Week 6 of the NFL season is upon us, and everyone is looking to cash in on the big money at DRAFT. Every week, we’ll bring you our top DFS NFL picks for each position and recommend them as safer plays for H2H and smaller leagues and/or 6-10 team league plays. To keep up with all things PlayPicks, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
H2H and Three-Team draft choices generally come with less risk and a more stable floor, while the best 10-team plays equal tons of risk and upside. Taking a chance on players with high ceilings and low floors is a good way to separate from the field.
Let’s talk a little more strategy. As with any DFS sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, game flow, or other factors. This is important when drafting a roster.
In DFS NFL, predicting game flow can be vital. Teams on the way to comfortable wins will be far more likely to lean on their running games, while two teams with poor defenses and high-powered offenses could pay off by getting into a shootout. Later in the season, weather will play a key role, so make sure to check the forecast for each Sunday.
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Best Week 6 DFS DRAFT.com NFL H2H and 3-Team Picks
Quarterbacks
Deshaun Watson vs. CLE
Kirk Cousins vs. SF
Alex Smith vs. PIT
It doesn’t seem necessary to take a big-time quarterback with one of your first picks this week. Aaron Rodgers will be a popular pick after his vintage comeback win last Sunday, and Tom Brady is always appealing against an AFC East opponent. That said, neither QB seems likely to vastly outscore some smaller names.
Deshaun Watson, for one, is fast becoming a known commodity with three huge fantasy games in a row. It’s hard to bet against the dynamic rookie against a Cleveland Browns team that ranks 30th in DVOA pass defense this year. His rushing ability gives him an excellent floor and justifies his status as a safe play.
Then, there’s Alex Smith, who’s experienced an MVP-caliber start through five games. He could continue his magnificent run against a Pittsburgh Steelers team that’s vulnerable on the road. Still, Smith could be selected late in drafts due to his less-than-stirring previous reputation. He may have to match points down the stretch with Big Ben and Pittsburgh’s offense in a make-or-break spot this week.
Lastly, Kirk Cousins has been much better at home during the past few seasons and is coming off dismantling the Oakland Raiders before his bye week. With a week to prepare for the porous 49ers defense, he’s a very safe bet to put up reliable fantasy numbers as a mid- or late-round pick.
Running Backs
Leonard Fournette vs. LAR
Todd Gurley @ JAX
Devonta Freeman vs. MIA
CJ Anderson vs. NYG
CJ Anderson is a solid consideration for any format this week because of potential game flow. The Broncos (-12) are heavily favored against a winless and injury-depleted Giants team. The Broncos could jump out to a lead, and the Giants are now ranked 31st in DVOA run defense.
Devonta Freeman’s team is also in a plus spot with the struggling Dolphins coming to town after the Falcons rested up over their bye week. Atlanta is a high-octane offense at home, and Freeman is being used as a workhorse under new OC Steve Sarkisian.
Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley are both great plays in the same game. They’re the centerpieces of their run-dominant teams. With inexperienced QBs behind them, these young backs are getting huge workloads. Fournette will have to be taken early and has a high floor against a Rams team that’s given up the sixth-most RuYPG (136.6) this year. The Jaguars, meanwhile, have allowed the second-most RuYPG (146.4), and Gurley has flashed new upside as a receiver as well.
Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins vs. CLE
Keenan Allen @ OAK
Tyreek Hill vs. PIT
Randall Cobb @ MIN
A DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson stack is the most obvious play of the week, but that doesn’t make it the wrong one. Hopkins went nuts on Sunday night in the fourth quarter of a loss to Kansas City, and the only threat to his production this week would be a potential blowout at home. Cleveland is awful against the pass and dead last in terms of limiting the opposition’s top target.
Right after Travis Kelce left Sunday night’s game with a concussion, Andy Reid dialed up a string of plays for Tyreek Hill. He’s one of the most versatile weapons in the game, and he could stand to see a significantly increased workload if Kelce misses Week 6.
For Green Bay, Randall Cobb could also benefit from a potential injury, with Jordy Nelson mysteriously banged up. Either way, Cobb will be worth a look against a Vikings secondary that’s elite on the boundaries but more vulnerable in the slot.
Keenan Allen, meanwhile is as reliable as they come and will face a horrific Raiders secondary that struggles against undersized receivers. After coming up almost entirely empty on Monday night against the Bears, Stefon Diggs (if healthy) will look to bounce back against a weak Green Bay pass defense.
Best Week 6 DFS NFL 6- to 10-Team League Picks
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees vs. DET
Matt Ryan vs. MIA
Matthew Stafford @ ATL
The most appealing game for shootout potential this week will be played at the NFL’s version of Coors Field, the Superdome. The 51-point over/under for this game could rise as bets come in. Plus, Matthew Stafford is bound to be overlooked as he battled through an ankle injury in last week’s loss. Drew Brees has long been akin to dynamite under in his dome, and he’s roasted stronger defenses than the Lions’ upstart unit.
Matt Ryan and the Falcons are in a great bounce-back spot against a Dolphins team that’s among the league’s worst. Miami has done a decent job of shutting down the run but is getting gashed through the air. They rank 31st in DVOA pass defense this season.
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt vs. PIT
Melvin Gordon @ OAK
Marshawn Lynch vs. LAC
While Kareem Hunt has had a massive season, he slowed down in a tough matchup against Houston on Sunday night. He might now linger past the first few picks in this week’s drafts. That said, he could follow Fournette’s lead by gashing a weak Steelers run defense, which will be even worse if Ryan Shazier misses another contest.
For the Chargers, Melvin Gordon flashed his dramatic upside with two touchdown catches against the lowly Giants last week. He now faces a Raiders team very vulnerable to RBs who can catch out of the backfield. Speaking of backs who can catch, the Cardinals need to keep featuring Andre Ellington as a poor man’s David Johnson against the Buccaneers this week.
Lastly, Marshawn Lynch and Lamar Miller are two risky and contrarian plays to consider late in drafts, as they face two of the worst run defenses in the NFL. The former should have a positive game script now that Derek Carr is expected back under center for Oakland.
Wide Receivers
Michael Thomas vs. DET
Antonio Brown @ KC
Brandin Cooks @ NYJ
Larry Fitzgerald vs. TB
Golden Tate @ NO
Robby Anderson vs. NEP
Michael Thomas makes for an obvious pairing with Brees as the Saints primary target by far. However, he draws a tough matchup against the Lions disciplined secondary.
Antonio Brown has a similar draw against Marcus Peters and a Chiefs defense that should send help his way. Still, he’s a transcendent talent and is in “put up or shut up” mode with the Steelers offense all over the news cycle.
Brandin Cooks and Robby Anderson both have tons of upside for different reasons. While they each draw great individual matchups, Anderson’s potential is based on the possibility that the Jets ride the momentum of their last three wins into a home game against a divisional rival giving up the most passing YPG (323.4) in the NFL thus far. For his part, Cooks could, as always, break free for a big play or two.
Larry Fitzgerald and Golden Tate are coming off quiet weeks, which will make them available later in drafts. Both slot receivers have tremendous upside in their respective matchups.
Tight Ends
Rob Gronkowski @ NYJ
Travis Kelce vs. PIT
Cameron Brate @ ARI
Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs. NEP
We don’t need to take tight ends in our H2H or three-man games on DRAFT, but it’s a great way to be contrarian in a bigger league. This week, it might actually make sense to draft Rob Gronkowski in the middle rounds, as he appears fully healthy and ready to return after missing a Thursday night game.
Travis Kelce would also be worth a mid-round pick if he clears the league’s concussion protocol ahead of a plus matchup against Pittsburgh. For Tampa, Cameron Brate remains a touchdown machine, who could keep rolling against a depleted Cardinals linebacking corps.
Then, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is slowly breaking out for a Jets team badly in need of red zone options. He faces a Patriots team ranked 28th in DVOA defense against opposing TEs this season.
Got all that? Now, put this advice to good use. Click here to get a free contest entry at DRAFT.com.
