This is the Fantasy Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FN. Rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.
Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, or Puka Nacua. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.
Start 'em Drake Maye (NE, QB)Drake Maye carries true fringe-QB1 upside into Week 6 at New Orleans. He's been extremely accurate (73.9% completions) but has only seven passing TDs through five games; however, the Saints have been porous to the pass, allowing 204 yards and about 23.8 fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers and 11 touchdown passes overall. Maye's added rushing (just over 20 yards per game) boosts his floor, and New Orleans has already given up 38+ rushing yards to three quarterbacks, so he projects as a bounce-back, top-10 fantasy option this week.
vs 
8th Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Dak Prescott (DAL, QB)Dak Prescott has been scorching hot, tossing four TDs in his last outing and seven over the past two games, and he's recorded at least 230 passing yards and a touchdown in every game since Week 1. In Week 6 he draws a Carolina secondary that has surrendered just seven passing TDs this season (tied for 13th) and only 204.4 yards per game (10th). Prescott has piled up fantasy production too - at least 26.1 points in three of his last four starts, including back-to-back 36.3+ performances - and the Panthers have recently allowed big fantasy outings to quarterbacks, so the matchup looks favorable. Even with CeeDee Lamb sidelined by an ankle issue, Prescott should remain a top fantasy option on the road.
vs 
9th Fewest Pts to QB
Start 'em Rachaad White (TB, RB)Rachaad White should remain the Bucs' lead back in Week 6 after stepping in for the injured Bucky Irving and delivering his best game of the season (71 yards and two rushing TDs); with Irving still sidelined, White projects to handle heavy volume against a 49ers run defense that's been susceptible to productive back performances. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott - even without CeeDee Lamb - has been on a fantasy tear and should continue to pile up points in the road matchup at Carolina.
vs 
14th Fewest Pts to RB
Start 'em Rico Dowdle (CAR, RB)With Chuba Hubbard sidelined by a calf issue, Rico Dowdle stepped into the lead role in Week 5 and turned in a career day - 23 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown plus a few catches - showing he can handle an every-down workload. While that level of usage may not be sustainable every week, his performance proved he has top-tier talent as a primary back. Facing a Cowboys defense that has been unusually generous to opposing running backs, Dowdle looks like a strong high-end RB2 for Week 6, especially if Hubbard remains out.
vs 
5th Most Pts to RB
Start 'em Stefon Diggs (NE, WR)After a cautious return from last season's ACL tear, Stefon Diggs has come alive heading into Week 6 at New Orleans. Eased in with 15 targets for 112 yards through the first three games, he's exploded for 16 catches and 247 yards on 19 targets over the last two, emerging as a reliable, high-volume weapon who should outperform a modest draft price. The Saints don't boast a true shutdown corner and allow 8.1 yards per target (13th worst), and although they're among the better teams at limiting WR fantasy output, several opponents have still posted big games there. Expect Diggs to remain New England's top receiving threat and a solid No. 2 fantasy option.
vs
8th Fewest Pts to WR
Start 'em Kendrick Bourne (SF, WR)After a career night (10 catches for 142 yards), Kendrick Bourne is poised to reprise his role as San Francisco's top receiving option in Week 6 against Tampa Bay while Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib) remain questionable. With Brock Purdy sidelined and Mac Jones likely to start, Bourne has developed a strong rapport with the quarterback and should see plenty of targets, despite the Bucs' generally modest catch-rate numbers - though they have allowed big individual games, like Jaxon Smith-Njigba's 132-yard, one‑TD performance. If Pearsall and Jennings sit again, Bourne is a solid No. 2 fantasy receiver in most leagues.
vs 
15th Fewest Pts to WR
Start 'em Mason Taylor (NYJ, TE)Mason Taylor has quickly carved out a larger role in the Jets' offense heading into Week 6 in London. After a slow start, he's posted 14 catches on 19 targets for 132 yards over Weeks 4–5 (and 25 targets in his last three games) while playing at least 81% of snaps, and New York's offense is clearly funneling looks to him, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. With Wilson likely shadowed by Patrick Surtain, Taylor should see steady volume even against a Broncos defense that has been relatively stingy to tight ends (roughly 9.5 PPR per game); his recent 11.5+ PPR outings make him a sensible low-end starter in most leagues.
vs 
10th Fewest Pts to TE
Start 'em David Njoku (CLE, TE)With Cleveland turning to Dillon Gabriel in Week 5, David Njoku had his best outing of the year - six catches on nine targets for 67 yards and a nine-yard TD (18.7 PPR). That performance sets him up well for Week 6 against Pittsburgh, a defense that ranks 29th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends (13.4 per game) and has permitted a TE to post double-digit points in two of four games. Coupled with Njoku's Week 14 showing against the Steelers last season (7 catches, 42 yards, TD on 13 targets), he's a reasonable back-end fantasy option.
vs 
5th Most Pts to TE
Start 'em New England Patriots (NE, DEF)The Saints' 26-14 win over the Giants was impressive - no sacks allowed and no turnovers - after New Orleans had managed 19 points or fewer in three of their first four games and surrendered eight sacks across the three contests before Week 5. Meanwhile, the Patriots have snagged an interception in four of five games and held Carolina and Buffalo to a combined 33 points over the last two weeks, so it's no stretch to suggest that New England's defense/special teams could be one of the top defenses for Week 6.
vs
14th Most Pts to DEF
Start 'em Joshua Karty (LAR, K)Joshua Karty will handle the Rams' kicking duties again in Week 6 at Baltimore. He struggled in Week 5, going 1-for-2 on field goals with a 53-yard miss (his third missed FG and fifth missed kick this season), but draws a favorable matchup: the Ravens have allowed 51 fantasy points to kickers (second-most) and a league-high 35.4 points per game, and kickers have already cashed in against them. After back-to-back double-digit fantasy outings versus Philadelphia and Indianapolis, Karty has a good chance to rebound on the road.
vs 
2nd Most Pts to K
Sit 'em Justin Fields (NYJ, QB)Justin Fields is a borderline start in Week 6 as the Jets head to London to face a Broncos unit that shuts down QB rushing and ranks second-fewest in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Much of Fields' upside comes on the ground, but Denver hasn't let any opposing QB run for more than six yards (15 total rushing yards and one TD on 13 carries in notable matchups) and limits passing upside as well, allowing just 200.2 yards and 16.0 fantasy points per game to signal-callers. Fields needed a heavy passing day and two late TDs to reach 29.9 fantasy points in Week 5, but with top receiver Garrett Wilson likely shadowed by Patrick Surtain, his ceiling looks constrained - making him a fringe option in standard one-QB formats.
vs
2nd Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Kyler Murray (ARI, QB)Kyler Murray left Arizona's loss to Tennessee with a foot injury and is questionable for Week 6 at Indianapolis; he finished that game with 220 passing yards, no TDs or INTs, and four carries for 25 yards and a rushing score. If he can't go, Jacoby Brissett would likely start - notable because the Colts, who picked off Geno Smith twice and have six interceptions on the season (tied for fourth-most), rank eighth-fewest in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Given Murray's uneven fantasy play this year (only two games over 20 points) and his dependence on mobility, he's a risky start outside of Superflex or two-QB formats unless he's fully healthy.
vs 
11th Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Isiah Pacheco (KC, RB)Pacheco finished Monday's loss with seven carries for 36 yards and three catches for 20 more (5.1 yards per carry), but his fantasy ceiling remains muted because Kareem Hunt still gets most of the goal-line work. He has shown a bit more pop in the last two games - totaling 14 rushes for 71 yards and five catches for 33 yards with a receiving TD on six targets - yet he's been held to 11 touches or fewer in every game, hasn't rushed for more than 45 yards and has no rushing scores. That workload gives him a usable floor, but he's only a potential flex in Week 6 against a Lions defense that ranks fifth- stingiest in fantasy points allowed to running backs.
vs 
5th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Alvin Kamara (NO, RB)Alvin Kamara heads into Week 6 seeking a rebound after a season-low 27 rushing yards (plus 28 receiving) vs. the Giants and a stretch with just one rushing TD all year and limited red-zone work. He's scored 11.2 PPR points or fewer in three straight games, hasn't found the end zone in four, and even saw fewer carries than Kendre Miller in Week 5 - signs of a growing timeshare. That's a tough spot against a Patriots run defense ranked top five in fantasy allowed and one that hasn't allowed a back to rush for more than 49 yards this season, so Kamara looks like little more than a flex option in most leagues.
vs 
6th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Jerry Jeudy (CLE, WR)Cleveland's switch to Dillon Gabriel should have helped Jeudy - Gabriel can consistently hit short- and intermediate-area targets - but Jeudy caught just two of five passes for 15 yards in Week 5, trailing both David Njoku and Harold Fannin for looks. A Week 6 trip to Pittsburgh offers a chance to rebound: the Steelers have already allowed five 90-yard receiving games through four weeks and rank 24th in fantasy points allowed to receivers (29.0). Jeudy is still a risky option after four straight games of 9.1 PPR or fewer and no touchdowns, but he's a viable low-end WR3/FLEX if you need upside, though you'd want to see more consistent production before trusting him in most formats.
vs
6th Most Pts to WR
Sit 'em D.J. Moore (CHI, WR)Though Moore hauled in four of five targets for 38 yards in Week 4 - his third straight game with at least five looks - Rome Odunze has clearly become Caleb Williams' top option, leaving Moore in a secondary role. He's been consistent enough (roughly four catches and 43 yards per game) to provide low-end flex value, and a matchup with a Washington defense that surrenders 8.4 yards per target to receivers gives him some floor for Week 6. Still, Moore's upside is limited (≤9.6 PPR in three of four games, one touchdown, one outing over 46 receiving yards), and after a 2-for-27 showing on four targets against Washington last year, he's realistically only a three-receiver-league start this week.
vs 
8th Most Pts to WR
Sit 'em Mark Andrews (BAL, TE)Andrews had been trending up in Baltimore's passing game - 14 targets, 13 catches for 121 yards and two TDs across the two games before Week 5 - but that progress stalled with Cooper Rush under center, when he managed just two catches on three targets for 22 yards. If Lamar Jackson is back for Week 6, Andrews becomes an intriguing sleeper against the Rams (a fairly neutral matchup; the Rams rank 15th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends), but he's risky with Rush starting. Unless Jackson returns, treat Andrews as a deep-league option only and wait for clearer health news after Baltimore's bye.
vs 
15th Fewest Pts to TE
Sit 'em Zach Ertz (WAS, TE)Zach Ertz's one-target, zero-catch game last week was surprising with Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown out, but with McLaurin possibly back for Week 6 against the Bears, Ertz should see more involvement - he'd been targeted at least three times in each of the four prior contests. He's cooled off recently (12.9 PPR over the last three games on just eight targets, two of which came with Marcus Mariota), yet his connection with Jayden Daniels keeps him fantasy-relevant; Chicago allows about 215 passing yards per game and, while they've limited some tight ends to under 10 PPR, they've been vulnerable overall. Ertz is best viewed as a bench or deep-league start rather than an every-week option.
vs 
12th Most Pts to TE
Sit 'em Detroit Lions (DET, DEF)Detroit's defense looked sharp in its last two outings - five sacks, five interceptions and a fumble recovery while yielding 34 points total against Cleveland and Cincinnati - but those were weak offenses. The Chiefs are a much tougher matchup, especially in Arrowhead, so it's not unreasonable to fade the Lions' DST in Week 6; Kansas City has surrendered just seven sacks and two turnovers this season.
vs 
7th Fewest Pts to DEF
Sit 'em Chad Ryland (ARI, K)Chad Ryland, who entered Week 6 after his first game of the season without a field-goal attempt (he did make all three PATs), has converted 8 of 10 FGs and all 11 extra points through five weeks. Despite that accuracy, Arizona's sputtering offense has limited his chances, and he now visits a Colts defense that has allowed just 5.4 fantasy points per game to kickers - third-fewest in the NFL - making a big scoring outing unlikely.
vs
3rd Fewest Pts to K
