Fantasy Football Week 6 Rankings: Projections for Players With Matchups We Love

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles drops back against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 9, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Each week of the NFL season, a different dilemma faces fantasy football managers.

Should you trust your top players regardless of matchup? Or do opposing defenses matter enough to move a later-round pick ahead of one your early selections?

Every once in a while, though, the football gods do you a solid and don't force you to choose. Sometimes, your star players also have the best matchups, and that's when production can really get ridiculous.

So, after laying out our Week 6 rankings, we'll spotlight a top player with an exploitable matchup and project where their stat line might land.

Quarterback

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 9: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lines up over center before a play during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium on October 9, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Josh Allen, BUF (at KC)

2. Lamar Jackson, BAL (at NYG)

3. Jalen Hurts, PHI (vs. DAL)

4. Kyler Murray, ARI (at SEA)

5. Patrick Mahomes, KC (vs. BUF)

6. Geno Smith, SEA (vs. ARI)

7. Tom Brady, TB (at PIT)

8. Justin Herbert, LAC (vs. DEN)

9. Joe Burrow, CIN (at NO)

10. Kirk Cousins, MIN (at MIA)

Favorable Matchup: Tom Brady at Pittsburgh Steelers

Tom Brady's numbers are going berserk again.

After throwing for fewer than 275 yards and managing a single touchdown pass in each of his first three outings this season, he has since thrown for a combined 736 yards and four scores in his last two games.

The matchups were favorable—the Chiefs and Falcons—but that's fine, since this week's looks even better. The Steelers have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, per Yahoo, and the third-most passing yards.

Projected stats: 317 passing yards, three touchdowns

Running Back

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 06: Melvin Gordon III #25 of the Denver Broncos runs the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at Empower Field At Mile High on October 6, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)

Top 20

1. Saquon Barkley, NYG (vs. BAL)

2. Christian McCaffrey, CAR (at LAR)

3. Austin Ekeler, LAC (vs. DEN)

4. Nick Chubb, CLE (vs. NE)

5. Jonathan Taylor, IND (vs. JAX)

6. Alvin Kamara, NO (vs. CIN)

7. Leonard Fournette, TB (at PIT)

8. Dalvin Cook, MIN (at MIA)

9. Joe Mixon, CIN (at NO)

10. Breece Hall, NYJ (at GB)

11. Rhamondre Stevenson, NE (at CLE)

12. Aaron Jones, GB (vs. NYJ)

13. Jeff Wilson Jr., SF (at ATL)

14. Miles Sanders, PHI (vs. DAL)

15. Melvin Gordon III, DEN (at LAC)

16. Kenneth Walker III, SEA (vs. ARI)

17. James Conner, ARI (at SEA)

18. Raheem Mostert, MIA (vs. MIN)

19. J.K. Dobbins, BAL (at NYG)

20. Najee Harris, PIT (vs. TB)

Favorable Matchup: Melvin Gordon III at Los Angeles Chargers

Despite being part of a timeshare—first with Javonte Williams, now with Mike Boone—Melvin Gordon III usually gets enough touches to warrant a starting spot in any fantasy lineup.

The 29-year-old could see a heavier workload than normal this weekend, though.

Russell Wilson is fighting a shoulder injury and, frankly, hasn't been special when he's played. Boone is a decent plug-and-play option, but he's not Williams—or Gordon.

If Gordon's usage does go up, his stat line could be spectacular. The Chargers have allowed a league-worst 5.8 yards per carry and more fantasy points to this position than anyone.

Projected stats: 78 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards, two touchdowns

Wide Receiver

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 09: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers gets tackled by Donte Jackson #26 of the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Top 20

1. Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. CAR)

2. Stefon Diggs, BUF (at KC)

3. Justin Jefferson, MIN (at MIA)

4. Tyreek Hill, MIA (vs. MIN)

5. Deebo Samuel, SF (at ATL)

6. Marquise Brown, ARI (at SEA)

7. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN (at NO)

8. CeeDee Lamb, DAL (at PHI)

9. DK Metcalf, SEA (vs. ARI)

10. Mike Evans, TB (at PIT)

11. A.J. Brown, PHI (vs. DAL)

12. Jaylen Waddle, MIA (vs. MIN)

13. Courtland Sutton, DEN (at LAC)

14. Tyler Lockett, SEA (vs. ARI)

15. Tee Higins, CIN (at NO)

16. Mike Williams, LAC (vs. DEN)

17. Michael Pittman Jr., IND (vs. JAX)

18. Christian Kirk, JAX (at IND)

19. Chris Godwin, TB (at PIT)

20. Gabe Davis, BUF (at KC)

Favorable Matchup: Deebo Samuel at Atlanta Falcons

While Deebo Samuel's season stats may not jump off the screen like they did last year, his weekly output rarely disappoints.

The 26-year-old has scored a touchdown in three different games for the 49ers. In one of the others, he had five receptions for 44 yards and four carries for another 53 yards. In the other, he had five receptions for 73 yards, but his five rushes yielded just six yards.

Still, if your worst game features five catches and 79 scrimmage yards, you're doing a lot of things right.

Samuel saw a season-high nine targets on Sunday and could be in line for his biggest performance yet, as he'll tussle with a Falcons defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Projected stats: 102 receiving yards, 33 rushing yards, two touchdowns

Tight End

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 02: Zach Ertz #86 of the Arizona Cardinals runs for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Top 10

1. Travis Kelce, KC (vs. BUF)

2. Mark Andrews, BAL (at NYG)

3. Zach Ertz, ARI (at SEA)

4. Tyler Higbee, LAR (vs. CAR)

5. George Kittle, SF (at ATL)

6. Dallas Goedert, PHI (vs. DAL)

7. David Njoku, CLE (vs. NE)

8. Pat Freiermuth, PIT (vs. TB)

9. Gerald Everett, LAC (vs. DEN)

10. Kyle Pitts, ATL (vs. SF)

Favorable Matchup: Zach Ertz at Seattle Seahawks

This season's circle of trust at the tight end position is pretty exclusive, but Zach Ertz is clearly a member.

Now, his yardage seldom spikes and he only has two touchdowns in five games, so let's remember what it means to be a good tight end in the modern NFL. Still, his usage suggests a huge stat line could come at any time. He has at least 10 targets in three of his last four games, plus 26 receptions over that stretch.

Seattle could be just the defense to coax a monster performance out of him. It has allowed more fantasy points to the position than anyone, and that undersells its generosity.

The Seahawks have allowed an average of 23.64 fantasy points to the position, while the second-worst defense against tight ends (coincidentally, Ertz's Cardinals) have surrendered just 15.92.

Projected stats: 79 receiving yards, two touchdowns