This article will highlight some of the week’s highest-projected NFL DFS picks today at each position on the main slate for DraftKings and FanDuel, all based off Awesemo’s NFL DFS projections and models. Week 6 has lots of injury news to cover, and bye weeks are starting to mix in. There are three games on the slate with totals of 50 or more points, but the Chiefs at the Washington Football (55.5 over/under) has the highest total of the week by far. The Ravens vs. the Chargers (52) and the Patriots vs. the Cowboys (50.5) are both projected to be higher scoring games.
We will provide insight into ownership projections and matchup information. Be sure to subscribe to Awesemo to access the full DFS site projections, ownership projections and other great tools each week.
Week 6 NFL DFS Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel
QB Lamar Jackson | Grades: A, Values: A
Lamar Jackson is arguably coming off his best passing game as a pro. He threw for over 400 yards in the Ravens comeback win against the Colts last Monday night and did so in an insanely efficient manner. Jackson completed over 85% of his passes against the Colts (who were down to one healthy cornerback by the end of the game) and threw for 10.3 yards per pass. When factoring in his rushing upside (14 carries last week), the fact he is only the third-most expensive quarterback on this Week 6 slate and well under $8,000 on DraftKings makes him stand out immediately.
The matchup against the Chargers is an interesting one. They have held opponents to under 6.8 yards per pass attempt and allowed the seventh-fewest yards passing. However, they are dead last in yards per carry against and play at the 12th fastest pace in the league. The Chargers and Browns each ran 68 plays last week, and that kind of volume is going to make this game fertile ground for Jackson. He has the highest points projection at quarterback by over 2 points this week and has one of the top plays for Week 6, regardless of position.
Projected NFL DFS Ownership: DraftKings: 12.1%
RB Darrell Henderson Jr. | Grades: B, Values: B
Darrell Henderson Jr. had an injury scare last week but finished the game with over 80 yards rushing and 4.81 yards per carry. The better news might be that Henderson was the clear favorite for touches when he came back in despite Sony Michel seizing a touchdown when he was off for a bit. Michel only averaged 3.4 yards per carry against Seattle, so this situation does not appear to be heading towards a 50/50 split anytime soon. The matchup in Week 6 also potentially means a heavy dose of Henderson, as the Rams are 10.5-point favorites against a Giants team that saw its top three skill players go down with injuries last week (while already having other injury issues at wide receiver).
Teams have rushed 29.6 times per game against New York (seventh highest in the league), and the Giants also make for a good upside matchup for a bell-cow running back. They are allowing 4.7 yards per carry (fourth worst in the league) and Henderson’s projections show that a big game could be simmering. He has the sixth-best projection for this Sunday’s main slate while only being the 14th-most expensive player at his position. Everything points to solid usage for Henderson, who should finally smash through for the ceiling game if he can stay on the field.
Projected NFL DFS Ownership: DraftKings: 17.3%
WR Terry McLaurin | Grades: B, Values: B
Terry McLaurin and his quarterback had a predictably awful day last week against a tough Saints secondary. New Orleans held McLaurin to just four catches and 46 yards on 11 targets. The conversion rate is awful, and any longer-term dip in play from Taylor Heinicke could be very problematic for McLaurin’s fantasy production the rest of the way. However, do not let those concerns distract from a premier matchup for fantasy purposes. The Chiefs defense in 2021 has been horrendous, and they come in having allowed 8.9 yards per pass attempt and 7.1 yards per play (last in the NFL).
McLaurin may not have a great catch rate, but he is still averaging 13.8 yards per catch and leads all Washington receivers in red-zone looks. Fading McLaurin against tough pass defenses makes sense, but like when he played Atlanta (123 yards. two touchdowns), playing him against weak ones makes just as much sense. For DraftKings purposes, he is one of just five wide receivers on the main slate with a projection of 18 or more fantasy points and still has an affordable salary. Do not let one bad game sway from going back to him (for at least one week) in a prime matchup.
Projected NFL DFS Ownership: DraftKings: 13.9%
TE Noah Fant | Grades: B, Values: B
Tight end continues to be a week-to-week adventure. Week 5 saw a couple min-priced plays and cheap options produce and lead teams to big wins in GPPs. The model this week does not have any of the expensive options at this position going for huge weeks, but it does like the outlook for Noah Fant. Fant got a bit banged up in last week’s game and was not in a great matchup either against the Steelers. He still managed three catches, but more importantly, he is playing on nearly every snap for a Broncos team that is getting hit with injury issues at receiver. It hasn’t translated to a big fantasy payday yet, but the Awesemo projections clearly think that sticking with him for at least the short-term is a good idea, as he has the third-highest points projection for his position on Week 6’s main slate.
Fant ranks second on Denver in targets and has a solid matchup against the Raiders, whose defense has crumbled a bit over the last two weeks and allowed three touchdowns to Fant’s position over the last two games. Something seems to be percolating, and the opportunities for Fant should keep coming given Denver’s weakened receiving core. He is one of the better pay-down options in a matchup that could bring out the upside gamers have been waiting to see in 2021.
Projected NFL DFS Ownership: DraftKings: 7.9%
Top NFL DFS Stack: Bengals
The Bengals passing offense has been held back by its lack of attempts in 2021, as Cincinnati is throwing the ball just 29 times per game. They did throw a season-high 38 times last week, though, and their defense has given up consecutive games of 24 or more points and have only managed three sacks in their last two games. This is all to suggest that maybe this is the week where Joe Burrow airs it out more. The Detroit stadium is a fast-paced arena where Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase should be able to attack a weak Detroit secondary that is suffering with injury issues and has allowed a league-worst 9.3 yards per pass attempt.
Burrow and Chase are averaging 19.5 yards per connection, while the Lions are essentially a big-play factory through the air and rank second-to-last in yards per play. Even if the Cincinnati defense gives up some points, Burrow has the chance to reach 300 yards and multiple touchdowns off 25 attempts alone. The top end of the stacking projections is tight this week, but Burrow and his skill group have the best chance of being the top stack and do not have huge ownership projections as of writing. It is a good week to take a flier on a monster day from a burgeoning young quarterback.
Projected NFL DFS Ownership: Quarterback Ownership DraftKings: 5.3%%
Thanks for reading to the end of this article! If you appreciate this free content and want to see more of it every day, you can help us out by sharing this article on social media!
[NFLPAGE]
