Guillotine Leagues™️ Cheat Sheet For Week 6: Bench Patrick Mahomes?

Week 6 is here, and since the NFL likes to keep us on our toes, we have twice the number of teams on bye as we had the week before. Jahmyr Gibbs, Ja’Marr Chase and other stars we’re having to sit this week, our fingers may get cramped after being crossed so much in hopes that we avoid the chop and welcome them back after the break.

We don’t take any breaks, so to help you to keep surviving the chop in Guillotine Leagues™️, Matthew Freedman and Pete Overzet got together for a round table discussion with several player recommendations for this week. Also, make sure to consult our fantasy football rankings and fantasy football projections when setting your lineup.

Week 6 Cheat Sheet for Guillotine Leagues

Who do you like as a strong "RB floor play" in Week 6?

Freedman: MarShawn Lloyd (Packers) vs. Cowboys

Lloyd has utterly disappointed this year (7.5 fantasy points per game, 167 yards, 3 TDs on 40 carries, 13 targets, 47 Utilization Score). Even so, last week he showed that he has the ability to turn modest usage (44% snap rate, 56 Utilization Score) into functional production (16.2 fantasy points, 37 yards, 2 TDs on 10 carries, 2 targets). It's not ideal that his OL could be down three starters in RT Zach Bako-Bewele (knee, IR), RG Jacob Monk (quadriceps) and LG Aaron Banks (toe). On top of that, the Cowboys have three extra days off after Thursday Night Football. But also … it's the Cowboys, who have traveled more than any team over the past month (11,434 miles) and yield an amplified home-field advantage to the Packers because they're outside division, on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). It's just a bonus that the Cowboys are No. 2 in largest fantasy boost allowed to RBs (+4.9) and could be without LB DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring).

Via my Week 6 RB Favorites

Pete: Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots) vs. New York Jets

Assuming TreVeyon Henderson sits (I can't believe he was practicing), Stevenson gives us an extremely high floor vs. a run-funnel Jets squad. There is no way Mike Vrabel trusts Corey Kiner for more than a few touches in this spot.

Who do you like as a strong "WR floor play" in Week 6?

Freedman: Josh Downs (Colts) vs. Titans

I want to be clear about this. I'm not a Downs stan. For years, I've thought he's overrated. And I believe we've seen evidence of that over the past three weeks without No. 1 WR Alec Pierce (heel, IR). Even though Downs has finally been a full-time player in that span (89% route rate), he has been utterly mediocre (6.5 fantasy points per game, 11-140-0 receiving, 21 targets, 56 Utilization Score). And the home-field advantage for the Colts softens in this spot because the Titans play in division on a similar turf surface. Not great. But at least the Colts are indoors, and they're facing the Titans, who are No. 31 in defensive pass DVOA (42.9%) and just last week allowed the 0-4 Texans to put up 26 points. What's more, the Titans could be down three secondary starters in CB Cor'Dale Flott (chest), SS Amani Hooker (concussion) and FS Kevin Winston (quadriceps). If you're a sicko (and we both know you are), you might be able to get away with starting Downs in Guillotine Leagues^TM this week.

Via my Week 6 WR Favorites

Pete: Germie Bernard (Steelers) vs. Bucs

I'd have no problem flexing Bernard this week with Michael Pittman Jr. still out. Bernard's splits w/o Pittman have been awesome and his target share gives him a sneaky high floor each week as Aaron Rodgers' preferred option underneath.

Which "stud" are you considering benching in Week 6?

Freedman: Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) vs. Chargers: The Chiefs should be fresh off the bye … but LT Josh Simmons (back) is yet to play this year, and WRs Rashee Rice (hamstring) and Tyquan Thornton (ankle) both suffered injuries in Week 4. The Chiefs are in Kansas City, but they've had the league's No. 3 worst home-field advantage over the past five years (-0.61), and it doesn't get a boost hosting the division-rival Chargers, against whom Mahomes has notably struggled (4-8-2 ATS, -31.0% ROI). Mahomes could still go off: He has been great this year (21.4 fantasy points per game, 1,037 yards passing, 9 TDs, 2 INTs with 12-41-1 rushing), and the Chargers could be without CB Donte Jackson (hamstring) and SS Derwin James (hamstring) in the secondary. But we tend not to see many points in general at Arrowhead Stadium: No QB has been more profitable to the under at home than Mahomes (50-30-1, 19.7% ROI).

Via my Week 6 QB Fades

Pete: Terry McLaurin (Commanders) @ Niners

Jayden Daniels balling on McLaurin healthy is generally a recipe for success, but this Niners D is legit and keeps everything in front of them. I'm looking for higher-floor options this week.

Who's the one guy who might not have a solid floor but who makes you say, "Screw it, I'm starting him anyway"?

Freedman: Colston Loveland (Bears) at Falcons

I wish I were joking … but I'm not. He has been truly and hilariously abysmal this year (3.5 fantasy points per game, 13-110-0 receiving, 23 targets, 56 Utilization Score). His inefficiency is the stuff of nightmares (4.8 yards per target). But I want to (attempt to) contextualize all this. In Week 1, Loveland did nothing (0-0-0, 2 targets), but he had a position-high 89% route rate. In Week 2, he was again terrible (1-3-0, 3), but he faced the Vikings, who are No. 5 in fewest fantasy points allowed to TEs (6.0). And then in Weeks 3-5 he didn't have QB Caleb Williams (hamstring). Williams seems likely to return this week, which should give a boost to the offense, and with his return, HC Ben Johnson might seek to get Loveland more involved. This is speculative, but I still believe that Loveland is likeliest to be the most dynamic pass catcher the Bears have, given what he did as a 21-year-old rookie last year, when he was No. 1 on the team in the regular season in receiving (58-713-6) and then dominant in two playoff games (12-193-0, 96 Utilization Score). The Falcons have a boosted home-field advantage because the Bears are outside division, on turf (vs. grass), and indoors (vs. outdoors), but Williams has been his best outside division (16-7-1 ATS, 32.4% ROI). If you're a sicko (and we both know you are), you might be able to get away with starting Loveland in Guillotine Leagues^TM this week.

Via my Week 6 TE Favorites

Pete: Xavier Worthy (Chiefs) vs. Chargers.

Tyquan Thornton is done and Rashee Rice is looking shaky for this week. That leaves Worthy as one of the only viable pass-catching options along with Travis Kelce. The floor is always shaky, but Worthy has a 20% target share on the year and room to improve on it in this spot.

Which player do you think will have the highest "chop rate" in Week 6?

Freedman: Trey McBride (Cardinals) at Rams

McBride has been his typical awesome self this year (14.0 fantasy points per game, 42-308-3 receiving, 56 targets, 97 Utilization Score, per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report). But the matchup is brutal: The Rams are No. 1 in fewest fantasy points allowed (4.6) and smallest fantasy boost allowed to TEs (-6.7). And last year in his two games against the Rams, McBride underwhelmed (9.2 fantasy points per game, 12-123-0 receiving, 17 targets). Additionally, the Cards are on their third road game in four weeks, while the Rams are on their second straight home game.

Via my Week 6 TE Fades

Pete: Ashton Jeanty (Raiders) vs. Buffalo. The role is good enough to keep chasing, but the production hasn't followed. If they get in a trailing script here again–and they should as 5.5-point dogs–it could be another rough outing for Jeanty managers.