An unpredictable Week 6 in the NFL is nearly in the books, with many of the biggest names missing from the top of the fantasy football rankings.
Sure, Jonathan Taylor, De’Von Achane and Jaxon Smith-Njigba turned in their usual strong performances, but the week was filled with relative outliers outperforming expectations. Once again, Rico Dowdle ruled over the running backs in leading the Panthers to an upset victory. That same game produced the week’s top wide receiver as the Cowboys’ George Pickens racked up 168 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions.
Beyond those players, they still weren’t the biggest fantasy winners of the week. And we can’t forget about the losers as well:
Fantasy football winners for Week 6
QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye threw just 26 passes against the New Orleans Saints, but he made them count. He completed 18 of them for 261 yards and three touchdowns and finished as the QB1 for the week. Last time out, Maye focused on WR Stefon Diggs (10 catches, 146 yards), but this week he connected five times with a surprise fantasy stud, Kayshon Boutte, for 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Throw in a 53-yard TD bomb to DeMario Douglas and Maye proved once again that he excels at taking whatever the defenses gives him.
RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
If there was any doubt about who the Chargers’ lead back would be in the wake of Omarion Hampton’s injury, we have the answer. Vidal outsnapped Hassan Haskins — and clearly outplayed him as well — rushing for 124 yards and catching a touchdown pass in a win over the Dolphins. Hampton could be out for longer than the four-week minimum for injured reserve, so Vidal could have some staying power.
RB Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
If there was any doubt about who the Giants’ lead back would be with Tyrone Tracy back after missing the past two weeks with a shoulder injury, we have an answer there, too. Skattebo had his best day as a pro on Thursday night, rushing for 98 yards and three touchdowns. Adding in his two receptions for 12 yards, Skattebo finished as the RB2 for the week (pending Monday night’s games).
WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Thomas slowly seems to be regaining some of the chemistry he had with QB Trevor Lawrence during his rookie season. Against the Seahawks, Thomas set a season high for receiving yards for a second consecutive week, hauling in eight passes for 90 yards and his first touchdown. The Jags offense still sputtered, but at least there are signs of hope for Thomas.
‘TE’ Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
And so it begins … The Taysom Hill Experience 2025 has officially begun. Hill played only nine snaps in his season debut last week, but he played a big role early in Week 6 against the Patriots, taking over for QB Spencer Rattler on a third and goal at the 1. After a play fake, Hill cruised around the opposite end for his first touchdown of the season. Hill’s weekly TD potential and his fantasy eligibility at tight end in most leagues make him worth at least a bench spot in all formats.
Fantasy football losers for Week 6
WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Football fans in London can be forgiven for turning up their noses at American football in much the same way Americans do with British cuisine. And what the Jets served up for Sunday brunch was rather unappetizing. QB Justin Fields completed just nine passes for 45 yards, with Wilson — the WR5 on the season in PPR leagues entering the week — catching just three of his eight targets for 13 yards. (Coverage by Broncos CB Patrick Surtain may have been a factor.) Wilson also spent some time on the sidelines after tweaking his knee.
QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford enjoyed a productive season through the first five weeks, ranking as the QB6 with a huge assist from star WR Puka Nacua. With a matchup against a Ravens defense that ranked next-to-last against the pass, Stafford figured to be primed for a huge game. But that never materialized as Nacua suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter and Stafford (17-for-26, 181 yards, TD) never got rolling. Feels like a serious missed opportunity after the Ravens yielded four TDs to C.J. Stroud and Patrick Mahomes the past two weeks.
WR Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
All hopes of a Ridley resurgence based on his 131 receiving yards in Week 5 were shattered when he went down with a hamstring injury early on and didn’t return. QB Cam Ward continues to be inaccurate as the Titans offense has looked like one of the NFL’s worst through six weeks. If the injury limits Ridley at all going forward, it might be time for fantasy managers to cut him loose.
RB Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
The NFL’s third-leading rusher entered Sunday’s game against a Panthers defense that had given up the third-most fantasy points to running backs. Williams seemed like a smash play. Instead, the Cowboys relied heavily on QB Dak Prescott’s arm as the game turned into a shootout. Williams finished with just 29 yards on 13 carries — and even though he had eight targets in the passing game, he caught five for a mere 5 yards.
RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
A calf injury kept Hubbard from playing for a second consecutive week, elevating backup Rico Dowdle into the lead role. After Dowdle rushed for 206 and 183 yards in Hubbard’s absence, it’s going to be tough for the former starter to get his job back. Even sharing the workload could be a stretch after Dowdle carried the ball a career-high 30 times on Sunday — in addition to catching four passes for 56 yards and a score.
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