Fantasy Football Sleepers: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Week 6 (RotoBaller Staff Picks)

RotoBaller staff's fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and start 'em sit 'em picks for Week 6 of 2025. Expert lineup advice from Adam Koffler, Scott Engel, and Thunder Dan Palyo.

All of a sudden, we're already onto Week 6 of the fantasy football season, and the flurry of injuries is surely requiring many fantasy managers to identify sleepers and streaming options to put together viable starting lineups. Our experts are here to help with those Week 6 lineup calls.

It's time for the next edition of our RotoBaller staff start-or-sit calls. Three of the industry's best analysts are here to break down 19 potential sleepers and busts ahead of the full slate of Week 6 NFL action.

These fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and busts are from top RotoBaller contributors Adam Koffler, Scott Engel, and Thunder Dan Palyo. Good luck in Week 6!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

2025 fantasy football rankings

Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings

Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings

Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings

Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings

FLEX fantasy football rankings

Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings

Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings

Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Week 6 Fantasy Football Sleepers - Start 'Em Picks

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders vs. Bears (Adam Koffler)

The takeover finally happened for Bill in Week 5. He garnered an 80% RB opportunity share before the final drive of the game when Chris Rodriguez Jr. saw four “garbage time” touches. Croskey-Merritt is PFF’s highest-graded rusher (90.1) through five weeks and leads all running backs in yards per carry (6.6). He’s also fifth in avoided tackle rate (34.9%). In Week 6, he gets a juicy matchup vs. a Bears team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to RBs (25.1).

Kendrick Bourne, 49ers vs. Buccaneers (Thunder Dan)

We don't have an official word on Ricky Pearsall or Jauan Jennings for Sunday's game yet, and Friday's practice report will hopefully give us more clarity. But as of right now, it's looking dicey for both guys to return this week, which would allow Bourne to continue as the top option in the passing game. He popped off for 10-142 last week against the Rams and could see a ton of volume again this week against a pass-funnel Tampa defense.

Troy Franklin, Broncos at Jets (Scott Engel)

In the preseason, some hype continued to follow Franklin. He was viewed as a post-hype sleeper of sorts. Then he caught six passes for 89 yards in Week 2 and was widely recommended as a hot waiver wire add. Since then, the results have not even been mediocre. In his past three games, Franklin hasn’t registered five receptions, 60 yards, or a TD reception. So it takes a leap of faith to stream Franklin in Week 6. But I like his chances against the Jets, who rank 21st in receiving yards allowed to opposing WRs. Outside of Sauce Gardner, there is no one to fear in the New York secondary, and I am not sure he should be feared anymore, either. Courtland Sutton will draw heavy defensive attention, opening up some space for Franklin to operate.

Mason Taylor, Jets vs. Broncos (Adam Koffler)

With 25 targets in the last three games, Taylor looks like the clear-cut number two option in the Jets’ passing attack. Against the Broncos, that’s a very valuable role as the WR1 typically finds themselves stranded on Surtain Island. The Jets' defense has been poor this season, which has led to 70 routes run for Taylor in his last two games (to go along with a formidable 26% target share). The rookie tight end out of LSU was also the Jets’ highest-graded offensive player in Week 5. Taylor should easily earn another 7-9 targets in London on Sunday.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Browns (Thunder Dan)

Warren missed the Steelers' week 4 game in London, and his backup, Kenneth Gainwell, ran all over a weak Minnesota front-seven. He's had another full week to rest up with the bye week and should be ready to retake the starting job this week. While the Browns have a top-3 run defense, a lot of Warren's value comes from his usage as a receiver. I expect to see him get a ton of targets from Aaron Rodgers in this one as he looks to dump it off to Warren and avoid the Browns' pass rush

Tre Tucker, Raiders vs. Titans (Scott Engel)

Tucker carries upside, and Geno Smith never hesitates to throw deep. But Tucker is unreliable, and fantasy players can’t seem to anticipate when he might explode statistically or simply bust for the week. Smith’s play has also regressed since he left Seattle. He seems to be more turnover-prone than he was with the Seahawks. The Tennessee defense, though, presents an opportunity for Tucker to deliver a spike statistical week. The Titans rank 25th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to opposing WRs. Stream Tucker with some confidence this week, as he should get deep a few times, and can take off for the end zone once he gets behind defenders.

Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys at Panthers (Adam Koffler)

With both CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin out in Week 5, Flournoy was thrust into a big role. The former sixth-round pick out of Southeast Missouri State made the most of his opportunity, catching six passes for 114 yards, while rushing for another 10 yards on two carries. He earned a team-high nine targets on just 18 routes (0.50 targets per route run!) People in Dallas are now calling him the next Miles Austin. The Cowboys have an implied team total of 26.2 points in Week 6 against a Panthers team that has scored a lot of points on their home turf. This game has shootout potential, and Flournoy is one of the likely beneficiaries. If you like high ceilings, he’s your upside WR3/flex play in Week 6.

Calvin Ridley, Titans at Raiders (Thunder Dan)

Listen, I don't want to have to start Ridley any more than you do, but with injuries and bye weeks on my rosters, I think I am going to roll him out in some leagues this week. Last week could have been a fluke as he went 5-131 against Arizona, but the 10 targets were very promising and his most this season. We know he still can be a deep threat; it's just a matter of his QB getting him the ball and that Tennessee offense staying on the field long enough to get into some type of rhythm. The matchup with the Raiders' secondary is an exploitable one.

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