Fantasy Football Rankings & Tiers. Week 6
It is time to make those tough lineup decisions for Week 6, and Dwain has you covered with in-depth player tiers, rankings, and analysis.
It is time to make those tough lineup decisions for Week 6 of the fantasy football season.
Below you’ll find positional rankings, player analysis, betting totals, and implied points for every game on the slate.
Find all of our positional rankings here.
Fantasy Football Rankings & Tiers – Week 6
Last updated: 1pm Saturday, October 15th. Please refer to our Rankings page for updates!
Quarterback
| Running back | Tier 1 – Christian McCaffrey | Tier 2 – Alvin Kamara | Michael Thomas | Jarvis Landry | Andy Dalton | Kamara is a mid-range RB1 who could boom in the passing attack in Week 6. | Tier 2 – Breece Hall | Player | Week | Snaps | Rush Att | Routes | Targets | TPRR | SDD Snaps | i5 Att | LDD Snaps | 2MIN Snaps | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breece Hall | 2 | 27% | 33% | 18% | 2% | 14% | 14% | - | 18% | 16% | 13.0 | ||||||||
| 3 | 51% | 40% | 48% | 26% | 41% | 75% | - | 81% | 63% | 15.2 | |||||||||
| 4 | 66% | 65% | 59% | 19% | 24% | 100% | 100% | 71% | 50% | 15.8 | |||||||||
| 5 | 69% | 55% | 54% | 11% | 17% | 100% | - | 88% | - | 27.7 | |||||||||
| YTD | 51% | 47% | 43% | 15% | 29% | 56% | 50% | 55% | 42% | 16.8 |
According to PFF, the Packers have the second-worst run defense grade (44.2) and love to deploy zone coverage looks the seventh-most (75%).
Hall has a 28% TPRR against zone and should be busy as a runner and a receiver on Sunday – making him a SMASH play.
Tier 2 – Eno Benjamin
James Conner (ribs) and Darrel Williams (knee) won’t play this weekend, leaving Benjamin with an opportunity to lead the Cardinals’ backfield. In Week 5, Benjamin took over in the second half due to injuries and posted a top-24 fantasy finish with 14.3 points.
Arizona faces Seattle, who allows the most fantasy points per game on the ground in non-overtime play (26.8 points per game). Benjamin sports a solid 21% target rate (TPRR), so we should see substantial involvement in the passing attack in a game with the second-highest total (50.5) on the slate.
Expect Benjamin to handle 60-70% of the workload and provide high-end RB2 value.
Tier 2 – Darrell Henderson
Cam Akers (personal) is out against the Panthers for Week 6. That means Henderson should see a heavy workload, with Malcolm Brown rotating in for relief. In his last 11 games as the primary back, Henderson averaged 15.4 fantasy points.
The Rams haven’t been an effective rushing team this season but are 10-point favorites, and Carolina allows the third-most non-overtime rushing attempts per game (33.4).
Henderson should see plenty of opportunities this weekend and is a mid-range RB2 option.
Tier 2 – Devin Singletary
I ranked Singletary well above consensus last weekend based on his huge Week 3 and Week 4 utilization numbers. However, the Bills led the Steelers by four-plus points on 95% of plays, leading to larger roles for James Cook and Zack Moss.
We should see a much more competitive game against the Chiefs this week. The current spread is only three points, and the game offers monster point potential with a 54-point total.
When the Bills are within three points or trailing by four-plus points, Singletary has a 77% snap share. He has also been much more involved in the passing game in those situations, with a 19% target share.
Once again, I have Singletary ahead of expert consensus rankings.
He is a SMASH play in Week 6 against Kansas City.
Tier 2 – Raheem Mostert
Mostert took over the Dolphins' backfield over the last two weeks – including the passing downs. That makes him an RB2, but there are a couple of concerns keeping him from climbing too high.
First, Miami will start seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson at QB. Secondly, Mostert (questionable) is dealing with a knee injury but is expected to play.
The Vikings allow the fourth-most (21.2) non-overtime fantasy points on the ground.
Mostert is a low-end RB2 that gets a boost up the ranks if he practices in full by Friday and Bridgewater plays.
Tier 4 – Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson returned to action for the Commanders last weekend. He led the team in rushing attempts with 56% despite a 32% snap share.
| Player | Week | Snaps | Rush Att | Routes | Targets | TPRR | SDD Snaps | i5 Att | LDD Snaps | 2MIN Snaps | PPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Robinson Jr. | 2 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 |
| 3 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 | |
| 4 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 | |
| 5 | 29% | 56% | 11% | 0% | 0% | 43% | 0% | 0% | 20% | 2.2 | |
| YTD | 5% | 8% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 10% | 0% | 0% | 6% | 2.2 | |
| Antonio Gibson | 2 | 54% | 74% | 38% | 10% | 20% | 67% | 100% | 8% | 0% | 12.1 |
| 3 | 44% | 63% | 28% | 3% | 7% | 29% | 100% | 6% | 23% | 11.0 | |
| 4 | 41% | 48% | 23% | 8% | 33% | 0% | 0% | 13% | 0% | 9.3 | |
| 5 | 32% | 19% | 28% | 11% | 33% | 29% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 6.9 | |
| YTD | 47% | 53% | 34% | 10% | 25% | 45% | 100% | 6% | 6% | 11.9 | |
| J.D. McKissic | 2 | 46% | 16% | 40% | 17% | 33% | 33% | 0% | 92% | 100% | 13.3 |
| 3 | 53% | 16% | 55% | 21% | 27% | 43% | 0% | 94% | 77% | 10.0 | |
| 4 | 51% | 30% | 55% | 11% | 15% | 100% | 0% | 87% | 100% | 8.6 | |
| 5 | 41% | 0% | 51% | 20% | 32% | 29% | 0% | 100% | 80% | 8.7 | |
| YTD | 47% | 16% | 47% | 15% | 25% | 39% | 0% | 94% | 88% | 9.3 |
The Bears give up the second-most non-overtime points (24.6) on the ground to RBs. If Washington gains a lead, Robinson might surprise this weekend.
I have Robinson eight spots ahead of expert consensus rankings as a mid-range RB3.
Additional RB Notes & Movers:
- Austin Ekeler has a tough matchup against the Broncos, who allow the eighth-fewest points to RBs on the ground in non-overtime. However, Denver plays zone coverage the fifth-most (77%). Ekeler feasts on zone looks with a bamboozling 37% TPRR.
- Out of 43 RBs with at least 30 rushing attempts, Joe Mixon has underperformed the most. He ranks 41st in missed tackles forced (0.09), 43rd in average yards after contact (1.95), and 39th in runs of 10-plus yards (5%). Now the veteran gets a matchup against the sixth-ranked run defense, per PFF grades, in the Saints. That is a downgrade.
- Initially, Damien Harris was expected to miss multiple games but has practiced in a limited fashion all week. He is notorious for getting knocked out of action and returning the next week, so it is hard to rule him out completely. Of course, this could be the typical Patriots’ gamesmanship where everyone is considered limited to keep the opponent guessing. Rhamondre Stevenson is currently my RB6. If Harris is active, he will move to mid-range RB2 territory.
Wide Receiver
| Tier 1 – Ja’Marr Chase | Tee Higgins | Marshon Lattimore | Chase is capable of the No. 1 overall WR box score on any slate, but things are lining up exceptionally well this weekend. | Tier 1 – Marquise Brown | Player | Week | Routes | TPRR | Targets | ADOT | Air Yards | EZ Tgts | 3rd/4th Down Targets | PA Targets | PPR | PPR Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquise Brown | 2 | 95% | 20% | 23% | 10.1 | 39% | 0% | 50% | 20% | 12.8 | 36 | |||||
| 3 | 95% | 29% | 31% | 8.0 | 41% | 0% | 50% | 6% | 28.0 | 3 | ||||||
| 4 | 93% | 27% | 32% | 11.4 | 50% | 100% | 50% | 11% | 20.8 | 11 | ||||||
| 5 | 98% | 23% | 26% | 9.1 | 34% | 0% | 11% | 60% | 21.8 | 9 | ||||||
| YTD | 95% | 23% | 26% | 10.4 | 42% | 30% | 40% | 21% | 19.5 | 5 |
Brown is a SMASH play as a top-six WR option in Week 6.
Tier 2 – Tyler Lockett
Lockett is averaging 19.7 points per game over the last four contests with an eye-popping 29% target share. The Seahawks face a Cardinals secondary with the worst PFF receiving grade (36.8) that allows 60 points per game (sixth) to pass catchers in non-overtime play.
Arizona plays zone on 70% of plays, per PFF data, which also bodes well for Lockett, whose target share jumps from 20% against man to 29% against zone – a multi-year trend for the Seahawks. The speedy slot option torched the Cardinals for 480 yards and six TDs over the last four matchups.
The game projects as a shootout with the No.2 game total (50.5) and a top-eight implied point total (24).
Lockett is a SMASH play in Week 6.
Tier 2 – Gabe Davis
Davis uncorked a 32-point performance in Week 5 against the Steelers. It wasn’t due to a large target share in typical Davis fashion – it came via two long-TD receptions. The third-year WR ended the day with an 18% target share.
But that isn’t bad in an offense willing to drop back to pass on 71% of plays despite leading by four-plus points on 95% of snaps. An 18% target share in Buffalo is worth a 25% target share in a slow run-heavy offense. Everything is relative.
| Player | Week | Routes | TPRR | Targets | ADOT | Air Yards | EZ Tgts | 3rd/4th Down Targets | PA Targets | PPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Davis | 2 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0.0 |
| 3 | 96% | 9% | 11% | 11.0 | 20% | 33% | 7% | 17% | 6.7 | |
| 4 | 98% | 7% | 9% | 8.3 | 11% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 2.3 | |
| 5 | 85% | 18% | 18% | 28.0 | 36% | 25% | 25% | 33% | 32.1 | |
| YTD | 77% | 11% | 11% | 17.1 | 22% | 17% | 15% | 25% | 15.0 |
Davis isn’t an elite target earner at 11% on the season, but he will give you huge boom games when he hits. This weekend the Bills face the Chiefs in a game where we could see 100 points, which moves him into mid-range WR2 territory.
Additional WR Notes & Movers:
- Mike Williams has been a monster against man coverage this season, with a 42% target share. Against zone, that number dips to 17%, and this isn’t a new thing for Williams. His target deltas between man and zone go back to 2019 (-3%, -14% and -5%). The big-bodied veteran isn’t someone to bench – especially if Keenan Allen is out, but he gets a slight downgrade against the Broncos, who play zone the fifth-most (77%).
- Amari Cooper faces off against the Patriots this weekend, who love some man coverage (fourth-most). Amari also loves some man coverage in 2022. Cooper has registered 6%, 9%, and 12% higher target shares against man coverage from 2019 to 2021. I have him ranked above expert consensus rankings as a mid-range WR2 despite the ninth-toughest fantasy matchup on paper.
- Adam Thielen gets a small upgrade in Week 6 thanks to the Vikings’ top-seven implied point total and the Dolphins troubled secondary. Miami gives up the fifth-most regulation points (62.9) to pass catchers. Thielen is a high-end WR3 this weekend.
- Terry McLaurin is historically a solid target earner versus man coverage (27%), but that hasn’t played out so far in 2022 (19%). The Bears play man coverage the eighth-most (32%), which might give McLaurin a few extra chances to find his groove on Sunday. However, 32% of snaps might not be enough to move the needle. McLaurin is a boom-bust WR3 against a Chicago club that most teams run the ball against (see Brian Robinson Jr.).
- Rondale Moore ranks six spots ahead of industry consensus as a low-end WR3 in a pedal-to-the-metal matchup against the Seahawks. He has eclipsed 90% route participation in consecutive games and has target shares of 18% and 21%. This game could be a blowup spot for the second-year playmaker. Start him over players like Brandon Aiyuk, Tyler Boyd, Elijah Moore, Allen Robinson II, and Darnell Mooney.
- Alec Pierce’s target rates have been phenomenal over the last three games (25%, 35%, and 25%), and his route participation is growing. Parris Campbell’s routes haven’t produced many targets, which is why this could be the weekend that Pierce catapults Campbell for the No. 2 role in Indianapolis. Pierce is a mid-range WR4 and ranks five spots ahead of the consensus.
- Isaiah McKenzie is out of concussion protocol and might be the primary slot receiver for the Bills moving forward. Khalil Shakir rode that role to a top-20 finish last week. McKenzie was two spots ahead of Shakir on the depth chart before the Jamison Crowder injury. McKenzie would be a low-end WR3 against the Chiefs in a shootout if we knew he was the starter. Due to that uncertainty, he is a boom-bust WR4 option.
- Tee Higgins (ankle) left last week’s game after playing 17% of snaps and is questionable again for Week 6. He had a limited practice session on Friday, but it was his first week's work. He carries injury/performance risk if he plays against the Saints. The third-year WR downgrades to a boom-bust WR3.
- CeeDee Lamb (hip) popped up on the injury report on Friday. However, he seems likely to play based on comments from Stephen Jones. It is a Sunday night game, so be sure to have a backup plan from Dallas, Philadelphia, Denver, or the Chargers if possible.
Tight end
| Tier 2 – Tyler Higbee | Player | Week | Routes | TPRR | Targets | ADOT | Air Yards | EZ Tgts | 3rd/4th Down Targets | PA Targets | PPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Higbee | 2 | 84% | 29% | 26% | 7.0 | 23% | 33% | 0% | 22% | 14.1 | |
| 3 | 85% | 17% | 16% | -0.3 | 0% | 0% | 29% | 50% | 10.1 | ||
| 4 | 84% | 30% | 32% | 3.8 | 21% | 25% | 30% | 36% | 17.3 | ||
| 5 | 76% | 27% | 24% | 3.6 | 11% | 0% | 20% | 10% | 11.6 | ||
| YTD | 84% | 25% | 25% | 3.8 | 14% | 21% | 19% | 22% | 12.4 |
Higbee is the clear-cut No. 2 option in the Rams passing attack.
Most teams end up running the ball more against the Panthers, but the Rams have been ineffective this season on the ground. Los Angeles has the fourth-highest implied total on the slate as double-digit favorites.
Higbee is a mid-range TE2 this weekend.
Additional TE Notes & Movers:
- Kyle Pitts returned to practice and should be ready to go against a zone-heavy (third-most) 49ers defense. Pitts has a 21% target share against zone this season and a 10% target share against man. Per PFF data, San Francisco plays zone on 78% of passing plays. We still need Arthur Smith to unlock Pitts via more routes, but the matchup gives us a reason to keep him in lineups as a low-end boom-bust TE1 option.
- The Saints could look to keep Taysom Hill heavily involved against the Bengals. Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry are both out, leaving New Orleans short on weapons. The Saints will need to keep the game competitive for Hill’s legs to pay off in a big way. He is a boom-bust TE option worth starting over the high-end TE2 options like Evan Engram and Cameron Brate this weekend.
Key
- Total = Game total per BetMGM
- Implied points = Team expected points based on game total and spread
- Route participation = routes divided by team pass plays per PFF
- LDD = long down and distance – third and fourth down with three or more yards to go per PFF
- SDD = short down and distance – second, third and fourth down with two or fewer yards to go per PFF
- TPRR = targets per route run
- YPRR = yards per route run
- Explosive rush rate = percentage of runs that go for 10-plus yards per PFF
- Explosive target rate = percentage of targets that go for 15-plus yards per PFF
- Regulation = excludes overtime
- Injuries: Q = Questionable; D = Doubtful (typically removed from ranks on Saturday); GTD = game-time decision