Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 13, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Network: CBS
Houston Texans
Quarterback
C.J. Stroud: Start, QB1
CJ Stroud has not been the phenom we saw in his rookie season. Still, he has shown us some signs that the same player is there. He should regularly contend with low-end QB1 numbers, and that is the case once again in Week 6, where he is without top option Nico Collins and faces a stout Patriots defense.
Running Back
Joe Mixon: FLEX Option, RB3**
Cam Akers: Sit, RB4
Joe Mixon may not play this week as he still has not practiced. That being said, he could still make the cut this week, and if he does, he will have some FLEX appeal. Mixon is a flex play due to his volume, but don’t expect a massive game. The Patriots have been solid against the run, and Mixon’s fantasy value is tied to his touchdown potential. Cam Akers has struggled to carve out a consistent role, and this isn’t the week to trust him in your lineup. Keep him on your bench. Even if Mixon doesn’t get back to the field, Akers is a low-end RB3 at best.
Wide Receiver
Stefon Diggs: Start, WR2
Tank Dell: FLEX Option, WR3
Robert Woods: Sit, WR5
Stefon Diggs has seen the volume in recent weeks, which keeps him near the top of fantasy rankings from week to week. Now with Nico Collins being placed on IR, Diggs should flirt with WR1 numbers regularly. The issue in Week 6 is he gets a tough Patriots secondary, specifically Christian Gonzalez, who has shut down some of the NFL’s best this season. He falls just shy of WR1 territory for me this week, as he should see enough volume to keep him among the top 15. Tank Dell is a viable flex play, especially in PPR leagues. He’s got the ability to make a big play, and his role in the Texans’ offense without Collins gives him a decent floor. He hasn’t been what many were hoping thus far, but that is something most should have had some foresight about due to his gruesome leg injury. Robert Woods has faded from fantasy relevance. He should get more snaps in Collins’ absence, but my money would be on Dalton Schultz to take a step forward rather than a third wide receiver.
Tight End
Dalton Schultz: Sit, TE2
Dalton Schultz hasn’t done enough to make him a reliable start. The Patriots have been decent at limiting tight ends, so don’t expect much here. The only thing working in his favor is that Nico Collins is going to miss at least a few weeks, and I would bet that Schultz, rather than a third wide receiver, receives a bump in production and usage.
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Drake Maye: Sit, QB3
Drake Maye gets his first start this week, which is more exciting for NFL purposes than it is for fantasy. The Texans’ defense has been average against opposing quarterbacks (12th most), but they have a top-five pass rush, and that could mean problems for the rookie who has one of the worst offensive lines in the league. He is best left on your bench in all formats until we see more.
Running Back
Rhamondre Stevenson: Start, RB2
Antonio Gibson: Sit, RB4
Rhamondre Stevenson is a mid-range RB2 this week. The Texans can be run on, and he should see enough work to be a solid fantasy option. The coaching staff’s questions about Antonio Gibson eating into his workload were more of a ploy than an actionable change in usage. Gibson’s involvement has been too inconsistent to trust even with the “start.” There’s a chance for some PPR value, but he’s a risky start.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Lynn Polk: FLEX Option, WR4
Ja’Lynn Polk is only rostered in 8% of Yahoo fantasy football leagues right now. It makes sense. The rookie has been scarcely used, and his production has been minimal throughout the first five weeks of the season. All of these things make the Patriot a great ADD NOW candidate because you can do it for free or even after waivers have run. His snap share has increased every week of this season, hitting 83% two weeks ago and 100% last week. The Patriots are handing the reigns to Drake Maye. It’s a move that will not fix this offense, but it makes young players like Ja’Lynn Polk significantly more interesting, especially as we approach the heart of bye weeks. Polk has seen 6.5 targets per game over the last two weeks, and his ceiling will be limited, but he could have some FLEX viability shortly. Polk was one of my favorite off-the-radar wide receivers in this draft cycle, with solid route running and vice grips for hands.
Tight End
Hunter Henry: Sit, TE2
Hunter Henry’s recent production has been lacking, and the matchup isn’t favorable enough to take a chance on him. He is a wait-and-see player, as we learn how well Drake Maye can adjust to the NFL game.