Week 6 Daily Fantasy Football: Piecing Together the Optimal Lineup

Last week didn’t work out when it came to our daily fantasy football optimal lineup, and we can safely blame the Eagles and Giants.

It was on us to tri-stack New York’s passing game, but on SNF against what had been a porous Packers pass defense, it was a move that made sense. Eli Manning and co. didn’t just miss the mark, though. They were atrocious in defeat.

Philly didn’t help matters much, either, as Zach Ertz inexplicably saw just three targets all game and the Eagles defense came up lame against the Lions.

The rest of our optimal lineup outstanding, so going into week six – regardless of how much we love a stack – we may start switching it up a bit more. We’ve got a good idea of the value and studs we want for week six, though, so let’s dive in and create our week six daily fantasy football optimal lineup for DraftKings:

QB: Tyrod Taylor – Bills ($5.3k)

Taylor hasn’t really been elite in 2016, but he also has actually been rather stable. With at least 15+ fantasy points each week aside from a rough opener, he’s at least been reliable for much of the year.

We know there is upside to be had with Taylor, too, since he has wheels and also has a penchant for the deep ball. Not having Sammy Watkins hinders his consistency a bit at a high level, but he still has some weapons to use.

Oh, and this week he is super cheap as he faces the Niners. Considering San Francisco can’t handle quarterbacks (just 25th vs passers in last four weeks), he looks like a fun try.

RB: Lamar Miller – Texans ($6.6k)

Miller had a stinker last week (3.4 fantasy points) and Houston’s offense has been struggling, but something tells me they’re going to figure things out against a bad Colts defense this week.

Although Miller hasn’t scored yet in 2016, that first TD has to be just around the corner and a date with Indy at home feels like the perfect time for a Lamar Miller coming out party. He’s still getting loads of touches when the Texans aren’t getting trounced, while Indy ranks 30th on the year at stopping running backs.

RB: Jamaal Charles – Chiefs ($5.1k)

Charles is as fresh as he’s been all year coming out of Kansas City’s bye week, and word is he’s practicing in full and ready for the training wheels to “come off”.

Charles made his debut two weeks ago and didn’t produce, but he could be ready to explode in a huge AFC West clash with the Oakland Raiders. Not only is this a big game where he’ll be needed, but the Raiders rank just 26th against the running back position over the last four weeks.

With Charles insanely cheap and all of the value/upside to be had here, he’s a tough guy to fade in week six NFL DFS leagues.

WR: DeAndre Hopkins – Texans ($7.5k)

Elite value is the key here, as Nuk cannot possibly get contained like he has been lately. We saw some light at the end of the tunnel for him last week and in week six he’s at home against a Colts pass defense that just gave up over 390 yards to Brian Hoyer.

Hopkins is a stud who can beat any matchup, so as long as the targets are there, we feel good about him living up to this discounted price tag.

WR: Odell Beckham Jr. – Giants ($8.8k)

Ditto for Odell, who finally got his first touchdown of the year last week and may be back on track. His matchup with a solid Ravens defense isn’t exactly ideal, but they’re actually only ranking 29th against wide receivers over the last four weeks.

It only takes one big play or a score for ODB to live up to this price, while Julio Jones has a far worse matchup and Antonio Brown’s price ($10k!) just feels insane.

WR: Doug Baldwin – Seahawks ($6.5k)

Baldwin has really picked up right where he left off last year, as he’s had two monster games already out of just four contests. He can be a little hit or miss, but he’s Russell Wilson’s top weapon and is rather explosive.

He also represents solid value as he faces a shaky ATL pass defense that is just 21st against WRs in 2016. Baldwin has also delivered his two best performances at home thus far, so he’s shaping up as a strong NFL DFS play ahead of week six.

TE: Coby Fleener – Saints ($3.5k)

There are a lot of tight ends that could go nuts this week and there are certainly more reliable options than Fleener, but his combination of price, matchup and upside is undeniable.

This is a total GPP play, as Fleener has been brutal in three of his four games, but is at home this week against a Panthers defense giving up the third most fantasy points over their last four games.

Fleener went off for 26 fantasy points just two contests ago, too, so he could be due to fill it up again this week.

FLEX: Charles Clay – Bills ($2.9k)

There is not a ton of value to be had at wide receiver this week, so it makes sense to dive for Clay, who gives us a stack with Tyrod, is cheap and actually has been seeing a lot of action lately.

Clay is not an explosive option, but with no Watkins he’s seen his role grow. With five receptions in three of his last four outings, Clay seems to have a pretty safe role. If he can add a score with that against a Niners pass defense that ranks just 23rd against tight ends, he’d pay off in a big way.

DEF: Buffalo Bills ($3.7k)

Defense is a trash heap this week, as a number of usually worthwhile units were bad in week five, have bad prices or don’t have positive matchups this week.

It might make sense to pay up for the Bills, who are playing lights out lately, registering 10+ fantasy points in four of their five games on the year. It only helps that they get to face a terrible 49ers team that will be throwing Colin Kaepernick into the fire.