The big names came back in a big way at the quarterback position in week 5.
Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers registered top-five scores in fantasy football in week 5, flexing some muscle in a position dominated by lesser-known quarterbacks so far this season.
What’s encouraging in that group is Luck, who looks to be back to form after a long hiatus. It took him a few weeks to get closer to who he has been in years past, but the week 5 loss to New England highlighted his ability to fit balls into tight windows without much talent around him.
He’s officially a plug and play option unless we see some gradual downturn. Here’s the rest of the week 6 start ’em, sit ’em guide for quarterbacks.
Start
Andy Dalton vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Cincinnati Bengals look like they’re going to be competing for a divisional title.
And Dalton is a main reason why.
He’s looked good, and even when he wasn’t at his sharpest as was the case in week 5, he wasn’t terrible. He still threw a touchdown and tallied 248 yards passing in week 5. He’s thrown multiple touchdowns in four of five games this year, with two over-300 yard passing efforts.
In this matchup, Dalton’s recent ability to spread the ball around and throw for volume matters. The Steelers allow the third-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Pittsburgh looked better in week 5 against Atlanta, but I’ll need to see more evidence to change my tune on the Steelers.
Jameis Winston vs. Atlanta Falcons
Let the streaming begin for the embattled Winston.
Atlanta’s defense is terrible. I incorrectly believed I would start to see some gains on the defensive side of the ball in week 5. That didn’t happen, so I’d roll with about any quarterback against the Falcons.
Winston hasn’t started all year, but after Ryan Fitzpatrick’s disastrous start against Chicago in week 4, this was a no-brainer. Winston has had a week to prepare, so I anticipate he won’t show much rust against this porous defense. There are legitimate weapons on Tampa Bay’s roster, so Winston should be the top streaming quarterback available in week 6.
Baker Mayfield vs. Los Angeles Chargers
This week doesn’t offer much for the borderline quarterbacks. Top-tier quarterbacks have nice matchups and those who are on the borderline, have some difficult ones to navigate.
So, I’m jumping on the Mayfield bandwagon.
Mayfield has been lights out in the yardage department since earning the starting nod two weeks ago, throwing for more than 290 yards in each of his two starts, including one of those against Baltimore.
He hasn’t been great in the touchdown-to-turnover ratio, but the Chargers haven’t added much resistance so far this season in that department.
Los Angeles is giving up the 10th most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and is allowing 8.1 yards per pass attempt. I get this game at home against a team traveling from the West Coast, so that matters when considering Mayfield.
He has the opportunity to put up QB1 numbers, so he’s available for streaming purposes.
Sit
Mitchell Trubisky vs. Miami Dolphins
That was a fun game for Chicago fans in week 4 when Trubisky looked like Dan Marino slinging the ball all over the field.
I’m not going to let that cloud my judgment on his overall talent. Trubisky is coming off a bye, so the Bears should be ready on the offensive side of the ball. However, they’ll go up against a Miami defense that is not allowing quarterbacks much room to generate fantasy points.
As mentioned earlier, Dalton wasn’t great against Miami, and it’s been that way for many quarterbacks. Miami is allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
I don’t like Trubisky on the road just yet anyway, so he’s not a viable streaming option this week.
Marcus Mariota vs. Baltimore Ravens
Will the real Mariota please stand up?
After an encouraging week 4 win against Philadelphia, Mariota returned to his ugly ways in a week 5 loss to Buffalo.
He tallied the fewest fantasy points among starting quarterbacks in week 5 with just 4, losing much of the good faith he earned in week 4. He was inefficient and wasn’t pushing the ball downfield.
That’s been his weakness in the past and it showed up again. And now he’s drawing an assignment with the best pass defense in the NFL in week 6. The Titans will probably keep the score close, but this game will be low-scoring, with very little offensive movement.
Derek Carr vs. Seattle Seahawks
Carr hasn’t been terrible this season, but he’s just not consistent.
Especially with bye weeks occurring, he deserves a look each week, but this matchup isn’t the right place to look for solid fantasy production.
Seattle isn’t what it once was, but it’s still an above-average pass defense in the NFL. The Seahawks are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and giving up just 6.8 yards per pass attempt, the 13th-best mark in the NFL.
Carr is going to chuck it all around the yard, but he’s been a turnover machine. That should play into Seattle’s hands, which is averaging 2.2 takeaways per game, tied for third in the NFL.
There’s no reason to trust Carr in this matchup.
