By Scott Kacsmar
The Week 6 NFL slate has an epic matchup between the Bills and Chiefs, the two best offenses in the league right now, that will surely draw a lot of attention for your DFS lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.
We will make sure to find value in the other Sunday games as well with our top choice for QB/RB/TE/WR, tips on which high-priced players to fade or play, and close with multiple flex choices.
Best Week 6 DFS Lineup Options
Quarterback: Josh Allen (Bills) vs. Chiefs
Josh Allen leads all quarterbacks in passing yards and Patrick Mahomes leads in touchdown passes this season. Who has the highest-scoring Sunday between the two MVP leaders?
Well, Allen doubled up Mahomes in fantasy points last year when the teams met in Week 5, the only loss of Mahomes’ career by more than one score at home. In the classic playoff rematch, both quarterbacks again led their teams in rushing yards while throwing for over 320 yards and three touchdowns each. But Mahomes got the coin toss in overtime and had the ball last, allowing him to edge Allen out in fantasy points (40.02 to 37.96).
But this time the Bills are favored, they certainly have the better defense, and there is a lot of confidence in this team to do great things this season. Mahomes has looked magical at times without Tyreek Hill, but this should be the matchup where that hole feels like it matters.
Take Allen to lead your DFS lineup, and the only other question is which wideout to stack with him. Gabriel Davis had four touchdowns in Kansas City in the playoffs and two huge ones against Pittsburgh last week while Stefon Diggs had a Buffalo-low 7 yards in the playoff matchup. However, the Bills are using Diggs better than ever this season and he will not be that quiet again. He would be my top pick, but you should give Davis some plays too.
Premium Quarterback Advice:
- Fade Lamar Jackson against the blitz-happy Giants and his former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
- Play Joe Burrow in New Orleans as he returns to Louisiana against a disappointing Saints defense that could be without Marshon Lattimore.
Running Back: Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots) vs. Browns
Let’s try this one again. Last week, we had New England back Damien Harris in this spot against Detroit, but a hamstring injury knocked him out after just six snaps. It was a real shame too because the matchup went as predicted. Backup Rhamondre Stevenson took over and rushed for a career-high 161 yards on 25 carries.
It is not looking good for Harris to suit up on Sunday against Cleveland, another juicy matchup after the Browns just allowed a career-rushing day for Austin Ekeler. The Patriots also brought up a running back from the practice squad on Thursday, another sign that Harris is unlikely to go.
This should clear the way for Stevenson to shine again. Maybe he can rush for 100 yards and two touchdowns this week. If those numbers sound familiar, it is because last season Stevenson rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-7 win over the Browns on a day when Harris was out.
Let’s go for some déjà vu here.
Premium Running Back Advice:
- Fade Dalvin Cook in Miami since that has trap game written all over it for a Minnesota offense that has needed comebacks against some bad teams three weeks in a row.
- Play Aaron Jones against the Jets, because he is still getting his yards and has never gone four straight games without a touchdown in the same regular season.
Tight End: Travis Kelce (Chiefs) vs. Bills
No need to be cute about the decision. Just play Kelce in this matchup. He’s the best in the game and he scored three of his four touchdowns on the same route against the Raiders, something no other player had done in the last five years according to Next Gen Stats.
Buffalo won’t be as dumb as the Raiders in defending the best receiver on the field, but it was Kelce who caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime of that playoff game. It was Kelce who had 13 catches, often from wide-open spaces, in the 2020 AFC Championship Game against Buffalo. Maybe the Bills adjust better to this offense without Tyreek Hill, but Kelce is still going to find a way to get his in this big matchup.
Games with under 30 receiving yards are becoming more frequent for the 33-year-old tight end, but he knows when to pick his spots, and this week is definitely a matchup where he needs to be special in more ways than just the red zone.
Premium Tight End Advice:
- Fade Mark Andrews as that New York defense might be tough on the Baltimore passing game.
- Not a premium-priced player but play Buffalo’s Dawson Knox as a value pick if he is able to go as he should get his first touchdown of the season.
Wide Receiver: Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals) vs. Saints
Connect the dots on this one. Chase is returning home to Louisiana after a disappointing loss in Baltimore where the coach’s usage of him and the play calling were openly questioned. The Saints may not have top corner Marshon Lattimore due to an abdominal injury. The Bengals may not have Tee Higgins due to an ankle injury.
The stars are aligning for Chase to have the kind of special game he had in Week 1, meaning over 100 yards and a touchdown. At least that would really help the Bengals avoid going 2-4 if he did that. Either way, expect something great from last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Premium Wide Receiver Advice:
- Fade Tyreek Hill, who was in a walking boot on Sunday, against the Vikings with Miami starting a third-string rookie quarterback.
- Play Justin Jefferson in Miami as Xavien Howard deals with a groin injury.
Other Flex Choices:
Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette vs. Steelers: That was a long time ago in 2017 when Fournette ripped the Steelers on the ground twice, but maybe he can find some of that success again on Sunday as the Bucs look to improve the ground game. If not, he has been catching a lot of passes as Tom Brady has completed over 30 passes in three straight games, tying an NFL record.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker vs. Cardinals: With Rashaad Penny (broken fibula) out for the season, the explosive rookie takes on a bigger role. The Seahawks have been playing in some crazy shootouts, so this might be a shot to get some good value.
Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. Bills: He is becoming the No. 1 wide receiver in an offense with Patrick Mahomes, so that should raise some eyebrows by itself. MVS has yet to find the end zone, but he just had a season-high 90 yards against the Raiders and big things are expected from Sunday’s shootout with Buffalo. It is downright criminal that he has the same price as Chase Claypool on DraftKings.
