Week 6 has already turned into one of those sludgy fantasy slates where the byes do half the damage and the player pool does the rest. Four teams are off for the first time, and the result is a search for cheap FLEX plays with a realistic path to either 50 yards or a touchdown - because at this point, that’s the bar.
Quarterbacks are off the board here, and the price tags matter too: no running back above $5,000, no wide receiver above $4,500, and no tight end above $4,000 in DraftKings DFS.
At running back, Blake Corum is worth a look at $4,800. His touch count has dipped over the last three weeks, with fewer than eight carries or targets in each game after opening the season with 10 and 13. Still, the short week and a soft Cardinals matchup could push him back into a more active role, and that’s the kind of spot where he belongs in this column.
Kendre Miller comes in at $4,600 after back-to-back games with eight and 10 touches, even without much production attached. The Giants’ run defense isn’t imposing - they’re 21st by DVOA and have given up more than 123 rushing yards in three of their last four games.
Alvin Kamara is also dealing with a back issue, as per usual. CJ Donaldson has some involvement, but with 37 pass blocks and 15 touches across five games, Miller could see a bigger slice if New Orleans leans on the run late.
Keaton Mitchell is priced at $4,300 and remains a speed-and-volume lottery ticket. The offensive line around him is in rough shape, with four rookies and Cole Strange starting, and the wide receiver room was a mess in the last game.
The Chiefs are giving up 37 receiving yards per game to running backs, and Mitchell has touched the ball 35 times over his last three outings. The Chargers offense is a hard sell right now, but his usage and burst at least give him a puncher’s chance.
Brian Robinson checks in at $4,700 and brings a sturdier weekly case. He’s at home as a favorite against a Bears defense that grades poorly against the run, and even after last week’s modest seven touches, the volume has still been there overall.
The touchdown upside has shown up before. Michael Penix looks likely to play, and while Caleb Williams returning could tilt the game toward a pass-heavy script, Robinson still has a few different ways to pay off.
At receiver, Keenan Allen is listed at $4,300, and that alone tells you what kind of week this is. He was limited to 32 snaps in his return from a groin injury, yet still saw nine targets.
That gives him 18 over his last two games and 29 across four. The Titans defense is mostly Jeffery Simmons and a group that hasn’t proven much else.
Jaylin Noel is only $3,200 and remains an appealing cheap option for Houston. As noted last week, he’s the Texans’ most talented secondary receiver, the team is going to need to throw because Jacksonville owns the league’s best run defense, and the hope is that Houston’s 1-4 start forces some simplification.
He’s still the second-best receiver on the roster unless or until a healthy Tank Dell suddenly appears. If Dell is activated off IR for this game, pivot to him.
Brandin Cooks is another budget play at $4,000, and his path is getting clearer by the week. Deebo Samuel is the latest 49ers receiver to suffer a debilitating injury, which leaves Cooks - signed on September 22 - as the No. 2 option.
He scored a touchdown last game, and San Francisco’s offense has been rolling after putting up big numbers against Seattle. Washington just allowed Jameis Winston to erase a 14-point deficit, and while the Commanders may be better than that, they don’t look ready for this level yet.
Wan’Dale Robinson is priced at $4,500 and has gone over 50 yards in two of his last three games while drawing 23 targets in that span. Carnell Tate is expected to get Sauce Gardner’s attention, and the Titans are coming off a rough showing against the Texans. Maybe they stabilize enough to keep this one competitive.
Chris Godwin, at $4,400, offers a cleaner PPR profile than most of the options in this range. His average depth of target per FTN is just 3.5 yards, second-lowest among wideouts, and with Joey Porter Jr. no longer in place, the Steelers look headed for more zone coverage. Those two things fit together nicely for short-area volume.
At tight end, Dallas Goedert is $3,900 and makes sense on simple opportunity. Carolina has allowed 9.6 passes per game to tight ends this season, third-most in the league per FTN. DeVonta Smith’s status is still unclear, but even if he suits up, Goedert may still be the No. 2 option.
Tyler Higbee is the other tight end to watch at $3,400. Over his last three games - including one where Terrance Ferguson left and two he missed - he has collected 23 targets, 18 catches, 212 yards and a touchdown.
The Cardinals have done reasonably well against tight ends overall, allowing 72.6 yards per game on 7.0 passes per game, but this matchup carries a 52.5 over/under and the Rams are the Rams. After Monday night’s overtime game, the ancillary pieces feel worth betting on.
In Other News...
C.J. Stroud Is Already Sending A Clear Message About Marvin Harrison Jr
C.J. Stroud didnt waste time sizing up Marvin Harrison Jr. after the receivers arrival in Houston. Stroud pointed back to their college connection and made it clear he already knows what Harrison brings, praising both his work ethic and the sharp route running that made him such a standout before reaching the Texans. For a team looking to keep building around its young quarterback, that kind of instant comfort between passer and target is a good place to start.
Stroud also seemed intent on cutting through the noise that tends to follow a player like Harrison. Instead of getting caught up in outside perceptions, he voiced confidence that Harrison will produce in Houston and stressed the value of focusing on personal growth. For the Texans, it is another reminder that Stroud is not just talking about chemistry, he is setting a tone for how the offense should think about expectation, development and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Look Healthier Ahead Of A Jaguars Test That Just Got Tougher
The Texans got a noticeable lift in practice this week, with several players who had been sidelined by injuries back on the field in full. Wide receiver Tank Dell, linebacker Henry To'oTo'o and cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram all returned to full work, giving Houston a healthier look as it prepares for its upcoming meeting with the Jaguars in London.
Offensive tackle Braden Smith was also reinstated and is expected to compete for a starting spot, another sign the roster is trending in the right direction at a useful time. Houston still has work to do before kickoff, but the added depth and flexibility make a tricky trip against Jacksonville look a little less daunting than it did earlier in the week. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Suddenly Face A Tough David Montgomery Decision
The Texans added Marvin Harrison Jr. to lift an offense that has been searching for more punch, but the backfield has become the more immediate question. David Montgomerys season has been slowed by modest rushing production and a groin injury, and the uncertainty around his workload is now part of the bigger conversation in Houston about how to get the offense moving more consistently.
ESPNs Bill Barnwell raised the possibility that the Texans may have to make a difficult change and turn the starting running back job over to Woody Marks. Montgomery could still have a role as a backup, but the idea of a shift at the position is notable for a team that expected its ground game to be a stabilizing piece, not another source of concern. [Read more 🡒]