Fantasy Football Week 6 Rankings: Top 20 wide receivers to Start
Wide receiver was a brutal position last week with many of the top options struggling and Calvin Johnson-the usual overall number one-putting up zero after a surprise inactive. To add more injury to insult, fantasy owners lost Julio Jones for the season meaning the elite pool just got even shallower.
In this post, you can find the top 20 receivers for week 6 based on the composite rankings of myself and Leo Howell who also covers fantasy football for Fansided. These would be the WR1 and WR2 in ten-team leagues which means these players would be in the starting lineup in most leagues.
If you have a question or comment on the rankings or want to know who I’d start on your team, send it to me on twitter @ZT_Sports or write it in the comments at the bottom of the post. I’ll do my best to answer as many as I can.
Here’s our top 20 wide receivers for week 6:
1. Calvin Johnson-Detroit Lions
Ironically, Johnson wasn’t my or Leo’s #1 overall, but since he was second and third on our lists the average was enough to give him the top spot. He should be in for a good game as long as his balky knee lets him play. He’s caught a touchdown in his last three games and has been targeted eight times or more in every game he has played in. If he plays, he’s a WR1 no question.
2. Demaryius Thomas-Denver Broncos
The Broncos are on such a roll in the passing game that any receiver on their team is worth starting right now. Thomas didn’t get the ball much last week, but Peyton should be able to get him plenty of space against the Jaguars this week. He finished with five catches and 57 yards against the Cowboys last week. The Broncos should put the Jags away early, so I don’t see a monster game, but he should be solid. Thomas was Leo’s number one overall while I had him at number 5. Either way, he’s definitely a WR1.
3. Dez Bryant-Dallas Cowboys
My number one for the week is Bryant as the Cowboys take on the Redskins. Washington has allowed the fifth-most points to opposing WR and Tony Romois rolling as the Cowboys host Washington on Sunday Night. Bryant is another weekly WR1.
4. A.J. Green-Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green’s overall numbers haven’t been great, but he’s still a WR1 as Cincinnati heads to Buffalo. The Bills allow the second-most points per game to opposing WR, and Green would be higher if he had more than 61 yards in any week since week 1. If he can’t get it going this week is such a favorable matchup, he’ll drop down my rankings for next week to be sure.
5. Wes Welker-Denver Broncos
Leo is much higher on Welker than I am putting him all the way into his top three. Welker does continue to find the end zone every week even though his yardage high is just 76. I’m just not convinced that the Broncos don’t go up by 30 and sit their stars late against the woeful Jaguars. Welker is a TD machine this season with seven in his first five games, so expect more of the same this week even though the yardage numbers probably won’t be huge.
6. Brandon Marshall-Chicago Bears
Marshall looks to bounce back from a few down weeks Thursday Night against the Giants. New York’s defense is a mess ,so if Marshall is mentally and physically right he should have a big game. If not, it may be a sign of bigger issues in play.
t7. Reggie Wayne-Indianapolis Colts
Last week against a tough Seahawks secondary, Wayne had six catches for 65 yards and took a backseat to the explosive T.Y. Hilton. He was still the most targeted Colts receiver which bodes well for him heading into a matchup with the San Diego Chargers secondary that gives up big points to opposing WR. Look for a big Monday Night for Wayne in a great matchup.
t7. Andre Johnson-Houston Texans
Johnson got a ton of passes thrown his way as usual last week finishing with 10 targets. Unfortunately for his fantasy owners he only caught three for 39 yards against the 49ers Sunday Night. This week, he’s in a much better matchup against the Rams and should get plenty of looks from a struggling Matt Schaub. I don’t fully trust Schaub and see Johnson as more of a WR2, but Leo is high on him so feel good starting him this week.
9. Randall Cobb-Green Bay Packers
Cobb is a straight-up playmaker for the Pack as we were reminded last week as he dropped 72 yards rushing to go with his 35 yards receiving. He took a back seat in the passing game to James Jones big day, but Aaron Rodgers spreads the ball from week-to-week meaning Cobb could be the target this week. He’s had eight or more passes thrown his way every game this year amking him a borderline WR1 this week.
10 Victor Cruz-New York Giants
Leo and I differ on Cruz just about every week. I’ve usually been higher on Cruz and am once again this week. He faces the Bears secondary tonight which is solid, but the Giants will have to throw the ball a ton and I love the high volume of targets Cruz draws every game.
11. Antonio Brown-Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers bye week hopefully didn’t slow Brown’s roll since he had a pair of 13-target games before the break. He finished with 12 catches against the Vikings in London even though he only managed 88 yards, and the game before that torched the Bears for nine catches and 196 yards with a pair of scores. Brown and the Steelers play the Jets on a short week this week who have struggled to defend the pass after trading Darrelle Revis and his island to Tampa.
t12. Torrey Smith-Baltimore Ravens
In a three-way tie for our twelfth spot, Smith is another WR I’m much higher on than Leo as he comes off of back-to-back 120+ yard games. The last two weeks Smith has 11 catches for a total of 287 yards and a touchdown. This week, he’ll face another beatable secondary as Green Bay comes to town and the Ravens may have Marlon Brown and/or Jacoby Jones back to give him more space. Smith is a fringe WR1 in my opinion since he’s been so consistent through the first five games. His low yardage total on the year is 85 yards which came on his most catches of the year-7 in week 2. He’s a good play this week.
t12. Jordy Nelson-Green Bay Packers
I see Nelson as a low-end WR2 just because of the spreading of the ball from Rodgers. He gets this spot, though, since Leo and I again diverge on where he should land within this second WR group. He’s been consistent this season but hasn’t found the end zone since week two or had 100 yards since week 1.
t12. Eric Decker-Denver Broncos
Decker is part of sharing the wealth of the Broncos fantasy goodness. The Jags won’t stop them, but it should be a lopsided game without many down the field shots to Decker. He’s still a very nice WR2 this week.
15. Justin Blackmon-Jacksonville Jaguars
Going against Decker’s Broncos, Blackmon is also a solid WR2 after his big breakout performance last week of his suspension. He and Chad Henne have connected for big days in the past so if you’ve been holding Blackmon it’s time to cash in your chips.
16. Josh Gordon-Cleveland Browns
Gordon is back to Brandon Weeden under center for the Browns which could cause him some issues. He’s in a good matchup this week, though, so he’s a good option as your second WR as well.
17. Alshon Jeffery-Chicago Bears
With his ankle cleared and him ready to suite up Thursday Night, Jeffery will look to maintain his recent breakout performance. He’s been great the last two weeks with a total of 15 catches, 325 yards and a pair of scores. He’s far from an unknown anymore and may be on his way to becoming a WR1. He’s definitely worth a play unless you have options that are above him on this list.
18. Anquan Boldin-San Francisco 49ers
Boldin is till Collin Kaepernick’s only real receiver weapon and should be jazzed this week to face his former Arizona teammates. He’s been a mess lately, though, so he’s sunk to a low-end WR2.
19. T.Y. Hilton-Indianapolis Colts
Hilton has reemerged as a key playmaker for the Colts although he’s still very reliant on the big play to get his yardage. He finished last week with 140 yards on five catches and his first two touchdowns of the year. He’s been up and down this year, but against the Chargers, Leo has him highly rated enough to get him on this top 20 list. So if you’re looking for a WR2, Hilton’s definitely an option to consider.
20. Pierre Garcon-Washington Redskins
Instead of Hilton, I had Pierre Garcon on my list and he and Washington return from their bye to take on the struggling Dallas secondary. Garcon is RG3’s go to guy and will bet lost of looks on Sunday Night which he should be able to turn into points. He’s another low-end WR2 that could pay off.
Honorable mention: DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia Eagles, Vincent Jackson-Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Terrance Williams-Dallas Cowboys