2025 Plays & Fades for Week 6

Kyle Zeigler

Welcome to my 2025 Plays & Fades for Week 6!

This past week, we saw some significant players go down with injuries, some of which were worse than others. That’s why, during fantasy football draft season, I always preach drafting for depth because without it, you can fall behind quickly. As we gear up for a pivotal Week 6, this is the turning point where the good teams start to shine and the bad teams slip into darkness. I’m back for another edition of 2025 Plays and Fades to hopefully shine some light on your squad.

*** Stats courtesy of the good folks over at PFF, Fantasy Points Data Suite, FantasyData.com, and FTN Fantasy***

Quarterbacks

Play: Matthew Stafford @ Baltimore Ravens

• Even if the Ravens get back some of their banged-up defenders who missed last week, Matthew Stafford is playing like an MVP.

• He leads the league in passing yards and touchdown passes through five games and ranks sixth in yards per attempt at 8.2.

• The Ravens give up the fourth-most passing yards and just allowed C.J. Stroud to finish as the QB1 for the week. Matthew Stafford could easily finish near the top among quarterbacks in Week 6.

Play: Bryce Young Vs Dallas Cowboys

• Let’s go ahead and stream Bryce Young if needed against the Dallas Cowboys. The matchup is too good to pass up, as Dallas allows 304 passing yards per game.

• On top of that, they’ve given up 12 passing touchdowns, giving Young a nice opportunity to get rolling at home.

• He should have to throw a lot more than he did against Miami, where Rico Dowdle couldn’t be stopped. That could happen again, but the Panthers will need to keep pace with Dallas’ high-powered offense. Bryce Young has a real chance to crack low-end QB1 numbers this week.

Play: Jordan Love Vs Cincinnati Bengals

• It’s a match made in heaven for Jordan Love and the Packers, who are fresh off their bye week. The Bengals have struggled against both the run and the pass, which should open up play action and deep shots down the field.

• Love ranks 20th in deep pass completion % and sits in the middle of the pack for deep throw attempts among QBs, per PFF. He should have chances to improve these numbers in this favorable matchup.

Fade: Jaxson Dart Vs Philadelphia Eagles

• Jaxson Dart started hot last week against the Saints, throwing two touchdowns in the first half, but then cooled off and produced nothing for the rest of the game. He also added 55 rushing yards on seven carries.

• Not only is this an extremely tough opponent, but the game script won’t be in his favor, as I expect them to be trailing, where he’ll be forced to throw.

• Over the past two weeks, Dart has had the third-highest turnover-worthy throw percentage. He can’t afford to repeat that against this defense, or they’ll make him pay.

Fade: Justin Fields Vs Denver Broncos

• He’s quietly put together back-to-back top-5 QB finishes, doing it with his arm rather than his legs this past week. The issue is that it came against the Dolphins and Cowboys, two teams that have been generous to opposing quarterbacks.

• The case for Fields is that we’ve seen Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Daniel Jones each throw for 280+ yards against them. I don’t trust this Jets offense to replicate that, and the Broncos have done an excellent job limiting mobile quarterbacks’ production on the ground.

• The Broncos will contain Fields on the ground, and Pat Surtain will shadow Garrett Wilson, limiting his big-play potential. Sit Fields, or expect modest numbers against Denver.

Fade: Jared Goff @ Kansas City Chiefs

• Yeah, he’s been playing well overall through five games as he is the current QB10 in fantasy, just behind Lamar Jackson, so he’s all but guaranteed to move up.

• He still has rough outings on the road. Besides last week against the lowly Bengals, Goff has finished QB21 and QB23 away from home. A date in Kansas City won’t exactly be a walk in the park under the stadium lights on Sunday evening.

• The Chiefs are much stronger against the pass than the run, so look for the Lions to lean on Gibbs and Montgomery. KC ranks 8th in EPA per dropback, showing they do an exceptional job limiting QBs from producing points.

Running Backs

Play: Rico Dowdle Vs Dallas Cowboys

• Chuba Hubbard was sidelined last week due to injury, and he didn’t disappoint, rushing 23 times for 206 yards and a touchdown to finish as the RB1 for the week.

• Even if Hubbard returns this week, Dowdle’s performance should earn him a larger role moving forward, if not the RB1 job outright.

• Dallas gives up the 10th-most rushing yards per game, setting him up for another big day on the ground. Fire him up in your lineups as a solid RB2.

Play: Michael Carter @ Indianapolis Colts

• Now that we have some clarity in the Arizona backfield, Michael Carter can be confidently started as a low-end RB2 or flex this week in Indy. He was more involved in both the run and passing game, running the most routes with 13 compared to Emari Demercado’s 9.

• One would think Demercado’s 71-yard run only to drop the ball just shy of the goal line would be a game-changing blunder and could cost him carries moving forward. Even if he’s not, Carter looks to be the early down back.

Play: Rhamondre Stevenson @ New Orleans Saints

• As much as we want TreVeyon Henderson to be a real factor, we have to follow what the Patriots coaching staff is showing us. Currently, Stevenson is their guy, which means you play him against the Saints.

• Antonio Gibson suffered a torn ACL and is now going to miss the rest of the season. Before he went down, Rhamondre was seeing 54.4% of the snaps, Henderson 38.3%, and Gibson 17.1%. I expect Gibson’s share to be split relatively evenly between the remaining two, with New England continuing to ride the hot hand.

• Another positive for Stevenson is that he’s the clear red-zone back, having held a 52.2% share of snaps inside the 20. He’ll likely see an even bigger role now that Gibson is out.

Fade: D’Andre Swift Vs Washington Commanders

• Even with Swift coming off the bye this week, I still want to fade him against the Commanders’ rush defense. Washington hasn’t allowed a single rusher to reach 100 yards this season.

• Swift ranks 37th out of 47 qualifying backs in yards per carry (3.3), placing him near the bottom. He’s also near the bottom in explosive runs.

• He’s a volume-based RB2, but I expect him to produce closer to RB3 numbers against Washington’s stout run defense.

Fade: Chase Brown @ Green Bay Packers

• The Bengals fell behind early against the Lions, forcing Jake Browning to throw 40 times and limiting Brown’s impact in the run game. He managed just 27 rushing yards but added seven receptions for 21 more.

• Ever since Joe Burrow went down, all the primary weapons in the Bengals offense have lost value, even Ja’Marr Chase to some extent. Cincinnati traded for Joe Flacco, who’s already been declared the starter, but it remains to be seen how much of an impact he can make at age 40 behind a struggling offensive line.

• Brown faces a tough test against the Packers’ fierce run defense, and I strongly suggest avoiding this matchup if you have him in your lineup. He’s an RB3 at best.

Fade: Cam Skattebo Vs Philadelphia Eagles

• I hate to fade Skattebo because I’m a fan, but unfortunately, it’s time. He’s up against a very stingy defense that makes life difficult for running backs.

• He runs with so much effort, you’ve got to love it, but against Philadelphia, he’s best left on the bench. The Eagles haven’t allowed a running back to reach 100 yards all season.

• Other than Week 1, when Jalen Carter was ejected just after the opening kickoff, only J.K. Dobbins has scored a rushing touchdown against them this past week. They’ve held Bucky Irving, Kyren Williams, and the Chiefs’ running backs out of the end zone.

Wide Receivers

Play: Keenan Allen @ Miami Dolphins 

• He’s in a prime bounce-back spot after failing to find the end zone, catching five passes for 58 yards on nine targets.

• He’s heavily involved in the Chargers offense, leading the team in target share percentage, receptions, and red-zone targets and touchdowns.

• I chose Allen out of the three WRs for this matchup because the Dolphins play the most Cover 2 defense in the league. Against Cover 2, Keenan Allen ranks WR22 in fantasy points per route run. Fire him up as a strong WR2 against Miami.

Play: Chris Olave Vs New England Patriots

• Chris Olave hasn’t had an easy time finding the end zone, but his efficiency remains encouraging. Stay patient, Spencer Rattler is making progress each week.

• He leads the team in target share percentage, air yard share, total points per route run, and receptions, and ranks second in receiving yards. His efficiency has been impressive, making him a reliable option in the passing game.

• There is some concern, as DB Christian Gonzales will most likely shadow Olave in coverage. Still, with the heavy volume he continues to see, the team should find ways to get him the ball. Start him as a WR2/Flex.

Play: Stefon Diggs @ New Orleans Saints

• Diggs is coming off a massive game against the Bills, seeing 12 targets and catching 10 for 146 yards. He didn’t find the end zone but still finished as a top-5 WR for the week.         

• I think there’s more here than just a revenge-game narrative. He also saw seven targets against Carolina, catching six passes for 101 yards in that matchup.

• Diggs has yet to find the end zone, but this matchup against the Saints gives him his best chance. Their top two corners, Alonte Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry, have each allowed three touchdowns. Fire him up as a strong flex play.

Fade: Zay Flowers Vs Los Angeles Rams

• Even though Flowers caught all five of his targets for 72 yards against the Texans, we can’t really trust him as a flex option. This is especially true with Cooper Rush under center.

• The Rams’ secondary has done a great job limiting pass catchers this season, allowing just seven touchdowns through six games.

• With the Ravens decimated by injuries, it’s hard to see them keeping up with the Rams’ offensive firepower. I’d keep Zay Flowers on the bench in this one

Fade: Jameson Williams @ Kansas City Chiefs

• I wouldn’t start Jameson Williams, even as a flex, in a matchup against the Chiefs at Arrowhead. He’s been disappointing this season, with only one top-10 WR finish coming in Week 2 against the Bears.

• Although Jamo leads the team in air yards, other metrics are concerning: he ranks third in total yards, fourth in target share percentage, fourth in receptions, and third in first-read share.

• He’s a risky, boom-or-bust WR heading into Week 6 against the Chiefs.

Fade: Calvin Ridley @ Las Vegas Raiders

• He’s coming off his best game of the season, catching five passes for 131 yards on 10 targets against the Cardinals. Even as a WR3, I’m not trusting him to repeat that performance against the Raiders in Week 6.

•  NFL defenses primarily play a lot of zone, but the Raiders take it to another level. According to Fantasy Points Data, they line up in zone on 90.1% of dropbacks. Ridley’s win rate against zone is just 5.9%.

• I’d rather plug in Elic Ayomanor as a flex, given his strong 14.6% win rate against zone coverage, which suggests he can find the soft spots and get open. Fade Ridley as a flex in this one.

Tight Ends

Play: Mason Taylor Vs Denver Broncos

• If he’s not on your radar, he should be. Mason Taylor has seen 25 targets since Week 3. Over the last two games, he’s posted a 27.8% first-read share and 1.89 yards per route run (YPRR).

• He ranks second on the team in targets, receptions, and yards. He’s the clear No. 2 option, even ahead of Breece Hall, who is an elite pass catcher out of the backfield.

• He should continue to see heavy volume in a game I expect the Jets to be trailing in, so consider streaming Mason Taylor, who has the potential to finish as a TE1 (top 12 at the position).

Play: Travis Kelce Vs Detroit Lions

• I went to Kelce last week, and I’m coming back to him in Week 6 against the Lions. He’s ranked ECR TE8 and is averaging six targets and nearly 50 receiving yards per game.

• He’s doing exactly what we look for in a starting TE, with a clear path to second in team targets. He’s currently second on the team in targets, second in receptions, third in yards, and second in first-read share percentage.

• Kelce is a solid TE start and should have an opportunity to add another touchdown to his season total.

Play: Darren Waller Vs Los Angeles Chargers

• I wasn’t initially excited when the Dolphins signed 33-year-old Darren Waller, who hadn’t played in a year and a half. Here we are, though: back-to-back top-5 TE finishes and three total touchdowns in his first two games.

• With Tyreek Hill out for the season, it could be Waller who sees the increased volume and takes on the bigger role, not Malik Washington. He’s already received three goal-line targets, catching all three for touchdowns.

• Despite the tough matchup, he looks like he could see plenty of work near the goal line or within the 10-yard line. Fire him up and ride the wave.

Fade: Juwan Johnson Vs New England Patriots

• Juwan Johnson has been a diamond in the rough at a position that’s tough to navigate outside the top-tier options.

• With Taysom Hill back last week, I’m concerned Johnson’s usage could start trending downward; he managed just two catches for 27 yards, his worst game of the season.

• I’d rather pick up Mason Taylor off waivers and roll with him this week and moving forward.

Fade: Mark Andrews Vs Los Angeles Rams

• One game with Cooper Rush under center was enough for me to fade Mark Andrews this week against the Rams. I’ll continue to avoid him moving forward until Lamar Jackson returns.

• He had three targets from Rush, catching two for 22 yards in a 44-10 blowout loss. The Ravens offense has been a dumpster fire without Lamar Jackson under center. Avoid until further notice.

D/ST

Play: New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints

• Spencer Rattler has improved with more experience, but this is still a prime spot for the Patriots’ defense to create turnovers.

• They can build off the three turnovers they forced last week against Buffalo, and points will be hard to come by against the Patriots. New England ranks in the top 10 in points allowed, giving up just 20.2 points per game.

• Great matchup here, and as a bonus, you can hold them for the next three games—they face Tennessee and Cleveland after this one!

Play: Las Vegas Raiders Vs Tennessee Titans 

• At this point, I don’t care if a defense is ranked 32nd in the league; we’re streaming them against this abysmal Titans offense. Cam Ward has been sacked a league-high 19 times through five games—yikes.                               

• In five weeks, four of the defenses the Titans have faced have finished inside the top 10 in fantasy. It should have been all five, but they somehow fumbled an interception into the end zone, where Tyler Lockett fell on it for a touchdown, truly unreal.

Play: Indianapolis Colts Vs Arizona Cardinals

• If you’ve been following my work, you know I’ve been backing the Colts’ defense as a sleeper option since Week 1. They now have three top-5 D/ST finishes in fantasy.

• You should see some sacks in this one, as Kyler Murray ranks third in the league with 16. The Colts have shown they can pressure the QB, compiling 14 sacks so far this season.

Fade: Buffalo Bills @ Atlanta Falcons

• The Falcons at home can hold their own and keep this game close. If they do, they should be able to run the football successfully against this Bills front.

• Buffalo’s weakest spot on defense is stopping the run, as they’ve allowed just over 145 yards per game on the ground. The Falcons will continue to run their offense through Bijan Robinson, who should rack up both yards and touchdowns.

• The Bills are a solid defensive unit, don’t get me wrong, but they could struggle here facing one of the top RBs in the league.

Fade: Washington Commanders Vs Chicago Bears

• I saw their roster percentage rise on waivers this week, so fantasy managers are clearly planning to stream them against the Bears. I’d caution against it because Ben Johnson is coming off a bye and had an extra week to scheme his offense against Washington.

• The Commanders are coming off a five-sack game against the Chargers, but it’s important to note that left tackle Joe Alt was out with an injury.

•  The Bears don’t have the best offensive line in the league, but they’re far from the worst and have shown real improvement from last year. Through four games, Caleb Williams has been sacked just seven times.

Thank you for checking out my 2025 Plays & Fades for Week 6. I hope you found it helpful and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. Be sure to check out our waiver wire articles for that all-important edge.

To see more of our team’s weekly rankings, make sure to click here. Catch me live every Wednesday at 10 PM EST on the 4th and Frames podcast. Connect with me on Twitter/X @KZ1180. Best of luck in Week 6, and let’s get those wins!

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