Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins (28) runs the ball and is tacked by New Orleans Saints safety Jonas Sanker (33) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Aug. 10, 2025.

Many fantasy football managers are heading into Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season with their squads bruised and battered.

Many top-tier fantasy contributors have been injured in the early stages of the 2025 campaign. Joe Burrow, James Conner, Bucky Irving, Omarion Hampton, Tyreek Hill, Malik Nabers and CeeDee Lamb are just a handful of the top-end contributors who have been sidelined by injuries.

As a result, fantasy managers have had to scour the waiver wire for potential replacements and make some grueling start 'em, sit 'em decisions.

Those trusting the Cardinals backfield in Week 5 after Trey Benson was placed on IR got a taste of just how difficult those start/sit choices can be. Many scooped up Emari Demercado thinking he would be the next man up on Arizona's depth chart; instead, Michael Carter was the backfield leader and out-touched Demercado 23-3 during Sunday's action.

In Week 6, fantasy managers will be met with similar concerns within committee backfields as they search for bye week replacements for the likes of Jordan Mason, Nick Chubb, Justin Jefferson and Nico Collins.

USA TODAY Sports outlines 16 players to start or sit in your fantasy matchups this week.

Fantasy football players to start in Week 6

Quarterbacks

  • Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (at Baltimore Ravens)

The Ravens are ravaged by injuries at all levels of their defense, which has led Baltimore to allow a league-high 35.4 points per game entering Week 6. Stafford has thrown for 375 yards and three touchdowns in back-to-back games, making this an ideal spot in which to back the 37-year-old veteran.

  • Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (at Miami Dolphins)

Fantasy managers may be inclined to sit Herbert given that he has only logged one total touchdown in each of his last three starts. That said, the Dolphins are allowing the third-most FPPG to quarterbacks, including a league-high four rushing touchdowns to the position. Herbert just scrambled for 60 yards against the Commanders, so his floor is higher than normal in this juicy matchup.

Running backs

  • Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (vs. Dallas Cowboys)

Even if Chuba Hubbard returns from the calf injury that kept him out in Week 5, you can still start Dowdle. The 27-year-old just racked up 206 rushing yards against the Dolphins and now gets to face a Cowboys team that is allowing the sixth-most FPPG to running backs.

Oh yeah, this is also a revenge game for Dowdle – who spent the first four seasons of his career in Dallas but wasn't re-signed during the offseason – so it's safe to say he should be motivated for this one.

  • Hassan Haskins, Los Angeles Chargers (at Miami Dolphins)

Speaking of Dowdle's big performance, it came against a Dolphins defense that has allowed a league-high 668 rushing yards to running backs this season. Omarion Hampton is going on IR with an ankle injury, which should position one of his backups, Haskins or Kimani Vidal, for a big day. Vidal is the more explosive back, but Haskins (6-2, 228 pounds) figures to get a larger volume of carries and the team's goal-line work. Feel free to trust him if you're desperate at RB or need flex help.

Wide receivers

  • A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (at New York Giants)

Brown has had a frustrating season to date. Still, he produced a respectable five catches for 43 yards in a tough Week 5 matchup against Pat Surtain and could've caught a long touchdown had Jalen Hurts not overthrown him. Expect Brown to have a breakout game on "Thursday Night Football" against a Giants team that has allowed the second-most receiving yards to wide-outs this season (924).

  • Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

Ridley showed signs of life in Week 5, nearly doubling his season-long receiving total with a five-catch, 131-yard showing against the Cardinals. He should continue to improve as he builds more chemistry with Cam Ward and has a good matchup against a Raiders defense that has allowed 70 receptions to wide receivers, tied for second most in the NFL.

Tight end

  • Evan Engram, Denver Broncos (at New York Jets)

Engram has seen 13 targets over his last two games and caught his first touchdown with the Broncos in their win over the Eagles. The Jets have allowed a league-high five touchdowns to tight ends, so don't be afraid to back Engram in this favorable matchup.

Defense/special teams:

  • New England Patriots (at New Orleans Saints)

The Patriots just forced the Bills into three turnovers after Buffalo had just one total over the first four weeks. Now, Mike Vrabel's squad is facing a New Orleans team that has surprisingly allowed only three turnovers through five weeks. Expect that to change, as Spencer Rattler's nine turnover-worthy plays are tied for second-most in the league behind Geno Smith while the second-year quarterback has been sacked nine times.

Fantasy football players to sit in Week 6

Quarterbacks

  • Justin Fields, New York Jets (vs. Denver Broncos)

No team playing in Week 6 has allowed fewer FPPG to quarterbacks than the Broncos. Denver has also allowed a league-low 15 rushing yards to the position and is fresh off a game during which it limited Jalen Hurts to three yards on two runs. That could prove problematic for Fields, as his legs are his biggest fantasy asset.

  • Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)

There may be some temptation to start Tagovailoa, as he has posted multiple touchdowns in four consecutive games and had a season-high three scores in Week 5 against the Panthers. However, the Chargers have only allowed four passing touchdowns to quarterbacks all season, and no more than one in a single game. That could limit Tagovailoa's ceiling in a game-script that should be more favorable for running back De'Von Achane.

Running backs

  • Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (at Green Bay Packers)

It may not be easy to bench Brown given the injuries that are piling up at running back around the NFL. Still, the Bengals offensive line has struggled immensely this season, which has led Brown to average 2.5 yards per carry, worst in the league among 44 qualifiers, and just 51 total yards per game.

The Packers have allowed the fourth-fewest FPPG to RBs, though their 6.5 receptions allowed per game to the position could inspire hope for fantasy managers in PPR leagues. Still, Brown has a low floor and ceiling combination in this tough matchup.

  • Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals (at Indianapolis Colts)

Carter had 23 total touches in the Cardinals' 22-21 loss to the Titans but turned them into just 73 yards. His 2.8 yards per carry average wasn't overly impressive despite playing a Tennessee defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards to running backs this season (613). That likely relegates Carter to a role as a TD-dependent flex against a Colts defense that has allowed just two rushing touchdowns to running backs this season (tied for fifth-fewest in the NFL).

Wide receivers

  • Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Williams is a big-play threat who is averaging 20.3 yards per reception, but he hasn't posted more than two catches in a game since Week 1. The Chiefs have been good against receivers this season, so Williams' ceiling as a boom-or-bust flex probably isn't worth chasing in this matchup.

  • Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Bourne is fresh off a 10-catch, 142-yard outing in the 49ers' overtime win over the Rams in Week 5. Could he repeat those numbers? It's possible, but it may not be likely with Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall potentially returning from injury.

If only one returns, Bourne could be a viable flex play given his chemistry with Mac Jones. But if both are back, Bourne probably won't have the volume needed to be a top-tier fantasy contributor in Week 6.

Tight end

  • Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Buffalo Bills)

Pitts has had a nice start to the 2025 NFL season, but he gets a tough matchup against a Bills team that has allowed just 11 catches, 113 yards and one touchdown to the position through five games. Buffalo just limited Juwan Johnson to a three-catch, 28-yard outing and Hunter Henry to two catches for 46 yards, so expect similarly unspectacular results for Pitts.

Defense/special teams:

  • Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

The Jaguars lead the NFL in takeaways through Week 5, but they are going against a red-hot Seahawks offense in Week 6. Sam Darnold just threw for 341 yards, four touchdowns and an interception against the Buccaneers, so it's probably best to leave Jacksonville on the bench in this matchup.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in Week 6

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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