Week 6 of the 2023 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received "A" and "F" grades?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades. We also asked NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about what happened in the Thursday and Sunday games.
Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what's next
Top questions from Week 6
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 6
1. Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami Dolphins
The primary benefactor of De'Von Achane's injury, Mostert gave the Dolphins a fifth consecutive week with a 20-plus PPR running back fantasy point performance -- and he blew past that threshold with 34.2. Achane's hot spell has overshadowed Mostert's similarly excellent year, including four games averaging 6-plus yards per carry and a second-best at the position 139.4 points. He's the RB1 you don't realize is an RB1, even with more challenging matchups ahead (@PHI, NE, @KC). -- Cockcroft
2. Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers
One of the few things going right for the rebuilding Panthers, Thielen delivered a third game in his past four with at least 13 targets, 11 receptions and 27 PPR fantasy points (28.5 in this one). He has been rookie Bryce Young's security blanket over the middle, with a robust 27% target share yet barely-better-than-5-yard average depth of target, but it's getting the job done. The Panthers hit their bye week with Thielen a top-four (at least) fantasy WR. -- Cockcroft
3. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
He has dominated the Jaguars' backfield the past two weeks, playing 82% of the offensive snaps, handling 44 of 51 carries and converting all four of the team's goal-to-go rushes. Etienne has five carries of 10-plus yards in that time, giving him the look of a legitimate weekly RB1. A Week 7 matchup with the New Orleans Saints presents a challenge, but with Etienne as hot as he is, he needs to be locked into fantasy lineups. -- Cockcroft
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
St. Brown put on a clinic versus the Bucs defense, posting a season-high 30.4 PPR points. He caught 12 of 15 targets here for 124 yards, and added a receiving score for the second straight week. Work the intermediate levels of the field and produce after the catch. Easy money there. With three games of over 100 yards receiving this season, in addition to his seamless fit in the Lions' route tree, St. Brown will remain a WR1 for the Week 7 matchup versus the Ravens defense. -- Bowen
5. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Waddle posted a season-high 18.1 PPR points in the win over the Panthers, catching seven of nine targets for 51 yards and a score. He has now logged a touchdown reception in both of his past two games -- on red zone throws -- while seeing a total of 19 targets over that stretch. With that level of target volume, and the ability to produce explosive plays, Waddle can post consistent WR2 numbers opposite Tyreek Hill in the NFL's best pass game. -- Bowen
6. Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans
I was down on Schultz this week. And it was the matchup for me, versus a Saints defense giving up an average of only 6.0 PPR points to opposing tight ends. However, Schultz proved me wrong, logging 16.1 PPR points while catching a red zone touchdown for the third straight game. Schultz is seeing targets from C.J. Stroud at all three levels of the field, and he is cashing in on scoring opportunities. With those numbers, plus Schultz's ability to uncover in the Texans route tree, he'll be in the TE1 mix when Houston returns from the bye in Week 8 versus Carolina. -- Bowen
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 6
1. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Sometimes, it's just not gonna happen. Nacua's role on Sunday (96% snap share, 25 routes run, seven targets) wasn't much smaller than Cooper Kupp's (100%, 25 and nine), but his fantasy production left plenty to be desired, 6.8 points in PPR formats compared to Kupp's 27.8. Kupp's advantageous slot-receiver matchup with Jalen Thompson sidelined for the Arizona Cardinals explained much of it, as Kupp capitalized one-on-one against Kei'Trel Clark. It'll play out like that some weeks, but Nacua should be in much better shape for a rebound against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. -- Cockcroft
2. Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
I had Smith projected as a fringe QB1 for the Week 6 matchup versus the Bengals -- a starter in deeper leagues or a potential streaming option. However, Smith posted just 10.9 fantasy points in this one. With two interceptions, and the inability to convert on multiple trips to the low red zone late in this game, he didn't capitalize on fantasy scoring opportunities. Smith has topped the 16-point mark in fantasy only once this season. He gets the Cardinals' defense next in Week 7. -- Bowen
3. Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
Make it back-to-back weeks in which Adams disappointed, his 4.9 PPR fantasy points Sunday his fewest since Week 8 of last season. The lingering shoulder issue that had him on the injury report might've contributed, and with that in mind, the hit Jabrill Peppers had against him late in the first quarter was unsettling. Adams was able to return to the game, at least, and he has a bounce-back matchup against the Bears in his Week 7 future. -- Cockcroft
4. Chicago Bears' offense
After two straight weeks of creating explosive plays, while finishing drives in the red zone, the Bears' offense simply lacked juice. Justin Fields, who left the game with a hand injury, posted a season-low 4.92 fantasy points. Tight end Cole Kmet logged only 9 yards receiving -- on three targets -- and DJ Moore finished with 10.1 PPR points after a breakout game in Week 6. Pass protection was an issue for the Bears in this one, and the offensive execution was shaky at best. I expected much more here given the Bears' recent production and the matchup versus Minnesota. -- Bowen
5. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson's absence was certain to have an adverse impact on the Vikings' offense, but the fact that the team totaled only 220 yards facing about as favorable a matchup you could ask for (@CHI) doesn't bode well for Cousins' short-term fantasy prospects. Cousins' 8.74 fantasy points marked the second time in his past three games beneath 10, and now he gets a tough-as-nails matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. He's a (standard-league) sit for that one, and now a clear matchups play. -- Cockcroft
6. Brock Purdy, QB; Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy posted a season-low 7.7 fantasy points in the loss to the Browns, completing 12-of-27 passing for only 125 yards, with one touchdown and an interception. He looked unsettled, struggled with ball location and the aggressive Browns defense eliminated his ability to throw with consistent rhythm. Aiyuk tacked on some late-game production versus man coverage, pushing his total to 11.1 PPR points. However, with Deebo Samuel leaving this game early with a shoulder injury, I expected more from Aiyuk, who caught just four of 10 targets for 76 yards. Both players will look to rebound in a much more positive Week 7 matchup versus the Vikings. -- Bowen
7. Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Sure, the Jaguars were coming off back-to-back games overseas without a bye week following, but Ridley dominated the Indianapolis Colts defense in Week 1 (24.1 PPR fantasy points), a highly favorable wide receiver matchup. In the rematch, he scored just 6.6 points on eight targets, a sign that he's more boom/bust candidate for fantasy than the trustworthy WR2 he seemed during the preseason. The New Orleans Saints, up next, are a middling-to-below-average matchup for him. -- Cockcroft
8. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans
A week after posting 22.0 PPR points, with a season-high 140 receiving yards, Hopkins was really quiet in Sunday's loss to the Ravens. With Baltimore controlling game tempo in this one, Hopkins saw just five targets, catching one pass for 20 yards. Hopkins has now posted double-digit PPR production in only three of six games played, and he's still yet to find the end zone this season. Remember, he needs the volume and intermediate level throws to produce WR2 numbers. Hopkins and the Titans head into the bye with the Falcons up next in Week 8. -- Bowen
Injury impact
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
What we know: McCaffrey was twice forced from Sunday's game by an oblique injury, finishing his day with 14.2 PPR fantasy points on 30 offensive snaps.
What's next: Jordan Mason had the stronger showing than Elijah Mitchell in McCaffrey's absence, contributing an 8-yard third-quarter rushing touchdown. That might set up a running back partnership between the two should McCaffrey be unable to play in Week 7. -- Cockcroft
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
What we know: Fields left the game in the third quarter versus the Vikings with a right hand injury, and did not return.
What's next: If Fields misses the Week 7 game against the Raiders, undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent will get the start. Bagent replaced Fields in Sunday's game and finished 10-of-14 passing for 86 yards, with one rushing score, plus an interception and a fumble. -- Bowen
Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers
What we know: Samuel left the game with a shoulder injury in the first quarter versus the Brows, and did not return.
What's next: If Samuel is out for Week 7 at Minnesota, Jauan Jennings and Ray-Ray McCloud III will be elevated in the 49ers' route tree as potential streaming options. -- Bowen
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
What we know: Lawrence suffered a knee injury when sacked late in the fourth quarter and was unable to play in victory formation on the Jaguars' final series.
What's next: Lawrence had only a slight limp after the game, but will be examined in advance of the Week 7 game against the New Orleans Saints. C.J. Beathard will presumably start if Lawrence can't play. -- Cockcroft
David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions
What we know: Montgomery left Sunday's game in the second quarter due to an apparent rib injury, suffered on a tackle from behind, and was unable to return.
What's next: X-rays were negative, but that Montgomery was ruled out for the day midway through the third quarter hints that his Week 7 status might be in question. With Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) also out for Week 6, Craig Reynolds, who had 6.3 PPR fantasy points on 12 touches, might take on a larger workload. -- Cockcroft
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
What we know: Garoppolo left the game with a back injury in the second quarter versus the Patriots, and he did not return.
What's next: If Garoppolo is out next week versus the Bears, Brian Hoyer would get the start. Hoyer replaced Garoppolo on Sunday, completing six of 10 passing for 102 yards.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans
What we know: Tannehill left with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter in the loss to the Ravens, and did not return.
What's next: Tannehill's injury will be monitored as the Titans head into their bye week. He was replaced by Malik Willis on Sunday, who completed four of five passes for 74 yards, while adding 17 yards rushing on three carries. -- Bowen
Who earned an 'A' from the weekend?
Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Cooper recorded 108 receiving yards on four catches -- which amounted to 41 yards over expectation based Cooper's receptions and YAC over expectation, according to player tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats. The most impressive part? That model isn't even accounting for the fact that Cooper was playing with backup quarterback PJ Walker. -- Walder
Tre Brown, CB, Seattle Seahawks
He allowed zero passing yards over 25 coverage snaps despite lining up opposite superstar Ja'Marr Chase 10 times, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Oh, and he recorded a pick. Brown did get flagged for a 10-yard pass interference call, but that's it. -- Walder
Houston Texans' pass rush
Derek Carr was sacked only twice. But the advanced numbers suggest that the Texans pass rush was disruptive. In fact, three Texans pass-rushers recorded a pass rush win rate of 30% or more (16% is average for an edge rusher): Jerry Hughes, Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson Jr. -- Walder
Who earned an 'F' from the weekend?
Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings
He managed just 44 rushing yards on 18 carries. The advanced numbers were bad, too: negative-22 rush yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Yes, Mattison got all the work and made four receptions, which helps from a fantasy perspective. But the preseason fantasy concerns that Mattison wasn't a particularly skilled runner seem to be holding water; he is now at negative-40 rushing yards over expectation (RYOE) on the season. -- Walder
Lingering questions from Sunday's games
Do you expect Adam Thielen to be the Panthers' No. 1 target the rest of the season?
Yes, and the reason is simple. He runs routs better than any receiver the Panthers have and rookie quarterback Bryce Young trusts him. He has since the first day of offseason workouts. You've seen that trust grow more past two weeks as Thielen became the first Carolina player with 100 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown in consecutive games since Steve Smith in 2008. Thielen for one isn't shocked by his start that has him with a team-leading 38 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns. "As a competitor, as an athlete, you have a lot of confidence in what you do,'' said Thielen, signed by Carolina this past offseason after the Minnesota Vikings moved on from him. "I wouldn't still be playing if I didn't feel like I could play at a high level.'' -- David Newton
Cam Akers has just 11 carries since his trade to Minnesota. Is there a path to more touches for him, or is Alexander Mattison clearly the top back?
The Vikings have been very loyal to Mattison, whose rebound from a slow start to the season coincided with the arrival of Akers. In Weeks 3-4, Mattison had the NFL's fourth-most rushing yards (188). There's a reason for the Vikings' loyalty: They fully guaranteed him $6.35 million over the next two seasons to replace Dalvin Cook. Mattison has gained only 70 yards in the past two weeks, but the most fantasy managers should expect is Akers getting more than the two series per game he has received so far. That seems likely if the Vikings stay close enough in games to keep running the ball. The chances of him flipping spots with Mattison in the near term are almost zero. -- Kevin Seifert