No one needs to be told to start Patrick Mahomes or Derrick Henry on their fantasy team. But what about the flex tight-end/ wide-receiver position? What about that one running back on waivers that might be able to fill in a spot for a starting running back on a bye week? Well, this is the place to find the important information in terms of fantasy football, as well as to get a second opinion on who to start or sit this week.

START

QB: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Although he isn’t a blue-chip prospect like QB Derek Carr or QB Baker Mayfield, Hurts has posted QB1 numbers every week he has played so far. Last week saw Hurts throw for only 115 yards, he salvaged his week with 2 rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown, combined with a two-point conversion. Hurts has posted at least 20 points (non-PPR) in each of his 6 starts, and should be a top-end QB1 option on the trade market or on waivers if he’s available. He gets an amazing matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who throttled QB Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos to the tune of 3 sacks, but have struggled mightily this season against top-tier mobile quarterbacks like QB Lamar Jackson and QB Justin Fields.

Projection: 20.25 points (non-PPR)

RB: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

Chuba Hubbard has dominated backfield touches for the Carolina Panthers ever since RB Christian McCaffery went down with a hamstring injury, and looks to continue his brisk pace against a Giants defense that has let the 4th most rushing yards this season in the NFL. Hubbard is an amazing start and pickup as well considering that Christian McCaffery looks to be out for at least 3 more games, increasing Hubbard’s fantasy outlook. Hubbard looks to be a low-end RB2 and high-end RB3 and FLEX in 12-man leagues, especially considering Carolina’s revamped approach of running the football and checking down to the running back that would take the ball away from the hands of the turnover-bugged QB Sam Darnold.

Projection: 12.5 points (non-PPR)

WR: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

With WR Devante Parker and WR Preston Williams out for the week, Jaylen Waddle had a career day against the Jaguars with 70 yards on 10 receptions for 2 touchdowns in a 20-23 loss. With Parker returning to the squad after a hamstring injury, Waddle’s fantasy outlook dims a little, but he should still receive plenty of targets as the main slot receiver for QB Tua Tagovailoa, who seems to have turned into the new Checkdown King of the NFL. With a game coming up against the Falcons, Waddle should at least get close to replicating his total he had against the Jaguars, who run a man-to-man defense under defensive coordinator Dean Pees, which is susceptible to big plays from speedsters like Waddle.

Projection: 10.2 Points (non-PPR)

TE: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

The Patriots offense might have a desolate outlook considering the lack of talent at any skill positions, but Hunter Henry has clearly cemented himself as the top option in this offense beside WR Jakobi Meyers. There were concerns about his productivity within this untalented offense, especially since he would be competing for snaps with TE Jonnu Smith. However, after having three touchdowns in the past three games and being the apparent safety blanket for QB Mac Jones, Henry is a solid TE1 option, especially after Smith’s mental miscues.

Projection: 9.8 points (non-PPR)

K: Matt Prater, Arizona Cardinals

The 6-0 Arizona Cardinals have decimated all but one of their opponents in landslide victories, and look to resume that with a game against the lowly Texans. This projection is mostly predicated on the fact that the Cardinals high-powered offense will steam-roll the Texans’ defense and revert to the running game to chew the clock, leading to a couple of 4th downs at the 30-yard line, which in turn gives way to a couple of field goals for Prater. Prater, 37, is as good of a kicker as he ever was, and now has an opportunity to rack up the points to solidify himself as a high-end fantasy starting kicker.

Projection: 10.0 points (Non-PPR)

DEF: The Carolina Panthers

Although the Panthers have suffered three straight losses ever since going 3-0, their defense remains top-notch despite the offensive woes of QB Sam Darnold. Their only bad day fantasy-wise was against the Cowboys, where they played better than their points would suggest. The Panthers get a relatively easy game against the Giants, who have WR Kadarious Toney. This should be a good matchup considering their stat sheet over the past two weeks, with two fumble recoveries, a safety, a blocked kick, a touchdown, an interception, and two sacks.

Projection: 9.0 points (Non-PPR)

SIT

QB: Daniel Jones, New York Giants

QB Daniel Jones was on fire for the Giants until he suffered a concussion against the Cowboys in Week 5, leading to him going out and not being the same against the Rams. This should be no different, as he faces a stingy Panthers defense allowing only 20.2 PPG to opposing offenses, and 19.35 points (1 point per 25 yards non-PPR) to opposing quarterbacks. This matchup will be especially tough for Jones as WR Kenny Golladay and WR Kadarious Toney will be out for the week, as will OT Andrew Thomas, which compounds the struggles for an already putrid offensive line. Although WR Darius Slayton will be returning to play alongside WR Sterling Shepard, Jones will struggle to find targets with CB Stephon Gilmore returning to an already impressive secondary featuring CB C.J. Henderson and CB James Bradberry. Added to the fact is that Jones has been turnover prone over the span of his career, and that might spell ‘disaster’ against one of the best defenses turnover-wise in the NFL.

Projected: 13.9 points (non-PPR)

RB: Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

RB Josh Jacobs had a big day against the Denver Broncos, with 56 rushing yards and a touchdown added to 29 receiving yards, but that is forecasted to change against the Philadelphia Eagles. Although the Eagles statistically have been soft against the run, they feature a front four with DE Derek Barnett, DT Fletcher Cox, DE Ryan Kerrigan, and Defensive Player of the Year front runner DT Javon Hargrave. With this game featuring to be a shootout due to the atrocious Raiders defense, the Raiders will be forced to pass it more, leading to less chances for Jacobs, who is only averaging 3.2 YPC (Yards Per Carry), leading to a less efficient night for him. Add that to the fact that RB Kenyan Drake has been the featured third-down and goal-line back, and Jacobs’ projected fantasy points drop drastically.

Projection: 6.8 points (non-PPR)

WR: Marquez Callaway, New Orleans

In a week against a decent Seahawks defense, it looks as though Callaway might have a bigger role considering his production in Week 5 against the Washington Football Team, but almost 80% of the yardage came on a halftime Hail Mary. Callaway has not consistently shown any WR3 potential, and with RB Alvin Kamala looking to increase his pass workload against a relatively weak Seahawks line backing corp devoid of talent besides LB Bobby Wagner, Callaway has a good chance of having a letdown this week.

Projection: 4.2 points (non-PPR)

TE: T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions had a big letdown against the Cincinnati Bengals, and that is projected to continue with a matchup against a stingy Rams defense. Although TE T.J. Hockenson was one of the few bright spots on this dreary offense, he goes up against a linebacking corps that has locked down tight ends consistently, including against TE Rob Gronkowski and the Buccaneers. Hockenson may be talented, but this projection comes as a result of a putrid offense playing against a top tier Rams defense that remains stingy even when their backups are on the field, leading to less garbage time production. Hockenson should be a TE2 with garbage-time TE1 upside.

Projection: 6.2 points (non-PPR)

K: Nick Folk, New England Patriots

This may seem like a surprising inclusion considering the middling Jets defense the Patriots are facing, which often allows teams to get in the red zone, and then stiffens up inside the 5. However, with the revamped Patriots offense that tore apart the Cowboys with a strong rushing attack and a deep passing scheme, this projects to be a game where the Patriots can lay back and relax, throwing themselves into a big lead and chewing the clock. Combining that with the struggles of rookie QB Zach Wilson on the opposite side of the field leads to the conclusion that K Nick Folk may not have to kick that much. Additionally, Folk has been on the injury report with a lingering knee issue, reducing his range and leading to many more 4th down attempts, which often lead to touchdowns or turnover on downs.

Projection: 6 points (non-PPR)

DEF: Chicago Bears

This Chicago Bears defense is talented, focused and disciplined, but much of that gets thrown out the window when they face the Buccaneers at Raymond James stadium who have a talented receiving corps that features WR Mike Evans, WR Chris Godwin and WR Antonio Brown, not to mention the fact that QB Tom Brady is the quarterback and RB Leonard Fournette is firing on all cylinders. The Bears simply don’t have enough secondary help to compete against the Buccaneers’ firepower, and although their pass rush has been effective this season, they haven’t faced an offensive line as strong as the Buccaneers. This should be an instant sit, despite Antonio Brown’s relatively insignificant ankle injury.

Projection: 0.00 Points (non-PPR)