggs is on the field. The second-year QB has dialed the No. 8 on 50% of third- and fourth-down attempts over the last two games.

The Patriots' receiving corps is more like a receiving corpse. The only target competition for Diggs is tight end Hunter Henry, who isn't a target hog.

New England carries a healthy 25.4-team total against the Saints in Freedman's betting model.

Projection Model (using my PPR projections):

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 28.1
Median: 13.8
Floor: 6.6

Diggs is a mid-range WR2 with WR1 upside against New Orleans.

WR Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Xavier Worthy | Chiefs: Worthy has a 23% target share along with 14.1 points since returning from his shoulder injury that kept him out until Week 4. He has also accounted for 5% of the team's rushing attempts in those two games. Kansas City faces the Lions this weekend in the game with the highest game total (52.2) in Freedman's betting model. The Chiefs boast the No. 2 team total (27.7) in what should be a shootout. Detroit provides the No. 4 boost to WR units at 5.2 points per contest. Worthy's ceiling is astronomical—he carries the fifth-highest Xfinity Best WR projection at 34 points. Worthy is a borderline WR1 with high-end WR1 upside against the Lions.
Jaylen Waddle | Dolphins: Waddle earned nine targets (26%) and 23 fantasy points in the first game without Tyreek Hill. The Chargers have been the sixth-hardest matchup for WR rooms, with a -6.1 DvP boost, and the Dolphins offer a modest team total of 20 points, according to the oddsmakers. Freedman's model likes Miami slightly better with a 22.1 team total. Waddle projects as the WR12 with 15.1 PPR points and carries a significant ceiling of 30.3, where the model cares much more about his role than the matchup. Waddle is a high-end WR2 with big-time WR1 upside.
Tetairoa McMillan | Cowboys: Fantasy managers are growing worrisome over McMillan's lack of high-end production to this point. I totally get it. The good news is that even after accounting for Bryce Young's poor play, McMillan's underlying data still suggests a player who will perform more like a WR2 for the rest of the season. We could see the party start in Week 6 against a Dallas defense that has sanctioned the No. 1 boost to opposing WR corps with a 12.7-point fantasy boost per game. McMillan is a mid-range WR2 with high-end WR1 upside, carrying an Xfinity Best ceiling of 30.1 PPR points.
A.J. Brown | Eagles: The Eagles have done the unthinkable. Over the last two games, they have operated as a pass-first team, notching the No. 1 dropback rate over expected (DBOE) in the NFL at 12%. Over the first three games, they ranked 31st (-7%). The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle, and that puts their DBOE at 1% on the season. That is notable for Brown, who ranks 12th in target share for WRs at 27%. This weekend, he faces a Giants defense that leads the NFL in man coverage rate at 44%. Brown has dominated man coverage, leading the team with a 38% target share in 2025. Brown is a mid-range WR2 with high-end WR1 upside in Week 6.

TE Rapid Fire: Upgrades & Pending News

Darren Waller | Dolphins: Waller upped his route participation to 68% in Week 5. In two games, he has averaged 18.3 fantasy points with a juicy 24% targets per route run (TPRR). With Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Malik Washington as his primary challengers, the door is wide open for Waller to assume the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the Dolphins' passing-game pecking order, along with Waddle and De'Von Achane. The big-bodied TE leads the team with a 60% endzone target share since returning. The Chargers have been a stingy defense against the pass, but Waller's expanding role is too strong to keep out of the top 12. Waller is my TE8 in Week 6 and carries an Xfinity Best ceiling of 23.5 points.
Michael Mayer | Raiders: Mayer (concussion) returned to practice. He would be a high-end TE2 option if Brock Bowers (knee) misses another game.

Rankings Fallers for Week 6

See below for the biggest downgrades in my Week 6 fantasy football rankings.

Justin Herbert Downgrades For Week 6

Herbert's offensive line is in shambles.

Preseason: LT - Rashawn Slater - out for the season
Week 4: LT - Joe Alt - high-ankle sprain - out for multiple games
Week 5: RG - Mekhi Becton - hand injury - questionable
Week 5: RT - Trey Pipkins - ankle - questionable

That is a lot to overcome, and Herbert has felt the impact. His passing yards and yards per attempt (YPA) have plummeted.

Week 1: 318 yards | 9.4 YPA
Week 2: 232 yards | 9.0
Week 3: 300 yards | 6.4
Week 4: 203 yards | 5.0
Week 5: 166 yards | 5.7

On paper, the Dolphins offer the No. 6 DvP boost to the QB position at 3.5 points per game. Unfortunately, Herbert's offensive line is not in any position to help him unlock the matchup. The Giants and Commanders are not lockdown defenses, and they caused havoc for the Chargers.

Herbert is out of the circle of trust until the line gets healthy—he is a high-end QB2 in Week 6.

Rapid Fire Downgrades & Pending News:

Derrick Henry | RB | Ravens: Henry is not a game-script-proof back because he is not a pass-downs option, which leaves him vulnerable in trailing situations. His weekly ceiling remains sky-high thanks to touchdown upside, but the Ravens are trending towards another game without Lamar Jackson. Baltimore is a 7.5-point underdog to the Rams, and carries one of the lowest team totals on the slate at 18.5 points. Henry moves down the ranks to mid-range RB2 territory.
Cam Skattebo | RB | Giants: Tyrone Tracy was removed from the injury report and will return to action on Thursday night against the Eagles. With uncertainty surrounding his role and one of the worst team totals (17.25), moving Skattebo down the ranks is prudent. Skattebo is a low-end RB2 with RB4 downside.
Alvin Kamara | RB | Saints: Kamara's role has deteriorated with the emergence of Kendre Miller and return of Taysom Hill, which sent his rush share to a season-low 28% in Week 5. We could see the veteran rebound—he has increased his passing game usage with 21% and 20% target shares over the last two games—but it's hard to ignore the overarching trend that Kamara is less of a factor in the Saints' offense now compared to the start of the season. The Patriots have been the seventh-toughest matchups for RB rooms with a -3.9-point-per-game DvP boost. Kamara is a borderline RB2 in Week 6.
Jameson Williams | WR | Lions: Let's just get this over with. The sooner I push Williams down the ranks and we all bench him, the sooner he can start booming in fantasy football. In all seriousness, Williams has been a massive disappointment. So far this season, he looks like a one-trick pony as a deep threat. His 13% TPRR and 50 Utilization Score are stomach-turning. Williams is boom-bust WR4 material in a potential shootout against the Chiefs.
Juwan Johnson | TE | Saints: Johnson is still playing enough to offer fantasy relevance at the TE position, but with Taysom Hill back in the fold, things could change quickly. The Saints have also shifted towards using Kamara as a target out of the backfield in an effort to give Miller handoffs—those targets are coming from the veteran tight end. Johnson falls out of the top-12 TEs to high-end TE2 territory in Week 6.

Sicko Starts For Week 6 Fantasy Football

I want to throw in a few names for all my fellow fantasy managers who are in a SICKO league. If you are in a 12-team league with three starting WRs and two flexes, these are for you! Or you are in a more typical setup, but need a name to help get you through injuries; these are for you!

We are looking for players with a rostership under 50% who aren't in many starting lineups.

Let's go, you sickos.

Week 1: Daniel Jones (hit), Jerome Ford (miss), Rashod Bateman (miss), Hunter Henry (hit)

Week 2: Trevor Lawrence (hit), Tyrone Tracy (miss), Kayshon Boutte (hit), Juwan Johnson (hit)

Week 3: Tyrod Taylor (hit), Tyler Allgeier (miss), Wan'Dale Robinson (miss), Cole Kmet (hit)

Week 4: Jaxson Dart (hit), TreVeyon Henderson (hit), Troy Franklin (hit), Cade Otton (miss)

Week 5: Jaxson Dart (hit), Rhamondre Stevenson (hit), Malik Washington (miss), Mason Taylor (hit)

Trevor Lawrence | QB | Jaguars

Lawrence is rostered in 44% of Yahoo leagues and is in 17% of starting lineups.

Lawrence is not playing well. The Jaguars' offense isn't in sync. Everything appears difficult.

Completion rate: 60% (27th of 30 QBs with 100 attempts)
Yards per attempt: 6.3 (23rd)
Touchdowns per attempt: 3.6% (25th)

Not good. Not good at all, y'all!

However, we saw one primary redeeming quality return to Lawrence's game in Week 5: he started using his legs again. Lawrence rushed for 54 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs. Lawrence has averaged 0.28 rushing touchdowns per game over the last three seasons.

Projection Model:

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 28.1 (12th)
Median: 16.6 (17th)
Floor: 9.3 (18th)

Lawrence is a mid-range QB2, but if his rushing ways continue, he offers mid-range QB1 spike-potential.

Kimani Vidal | RB | Chargers

Vidal is rostered in 17% of leagues but starts in only 3% of lineups.

As I mentioned in the Chargers section under RB upgrades, I don't know who will lead this backfield. Reports are leaning toward Hassan Haskins. However, Vidal has a more complete skill set. If things break his way, he could collect rushing touchdowns and receptions.

Projection Model:

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 21.8
Median: 8.6
Floor: 3.6

Vidal is a low-end RB3 to high-end RB4 option, offering sneaky upside.

Isaiah Bond | WR | Browns

Bond is rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues and is in only 1% of starting lineups.

Bond's role has grown throughout the season, but he has assumed a starting role over the last two games following Cedric Tillman's injury. While his fantasy points haven't been impressive, his 19% and 21% target shares are solid numbers.

The Steelers play the third-most man coverage in the league at 38%. Bond leads the team with a 26% TPRR against man.

This isn't a great spot for the rookie, but he is a sneaky option to lead the passing attack this weekend. If they pop, the undrafted player from the University of Texas could be the reason.

Projection Model:

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 19.3
Median: 8.7
Floor: 3.9

Bond is a boom-bust WR5.

Mason Taylor | TE | Jets

Taylor is rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues and starts in 15% of lineups.

I used Taylor last week, but I am going back to the well because he still qualifies thanks to a 32% rostership.

The No. 42 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft started the season slowly after a high-ankle sprain that caused him to miss much of camp. He re-injured the ankle in Week 1, but has worked his way back to health, exploding with Utilization Scores of 82 and 90 over the last two games. He has scored 11.5 and 17.7 fantasy points in those contests.

Taylor ranks 10th in target share for TEs at 18%, a number that has ballooned to 25% over the last two games, which ranks No. 1. Over that span, he ranks fifth in yards per route run (YPRR) at 1.57.

His historical Utilization Score comparisons have fared exceptionally well:

TE1 to TE3 finishes: 17%
TE4 to TE6 finishes: 44%
TE7 to TE9 finishes: 28%
TE10 to TE12 finishes: 11%

The Broncos play the fourth-most man coverage (38%), which Taylor hasn't excelled against to this point with a 12% TPRR. Still, things aren't going to be any easier on the outside options for the Jets, and Garrett Wilson is almost sure to see shadow coverage from Patrick Surtain II.

I like Taylor's chances in this setup. I will take my chances versus the Broncos' linebackers and safeties over Surtain. It would be different if they had a WR2 to challenge Riley Moss, but they don't.

Projection Model:

Xfinity Best (ceiling): 20.8
Median: 10.01
Floor: 4.9

Taylor is a low-end TE1 in Week 6 against Denver.

Players Mentioned in this Article

Week 6 Fantasy Football Rankings Risers and Fallers: Upgrade Stefon Diggs, Jaylen Waddle and more

Rankings Risers for Week 6