Coming off a wild Week 5, we’re back with another 10-game NFL main slate on DraftKings this Sunday. In this space, we’ll walk through the top NFL DFS Picks for Week 6. This slate is an interesting one, and we’ll be digging for diamonds in the rough. Let’s discuss how to best do that on this jam-packed Week 6 NFL DFS slate.
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NFL DFS Picks for Week 6: Finding Diamonds in the Rough
In 2024, if you’re just using NFL DFS projections to make your picks, you’re losing out on more than half the game. DFS is a peer-to-peer game, and what constitutes a good lineup often comes down to what the field is doing.
Our NFL DFS ownership projections are part of the solution, but to get the most out of them, you need our NFL Core Package to access our NFL DFS Sims, which allow you to see the best lineups over thousands of simulated versions of the slate.
Check out our breakdown of our NFL subscriptions for pricing and a detailed overview of the tools and data available at each.
NFL DFS Picks for Week 6: Quarterbacks
Cash: Lamar Jackson (BAL): $7,800
Now that we’ve reached Week 6 of the NFL season and injuries are starting to mount, value plays are starting to open up on DraftKings. Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving looks like an auto-lock in all formats, and his $5,400 price tag opens up a lot of room elsewhere. Even if we disregard Irving, there are plenty of other spend-down options this week, making it pretty easy to just lock Lamar Jackson in as the cash game quarterback.
Jackson is undoubtedly expensive at $7,800, but he comes into Week 6 averaging 26.9 DraftKings points per game – – 2.8 points more than the next closest slate-eligible quarterback. Jackson continues to dazzle with both his arm and legs, and with him matched up with rookie phenom Jayden Daniels, expect the best Jackson and the Ravens have to offer on Sunday. As of this writing, Jackson is projected to be the highest owned quarterback on the slate, and an easy click in cash games.
GPP: Jalen Hurts (PHI): $7,200
As a lifelong Cleveland fan, it pains me to say this, but the Browns are a complete disaster right now. Considering their current quarterback situation, it’s not surprising that the Browns’ defense has caved and looks like a shell of what was one of the best units in football in 2023. As such, opposing offenses continue to have success against Cleveland, and coming off the Eagles’ bye week, Jalen Hurts is popping in both our traditional NFL DFS tools and our NFL DFS Sims.
Though Hurts still doesn’t look quite like the quarterback who led the Eagles to the Super Bowl two years ago, he’s still uber-productive from a DFS standpoint, averaging 19.4 DraftKings points per game through the first five weeks of the season. Stokastic’s NFL DFS Boom/Bust Tool currently has Hurts optimal 16.66% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings. With only 12.1% of lineups expected to roster him, it makes sense why Hurts looks so good from a leverage perspective.
The story is similar in when generating lineups using Stokastic’s NFL DFS Sims, as Hurts is coming in in 13.7% of lineups, behind only Dak Prescott. While Hurts’ floor is probably lower than some of the other quarterbacks in his price range due to Cleveland’s ineptitude, if the Browns can keep this game close, his upside is as high as any signal caller on the slate.
Other quarterbacks to consider for NFL DFS GPPs:Â Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, Justin Fields
NFL DFS Picks for Week 6: Running Backs
Cash: Bucky Irving (TB): $5,400
Speaking of Irving (see above), he is a free square in cash games at $5,400 on DraftKings. A rookie from Oregon, Irving was already nipping at the heels of incumbent starting running back Rachaad White, and with White now out, Tampa Bay’s backfield should belong to Irving on Sunday.
Despite mostly backing up White, Irving has been a spark plug for the Buccaneers’ offense, and he’s been productive averaging 8.5 DraftKings points per game in limited opportunities.
As of this writing, Irving is projected to be optimal an incredible 27.4% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings, per our NFL DFS Sims. Though he is projected to be over-owned with 38.0% of lineups expected to roster him, that number should be closer 100% in cash games.
If you’re not playing Irving in cash games again this week, you’re doing it wrong. It’s that simple.
GPP: Alvin Kamara (NO): $7,700
It’s always nice to be able to roster Alvin Kamara with leverage, and per Stokastic’s Tools, he is the highest-graded leverage play on the entire slate.
Kamara enters Week 6 averaging 24.4 DraftKings points per game, putting him second on the slate behind only Saquon Barkley. Despite his consistent production, however, the field is hesitant to back Kamara on Sunday with Spencer Rattler starting under center for New Orleans. While Rattler probably lowers Kamara’s floor if the rookie quarterback can’t move the ball downfield, Kamara is like Hurts in that his upside is as high as any running back on any given slate he is on.
As of this writing, Kamara is projected to be optimal 27.8% of the time this slate plays out on DraftKings. But with only 20.1% of lineups expected to roster Kamara, it makes sense why he looks so good from a leverage perspective. Stokastic’s Pre-Contest Simulator only confirms these thoughts, as Kamara is showing up in 42.3% of my top 300 lineups. Only Tennesee’s Tony Pollard is showing up more, but Pollard is projected for ownership similar to Irving.
Other running backs to consider for NFL DFS Cash Games & GPPs: Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, James Conner, Josh Jacobs, Bijan Robinson, Tony Pollard, Antonio Gibson
NFL DFS Picks for Week 6: Wide Receivers
Cash: Drake London (ATL): $6,700
Projected to be by far the highest-owned wide receiver on the slate, Drake London is another cash game lock at $6,700. Coming off a sensational game in Week 5 in which London caught 12 balls for 154 yards and a touchdown en route to 36.4 DraftKings points against the Buccaneers, London is still way too cheap at $6,700 for a matchup with the lowly Panthers.
Considering London’s cheap price tag and the excellent matchup, it’s not surprising that he has a 19.14% chance of being optimal on Sunday. As with Irving (in that Reed is currently projected to be over-owned with 24.9% of lineups expected to roster him), his high ownership number should be much higher in cash games.
With Kirk Cousins behind center and seemingly healthy, London has one of the best floor/ceiling combinations on the slate and there’s no reason to get away from him in cash games.
Other wide receivers to consider for NFL Cash Games: CeeDee Lamb, Zay Flowers, Terry McLaurin, Diontae Johnson, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud III
GPP: Noah Brown (WAS): $3,900
We’re going on our weekly trip to the landfill – – so if you don’t enjoy diving in dumpsters like I do, skip to the next section.
All kidding aside, there’s actually a lot to like about Noah Brown this week in tournaments. A former Ohio State Buckeye, Dallas Cowboy and Houston Texan, Brown has seemingly found a home in Washington as the Commanders’ No. 2 receiver behind Terry McLaurin. Prior to missing Week 5 with a groin injury, Brown had caught exactly three passes in each game Weeks 2-4. While that’s not a lot of volume, Brown has big play upside in a game that’s expected to get a good amount of ownership.
Brown is currently projected to be optimal 6.68% of the time this slate happens on DraftKings. With only 2.9% of lineups expected to roster him, Brown is getting mostly forgotten about, and he’s easy to get over the field on in tournaments. Stokastic’s Pre-Contest Simulator only confirms these sentiments as Brown is currently showing up in 7.7% of my top 300 lineups. Only Ray-Ray McCloud and Diontae Johnson are coming in with higher leverage, and Brown looks like an elite differentiator in tournaments.
Other wide receivers to consider for NFL DFS GPPs: Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, Mike Evans, Jayden Reed, Chris Olave, Diontae Johnson, Amari Cooper, George Pickens, Xavier Legette, DeMario Douglas, Ray-Ray McCloud, Tre Tucker
NFL DFS Picks for Week 6: Tight Ends
Cash: Jake Ferguson (DAL): $5,000
Tight end has been mostly a dead zone in 2024, but that seems to be ever so slightly shifting as we head into Week 6. Though the first five weeks didn’t offer much clarity at the position for cash games, Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson is the clear top option this week. Getting some exposure to the Dallas-Detroit game is imperative in cash games, and Ferguson is projected to be head and shoulders the highest owned tight end on the board.
Ferguson enters Week 6 averaging only 11.2 DraftKings points per game, but he’s been peppered with targets, accumulating 25 over the past three games. While there’s plenty of reason to fade the chalky tight end in tournaments, there’s no reason to get away from Ferguson in cash games.
GPP TE Options: Trey McBride, Sam LaPorta, Ja’Tavion Sanders
NFL DFS Picks for Week 6: D/ST
Cash DST Options: Titans, Buccaneers
GPP DST Options: Steelers, Eagles, Raiders
For more NFL DFS Picks and analysis, tune into Live Before Lock every Sunday!
