Last week, we plugged Deshaun Watson as the quarterback lock-button play and he delivered with a monster outing against the Falcons. Hopefully you stacked him with Will Fuller, like we also suggested. On top of that, we predicted Leonard Fournette would finally find the end zone and Adam Thielen would be fed. Chris Godwin, Tyler Boyd, Austin Hooper and David Johnson all turned in quality performances. This week, we present 13 more lock-button players who are primed for success and should be in your Week 6 lineups based on usage, opportunity, matchups, advanced stats and metrics. Let’s assume PPR scoring with four points per passing touchdown.
Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
Matchup: Cardinals
The Falcons defense is among the worst in the NFL. Only the Dolphins have allowed more points through five weeks. How is this relevant to Matt Ryan? While the defense is being torched, the offense is playing from behind and chasing points. This means more pass attempts. In fact, Ryan is tied with Jared Goff for the most pass attempts and is on pace for 710. To put it into context, only one quarterback in NFL history (Matthew Stafford, 2012) has gone over 700 pass attempts in a single season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_KzoXp6WbM
Ryan has passed for at least 300 yards in every game this season and has thrown three or more touchdowns in three of the last four. Week 6 brings a road matchup with the Cardinals, who have allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Ryan is priced as the QB7 on DraftKings and the QB4 on FanDuel. If you’re not starting Patrick Mahomes, Ryan is a great choice. He can easily finish as the QB1. Stack him with one or more of Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Austin Hooper and Calvin Ridley.
Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints
Matchup: Jaguars
Alvin Kamara has touched the ball at least 20 times in each of Teddy Bridgewater’s three starts and has been targeted 20 times over that span. Kamara is top-five among running backs in Weighted Opportunities, receptions and receiving yards. He leads in evaded tackles and is second in Juke Rate.
Check out Alvin Kamara on PlayerProfiler’s Updated Weekly Rankings and Projections:
The Jaguars have surrendered the eighth most fantasy points per game to running backs while allowing the eighth most rushing yards and fifth most rushing touchdowns. Christian McCaffrey torched them for 237 yards from scrimmage and three scores in Week 5. Like McCaffrey, Kamara is an all-purpose back with an elite skill set and a top-10 Opportunity Share. With McCaffrey not on the main slate, Kamara becomes the best running back play of the week. Take advantage of him being priced below Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook on both FanDuel and DraftKings.
Leonard Fournette, RB, Jaguars
Matchup: Saints
Leonard Fournette’s touchdown drought came to an end in Week 5’s loss to the Panthers, as predicted last week. He accumulated 137 total yards on 27 touches and finished as the RB7. He has 62 touches over the last two weeks and is now top-five among running backs in carries and top-10 in targets and receptions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo5-MSnRW8s
Fournette sees the field as much as any back not named Christian McCaffrey and is utilized regardless of game flow. Surprisingly, he is still priced outside the top-five on both DFS platforms. He’s over $1,000 cheaper than Ezekiel Elliott, the most expensive running back on the main slate. This despite averaging over three more touches per game with nearly 200 more total yards. Save your budget and lock-in Fournette over Zeke.
Adam Thielen, WR, Vikings
Matchup: Eagles
The squeaky wheel got the grease in Week 5 when Adam Thielen caught seven-of-eight targets for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Week 6 brings a matchup with an Eagles defense that has surrendered the fourth most passing yards and has allowed 45.7 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Philadelphia’s first-ranked run defense will make it difficult for Dalvin Cook to get going on the ground, providing more incentive to throw the ball. Thielen holds a 25.4-percent (No. 16 among qualified wide receivers) Target Share and a 42.9-percent (No. 2) Red Zone Target Share.
Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals
Matchup: Ravens
Tyler Boyd smashed last week after being listed here as a Week 5 lock play. He caught 10-of-14 targets for 123 yards and a score. Boyd has been targeted 10 or more times in four out of five games this season, logging 37 (No. 4) receptions and 405 (No. 7) receiving yards. He draws another juicy matchup in Week 6 against a Ravens defense that has allowed 131.4 yards and more than 21 fantasy points per game to slot receivers. He should mostly avoid cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who plays in the slot less than 16-percent of the time.
Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons
Matchup: Cardinals
We’re back on the Austin Hooper train for a second straight week. He continues to be fed a high-volume of targets. Hooper is top-five among tight ends in targets, receptions, receiving yards, Target Distance and Completed Air Yards. He is a threat once he has the ball in his hands too, evidenced by his 166 (No. 3) yards after the catch. He is 0.1 points behind Evan Engram for most fantasy points per game at the position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maWlnOOaUxM
Hooper will have the opportunity to feast on a bad Arizona defense in Week 6. The Cardinals have allowed the most yards, touchdowns and fantasy points to tight ends. Hooper received a $500 bump in price on DraftKings, but is still $2,000 cheaper than Travis Kelce. Lock him in as the best tight end play two weeks in a row.
Other Locks:
Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals vs Falcons: Opposing quarterbacks have destroyed this Falcons secondary. If you’re not starting Mahomes or Watson in DFS, consider Murray. The touchdowns are coming.
Chris Carson, RB, Seahawks at Browns: Carson has had 54 touches over the last two weeks, and the Browns just gave up 275 yards on the ground.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals vs Falcons: The Falcons have allowed 46.5 PPR points per game to wide receivers and Fitzgerald is running a ton of routes. Like Murray, the touchdowns are coming.
D.J. Chark, WR, Jaguars vs Saints: Chark has scored in four out of five games and the Saints have allowed 43 fantasy points per game to wideouts.
Terry McLaurin, WR, Washington at Dolphins: McLaurin will draw primary coverage from Xavien Howard, who has allowed 26 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns in four games.
Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers vs Steelers: Not on the main slate but a good bounce-back spot against a Steelers secondary that allows the most fantasy points per game, most yards per game and is tied for the most touchdowns allowed to slot receivers.
Will Dissly, TE, Seahawks at Browns: The Browns have allowed a tight end to score in each of the last two weeks and Dissly is a scoring machine.
