Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

FantasyPros – 6 Must-Start Players for Week 6 | The Primer (Ep. 1764)
Date: October 12, 2025
Host: Seth Wilcock
Guest: Derek Brown (FantasyPros Staff)

Overview

This episode is a dedicated "Week 6 Primer" from FantasyPros, focusing on identifying six sleeper, must-start players for fantasy football lineups. Seth Wilcock and Derek Brown (“Dbro”), fresh off his top finish in the previous week’s ranking accuracy competition, break down the week’s top waiver plays, provide data-driven insight, and share actionable advice for those filling out fantasy rosters amid byes and injuries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Quarterback Start: Jared Goff vs. Kansas City Chiefs

• Analysis (03:15):
  • Jared Goff is being undervalued (QB15 in expert consensus rankings, QB18 in points per game).
  • Leads NFL in passing touchdowns, consistently in top 12 for key metrics: yards per attempt, highly accurate throws, “hero throw” rate.
  • Play action: Goff is 3rd in NFL in play action dropback rate and excels when using it (4th in yards/attempt, 2nd in passing TDs).
  • Chiefs' defense is solid overall but struggles with play action (highest YPA, 3rd highest passer rating allowed to play action).
  • Dbro: "I think this is a good ceiling opportunity...I think Goff’s in for a good day, dude.” (05:06)
  • Stacked with Amon-Ra St. Brown, strong fantasy upside this week.

2. Running Back Sleepers: Hassan Haskins & Kamani Vidal

• Flex Value (07:39):
  • Both are flex-worthy (Haskins RB35, Vidal RB37 in rankings).
  • Their usage is almost split evenly; this backfield is "a mirror image of itself" right now in usage.
  • Dbro: “If I have to bet on one guy, it’s Kamani Vidal—bigger believer in the talent and that winning out...Vidal’s efficiency metrics are better in nearly every category." (08:30)
  • The Dolphins have been gashed by RBs: most rushing yards allowed, highest explosive run rate, top-5 in every negative RB metric.
  • Game Script: If the Chargers jump out in front, both RBs could see significant opportunities—even if it’s an “8 to 12 touches” kind of game.
  • Dbro: “The bar to be flex-worthy is very low. They both have talent and the opportunity to clear that bar.” (09:33)

3. Wide Receiver Must-Starts

a. Josh Downs vs. Arizona Cardinals

• Increased Role (13:42):
  • Season-high 72% route share, 22% target share, 54 yards last game.
  • Arizona is 5th-worst against slot receivers, allows 2nd-most yards to the position.
  • Dbro: “Josh Downs, wheels up, dude! I’m probably gonna have him as a WR3 this week.” (14:26)
  • If he scores a TD, his production “is right there in WR2 range.” (15:46)

b. Kendrick Bourne vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Conditional Play (16:17):
  • Value depends on whether Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are both out.
  • Bourne had 22.4% target share and looked “like Kendrick Bourne from a few years ago” last week. (17:03)
  • Great matchup: Bucs allow 13th-most points to perimeter WRs. Banged up secondary.
  • Can’t run on the Bucs; expect pass-heavy game script.
  • Dbro: “Kendrick Bourne just feels like free money at WR41 in ECR right now.” (17:36)

4. Tight End Start: Zach Ertz vs. Chicago Bears

• Matchup-Driven Play (18:44):
  • Community is doubting Ertz, but coverage matchup this week is ideal.
  • Bears run two-high safety looks at the 2nd-highest rate in NFL (~63% of snaps); this funnels short passing to RBs, slot WRs, and TEs.
  • Against two-high: Ertz has a 20.8% target share and 2.26 yards/route run.
  • Dbro: “I’m going back to the Zach Ertz well...he’s going to be a TE1 for me in rankings.” (20:03)
  • With Terry McLaurin likely out, more volume is available.
  • Seth: “Quarterback rating per target, [Ertz is] 7th among TEs...fantasy points per target, 8th. He’s doing the most with what he’s getting.” (21:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Seth (on Goff stacking):
  “Is there a better stack you’d rather have this week than Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown?” (06:24)

• Dbro (about riding the rankings hot streak):
  “I’m enjoying the hot streak. Heck yes.” (01:35)

• Dbro (on RB sleepers):
  “Both of these guys are flex-worthy...there is a world we could be living in where both pay off.” (09:33)

• Dbro (on Downs’ upside):
  “If you just take his stat line from last week and toss a touchdown on top, you’re talking WR2 production.” (15:45)

Important Timestamps

• Intro & recent rankings talk: 00:38–02:09
• Jared Goff analysis: 03:15–07:28
• RB analysis (Haskins, Vidal): 07:39–13:00
• Josh Downs discussion: 13:42–16:00
• Kendrick Bourne & conditional WR starts: 16:17–18:35
• Zach Ertz as a TE1 play: 18:44–22:08
• Primer article process (Dbro): 22:34 (Primer article is “around 17,000 words...probably end up 18, 19,000”)

Summary Table: 6 Must-Start Sleepers for Week 6

| Position | Player | Matchup/Reason | |----------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | QB | Jared Goff | Play-action upside vs. Chiefs, likely shootout, elite metrics beyond just box scores | | RB | Kamani Vidal | Better efficiency, both he & Haskins used similarly, soft Dolphins defense vs. RBs | | RB | Hassan Haskins | Nearly identical usage to Vidal; both flex-viable given matchup and game script | | WR | Josh Downs | Major role expansion, faces weak slot coverage from Cardinals | | WR | Kendrick Bourne* | If both Jennings & Pearsall out, is top WR in excellent matchup; high target share | | TE | Zach Ertz | Bears’ two-high coverage funnels his way; high target & efficiency rates vs. this coverage |

*Subject to teammate injury news for optimal start confidence.

Tone & Style

The episode retained a relaxed, conversational, occasionally self-deprecating style, with hosts dropping pop culture references (Spongebob, jokes about hot streaks), blending stats with practical advice. The approach is welcoming to both hardcore fantasy players and casual managers seeking a competitive edge.

For those who missed it:
This episode laid out data-driven, actionable picks that could give you the edge for Week 6, especially for those mining the waiver wire or seeking flex options. Each pick came with contextual reasoning tied to matchup analytics, usage trends, and injury contexts, making the recommendations both authoritative and immediately deployable.