Week 6 Winners & Losers: Biggest Takeaways From Every Game! (10/18 Fantasy Football Podcast)

AJ Brown left a lot of fantasy points on the table in Week 6 despite receiving 10 targets; the source notes he shook off rust in one game but had concerning drops, describing his performance as 'gross,' indicating disappointment with his return from injury.

In a rest-of-season comparison, the source selects A.J. Brown over Jalen Warren, indicating Brown is the preferred asset going forward.

Aaron Rodgers had a moderate game in Week 6 that required overtime to reach a decent fantasy day, despite strong target volume for his receivers Jeremy Bernard and D.K. Metcalf.

Aaron Rodgers had a slow start in his game, requiring fantasy managers to wait until the very end of the game for production, making for a frustrating fantasy outing.

The source expresses concern about Aaron Rodgers' play, noting he threw 49 passes in this game (up from 38 per game average) due to fear of Tampa Bay's blitz pressure; Rodgers reverted to short, short, short passing patterns and doesn't appear to trust his offensive line, getting knocked around and taking five sacks.

Aaron Rodgers' air yards per pass attempt (ADOT) have collapsed to historically low levels: 4.6 last week and 4.0 this week, well below league-low Bo Nix's 4.9 ADOT. This extreme short-passing approach limits downfield receiver production and suggests either offensive line concerns or fear of Tampa's blitz-heavy defense. Source expects this may improve next week against the Saints but expresses concern about the trend.

Had only 11 touches in Week 6 against Chicago after 21 touches the prior week (15.8 fantasy points); Atlanta had the ball for less than 20 minutes due to two big turnovers on special teams, limiting his volume. Source notes this is the second bad game in a row but maintains Robinson is not a long-term concern.

Bo Nix holds the NFL's lowest air yards per pass attempt (ADOT) at 4.9, indicating an extremely short-passing offense that limits downfield receiver production. This metric is used as a reference point for how constrained Aaron Rodgers' passing attack has become in recent weeks.

Bryce Young scored 23.8 fantasy points against Philadelphia in Week 6, finishing top 10 despite a slow start. Young has been a top-seven quarterback in all but one week through the Sunday afternoon slate and is a must-start moving forward, despite being started in less than half of CBS Sports Leagues.

The source was advised to drop Bryce Young this morning. However, Young has an elite statistical pedigree: he is one of only five quarterbacks in the last 15 years to throw for 280+ yards and a touchdown in each of their team's first five games of a season, joining Aaron Rodgers (2011), Drew Brees (2013), Peyton Manning (2013), and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Despite this elite early-season consistency, the source's co-host recommended dropping him.

Described as having an awesome shot with strong target share; the source is positive on his outlook despite concerns about Nico Collins.

Had a huge game in Week 6; the source likes him as a must-start quarterback moving forward, particularly against the Giants next week. Despite Nico Collins not being a big factor in the game, Stroud's performance and the team's addition of Marvin Harrison to the offense position him as the obvious focal point.

CJ Stroud scored 29 fantasy points against Jacksonville in London in Week 6, marking three consecutive weeks of at least 22.9 fantasy points, with at least 27 points in two of the last three weeks. The source calls him a must-start quarterback moving forward, as he is the obvious focal point of an offense that added Marvin Harrison, while the team's defense and run game have underperformed since Week 2.

Caleb Williams posted a career-high completion rate and 305 passing yards in Week 6 against Atlanta but only 18 fantasy points; source credits three rushing touchdowns by the team and expects touchdowns will come, noting it was a great day despite the modest fantasy output. Source expects one or two rushing touchdowns most games going forward.

Caleb Williams posted a career-high 83.3% completion rate (30 of 36) in Week 6 against Atlanta, dropping back and playing normal quarterback for 75% of the game. The source notes this was very encouraging and questions whether this efficient, pocket-focused approach will continue or was merely a product of his hamstring injury recovery.

If Loveland's near-miss touchdown had been scored, fantasy managers with Caleb Williams should feel great about his upside. Additionally, DeAndre Swift had two short touchdowns, and if one of those had gone Williams' way instead, managers would be thrilled with the quarterback's scoring potential.

Sims is listed as a loser in Week 6, though the source does not provide specific statistics or reasoning for his inclusion in the losers list.

Carson Steele left the Eagles game in the first quarter with an injury, removing him from fantasy consideration for the week.

Considered for the all-bust team but deemed not as bad as Scadaboo and Hampton; drafted four hours earlier than Scadaboo, suggesting he was a higher-round pick with disappointing results.

The source indicates Olave will continue to be started every Sunday and will be asked about repeatedly, suggesting consistent volume and role as a Saints receiver.

Rodriguez splits carries roughly evenly with Basil Tootin, which limits Tootin's ceiling as an RB1 despite Tootin's strong receiving production in this particular game.

Rodriguez had eight combined carries across Jacksonville's last two games (against Philly and Cincinnati) while Tootin dominated with 22 and 17 carries respectively. However, in Week 6, Rodriguez was notably better running the football than Tootin and is averaging 4.3 yards per carry for the season compared to Tootin's 4.1 yards per carry, barely edging the lead back in efficiency.

Colston Loveland is highlighted as a tight end winner in Week 6 who bounced back with strong performance; the source notes that if Loveland and Luther Burden continue producing at this level for the Bears, 'everybody's going to be happy,' suggesting sustained upside alongside Burden as the team's primary receiving threats.

Colston Loveland was highlighted positively by the source in the context of the Bears' Week 6 win over Atlanta, receiving a 'kudos' callout alongside Caleb Williams' strong performance.

Loveland was a primary focus of the Bears passing game in Week 6, with Caleb Williams dropping back and playing normal quarterback for 75% of the game, consistently getting the ball to Loveland and Luther Burden when executing on schedule. Loveland was very good with the opportunities he got, and while not yet a must-start, he is squarely in the starting conversation moving forward.

Loveland should have had a second touchdown in Week 6; if that score had gone his way, fantasy managers with Caleb Williams would feel great about the quarterback's upside. The source notes that touchdowns will come regularly for the Bears offense, with three rushing touchdowns in this game and typically one or two most games.

Kiner received significant work in Week 6, including the Patriots' most important drive when they were trying to score or kill the clock at the end of the game. The source suspects the Patriots were specifically preparing Kiner to play in place of Trevion Henderson, suggesting he may be gaining a larger role in the offense.

Kiner received 11 carries with eight coming on a single late-game drive (less than six minutes remaining in fourth quarter) where he executed well and controlled the clock; he ran effectively behind a makeshift offensive line. The source expresses concern about a potential three-headed backfield but notes Kiner's strong performance on that drive.

DeAndre Swift had two short-yardage touchdowns in Week 6, demonstrating his role in the Bears' red zone offense. The source notes that if one of those scoring opportunities had gone to Caleb Williams instead, fantasy managers would still be thrilled with the quarterback's upside.

Darnell Mooney suffered a neck injury during the game.

The source raised concerns about Derrick Henry's schedule, noting he had an easy first five games (Colts, Saints, Cowboys, Titans, Falcons) followed by a harder stretch including the Jaguars and Texans. Henry fumbled in Week 6 against Baltimore, though the source downplayed injury concerns and suggested his outlook improves once Lamar Jackson returns to the Ravens.

Deshaun Watson had a bad game in Week 6 against Baltimore. Despite the poor outing, the source notes that Jerry Judy made impactful catches and Watson appears to trust Judy, suggesting the receiver may be a key target going forward despite Watson's inconsistent track record.

Smith benefited from playing against what the source describes as 'the worst cornerback duo' in his first start of the season. The source expresses concern that the positive fantasy result may have been fortunate rather than indicative of sustainable performance, noting the opposing quarterback (Tanner McKee) played poorly overall.

When asked to choose between DeVonta Smith and Jalen Warren for the rest of the season, the source prefers DeVonta Smith, citing that while Warren might be what fantasy managers need, Smith is the better player in a vacuum.

D.K. Metcalf received amazing target volume in Week 6 alongside Jeremy Bernard, with the source expressing optimism that this target distribution will continue for the rest of the season.

DK Metcalf recorded 11 catches for 93 yards on 15 targets; Aaron Rodgers stated 'Once we got DK involved, the offense shifted,' suggesting the offense improved when targeting him; the source is optimistic about him going forward despite concerns about Rodgers' short passing tendencies and lack of trust in the offensive line.

Source notes they are not worried about Drake London's fantasy outlook following the Week 6 Chicago-Atlanta game, though limited context is provided on his specific performance or role.

Drake May fell just short of the 30+ PPR fantasy point threshold in Week 6, scoring 29 non-decimal points.

Wilson struggled in Week 6 against New England, posting 4 catches for 44 yards on 6 targets. The source attributes the poor performance to Christian Gonzalez shadowing him throughout the game, limiting his effectiveness.

George Pickens has been performing well as a receiver; the source notes he was strong before last week's game.

Was performing poorly before last week, suggesting recent improvement; the source notes wide receivers have generally been good this season.

In a waiver wire priority comparison between Hunter Henry and Demario Douglas, the source picks Henry, citing position scarcity as the deciding factor.

Isaiah Likely outscored Trey McBride by four fantasy points this week, establishing him as a top tight end option; the source frames him as part of the best wide receiver-tight end duo in fantasy football.

Isiah Pacheco is part of a three-way backfield split with no clear lead back; the source expresses doubt about whether there is even one good running back on the Chiefs at this point. The source suggests trading him away, though questions what value could be obtained in a trade.

J.J. McCarthy came off the bench and scored approximately 18 fantasy points in the fourth quarter alone after Jameis Winston was benched, demonstrating strong performance in limited action; however, John Harbaugh noted he is not ready to be the full-time starter yet.

Jalen Daniels of the Bucs has the second-lowest air yards per pass attempt (ADOT) in the NFL at 6.1, indicating a short-passing offensive scheme that limits downfield receiver production.

Jameis Winston was benched by the Giants during the game; J.J. McCarthy came in and scored 18 fantasy points in the fourth quarter. John Harbaugh indicated both quarterbacks made plays but McCarthy is not ready yet, suggesting Winston will likely start next week at Houston but faces uncertainty.

Winston was benched in Week 6 and is 40% rostered. The source advises against starting him against Houston next week, indicating he is no longer a viable fantasy option.

Mentioned as a potential bust candidate in the wide receiver discussion, though not definitively placed on the all-bust team.

Identified as a wide receiver on the all-bust, non-injury team, indicating significant underperformance relative to draft expectations.

Jalen Warren's usage disappointed significantly in Week 6 despite 74% snap share; Rico Dato outperformed him for most of the game, running better than Warren. With Aaron Rodgers throwing 49 times, Warren received only four targets and two catches, reflecting limited involvement in the passing game. The source notes this was a predictable decline once Dato returned from injury, and Warren should have been sold high when he was the clear lead back.

After a poor Week 6 performance (4 targets, 2 catches) with Tanner McKee throwing 49 times, the source expresses skepticism about Warren's consistency, noting McKee won't throw 45+ times weekly once Baker Mayfield returns. However, the source maintains Warren will still be started by most teams and can fetch good trade value despite the down week, not representing his true rest-of-season outlook.

Jerry Judy had a good game in Week 6 against Baltimore, making the most impactful catches for Cleveland. The source suggests Judy is who Deshaun Watson trusts and is making key plays, though notes Judy's poor historical track record. Despite Cleveland's young receiver depth, if Judy continues to earn Watson's trust with performances like this, the team should keep him rather than trade him away.

Downs is a recurring loser despite receiving eight targets; the source attributes poor production to Daniel Jones playing poorly and an ineffective Giants offense. With Tyler Warren out, Downs and Keenan Allen were expected to benefit, but Allen caught eight of 19 combined targets between them, outproducing Downs. The source suggests Downs may be dropped in leagues and expresses uncertainty about when he can be started confidently.

The source contrasts Downs with Basil Tootin, noting that while Downs is a very talented player, he failed to deliver on the opportunities he received in this game, whereas Tootin capitalized on his chances with two touchdown catches.

Listed as the quarterback on an all-bust, non-injury team, indicating significant underperformance at the position this season.

The source strongly recommends dropping Justin Herbert, noting he is entering his bye week followed by difficult matchups against the Rams and Houston, making him a poor hold in fantasy lineups.

Khalif Raymond is positioned as a secondary receiving option for the Bears behind Luther Burden and Colston Loveland, with the source suggesting he will have moments but is not expected to be a primary target going forward.

Allen caught eight of 19 combined targets between himself and Josh Downs, outproducing Downs despite expectations that both would benefit from Tyler Warren's absence. Allen is receiving more target volume than Downs in the Giants offense.

Kenneth Walker is mentioned as a notable running back in the context of non-PPR scoring formats, positioned just behind Malik Neighbors in the discussion.

Kenneth Walker was the top non-PPR scorer in Week 6 among non-quarterbacks, finishing just behind Malik Neighbors in PPR scoring with 30+ points.

Kenneth Walker was the lone bright spot in the Chiefs' uninspired loss to the Chargers; the source notes he played well while the rest of the team showed up as if for a preseason game. However, the source expresses skepticism about Walker maintaining his current pace going forward.

Kenneth Walker became the first player with at least 750 scrimmage yards and 8 touchdowns through the first 5 games of a season since Priest Holmes, highlighting elite early-season production and breakout performance.

Kirk Cousins had a slow fantasy outing, requiring managers to wait until the very end of the game for production; the source led the Sleepers column with Cousins and had him in multiple league stacks, making the late-game finish particularly frustrating.

Kyle Pitts is identified as a tight end winner in Week 6 who bounced back with improved performance after earlier struggles.

Kyle Pitts has seen his target share increase for four consecutive weeks with Michael Penix: 8.6%, 15%, 17.6%, then 21.2% in Week 6. Pitts played a season-high 72% of offensive snaps in Week 6. While not yet a must-start, he is squarely in the starting conversation moving forward.

Luther Burden is identified as a Week 6 winner and honorable mention, with the source predicting he and Colston Loveland will be the two primary receivers for the Bears going forward; the source notes that if this production level continues, 'everybody's going to be happy,' indicating confidence in Burden as a sustained fantasy asset despite competition from Odunze and Khalif Raymond.

Luther Burden was a primary focus of the Bears passing game in Week 6, with Caleb Williams consistently targeting him when executing on schedule. The source notes this was very encouraging to see, indicating Burden is a key part of the offense when plays develop normally.

Mentioned in the context of wide receiver busts but noted as a sixth-round pick, suggesting lower draft capital and thus less of a bust relative to earlier-round disappointments.

In his first game, Harrison Jr. ran only nine routes, significantly fewer than teammate Nico Collins (29 routes). Despite limited route participation, the source expressed encouragement about his performance and outlook, suggesting there is room for increased involvement.

Added to the Texans offense; had an encouraging start in Week 6. The source notes he wasn't running downfield all the time but was having a bunch of horizontal routes and didn't play a ton, suggesting a limited but promising early role.

Harrison Jr. has missed two games, and in both games without him, Michael Wilson scored under 8 PPR points despite favorable circumstances (Rams lacking shutdown corner Trent McDuffie). The source questions whether Harrison Jr.'s absence is causing coverage to shift toward Wilson, suggesting Harrison Jr.'s presence significantly impacts the Cardinals' passing game distribution.

Michael Penix Jr. came alive well into the second half of the Week 6 game against Chicago, helping Atlanta mount a furious fourth-quarter comeback with two touchdowns and two-point conversions. Source notes he was good and that his strong play in the second half helped the Falcons' fantasy output.

Listed as a loser in Week 6; started in 68% of leagues but produced only 4 catches for 32 yards on 7 targets for the Rams. Faces Denver next week.

Wilson scored under 8 PPR points in both games without Marvin Harrison Jr., despite the Rams lacking shutdown corner Trent McDuffie. The source questions whether coverage is shifting toward Wilson now that Harrison Jr. is off the field, but expresses skepticism about starting him as a must-start receiver. Upcoming schedule is brutal: Denver (tough), Dallas (favorable), Seattle (nightmare), Rams again, and Chiefs. The source notes the Cardinals' overall tough schedule could make Wilson's fantasy outlook rough for a while.

Wilson was double-teamed 'pretty much the whole game' against Detroit, per his own quote. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur confirmed that both Trey McBride and Michael Wilson were double-teamed frequently last week. Wilson acknowledged the difficulty of getting open against two defenders but expressed confidence that Detroit's defensive respect for him as a player will lead to more double teams going forward.

Najee Harris received the first carries in Week 6 after Cam Scadaboo was benched, though the source notes Harris 'looks like what he's looked like all season,' suggesting he maintained his typical performance level without necessarily indicating a permanent role shift.

The source expresses concern about Collins moving forward, though not calling him a bust; this suggests downside risk or role uncertainty.

The source expresses concern about Nico Collins' recent performance, noting he has posted a pretty bad target share in two straight games, which is a red flag for his fantasy value despite not being a complete bust.

Did not have a huge game in Week 6 despite CJ Stroud's strong performance; his numbers weren't significant and he wasn't a big factor in Stroud's success. However, the source expects better games ahead for Collins, particularly with the Giants matchup next week.

Three weeks prior to this episode, Collins had over 100 yards and two touchdowns; the source notes this context when comparing him to other receivers but expresses some caution about his consistency, particularly after a game against what was described as a weak cornerback duo.

With Adam Mitchell potentially returning next week for New England, the source warns that this could hurt Omar Cooper Jr.'s waiver wire value and playing time, suggesting managers considering him for pickups should be cautious.

Patrick Mahomes threw 30 or fewer pass attempts in four or five games through Week 6, mirroring his early 2024 season pattern when he threw fewer than 30 passes in four of six games before averaging 39.4 passes per game over the final 10 games. The source expects Mahomes to throw more passes in upcoming weeks (Seattle, Denver, Jets, Atlanta) because those teams are better offenses than the Dolphins and Chargers, suggesting more competitive games ahead.

Mentioned as a bust candidate, though the source suggests Godwin would be a better example of a wide receiver bust.

Rashad Bateman left the game in the first quarter with an injury.

Stevenson had 14 carries for 36 yards with no catches, averaging 3.6 yards or worse per carry in four of six games. The source suspects the Patriots were preparing Corey Kiner to play in place of Trevion Henderson and gave Kiner their most important drive when trying to score or kill the clock at the end of the game, which is troubling for Stevenson's role. Stevenson only got carries on third or fourth down scoring attempts.

Stevenson saw his snap share drop to 50-50 with Corey Kiner after a fumble, down from two-thirds pre-fumble; Kiner received eight of his 11 carries on a single late-game drive. Despite the split, Stevenson dominated third downs (5-of-6) and red zone snaps (3-of-4), and the source still ranks him as a top-two fantasy running back due to high-value touches, though he's expected to average around 14 carries going forward with reduced efficiency due to offensive line injuries.

Listed as a loser in Week 6; started in 58% of leagues but produced only 3 catches for 39 yards on 4 targets for the Bears at Atlanta. Had a 24-yard catch wiped out by a penalty that would have brought him to almost 10 PPR points. Faces New England next week, followed by Seattle. Through three games, he has received only 10 targets from Caleb Williams, which is not great.

Rome Odunze has received 10 targets from Caleb Williams through three games. In Week 6, Odunze benefited from a 45-yard deep ball on a scramble play, highlighting his big-play potential when Williams extends plays outside the pocket.

Odunze received 10 targets from Caleb Williams through three games, which the source characterizes as 'not great.' The source positions him as a bi-week replacement or desperation play at wide receiver in a three-receiver league, not a reliable starter. Upcoming matchups against New England and Seattle are noted as unfavorable.

Romeo Dobbs suffered a shoulder injury during the game; he caught a touchdown before leaving with the injury.

Saquon Barkley was one of only two non-quarterback players to score 30+ PPR fantasy points in Week 6 before Sunday night football, demonstrating elite week-to-week ceiling.

The source suggests Barkley could be included on an all-bust team, noting he's been bad even in games where he hasn't been injured, indicating performance concerns beyond health.

The source notes that Hunter's games before the bye week are historically strong fantasy performances, particularly in London games where he has scored more fantasy points than in American venues. Last year he had a strong London performance before suffering a practice injury.

Henderson was initially expected to miss time with a high ankle sprain but ended up playing in Week 6, which reduced opportunities for Ramondre Stevenson and contributed to Stevenson's poor performance (14 carries for 36 yards).

Henderson received only seven carries and fumbled, which triggered a shift in the Patriots backfield snap distribution; the source suggests he was being prepped to sit out in favor of Corey Kiner.

Trevor Lawrence was one of only two quarterbacks to score 30+ PPR fantasy points in Week 6, not projected in top 12 but delivered four touchdowns and elite production.

McBride was double-teamed frequently in Week 6 against Detroit, per offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur's confirmation. This defensive attention suggests the Cardinals' offense is being keyed on McBride as a primary target.

Trey McBride scored four fewer fantasy points than Isaiah Likely this week, placing him behind Likely in the tight end hierarchy.

Tyrone Tracy scored two touchdowns in Week 6, with the source noting the team appears to be feeling good about him going forward, suggesting increased role opportunity and upside.

Scored two touchdowns in Week 6, positioning him as a lead option in the Giants backfield; the source notes the team should feel good about him moving forward.

Xavier Worthy made a couple of nice catches on bad throws from Mahomes in the Chiefs' uninspired loss to the Chargers, but the overall offensive performance was poor and the team appeared to be playing like it was a preseason game.

Zay Flowers is currently ahead of Jerry Judy by only 1.7 fantasy points per game in the Ravens-Browns matchup context. The source notes that one the source put Flowers as a first-round pick in a Wednesday show, and expects Flowers to be incredible once Lamar Jackson returns from injury, which should significantly boost his production.