Week 6 Sit/Start + Mailbag

Patriots are opening the practice window for A.J. Brown, per Mike Garofalo and Mike Rabel. His return would significantly boost Drake Maye and the Patriots offense.

Matthew Berry expresses uncertainty about when Alec Pierce will return and how consistent he will be, grouping him with Ladd McConkey as receivers Matthew Berry does not trust as much as Devontae Smith.

Matthew Berry advises against selling high on Amon-Ra St. Brown to chase consistency from injured receivers like Alec Pierce, Ladd McConkey, and Devontae Smith. Berry notes that having St. Brown on a losing team doesn't help, but the decision depends on league size, playoff structure, and overall roster strength. If the team is 2-3 in a 10-12 team league with six playoff spots, Berry suggests piecing together the roster until injured players return rather than trading away a proven asset.

Chase Brown's snap share dropped to season-low 60% in Week 5, and Samadji Pirine out-snapped him 22-17 after Brown's fumble in Q2. Among RBs with 50+ rushes, Brown ranks bottom 10 in yards after contact per attempt. Bengals OC Dan Pitcher said the team is assessing touch distribution between Pirine and Brown. Matthew Berry acknowledges the legal/statistical reality but argues the real-world scenario is Cincinnati won't rely on 31-year-old Pirine for a playoff run; Brown is the most talented back and will be featured. Downgraded to RB2 bordering on flex, but viewed as a buy-low rather than panic sell.

Matthew Berry ranks Colston Loveland as tight end 15 this week, a significant downgrade from his preseason top-three ranking. Berry notes the production has been hard to ignore but describes him as a touchdown-dependent tight end two who requires squinting and desperation to play. While Caleb's return could raise potential and Atlanta is bottom 12 in yards and touchdowns allowed to tight ends, Berry is not optimistic about Loveland's near-term outlook without significant improvement.

DeVonta Smith could return this week for the Eagles against Carolina. Her return would provide Jalen Hurts with another receiving option and boost the Eagles' passing game.

Matthew Berry notes that Devontae Smith is coming back soon, suggesting his injury timeline is shorter than Alec Pierce and Ladd McConkey. This makes Smith a more reliable hold than the other injured receivers in the mailbag question.

Matthew Berry ranks DK Metcalf as WR23 this week and is keeping it open. In three of five games this season with Pittman and Roman Wilson out, Metcalf has had at least a 23% target share. Tampa Bay has allowed 90 or more yards to wide receiver in three of the past four games. Metcalf has had three different games this year with at least nine targets or more. Berry expects regression to the mean on red-zone targets; Metcalf has only one red-zone target this year despite being a good red-zone threat, suggesting future upside.

With Pittman and Roman Wilson out, DK Metcalf should see increased opportunities. Aaron Rodgers trusts Metcalf, and there is a void in the red zone with Wilson's absence. Offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy is moving Metcalf around more than he did in Seattle—putting him in the backfield, slot, and in motion pre-snap to get him favorable matchups and different ways to get him the football.

Matthew Berry notes that Emmanuel Wilson has been effective enough in the Seahawks backfield that he will not suddenly disappear when Charbonnet and Price return. Wilson will remain part of a three-headed committee approach with some hot-hand usage, and will be used on third down.

Hassan Haskins signed to Patriots practice squad and may be elevated later. He's very physical with elite pass protection ability (27 reps on 225 at combine, typically a linebacker metric). Could fit a role on third downs if the team wants dedicated pass protection, but Ramondre Stevenson is who the coaching staff trusts for the primary workload.

Matthew Berry notes that Jadarian Price, a first-round pick, has significant upside and will not be ignored when he returns from injury. Berry expects Price to get at least half the snaps if healthy, given his draft capital and ability to open up the Seahawks offense. However, Berry expresses uncertainty about how Price will look coming off the knee injury.

Jalen Coker is back on track to play in Week 6 after injury. In his two completed games this season, he has a 27% target share and is averaging over 24 fantasy points per game. Adam Thielen said in preseason that Coker is the best wide receiver on the Panthers. Matthew Berry prefers Coker to Ted Aron McMillan despite McMillan's recent strong performance, citing Coker's overall production when both are on field. Against Philadelphia, the Eagles allow 26th in pass yards over the last four weeks.

Jalen Hurts faces Carolina Panthers, who have been friendly to opposing QBs. Cooper Rush is the only QB not to score at least 20 fantasy points against Carolina this season. Panthers allow the sixth-biggest boost to QB scoring among NFL defenses. Eagles could get Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith back this week. Hurts has only 61 rushing yards over the last four games, which is uncharacteristic; Matthew Berry expects him to use his legs more as the offense gets healthier. Ranked QB12, low-end QB1 this week.

Matthew Berry ranks Jameis Winston as QB 16 this week. Berry characterizes Winston as having the most variance among the streaming options, noting he could throw 500 yards and five touchdowns or four interceptions and be out after the first quarter—a volatile, unpredictable roller coaster experience.

Matthew Berry ranks Jeremiah Love as RB22 this week, a low-end RB2/high-end flex depending on league size. Despite 22 rushing yards on 12 carries last week against Detroit, Berry sees a weekly floor of at least 12 touches, potential for long plays, and passing game opportunities in a game where the Cardinals are 12.5-point underdogs against the Rams. The Rams have allowed the fourth-most receiving yards to opposing running backs, which could create fantasy value if Love gets involved in the passing game. Berry acknowledges Love has been disappointing this season but is reluctantly keeping it open.

Jeremiah Love faces challenges as a rookie running back in pass protection and understanding exotic defensive looks from Brian Flores. He also has an ankle injury that is affecting his performance. The speaker notes that Love will eventually get healthy and understand third-down assignments, but for now he remains a work-in-progress waiting to return to form.

Matthew Berry ranks Jonah Coleman as the third-best option among injured running backs to hold, noting that Dobbins and Harvey have not been great and Coleman is expected to be the starter when he returns. Berry targets week seven for Coleman's return and recommends holding him if possible, though acknowledges you can drop him this week if you need immediate help and try to pick him up next week.

Matthew Berry recommends holding Jordan Mason if you've already held him this long, as he will return after the bye week. Berry suggests that the investment to this point justifies keeping him on the roster.

Matthew Berry ranks Jawan Johnson as TE9 this week, a top-ten tight end play. Johnson has had at least 50 receiving yards in every game prior to last week and has been a big part of the Saints' offense. He has had three straight games with at least a 17% target share and a 36% target share on the season. Berry notes that Johnson is always due for an explosive play and is second among tight ends in catches over 15 yards.

Matthew Berry ranks Kirk Cousins as QB 14 this week against the Bills, who are 31st in pass defense and bottom five in touchdown passes allowed. The Bills are playing on a short week after Monday night's marathon game, and the Raiders are 5.5-point underdogs, suggesting Cousins will be throwing frequently. Berry expects Cousins to be successful in this matchup.

Matthew Berry expresses uncertainty about when Ladd McConkey will return and how consistent he will be, grouping him with Alec Pierce as receivers Matthew Berry does not trust as much as Devontae Smith.

Malik Washington scored 12.1 fantasy points, winning a bet between Matthew Berry and Stuntman Chuck that required 12 or more points. This demonstrates Washington's ability to produce at a meaningful level.

Matthew Berry recommends dropping Michael Pittman, indicating he is the lowest priority among the injured receivers mentioned (Pittman, Alec Pierce, and Devontae Smith).

Matthew Berry closes out Omarian Hampton as RB30 this week. Hampton has a 4% target share and 21% route participation, with snaps declining in four straight games to just 32% over the last two weeks. He ranks RB32 in utilization score (a proprietary metric from FantasyLife.com that projects future fantasy value). Mitchell and Vidal have both played more snaps and have higher snap percentages than Hampton. The matchup against Kansas City is unfavorable; the Chiefs allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game to opposing running backs.

Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel does not favor Omarian Hampton the way he favors Kamani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell. Despite one game with 20 touches (a coaching/game-plan decision), McDaniel's preference for the other running backs is clear. This is described as a recipe for a very difficult fantasy season.

Parker Washington has emerged as the clear top receiver option for the Jaguars in Week 6. By five weeks into the season, the pecking order has become clear: Parker Washington is the primary target, ahead of Jacoby Myers and Brian Thomas Jr., who were bunched together in preseason expectations. Washington is being started this week.

With Travion Henderson out multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain, Ramondre Stevenson becomes the primary back for the Patriots. In Week 1 when Henderson was out, Stevenson had 85% snap share with 23 touches. When he gets 15+ touches, he averages over 16 fantasy points per game. Back-to-back 16-touch games recently without splitting carries. Drake Maye's improved decision-making and checkdowns create reception upside. Matthew Berry has him at RB10 this week and borderline RB1 as long as Henderson is out.

Saquon Barkley could return this week for the Eagles against Carolina. His potential return would boost the Eagles' offensive efficiency and Jalen Hurts' fantasy value.

Matthew Berry ranks Terry McLaurin as WR21 this week and is keeping it open despite the 49ers matchup. McLaurin played against the Giants with a 57% snap rate but was still tied for the team lead in routes. Over the past three games, he has a 25% target share and 33% end-zone target share. The Commanders are more than a touchdown underdog with a 50.5 over/under, meaning they will be throwing a lot. Berry notes that junk time still counts and expects McLaurin to have opportunities, especially if Stefon Diggs is not 100% or doesn't play.

Matthew Berry ranks Travis Etienne as the top priority among injured running backs to hold, stating he will be the starter when he comes back. Berry recommends holding Etienne if you've already invested the roster spot.

Matthew Berry expects Zach Charbonnet to take over goal-line and red-zone work when he returns, a role the Seahawks have preferred for him even when Ken Walker was healthy. Berry notes Charbonnet has a longer track record of success in the Seattle offense and is the safer choice between him and Price, though the backfield will remain a committee with Emmanuel Wilson also involved.