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Week 6 Wide Receiver Preview: George Pickens Finally Steps Into Stardom

Top Fantasy WRs for Week 6

Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 6 WR Rankings.

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets

In London

Garrett Wilson, Jets

Wilson leads all WRs with a 98% route rate and ranks third with a 32% target share. That epitomizes No. 1 WR usage, but the winless Jets have racked up an abundance of their production in garbage time. The Jets are once again big underdogs this week, and Wilson is projected to be shadowed by CB Patrick Surtain. While Surtain's play has slipped this year, he's still a difficult matchup for No. 1 WRs. Wilson's volume keeps him in must-start territory, but he's a mid-range WR2 in Week 6. 

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Among all WRs, Sutton enters Week 6 ranking top 10 in route rate (94%), receiving yards (365), and TD receptions (3). He's scored 17.9-plus PPR points in four of Denver's five games, but he'll face a tough task adding to that in Week 6. Sutton is due to be shadowed by CB Sauce Gardner. Gardner's coverage has slipped, but he's still a formidable matchup for the opponent's No. 1 WR. Regardless, Sutton remains a must-start option, but he's a mid-range WR2 in Week 6. 

Troy Franklin, Broncos

Franklin ranks second on the Broncos with a 19% target share and 81% route rate. He's earned 4-plus targets in all five games but has only surpassed double-digit PPR points once all season. His playing time should give him a WR2 type ceiling in a great match-up. Jared outlinted Franklin’s breakout potential.

Marvin Mims, Broncos

Mims is only in on 52% of Denver's snaps. When he does play, Mims leads Denver's receiving corps with a 21% target per route run rate, but he has only topped 5 targets in a game once all season. View Mims as a low-floor, TD-dependent WR5/flex play in deeper leagues in Week 6 versus a Jets' defense allowing the 14th-fewest adjusted fantasy points to opposing WRs. 

Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens

Puka Nacua, Rams

Nacua is on pace to break the single-season receptions and yardage record. He has double-digit receptions in each of his last three games and a TD in his last two. Matthew Stafford knows to feed Nacua, and Sean McVay continues to draw up scripted plays to get Nacua the ball. He is a must-start every week.

Davante Adams, Rams

Adams now has four straight weeks of top-24 PPR finishes. Last week, he went 5-88-0, a solid performance but nothing spectacular. The consistency and potential for a TD make him a must-start, though. Adams ranks second in the NFL with 9 end zone targets, so the TDs may come. This is a great spot for a TD with the porous Ravens Pass D. Start him with confidence.

Zay Flowers, Ravens

Flowers had a respectable 5-72-0 stat line considering he had Cooper Rush as his QB. A garbage time 56-yard catch did most of the heavy lifting for his stat line. The Rams defense struggled last week against WR Kendrick Bourne and has been susceptible to big plays. Garbage time may be the best spot for Flowers to excel again, but it is tough to rely on him. He is a WR3 this week.

Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers

George Pickens, Cowboys

We’re not expecting CeeDee Lamb to play against Carolina. If true, Pickens would continue to carry an elevated ceiling. The former Steeler has posted lines of 8-134-2 and 2-57-1 in two games without Lamb. In fact, he’s now gone four straight games with a score. 

Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers

McMillan’s yet to score his first NFL TD. But he’s locked down a steady role in a thin WR corps, one that’s afforded 8+ targets in all five games. He’s reached 4 catches in all but one outing. Next up: A Dallas defense that’s bottom-two in yards and TDs allowed to WRs.

Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts

Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals

Harrison followed his 6-66-1 line in Week 4 with a 4-98-0 last week. He still saw just five targets on a 15.6% share in that one, which is a concern going forward. But at least he's been efficient the last two weeks! Harrison gets a plus matchup this Sunday against the Colts' 21st-ranked WR defense. And the passing volume could be up with the Cardinals 7-point underdogs. We’ll just need to keep an eye on QB Kyler Murray’s foot injury. His absence would leave Jacoby Brissett under center for Arizona – a clear downgrade.

Michael Pittman, Colts

Pittman has been a steady producer, finishing as a top-22 PPR WR in four of five games. He ranks 13th at the position in total points. There's nothing scary about Sunday's matchup with the Cardinals, who rank 23rd in adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs.

Josh Downs, Colts

Downs is still looking for his first top-30 weekly PPR finish of the season. He's caught 74% of his targets, but he's averaging just 8.8 yards per catch and has yet to score a TD. Plus, he continues to only play in 3-WR sets. It all leaves Downs as just a WR4 in fantasy lineups.

Alec Pierce, Colts

Pierce is on track to return from his concussion this week and will slide back in as Indianapolis' No. 2 WR. He opened the season with 1-36-0, 4-68-0, and 4-67-0 receiving lines. His Colts have a big 26.75-point implied total in Sunday's game against the Cardinals' 23rd-ranked WR defense, putting Pierce on the radar if you're looking for a spot starter.

Seattle Seahawks at Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

Jacksonville has provided the second-best scoring matchup for WRs to date, according to our adjusted fantasy points allowed. JSN already has three top-8 PPR finishes and has yet to finish a week lower than WR25. So he hardly needs the help.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars

Thomas earned his two best Pro Football Focus receiving grades of the season the past two weeks, while dramatically increasing his catch efficiency. Jacksonville appears to be scheming his opportunities better, including more “out” routes and pre-snap motion. And Trevor Lawrence’s play has improved the past two weeks as well. Thomas looks like at least a solid bet against Seattle and gains upside with the Seahawks expected to miss multiple injured DB starters.

Cooper Kupp, Seahawks

Kupp resurfaced for a 6-59 receiving line in last week’s shootout loss to the Bucs. But he has caught four passes or fewer in three of five games so far and tallied 31 yards or less in each of those three games. And the lack of TDs is no fluke. Kupp has yet to see an end-zone target, according to Pro Football Focus. Only two WRs -- Khalil Shakir and Jerry Jeudy -- have seen more targets than Kupp without getting one in the end zone.

Travis Hunter, Jaguars

Hunter garnered just three targets in Monday night’s win over the Chiefs, but he played a season-high 67% of the offensive snaps -- while also playing 39% of the defensive snaps. Seattle doesn’t appear to present enough receiving threats to push that balance further toward the defensive side, and QB Trevor Lawrence’s play has improved over the past couple of games. Hunter would rank higher if not for his lack of reception volume since the 6-catch opener. He hasn’t caught more than three passes in a game since.

Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins

Waddle drew a 26% target share in his first game without Tyreek Hill. The result? 6 catches, 110 yards, and his third score of the season. The matchup stiffens this week vs. Los Angeles, but target volume keeps Waddle in must-start range.

Quentin Johnston, Chargers

It took until Week 5 for Johnston to post his first dud (8.9 PPR points) of the season. A 13% target share didn’t help, but he’ll enter a nice bounce-back spot this week vs. Miami. The Fins sit 31st in explosive play rate allowed. 

Ladd McConkey, Chargers

McConkey scored his first TD in Week 5, but he’s still cracked 50 yards only once all season. The good news is he draws a Miami squad lacking anything close to a shutdown CB.

Keenan Allen, Chargers

Allen could be one of the focal points for the Chargers, especially with this offense down its top-two RBs. L.A. will be without its top OTs as well, so the short passing game might be leaned on vs. a struggling yet talented Miami pass rush. Allen ultimately profiles as an ideal PPR WR3. He’s averaging a strong 15.2 PPR points per game.

New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints

Stefon Diggs, Patriots

In New England's first 3 games, Diggs played 54% of New England's snaps and drew a modest 15% target share. However, starting in Week 4, Diggs has returned to alpha No. 1 WR status, jumping up to a 43% target share in the Patriots' last two games and posting back-to-back 100-plus yard outings. The Patriots are fourth in the NFL in pass rate over expected and enter New Orleans in Week 6 as road favorites. Expect Diggs to see a healthy dose of targets, making him a strong fantasy WR2 in Week 6. 

Chris Olave, Saints

New Orleans ranks 25th in passing, averaging just 190.4 yards per game, but Olave's monster usage keeps him as a strong weekly fantasy play. Among all WRs, Olave ranks 5th in target share (50%), seventh in targets per route run (27%), and is tied for ninth with a 94% route rate. He's scored 11-plus PPR points in all 5 of the Saints' games and gets another favorable matchup in Week 6 against a New England that allows the ninth-most adjusted PPR points to WRs in 2025. 

Rashid Shaheed, Saints

He's not playing as much as Chris Olave, but Shaheed boasts an 86% route rate and 18% target share through 5 games. Last week, he broke out with 114 yards and his second TD of the season, which came from 87 yards out. Shaheed has quietly caught 4-plus balls in every game and enters Week 6 as the WR24 in PPR leagues. View him as a quality WR3/4 in a very favorable matchup with a Patriots' defense that allows 34.8 adjusted PPR points per week to opposing WRs. 

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

D.K. Metcalf, Steelers

Metcalf went 5-126-1 before the bye with another long TD catch propping up his final stat line. The Steelers simply aren’t passing enough for Metcalf to be reliable with only 5.5 targets per game (WR52). His target share is even just average at 21.2%. With Calvin Austin likely missing the game, Metcalf may do a bit better on those target numbers, but he is a high end WR3 at best. 

Jerry Jeudy, Browns

Dillon Gabriel didn’t do Jeudy any favors, only targeting him 5 times last week. Jeudy’s stat line ended up at 2-15-0. Jeudy hasn’t had a top-24 finish this year and it likely won’t come this week against the Steelers. Bench Jeudy if you can.

Tennessee Titans at Las Vegas Raiders

Jakobi Meyers, Raiders

Since a strong opener, Meyers has finished outside the top 30 WRs in PPR points in four straight weeks. He's still drawn a 23% target share over that stretch, but he's had games of 16% and 17% among his last three. With TE Brock Bowers likely out again this week, there's plenty of opportunity for Meyers against a mediocre Titans defense. But he's tough to trust as more than a WR3 right now.

Tre Tucker, Raiders

Since his blowup Week 3, Tucker has posted 2-13-0 and 4-62-0 receiving lines. He's remained a full-time player but has drawn just 14% of Raiders targets over those last two games. Treat him as a volatile WR4, although there's upside in Sunday's matchup against the Titans, who have allowed the 10th most pass plays of 20+ yards.

Calvin Ridley, Titans

Ridley is coming off his best game of the year so far, setting season highs with 10 targets, five catches, and 131 yards. He also earned a season-high Pro Football Focus receiving grade, ranking 13th among WRs on the week. Ridley could certainly kick on from there in Sunday's game against the Raiders' 19th-ranked WR defense. But you'd ideally wait at least one more week before trusting him in fantasy lineups. Ridley totaled 141 scoreless yards over the first four weeks of the season.

Elic Ayomanor, Titans

Ayomanor has cooled off, mustering just 62 scoreless yards over his last two outings. He's totaled 11 targets on a 16.9% share across those two games -- and just watched WR Calvin Ridley bust out for 131 yards last week. Ayomanor remains a fine bench stash but would be a shaky Week 6 fantasy start.

Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers

Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals

Will Joe Flacco make a big difference vs. Jake Browning? We’re not betting so, but the QB play can’t get a whole lot worse than it’s been lately. Chase showed last week with a 6-110-2 line in the loss to Detroit that you should just keep rolling with him. Green Bay brings a tough defense to this matchup but no individual CB near Chase’s talent level.

Romeo Doubs, Packers

Here’s a bold prediction for ya: Doubs probably won’t score as many TDs this week as he did at Dallas. But he also led the corps in playing time, targets (eight), receptions (6), and receiving yards (58, tied with Matthew Golden) in that game. All of those things are repeatable. And there’s upside to whatever the Packers try to do on offense this week against a bad Bengals defense.

Matthew Golden, Packers

Golden trailed Dontayvion Wicks in playing time last game but ranked second on the team in targets, tied for second in receptions, and tied for first in receiving yardage. His downfield penchant boosts his scoring efficiency. We’ll see whether Green Bay passes enough in this game to support receiving upside.

Tee Higgins, Bengals

Higgins might be the largest beneficiary if Joe Flacco actually proves to be an upgrade over Jake Browning at all. His target share sat at a solid 20% over the past two weeks, but Higgins hasn’t caught more than three passes in a game yet this year. He’s no better than a WR4 this week. Cincinnati could be headed for big passing volume, though, in a game that finds the Packers favored by 14.

San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers

The preseason concerns about lack of targets for Egbuka have been alleviated in the first month of the regular season. Egbuka enters Week 6 as the No. 4 WR in PPR leagues, thanks to impressive showings in TD grabs (5) and receiving yards (445). Mike Evans (hamstring) is expected to miss another game, which locks Egbuka into Tampa's No. 1 WR role. He's a locked-in, top-10 option this week in a game versus  San Francisco featuring a fantasy-friendly total of 47.5 points. 

Sterling Shepard, Buccaneers

The preseason concerns about lack of targets for Egbuka have been alleviated in the first month of the regular season. Egbuka enters Week 6 as the No. 4 WR in PPR leagues, thanks to impressive showings in TD grabs (5) and receiving yards (445). Mike Evans (hamstring) is expected to miss another game, which locks Egbuka into Tampa's No. 1 WR role. He's a locked-in, top-10 option this week in a game versus  San Francisco featuring a fantasy-friendly total of 47.5 points. 

Ricky Pearsall, 49ers

Pearsall has missed practice time with a knee injury that kept him out last week. The 49ers will also be without QB Brock Purdy and TE George Kittle, so they need Pearsall healthy. Even if he's able to suit up in Week 6, Pearsall could be limited. That makes him a risk/reward WR3 this week against the Buccaneers. 

Jauan Jennings, 49ers

Unlike Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings was able to return to a limited practice session on Thursday. Jennings missed Week 5 with knee and ankle injuries but is trending in the right direction for Week 6. San Francisco is severely short-handed, which sets up Jennings to have a sizable role this week if he's able to start. That especially applies if Ricky Pearsall (knee) misses another contest. This week's matchups with the Buccaneers boasts the ninth-highest total for the slate. View Jennings as a WR3/flex option with WR2 upside should Persall miss another start. 

Kendrick Bourne, 49ers

As the 49ers' No. 1 WR last week, Bourne exploded with a 10-catch, 142-yard outing against the Rams. That performance opened eyes, but Bourne's Week 6 prospects are a little trickier. Jauan Jennings returned to practice on Thursday and is trending in the right direction. If Jennings plays, Bourne would be San Francisco's No. 2 WR. However, if Ricky Pearsall also plays, Bourne would fall to No. 3 duties. But even if he's relegated to No. 3 WR, Bourne has played 69% of San Francisco's snaps and has a respectable 15% target share. He's a solid fantasy WR4/flex option with WR2/3 upside against Tampa Bay. 

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions

St. Brown continues to be hyper-efficient, catching 8 of 9 targets for 100 yards. Despite the Lions scoring 3 receiving TDs, St. Brown didn’t have one. The Chiefs are a tough pass defense, holding opposing WR1s to only 9.6 PPR fantasy points per game.  He is dealing with a wrist injury that may slow him down, but St. Brown is still a must start.

Xavier Worthy, Chiefs

Worthy went 6-42-0 last week earning even more snaps two weeks removed from his shoulder injury. The Chiefs' passing game appears built on Worthy as a first read option. The offense’s upside gives Worthy a WR1 ceiling, especially with the Lions banged up secondary.

Jameson Williams, Lions

Williams went 1-9-0 last week, showing how low his floor can go. He’s only cleared one week as a top-50 PPR WR, but that week did set him as WR12. He is on the field for nearly every offensive snap (and running routes) but the targets are going elsewhere. With a Chiefs’ secondary that plays a Cover-Two shell, it may be difficult for Williams to get open. He is a WR4 this week.

Marquise Brown, Chiefs

Brown ended up with 8 targets last week, but is now in a rotation with Juju Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton. He could always spring a long catch for a TD against a banged up Lions’ secondary, but that’s not a guarantee. Ultimately, leaving Brown on the bench is the right decision.

Buffalo Bills at Atlanta Falcons

Drake London, Falcons

London’s already locked into a high-volume role. His target ceiling will only rise if Darnell Mooney (hamstring) can’t suit up following the Week 5 bye. 

Khalil Shakir, Bills

Shakir’s 4.3-yard average depth of target is a bit extreme, but it makes sense considering he’s already drawn seven screen targets. (Only six WRs have seen more screen targets.) Buffalo’s spread-it-out offense adds some downside risk here, but there’s PPR Flex appeal entering a matchup with Atlanta.

Keon Coleman, Bills

Through five games, Coleman’s seen a solid 21% target share on a 79% route rate. Still, he’s yet to become a reliable fantasy starter, tallying games with 26, 20, 45, and 23 yards since Week 2. He’s a boom/bust WR3 vs. Atlanta. 

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders

Rome Odunze, Bears

Odunze leads the Bears by 13 targets, 123 receiving yards, and 4 TD catches through four games. Pit that against a Washington defense that ranks a modest 18th in pass DVOA (and much tougher -- fifth -- against the run), and Odunze looks like one of the week’s best plays at any position.

Deebo Samuel, Commanders

Samuel hits Week 5 as a top-9 fantasy WR across formats. Washington’s looking likely to miss Terry McLaurin once again, which should only help the touch outlook for Samuel against a soft Bears defense. He set season highs in targets, catches, and yards with McLaurin out last week.

D.J. Moore, Bears

Moore has seen a career-low 10% of his targets in the deep range (20+ yards downfield) so far this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Might the bye week find Chicago working more of that back in for the veteran WR, who posted a Week 1 aDOT of 17.8 before dipping to 5.7, 8.2, and 4.0 the past three games? Moore’s limited opportunities and production to date keep him knock him to the middle of WR3 territory. But there’s upside if the usage improves, especially against a Washington D that rates much tougher against the run than the pass.

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Shane Hallam, Writer

Shane has over 20 years of experience creating content and playing every fantasy football format, including redraft, dynasty, devy, C2C, IDP, CFF, and more. He is a multi-year winner of $500 dynasty leagues on the FFPC and a King's Classic Champion. Shane utilizes deep film and scheme study to enhance his fantasy performance. He led the industry in 2024 preseason Kicker Rankings and ranked second in preseason QB Rankings. He also ranked eighth in preseason IDP rankings.