The current week of NFL DFS is always my favorite week. The slate is clean, and we are not forced to deal with our draft day mistakes like we do in managed seasonal leagues. It is all about honing in on value plays and which ones to slot in our DFS lineups.
NFL DFS Value Plays: Week 6
This article aims to decipher values in the lobbies. It is not meant to be a roster builder. Instead, it will help identify key players priced below their production potential based on various factors for DraftKings and FanDuel.
This week, we have a 10-game slate due to bye weeks. Between bye weeks and injuries, we have to dig a little deep for the value plays. Let’s get to it.
Quarterbacks
This is far from a slam dunk selection for a competitive DFS slate. However, there are a few things to note. For complete transparency, Young has not maintained the improvement we saw at the end of last season. While he has not looked terrible, he was not the 2.0 version that finished the 2024 campaign.
Young is the QB31 in fantasy points per game, QB20 in passing yards and has seven touchdowns to four interceptions. One of the bigger markers is that to end last season, he was utilizing his legs, something that has not been as prevalent this season, which is leaving meat on the bone.
All that said, Young faces a Dallas Cowboys defense allowing the most fantasy production to the quarterback position. They allow the most passing yards and the second-most passing touchdowns on a per-game basis to quarterbacks.
This is not a stellar cash game play. However, it is a strong buy-low in a good gamescript play for GPP contests. The paydown allows for running up the skill position players, and Young can be stacked with his alpha, Tetairoa McMillan ($6,000), fairly easily to build a competitive GPP roster. Young is best used in a multiple lineup situation, as opposed to a single entry.
For the season, Matthew Stafford is the QB9 in fantasy points per game, second in passing attempts, first in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns. If he had mobility, he would be the QB1 in fantasy scoring. As a pocket passer, gaudy stats are required to be where he is.
The offensive scheme has involved Kyren Williams more in the short-yardage passing game than previously, helping to bolster Stafford’s numbers on top of what he is already doing as a pocket passer.
This week, Stafford and company draw a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, a team allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position. The Ravens are allowing the second-most passing yards and the first-most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks.
Stafford is in line for a decent outing against a vulnerable defense. While stacking him can be difficult due to the cost of his receivers and primary running back, it is possible. He is best utilized as a GPP play this week, if one can stomach the stack cost with Puka Nacua or Davante Adams.
Running Backs
Yes, we’re going back to the well on this one. While we cannot expect another 200+ yard outing, I made this call last week, and it won a lot of folks a lot of money. That is why I do this, to help. Chuba Hubbard has already been ruled out. Rico Dowdle showed he can handle a workhorse role last week. Finally, the matchup and the projected total of 48.5, one of the highest on the slate, imply a solid game.
Dowdle stepped in admirably last week, finishing as the RB1 over Jonathan Taylor. He rushed for 206 yards and added 28 more through the air, while scoring once. Dang shame it was only once. This is another solid matchup and we have proof that Dowdle can handle the workload when allowed the opportunity. The Cowboys allow the sixth-most fantasy points to the position and are vulnerable on both the ground and through the air.
Dowdle retains a DFS role based on cost and matchup this week and can be used in both cash and GPP contests.
Rachaad White finished as the RB7 last week, in the absence of Bucky Irving. He handled 18 opportunities, which translated into 23.1 DraftKings fantasy points. White has handled bell-cow duties before, so this is not new territory for him, and the matchup could hardly be better.
While White’s 2.9 yards per carry are nothing to write home to mama about, he produced thanks to volume and his pass-catching involvement. The two touchdowns certainly helped and only point to him handling the goal-line work during Irving’s absence.
San Francisco allows the 21st-most fantasy points to the position, but has been decimated on both sides of the ball with injuries. Last week, they allowed Kyren Williams 65 yards on the ground and 66 yards through the air with two scores. Williams is not known as a pass-catcher, whereas White excels in this area of the game.
With all the injuries to the Buccaneers’ receiver room, White is going to have a large role in both facets for this slate. He can be used in both cash and GPP contests this week.
Wide Receivers
Romeo Doubs is averaging 13.7 DraftKings points per game and has largely accomplished that through volume and multiple-touchdown games. He is averaging 4.75 targets per game and retains scoring upside and a PPR floor that exceeds cost.
Cincinnati remains a DFS target every week while its defense continues to allow the 13th-most fantasy points on a per-game basis.
Tucker Kraft is the only Packers pass-catcher who has more targets and receiving yards than Doubs this season. Doubs is averaging a respectable 13.8 yards per reception. Doubs is more of a GPP contest player on this slate, but provides enough of a potential floor to also work in cash games.
Stefon Diggs having an impressive revenge game against the Bills is one thing. However, he has two consecutive 100-yard games as he returns to health and stamina and is growing in his role in a new offense. At 31 years old, Diggs still has the hands and route-running chops to be a threat, especially one who commands targets.
The Saints are only allowing the 23rd-most fantasy production to wide receivers this season, but are far more susceptible to perimeter receivers. Diggs commands enough volume (39% target share) and is still running crisp routes, gaining separation, and represents big-play ability at times. Over his last two games, he has drawn three red-zone targets.
As a focal point of this offense, Diggs can be used in both cash and GPP contests for this slate. He is one to get into lineups while his cost remains suppressed.
Tight Ends
It’s time to accept that as long as he is healthy, Darren Waller is going to draw targets. Not just targets, but high-value targets. Over two healthy games, he has secured three touchdowns and is an athletic presence in third-down and red-zone situations. Over his two games, he is the TE2 in fantasy points per game and co-leads the position in touchdowns.
The Chargers are not a soft opponent, but they have also been dealing with injuries. Waller is operating with over a 14% target share and has seen his snap share rise. The Chargers allow the sixth-fewest points to the position. That said, the Dolphins are limited on pass-catchers, and Waller is getting more involved as the weeks go on.
Waller is a great cost versus potential production selection this week. He is more suitable for GPP contests than cash games.
In a backup role, Jake Tonges is averaging 16 PPR points per game over his last two games. Over his four starts, he is averaging a 14% target share and has finished with two TE1 weekly finishes. In a depleted receiving corps, Tonges has stepped up his game and involvement. He is averaging 5.4 targets per game.
The Buccaneers allow the 11th-most fantasy production to tight ends. Tonges is more of a GPP play for this slate.
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John Hesterman is a featured writer and Expert Consensus Ranker at FantasyPros. He also writes for DynastyLeagueFootball.com. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him on Bluesky @John-Hesterman or Twitter/X @John_Hesterman.
