FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast
Episode: 6 Must-Start Players for Week 6 | The Primer (Ep. 1764)
Date: October 10, 2025
Hosts: Seth Wilcock, Derek Brown (DBro)
Episode Overview
In this Week 6 “Primer” episode, hosts Seth Wilcock and Derek Brown break down six must-start “sleeper” players poised for breakout fantasy performances in the coming slate. Blending deep-dive analytics, matchup insights, and banter, they scrutinize key positions (QB, RB, WR, TE), defending their picks for managers navigating byes, injuries, and tough lineup calls. Expect actionable advice, context on usage trends, plus candid discussion of fantasy process and a few laughs.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Quarterback: Jared Goff’s Revenge Game?
(Start of discussion: 03:11)
- Goff’s Week 6 Prospects: Derek highlights Jared Goff, down at QB18 in fantasy points per game but leading the NFL in passing touchdowns, top-12 in yards per attempt and highly accurate throw rate.
- Matchup Breakdown: Kansas City’s defense is solid, but their weakness is against play action, where Goff excels:
- 3rd highest play action drop-back rate in the NFL
- 4th in yards per attempt, 2nd in passing TDs on play action
- Chiefs are giving up the highest YPA and third-highest passer rating versus play action.
- Lions’ Game Script: Detroit’s banged-up secondary means KC likely pushes them, forcing Goff to throw a ton.
- Seth notes: Goff leads the league in QBR, #7 in “money throws,” and is seeing red zone passing opportunities.
“Jared Goff is playing amazing football... He leads the freaking NFL in passing touchdowns. He’s top 12 and highly accurate throw rate and hero throw rate.”
— Derek Brown (04:05)
Memorable stat:
- Goff’s current 8.3% TD rate is unsustainable, but he’s backed by high volume and usage.
2. Running Back: Hassan Haskins & Kamani Vidal as Flex Fliers
(Start of discussion: 07:35)
- Situation: With Amarian Hampton out, Haskins (RB35) and Vidal (RB37) split work almost evenly last week. Both are “flex worthy” for Week 6.
- Talent Lean: Vidal edges out Haskins due to better per-carry production and explosiveness:
- Vidal: 2.83 yards after contact per carry (career), 3 runs of 10+ yards, forced missed tackles at a 17% clip.
- Haskins: 2.54 YAC/carry, only 2 runs of 10+ yards over 65 carries.
- Dolphins Run Defense: Miami is allowing the most rushing yards per game, highest explosive run rate, and is bottom-5 in missed tackle rate.
- Game Script Possibility: Both could see enough volume; either could produce based on how the Chargers-Dolphins plays out.
“Honestly, both of them are flex worthy. There is a world we could be living in where... both of these guys, the bar to be a flexworthy player is very low.”
— Derek Brown (09:14)
Seth adds:
- Miami also allows the 2nd-most receiving yards to backs; even on limited touches, both runners have upside.
- Predicts Chargers could blow out Miami, opening up garbage-time production.
3. Wide Receiver: Josh Downs’ Opportunity Against Arizona
(Start: 12:34)
- Usage Trend: Downs saw a season-high 72% route share, 21.9% target share, and 11.4 PPR points last week.
- Matchup: Cardinals have allowed the 5th-most fantasy points and 2nd-most yards to slot WRs this season.
- Role Growth: After a slow start and split routes with Tyler Warren, Downs’ opportunity is ascending.
- Floor/Ceiling: Volume play, but scoring could turn him into a high-upside WR2 for the week.
“The matchup this week is really, really good. Cardinals... have struggled to defend slot receivers. They’ve given up the 5th most fantasy points per game to opposing slot receivers and the second most receiving yards to the position. So Josh Downs wheels up.”
— Derek Brown (13:09)
Memorable moment:
- “Take the stat line from last week and you take the 11.4 in PPR, toss a touchdown on top of that... we’re talking about that’s Wide Receiver 2 production.” (14:38, Derek Brown)
4. Wide Receiver: Kendrick Bourne as the 49ers’ WR1 (contingent on injuries)
(Start: 15:08)
- Injury Caveat: Call assumes Ricky Pearsall & Jauan Jennings sit.
- Usage Spike: Bourne logged a 22.4% target share last week and looks like the WR1.
- Matchup: Buccaneers have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per game to perimeter WRs; their secondary is banged up and vulnerable.
- Passing Game Necessity: Niners will lean more on passing since Tampa Bay is stout vs the run.
“Kendrick Bourne was the unquestioned wide receiver one for the 49ers last week... Now you put the matchup against the Buccaneers up here... this secondary is not at full strength.”
— Derek Brown (16:12)
Seth’s quick note: Mac Jones is “not the worst QB in the world” and the volume should keep coming with Tampa pushing the scoring pace.
5. Tight End: Zach Ertz, Back On the Radar?
(Start: 17:36)
- Up & Down Year: Ertz’s production has varied, often depending on coverage schemes faced.
- Key Stat: Against two-high safety coverage (which Chicago uses 63% of snaps), Ertz:
- Has a 20.8% target share, 2.26 yards/route run, 32.3% first read share
- Game Script: Bears tend to force passes underneath, boosting TE and RB volume.
- With WR injuries: If Terry McLaurin is out, Ertz’s target share could climb further.
- Derek’s Stance: TEs thrive vs zone-heavy looks; trusting Ertz as a low-end TE1 this week.
“This coverage matchup leans itself for Zach Ertz. Against two-high this year, Zach Ertz: 20.8% target share, 2.26 yards per route run and a 32.3% first read share. So yes, I’m going back to the Zach Ertz well.”
— Derek Brown (19:50)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On riding the hot streak:
“I’m enjoying the hot streak, dude. Yeah. And just to give full clarity of everybody... I’m actually top five in full season rankings and I am first in running back rankings so far. So... baby, I’m enjoying the hot streak. Heck, yes.”
— Derek Brown (01:27) -
On fantasy “process” over results:
“These quarterbacks that are playing at such a ridiculously high level... some of this hasn’t consistently crossed over to fantasy point production on a weekly basis. But some of this hasn’t consistently crossed over to fantasy points on a weekly basis... But, I mean, dude, we’ve been hitting on all these guys, so why not Goff this week?”
— Derek Brown (06:38) -
On Josh Downs’ prospects:
“It’s been a really nice resurgence for him. I kind of left him dead out in the water coming into the draft season... but we’ve certainly seen a shifting in the tides there.”
— Seth Wilcock (13:34) -
On Mac Jones:
“Right now, if we’re ranking quarterbacks 1 to 32 in the NFL, you can’t tell me Mac Jones isn’t at least in the top 32.”
— Seth Wilcock (17:01)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [03:11] — QB: Jared Goff start profile, matchup and analytics
- [07:35] — RB: Hassan Haskins & Kamani Vidal flex analysis
- [12:34] — WR: Josh Downs matchup and usage spike
- [15:08] — WR: Kendrick Bourne contingent breakout
- [17:36] — TE: Zach Ertz versus the Bears, the scheme fit
Tone & Takeaways
- The episode is sharply analytical, process-oriented, and lightly irreverent — candid about mistakes (“I kind of left [Downs] dead out in the water”) and open about lineup uncertainty.
- The hosts stress the importance of matchups, usage trends, and defensive schemes, not merely chasing last week’s points.
- The advice is tailored for fantasy managers dealing with byes, injuries, and tough flex decisions.
Summary
This week’s “Primer” delivers a tightly-argued list of overlooked players at every position who are primed for fantasy impact in Week 6, buttressed by matchup analytics and a keen understanding of offensive and defensive trends. Jared Goff, two under-the-radar RBs splitting volume, ascending WRs like Josh Downs and Kendrick Bourne, and a TE dart in Zach Ertz headline the must-start spectrum. The discussion is laced with actionable stats and process lessons — must-listen territory for managers chasing the edge in a tough midseason slate.