The bye weeks are squeezing fantasy football lineups. A favorable opponent alone is not a reason to start someone. Give me a player who is getting the ball, then show me a defense that struggles with the way his team uses him.
That puts Cam Skattebo at the front of my Week 6 list. Jordan Love gets a vulnerable Dallas defense, Rhamondre Stevenson has a potential workload opening and two young pass-catchers have earned our attention.
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Cam Skattebo, RB, Giants vs. Saints
Take another look at Skattebo if you have been losing patience. His 81 carries have produced 294 rushing yards, but his only touchdown came in Week 1. That week’s rushing total remains his season high.
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New York keeps giving him work: 20 carries against Tennessee, 18 against Arizona and 13 plus two catches last week. The fantasy totals have disappointed, but the opportunity has not disappeared.
Now, look at New Orleans. The Saints have given up 148.8 rushing yards per game, the third-highest mark in the league. Their 10 rushing touchdowns allowed are the most of any defense. Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sr. just ran for 113 yards and a touchdown against them. The week before, Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Brian Robinson Jr. combined for 207 rushing yards and five scores.
I know the start has been frustrating. The yards per carry are not where we want them and the touchdowns have not followed the workload. This is the week to stay with Skattebo. New Orleans has spent much of Kellen Moore’s tenure playing from behind, and the Giants can make that harder by controlling the ground game and keeping the Saints’ passing attack on the sideline.
Skattebo has the carries, and this is the opponent he needed. I am putting him back in my lineup and betting the production finally catches up.
Jordan Love, QB, Packers vs. Cowboys
Love gave us a reminder of what he’s capable of doing against Chicago: 367 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Christian Watson caught six passes for 143 yards and two scores. Matthew Golden added six catches for 123 yards. Those two are balling right now, and Love is giving them chances downfield.
It pains me to say this as a Cowboys fan, but you know it and I know it: this Dallas defense is terrible. The Cowboys have allowed 21.5 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks through five weeks. They have surrendered 8.3 yards per pass attempt, and opposing passers have thrown 10 touchdowns without an interception. This has a chance to become a shootout, with Love throwing throughout the game rather than protecting a lead. Love has thrown two touchdowns in every game so far, and now he gets an opponent that has not intercepted a pass.
I have Love ranked very high in my Week 6 projections as a top-five option this week. With Watson and Golden playing like this against the Dallas secondary, I am not avoiding the Packers. Start Love with confidence.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, Patriots vs. Jets
TreVeyon Henderson looks unlikely to play because of his ankle injury, and reports are saying he could miss multiple weeks. That opens the door for Stevenson to handle more work on the ground and through the air.
Even without making that assumption, Stevenson’s last two games have been useful. He ran 13 times in each, scored in both and caught three passes in both. Against Buffalo and Las Vegas combined, he produced 111 rushing yards and 48 receiving yards. That is a better floor than the one he offered during his quiet Weeks 2 and 3.
I trust New England’s defense to make life difficult for the Jets. That should give the Patriots opportunities to play with a lead and lean on Stevenson. With Will Campbell hurt, they may start a replacement left tackle, another reason to keep Drake Maye out of obvious passing downs.
The Jets rank 26th in rushing DVOA but eighth by rush EPA. The matchup is not perfect by every measure, but the likely game script and Stevenson’s two-way role make this a start I like.
Corey Kiner could get some snaps, but Stevenson has the recent carries and receiving usage to lead this backfield. I expect him to be productive as a runner and a receiver against the Jets. We’ll get the final Henderson designation closer to Sunday but prepare to get Stevenson into your lineup when Henderson is ruled out.
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Denzel Boston, WR, Browns vs. Ravens
Boston is the ceiling play for managers choosing a flex. The rookie has 330 receiving yards and three touchdowns through five games. Seven targets in three of those games have turned into meaningful yardage: 59, 95, 41, 89 and 46 yards by week.
That profile fits this opponent. Baltimore has given up 593 receiving yards to wideouts on downfield throws, the third-most in the league. Boston’s production has come with big plays, including touchdowns in Weeks 1, 2 and 5. If Cleveland gives him a few chances downfield, he can beat a modest target total.
Boston is the downfield target Deshaun Watson looks for when Cleveland needs a big play. His 20.6 yards per catch leads the league, and the Browns have called him one of their go-to options in the passing game. They are going to have to score in this AFC North matchup. Baltimore’s downfield numbers say Boston can help them do it.
I am not waiting for the Browns to become a high-volume passing offense. Boston already has the role and the explosive plays to matter on the targets he gets. Put him in your flex this week.
Brenton Strange, TE, Jaguars vs. Texans
Strange has been one of the quiet surprises at tight end. He caught seven of eight targets for 95 yards against Cincinnati, then seven of eight for 68 yards against Philadelphia last week. That is 16 targets in two games without needing a touchdown to rescue his week. This is one of the better-used tight ends in the league right now.
The opponent gives him another path to volume. Houston has already allowed useful tight end games to Dalton Kincaid and Tyler Warren. The Texans can be difficult to run against, which makes the middle of the field an attractive place for Trevor Lawrence to work. Jacksonville is also staying in London for a second straight game, so Strange and Lawrence have already gone through the travel adjustment that Houston faces this week.
With Lawrence and Liam Coen running this passing attack, Jacksonville can put up points. The wide receiver target distribution may change from week-to-week, but Strange remains Lawrence’s primary option at tight end. He is part of the plan every Sunday. I really like him against Houston.
Texans-Jaguars kicks off in London at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Get Strange into your tight end spot early.