Week 6 brings the heaviest bye week of the season so far. Detroit, Miami, Minnesota, and Cincinnati are all off, which means no Jahmyr Gibbs, no Ja'Marr Chase, and no Jared Goff in your lineup this weekend. If you're scrambling to fill holes, you're not alone. MyGameSim's NFL Start or Sit tool ranks every position using projected fantasy points from our game simulations, so you can find the best replacements fast.
Here are the top projected players at each spot for Week 6. These numbers come straight from our model, not consensus rankings, so expect a few names you might not have on your radar.
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen tops the QB board for the third straight week, projecting for 24.5 fantasy points at Las Vegas. Kirk Cousins comes in third at 22.0 on the other side of that matchup, which tells you our sims expect points in this one. Bills at Raiders is the game to target this week, and you'll see it come up at almost every position.
Brock Purdy (23.3) is second, hosting Washington on Monday night. Matthew Stafford (21.7 vs. Arizona), Deshaun Watson (21.5 vs. Baltimore), Jalen Hurts (21.5 vs. Carolina), and C.J. Stroud (21.2 at Jacksonville) are all bunched together just behind him. If you lost Goff or Burrow to a bye, Watson and Jameis Winston (19.6 vs. New Orleans) are the best streaming options on the board. The full QB Start or Sit list has every option.
Running Backs
James Cook III posts the biggest projection we've seen all season at 30.5 points at Las Vegas. Bijan Robinson isn't far behind at 29.1 hosting Chicago. Those two are in a tier of their own this week, and if you have either one, you're starting with a big edge.
Kyren Williams (24.9 vs. Arizona) and Rhamondre Stevenson (24.9 vs. the Jets) make a strong second tier. Stevenson is the name that stands out most from consensus, and our sims expect the Patriots to lean on him heavily. Kenneth Walker III (22.4 vs. the Chargers), Bucky Irving (21.7 vs. Pittsburgh), and Saquon Barkley (21.2 vs. Carolina) all clear 21 points. Jonathan Taylor, Jaylen Warren, and Derrick Henry round out the top ten. With Gibbs on bye, plenty of managers will be looking for an RB1 replacement, so check the RB projections before you set your lineup.
Wide Receivers
The receiver board is wide open this week. Garrett Wilson leads at 16.7 projected points at New England, with Drake London (16.5 vs. Chicago) right behind him. Chris Olave (14.9 at the Giants) has shown up near the top of these rankings almost every week, and he's a steady WR2 again.
Mike Evans (14.8) gets a good matchup with the 49ers hosting Washington on Monday night. Davante Adams (14.1) and Keon Coleman (13.9) come next, and Coleman is the most interesting name here because he's another way to get a piece of the Bills at Raiders game. Matthew Golden (13.8) and CeeDee Lamb (13.1) both play in Sunday night's Cowboys at Packers game. Tetairoa McMillan and George Pickens round out the top ten. With Chase out, the full WR Start or Sit page will help you find the best replacement.
Tight Ends
Brock Bowers bounces back in a big way at 16.2 projected points against Buffalo. After a quiet projection last week, he's not only the top tight end on the board but also outscores every wide receiver this week. Start him with confidence.
Isaiah Likely (13.5 vs. New Orleans) is a clear second and has turned into a reliable weekly starter. Dalton Kincaid (10.4) gives you yet another way into Bills at Raiders. Dalton Schultz (10.1), George Kittle (9.9), and Trey McBride (9.2) round out the TE1 group. If you need a cheap streamer, Juwan Johnson (7.6 at the Giants) is the best value on the list. Check the full TE Start or Sit rankings for more.
Kickers and Defense
Spencer Shrader leads all kickers at 12.6 projected points against Tennessee, with Tyler Bass (12.5) and Harrison Mevis (11.1) right behind him. On defense, the Rams are the top play at 20.0 points against Arizona, followed by the Jets at 19.0. The Giants and Browns both project for 15.0, and either one is a strong streaming option if your usual defense is on bye. The Broncos come in at 11.0, so you'll need to decide on them before Thursday night.
Need help with a flex spot? The FLEX board puts running backs, receivers, and tight ends on one list so you can compare them directly.
Games to Watch
Thursday night's Seahawks and Broncos game kicks off the week, so lock in any Seattle or Denver players before then. Houston and Jacksonville open Sunday with an early-morning kickoff, so make sure C.J. Stroud and Dalton Schultz are set before you go to bed Saturday. The Bills at Raiders game is the one fantasy managers will be watching most, with Allen, Cook, Cousins, Bowers, Kincaid, and Coleman all near the top of their positions. Sunday night's Cowboys at Packers matchup gives you Lamb, Pickens, Golden, and Jordan Love. Monday night's Commanders at 49ers game features Purdy, Evans, and Kittle.
How to use this
Our Start or Sit grades combine projected fantasy points with opposing defensive strength from the same simulations. Players with higher projections and softer matchups rise to the top. That doesn't mean you should bench a proven star for every surprise name, but when the model and your gut disagree, take a second look.
Free users can see the top of each position list. GameSim+ unlocks the full Week 6 Start or Sit board, plus detailed player projections for every game on the slate. Good luck this week.
