Week 6 of the NFL is upon us, and everyone is looking to cash in on the big daily fanasy football money at FanDuel. Every week, we’ll bring you our top DFS NFL picks for each position and recommend them as Cash Game and/or GPP plays. And to keep up with all things PlayPicks, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
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 they are in real life due to matchup, price, game flow, and more factors. This is important when constructing a roster. And if you’re looking for new ways to play DFS NFL, be sure and give BOOM Fantasy and DRAFT a try.
In DFS NFL, predicting game flow can be vital. Teams on the way to winning comfortably 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 factor in NFL games, so make sure to check the forecast for each Sunday.
Cash Game options generally come with less risk and a more stable floor, while the best GPP plays can come with tons of risk and upside. If you want to win the big money, you have to take big chances and sometimes that means fading a safer choice for a risky play with more upside.
Week 6 DFS NFL Quarterbacks on FanDuel
Aaron Rodgers @ MIN ($9.0k FanDuel) – Cash
As usual, Rodgers is a fantastic play with a solid floor. He’s the best player in the NFL right now, and no defense is going to stop him entirely. For its part, the Vikings secondary looked vulnerable at times against a rookie Bears QB in Mitch Trubisky on Monday night. Trubisky’s mobility gave Minnesota trouble, and while Xavier Rhodes is an elite CB, Rodgers is skilled enough to avoid the rush and throwing at Rhodes given the Packers’ deep corps of receiving options. The Vikings are ranked third against the run and Ty Montgomery (ribs) may remain out, putting even more on Rodgers’ plate.
Drew Brees vs. DET ($8.6k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Brees has long been a beast at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where he posted a 108.2 passer rating and threw 20 touchdowns over eight starts last year. The Lions pass defense is much-improved, but it faced washed-up QBs in Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, and Case Keenum in garnering its positive numbers. Brees has looked great at his age 38 this season and put up an impressive 356 passing yards on 45 attempts in his sole home game this year. With Adrian Peterson now gone and dynamic rookie Alvin Kamara making plays as a receiver, this offense is even more centered around Brees.
Deshaun Watson vs. CLE ($7.9k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
It’s best not to overthink this one, as Watson will be an extremely popular stack along with DeAndre Hopkins at home this week. There’s good reason for it. It’s hard to fade 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 Cash play, while he has huge upside in this plum spot.
Kevin Hogan @ HOU ($6.1k FanDuel) – GPP
Another mobile and exciting quarterback will start opposite Watson this week: Kevin Hogan. The Browns’ backup starred at Stanford, where he recorded the fourth-most rushing yards (263) in a season of any QB in program history. He flashed that mobility with 30 yards on four carries in relief of Deshone Kizer last week. The 6-3, 217-pound slinger rushed for 104 yards in his first start NFL start at Cincy last year, and while he doesn’t have much to work with in terms of downfield targets, he should be able to escape and do some damage with his legs against an injury-depleted Texans defense.
Others to consider: Matt Stafford, Kirk Cousins
Best Week 6 DFS NFL Running Backs on FanDuel
Leonard Fournette @ LAR ($8.6k FanDuel) – Cash
Fournette and Todd Gurley are very safe plays in an excellent on-paper matchup this week. Neither team is willing to put much on the plate of their young QB. This led to a 72.2 percent snap rate for Fournette in a stunning blowout at Pittsburgh last week. The Jaguars’ defense is for real and could continue making Jared Goff look quite human in this road contests, setting the script for Fournette to soak up carries with a second-half lead.
Devonta Freeman vs. MIA ($8.5k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
This is a predictable bounce-back spot for the Falcons after a stunning home loss in Week 4 against the Bills and a subsequent bye week. With Julio Jones (hip) and Mohamed Sanu (hamstring) hobbled, the Bills defense could stack the box against Freeman to his detriment. Miami’s horrendous pass defense will be hard-pressed to stop the Falcons at home. The Dolphins have posted good numbers against the run so far but have faced dysfunctional opponents in the Chargers, Jets, and Mariota-less Titans, while Freeman is carrying a much heavier load now that Kyle Shanahan is no longer the OC in Atlanta.
Javorious Allen vs. CHI ($5.8k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
After a brief lull in productivity, Allen took the reins once again for the Ravens in a Week 5 win at Oakland. “Buck” carried 21 times for 73 yards and a short-yardage TD, which is notable because he wasn’t necessarily the goal-line back for Baltimore with Terrance West healthy. But West is injured, and the signing of journeyman RB Bobby Rainey indicates Baltimore is expecting to be without West for some time. The Bears’ linebacking corps is depleted right now, and Chicago ranks 20th in DVOA run defense this season.
Jerick McKinnon vs. GB ($5.6k FanDuel) – GPP
In front of a national audience on Monday night, McKinnon announced his superiority to Latavius Murray as a season-long replacement for Dalvin Cook. The lightning-quick back went for 95 yards on 16 totes (5.9 YPC) and caught six balls for 51 yards. He wound up playing on 67 percent of offensive snaps while Murray played on just 31 percent and looked generally ineffective. In a home tilt against a Packers defense that’s stout up the middle, look for the Vikings to feature their quicker back more often than Murray.
Others to consider: Alvin Kamara, Lamar Miller, Melvin Gordon
Best Week 6 DFS NFL Wide Receivers on FanDuel
Julio Jones vs. MIA ($8.4k FanDuel) – GPP
Those willing to swing big in GPP formats should take a long look at Jones as he comes off a hip injury. He had a full week to rest up and prepare for a Dolphins team that ranks 31st in DVOA pass defense while coughing up the fourth-highest passer rating (106.1) to opposing QBs this season. The Falcons will be looking to make a statement in this plum matchup at home, and that may mean throwing down the stretch more than expected in a blowout win.
DeAndre Hopkins vs. CLE ($8.0k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
The biggest threat to Hopkins’ production this week is game flow, as the Browns could fall behind early and never make this game truly competitive. While he’s been out there, Hopkins has drawn 31 percent (45-of-145) of Watson’s targets, and it’s highly possible he posts great numbers in the first half alone. This Browns team that not only ranks 31st in overall pass defense but 32nd in DVOA pass defense against opposing top WRs. Hopkins should make mincemeat of that secondary with elite CB Joe Haden no longer in Cleveland.
Michael Crabtree vs. LAC ($7.0k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Amari Cooper has become invisible within the Raiders offense, yet he still might draw top Chargers CB Jason Verrett in this divisional matchup. While Crabtree went off for 82 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches last week, he’ll run most of his routes at the more vulnerable Casey Heyward, who was roasted by Odell Beckham Jr. before injuring the star on a tackle last Sunday. With Derek Carr (back) expected to return, Crabtree has far more upside than his price tag might indicate.
Terrelle Pryor Sr. vs. SF ($6.8k FanDuel) – GPP
Another risky play who is sure to have low ownership given his lack of production this year, Pryor has a chance to break out following Washington’s bye week. He’s had extra time to work on his rapport with Kirk Cousins, which has been lacking to say the least and faces a 49ers secondary badly struggling against quick receivers. (This group gave up 177 receiving yards to T.Y. Hilton last week.) Pryor finally found the end zone in Week 4 in a tough matchup at Kansas City, and the entire Washington offense should be elevated at home, where Cousins is at his best.
Others to consider: DeSean Jackson, Chris Hogan, Stefon Diggs, Willie Snead, Robby Anderson, Jarvis Landry
Best Week 6 DFS NFL Tight Ends on FanDuel
Cameron Brate @ ARI ($5.9k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Arizona has been good against TEs in the past, but ranks 22nd in DVOA pass defense against the position thus far and gave up a big game to Zach Ertz last week. We could see a similar trend this Sunday with Patrick Peterson shutting down top WR Mike Evans, while DeSean Jackson potentially makes a big play against whipping boy Justin Bethel and Jameis Winston continues to target Brate in the end zone. The 6-5, 235-pound TE is an excellent red zone target with touchdowns in three consecutive games, and he at least has a chance to make it four straight.
Zach Miller @ BAL ($5.0k FanDuel) – GPP
Mitch Trubisky made plenty of mistakes in his first NFL start, but he also made plays. He quickly established a rapport with Miller as an outlet when plays broke down, motioning him open in the second half for what turned out to be his sole TD pass of the night (thanks to a lucky tip from a Vikings safety). Still, the willingness to target Miller is inspiring against a Ravens team ranked dead last in DVOA pass defense against opposing TEs. Baltimore notably gave up three touchdowns to Marcedes Lewis (of all players) in a London game three weeks ago.
Others to consider: Ryan Griffin, Evan Engram, Austin Seferian-Jenkins
Best Week 6 DFS NFL D/ST on FanDuel
Broncos vs. NYG ($5.4k FanDuel) – Cash
There is no stronger play this week, and perhaps all season, than a home team against the depleted Giants offense. With three of their four top WRs ruled out for the season and Sterling Shepard (ankle) unlikely to play this Sunday, the G-Men could become a one-dimensional offense against a Denver team ranked first in DVOA run defense. They’re very unlikely to let Orleans Darkwa or Wayne Gallman get going. Eli Manning is not mobile and could take upwards of five sacks in a primetime atmosphere, while potentially forcing the ball to borderline NFL receivers, leading to tips and interceptions.
Chiefs vs. PIT ($4.8k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Ben Roethlisberger isn’t necessarily washed up, but he’s not as mobile or accurate as he used to be. He’ll likely continue to struggle at Kansas City this Sunday given his poor career road splits. With Tamba Hali and Justin Houston screaming off the edge, the Chiefs have totaled a whopping 14 sacks and seven turnovers this season. They corralled Carson Wentz six times in a home game earlier this year, and Roethlisberger is far less mobile at this point in his career.
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