QBs to start in Week 6
Vikings’ Kirk Cousins (vs. Falcons): The Atlanta Falcons have parted ways with Dan Quinn and it remains to be seen how the team performs following his exodus. While the defense could improve at some point, there’s no reason to believe they won’t continue to struggle after Quinn’s departure.
Through the first five weeks, the Falcons have surrendered 8.5 passing yards per attempt (second-most in the NFL) and 15 passing touchdowns (tied for most in the NFL) to QBs. The next QB who gets a chance to carve up Atlanta’s dismal secondary is Kirk Cousins.
Even though Cousins hasn’t posted 20+ fantasy points in a game since Week 1 versus the Green Bay Packers, he’ll have a great chance to have another one in Week 6. The Falcons have had multiple positive COVID-19 tests, putting the game between Minnesota and Atlanta in jeopardy, so plan accordingly.
Lions’ Matthew Stafford (vs. Jaguars): Matthew Stafford got off to a slow start to begin the 2020 season, but it appears he’s beginning to find his groove. In the first two weeks of the season, Stafford combined for 32.34 fantasy points for the Detroit Lions.
However, since Kenny Golladay returned to the Lions in Week 3, Stafford has accumulated 40.84 fantasy points in the last two weeks. The veteran signal-caller is poised to have his third consecutive producing outing versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6.
Jacksonville’s inexperienced secondary has allowed a 75.8 completion percentage and 8.8 passing yards per attempts to QBs (both are most in the NFL).
Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Browns): The return of Ben Roethlisberger has been a welcomed sight for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coming off of season-ending elbow surgery in 2019, Roethlisberger has thrown for 1,016 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception in Pittsburgh’s first four games.
Roethlisberger has had success to begin the season against teams that have a combined record of 3-15-1. While the Cleveland Browns possess a 4-1 record to begin the season, Roethlisberger is on track to thrive through the air again on Sunday.
Cleveland’s secondary, that just placed Greedy Williams on IR, has given up 12 passing touchdowns (second-most in the NFL) and 20.87 fantasy points per week to QBs (ninth-most in the NFL).
Other QBs to consider in Week 6: Jaguars’ Gardner Minshew (vs. Lions), Falcons’ Matt Ryan (vs. Vikings), Rams’ Jared Goff (vs. 49ers), Dolphins’ Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs. Jets)
QBs to sit in Week 6
Bengals’ Joe Burrow (vs. Colts): There’s no doubt Joe Burrow has been a bright spot on a Cincinnati Bengals team that has a dismal 1-3-1 record this season. The rookie quarterback has been a pleasant surprise in fantasy football, scoring 20+ fantasy points in back-to-back weeks in Weeks 2 and 3.
But in the past two weeks, Burrow has mustered up a total of 19.42 fantasy points, including just 4.32 fantasy points in Week 5 versus the Baltimore Ravens. Sadly, things likely won’t get much easier for Burrow after the Ravens, as he prepares to face the stingy defense of the Indianapolis Colts.
Through the first five weeks, the Colts have allowed only 6.2 yards per passing attempt (tied for fewest in the NFL) and only 898 passing yards (fewest in the NFL) to QBs.
Panthers’ Teddy Bridgewater (vs. Bears): It has been impressive to watch Teddy Bridgewater succeed under center for the Carolina Panthers. Amid having the Panthers at 3-2 in a tough NFC South division, Bridgewater has shown he is capable of putting the ball in the air more often than people thought.
Bridgewater is completing a career-best 73.4 percent of his passes so far this season and is sixth in the NFL with 1,460 passing yards. He’s also coming off of back-to-back weeks with 20+ fantasy points.
However, as good as he’s been early in the season, Bridgewater faces his toughest test of the season so far in the Chicago Bears’ daunting defense in Week 6. The Bears have currently forced a passer rating of 77.1 (second-lowest in the NFL) and 6.4 yards per pass attempt (third-fewest in the NFL) to QBs.
