2025 Fantasy Football Trends for Week 6
My 2025 Fantasy Football Trends for Week 6 article has arrived just in time to help you in your matchups this week!
Five weeks into the season, and it’s already hard work for fantasy managers contending with mounting injuries and two more teams on bye this week. Hopefully, these stats will help guide you through week 6.
1. Michael Carter’s 72% running back rush share
Michael Carter – Week 5
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) October 6, 2025
Every touch https://t.co/taEySKskuT pic.twitter.com/312qW6VwQa
Following injuries to both Conner and Benson, Michael Carter has emerged as the clear starter in Arizona’s decimated backfield. Last week, Carter handled 18 of the 25 backfield rushing attempts, resulting in 51 yards and a touchdown. He also added a further 22 yards from his five receptions on five targets. This represented the same number of targets as Marvin Harrison Jr., with only McBride seeing more targets on Sunday, with seven.
With Kyler Murray currently uncertain to play at the time of writing, Carter’s upside will be slightly capped, yet this usage in the passing game alongside the majority of backfield touches boosts his floor. After Demercado’s disastrous fumble last week, expect Carter to see the lion’s share of backfield touches once again this coming weekend.
2. Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s season-high 16 touches
The Commanders finally unleashed Croskey-Merritt against the Chargers last week, with the rookie enjoying his first 100-yard game. The seventh-round pick rushed 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns, with an additional 39 yards through the air from his two receptions (two targets). After an off-season of unrelenting hype, Croskey-Merritt’s early-season production has been somewhat underwhelming. Before last week, his fantasy production was saved by touchdowns, failing to hit double-digit targets in two of his first four games. Last week, however, marked a shift in his usage. While Croskey-Merritt saw 16 touches, Rodriguez and McNichols combined for just seven. We can start the rookie with confidence going forward.
3. Derrick Henry’s 37 rushing yards per game over the last four weeks
After the veteran’s stellar first season in Baltimore, Henry appeared to be a safe pick once again in 2025. But as we enter week 6, his status as a lock in our fantasy lineups is anything but secure following the Ravens’ struggles. After a blockbuster first week, Henry has now failed to hit double-digit PPR points in three of the following four weeks, averaging just 37 rushing yards per game. His usage has also taken a hit. Henry has seen fewer than 15 touches three times already this season, something which only occurred four times during the regular season last year.
With Lamar Jackson likely out again this coming week, expect Henry to face another negative game script – and a potentially tough fantasy outing at home to the Rams.
4. Matthew Golden’s back-to-back 50-yard games
Jordan Love goes deep to Matthew Golden for 46 yards 👏 pic.twitter.com/UVxIjhRlMK
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) September 29, 2025
Unfortunately, not everyone can be Emeka Egbuka. However, after a very slow start to his career in Green Bay, Matthew Golden is seeing incremental improvement. Week 4 saw Golden’s best performance yet with six targets and five receptions for 58 yards. As a result, he has now hit 50 receiving yards in each of his last two games, following just 16 total receiving yards in the first two games.
It’s important to remain patient with rookies; not all will hit the ground running, but the second half of the season is likely to be more productive for first-year players. Golden has been inches away from some big plays this season and so, coming off the bye week, Golden is someone I’m willing to throw into my flex as a high-upside option, if needed.
5. Chris Olave’s 51 targets
Olave has provided fantasy managers with good, if unspectacular, production to start the season. The fourth-year receiver ranks second in targets so far this season with 51 per PFF, only behind Puka Nacua, resulting in five straight double-digit PPR performances. Despite averaging 10.8 targets per game, he ranks 43rd in yards with 244. And although his upside will be somewhat limited by the offensive environment he finds himself in, this usage points to greater production. Olave remains a solid flex play again this week as he faces a Patriots defense that has allowed the sixth most passing yards so far this season.