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We were given a 12-game main slate on DraftKings in Week 5 of the 2021 NFL season, and that has shrunk even further as we have a 10-game main slate in Week 6. Four teams have a bye week, including the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, the New York Jets, and the San Francisco 49ers. While we may have a limited pool of players to choose from on Sunday, we still have quite a few stacks to choose from on the main slate.
There are currently three games with projected totals of 50+ points, and there are another two games with projected totals of 48+ points. The game with the highest total on the main slate is the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Football Team, which is currently sitting at 54.5. As we await more injury news over the weekend, here are my favorite stacks on DraftKings’ main slate in Week 6.
Favorite Stacks
KC: Patrick Mahomes ($8,300), Tyreek Hill ($8,500), Travis Kelce ($7,000), Mecole Hardman ($4,200)
Patrick Mahomes has looked somewhat human this season as he’s thrown six interceptions through the first five weeks. Defenses are preventing the Chiefs from hitting on big plays consistently, causing Mahomes to force errant throws down the field. The good news for Kansas City is that they face a Washington defense that is allowing the most DraftKings points (28.32) to QBs this season. Tyreek Hill is questionable to play on Sunday while Travis Kelce looks to be a full-go. Mecole Hardman is a viable salary-relief option as he has the third-highest target share (17.8%), and if Hill is ruled out, then Demarcus Robinson ($3,300) and Byron Pringle ($3,200) could replace Hill in this stack. Or if you’re someone that loves taking risks, then Josh Gordon at $3,400 is certainly an option if Hill is sidelined.
Bring-back options: Antonio Gibson ($6,500), Terry McLaurin ($7,100), Adam Humphries ($3,400), Ricky Seals-Jones ($3,000)
It’s well-documented how awful the defense of the Chiefs has been. While they struggle through the air, they also have the 32nd ranked run defense in terms of DVOA. That makes Antonio Gibson, who is questionable for Sunday with a shin ailment, someone that could give you leverage in a game where everyone is going to target the passing attacks. Terry McLaurin popped up on the injury report on Friday with a hamstring injury, so keep tabs on his status on Sunday. Adam Humphries and Ricky Seals-Jones are both cheap ways to get exposure to Washington’s offense in Week 6, especially with the Chiefs carrying expensive price tags.
WAS: Taylor Heinicke ($5,800), Terry McLaurin ($7,100), Adam Humphries ($3,400), Ricky Seals-Jones ($3,000)
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Washington’s offense be among my favorite stacks in Week 6. Taylor Heinicke hasn’t been spectacular in real-life football, but he does have three 20+ point performances on DraftKings this season. Even though he’s far from a safe option through the air, Heinicke does give us a relatively safe floor with his legs, carrying the ball 18 times for 104 yards and one touchdown in the past three weeks. If McLaurin is a surprise inactive in Week 6, Humphries and Seals-Jones would be my first two targets on the Football Team. Also, Dyami Brown ($3,300) and DeAndre Carter ($3,000) could see more playing time on Sunday.
Bring-back options: Darrel Williams ($4,900), Tyreek Hill ($8,500), Travis Kelce ($7,000), Mecole Hardman ($4,200)
Aside from injuries to Hill and Kelce, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Darrel Williams will replace Edwards-Helaire and is under $5,000 on the green site. Jerick McKinnon could see some touches out of the backfield, but Williams should command the majority of the running back touches. With the value that is beginning to open up, it’s not hard to fit either Hill or Kelce as bring-back plays with a Washington stack. Hardman is also an option if you want to spend up elsewhere throughout your lineups. And as previously mentioned, Robinson, Pringle, and Gordon are in play if Hill ends up being in street clothes on Sunday.
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LAR: Matthew Stafford ($6,700), Cooper Kupp ($7,900), Robert Woods ($6,100), DeSean Jackson ($3,700), Van Jefferson ($3,400), Tyler Higbee ($4,400)
The highest projected total in Week 6 belongs to the Chiefs, who are projected to score 30.5 points. Right behind Kansas City are the Los Angeles Rams, who are projected at 28.75 points. The Rams will face a shorthanded New York Giants team on Sunday after getting 10 days of rest from their previous game versus the Seattle Seahawks. Matthew Stafford has been an upgrade for Los Angeles this season and he has Cooper Kupp/Robert Woods as his primary targets. Following a week where we finally got an explosive performance from Woods, Kupp may be in line for the better outing in Week 6. DeSean Jackson, Van Jefferson, and Tyler Higbee are all cheaper guys to use if you want to get exposure to the Rams.
Bring-back options: Devontae Booker ($5,600), Kadarius Toney ($5,700), Sterling Shepard ($5,000), Darius Slayton ($3,800), Evan Engram ($3,400)
Saquon Barkley just can’t catch a break. After having two straight games of looking like his former self, Barkley sustained an unlucky ankle injury in Week 5 due to him accidentally stepping on a defender’s foot. Barkley will miss multiple weeks because of his ankle ailment, giving Devontae Booker a chance to see the bulk of the touches in the backfield. Kenny Golladay has already been ruled out, so Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton all have opportunities to have a large workload in Week 6. Though, all three of them are questionable with injuries ahead of Sunday's contest. Evan Engram is another candidate to see an uptick in his usage due to the myriad of injuries that New York has, but he’s far from a safe option.
LAC: Justin Herbert ($7,300), Austin Ekeler ($7,900), Mike Williams ($8,100), Keenan Allen ($6,400), Jared Cook ($3,200)
I will undoubtedly have exposure to Lamar Jackson and the offense of the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The anticipated matchup between the Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers has the second-highest projected total at 51.5 points. While I like Baltimore’s offense, I have a feeling Justin Herbert and the other members of the Chargers are going to be under-owned this week. Yes, Los Angeles is an expensive stack, but Carson Wentz just threw for 402 yards and two touchdowns versus the hobbled defense of the Ravens. I usually don’t include running backs in my stacks, but Austin Ekeler is an exception as he’s consistently utilized in the passing game. Mike Williams is now priced up at $8,100, making Keenan Allen underpriced at $6,400 on DraftKings. At the tight end position, you could do a lot worse than Jared Cook.
Bring-back options: Latavius Murray ($5,700), Marquise Brown ($5,900), Mark Andrews ($5,200), Devin Duvernay ($3,400)
It’s tough to definitively say who the No. 1 back is for the Ravens right now. Latavius Murray is technically the starter, but Le’Veon Bell, Ty’Son Williams, and Devonta Freeman have all seen playing time in recent weeks. Seeing that Murray continues to start, I’ll side with him against the 31st ranked run defense in terms of DVOA. Marquise Brown is too cheap for the usage he’s seeing and Mark Andrews has a favorable matchup versus the Chargers as he comes off a 44.7 point outing in Week 5. Sammy Watkins has been ruled out, so Devin Duvernay is now in play at $3,400. For those that love to be contrarian, Rashod Bateman could make his debut on Sunday and is the minimum price.
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DAL: Dak Prescott ($7,100), CeeDee Lamb ($6,500), Amari Cooper ($6,000), Dalton Schultz ($4,900), Cedrick Wilson ($3,900)
The offense of the Dallas Cowboys has been one of the most efficient units in the entire NFL. Dak Prescott has been cerebral under center and the two-headed rushing attack of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard is causing headaches for defenses. There are going to be a decent amount of people that stray away from the Cowboys due to a perceived tough matchup against the New England Patriots. However, the Patriots were unable to slow down Davis Mills and the aerial attack of the Houston Texans in Week 5. Both CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper are the main targets in the offense while Dalton Schultz has seen his target share increase since the start of the season. Cedrick Wilson is a dart throw if you’re looking for a salary-saving option at wide receiver.
Bring-back options: Damien Harris ($5,200), Jakobi Meyers ($5,500), Nelson Agholor ($4,000), Hunter Henry ($3,900)
It remains to be seen if Damien Harris can suit up in Week 6. Harris is battling a rib injury he suffered in Week 5, so it’s worth paying attention to his status on Sunday. Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden would see more work in the backfield if Harris is inactive. Jakobi Meyers has a healthy team-high 25% target share on the Patriots, and the defense of the Cowboys is surrendering the sixth-most DraftKings points (43.18) per game to WRs. Nelson Agholor is second on the team in targets and Hunter Henry has seen his role expand in the past two weeks.