Week 6 Streaming QBs and DSTs: Two of the biggest positions for streaming in fantasy are quarterback and defense. Here in this article, we will break down the best options at quarterback and defense. We hope to steer fantasy managers into decisions that create wins. This article will focus mostly on players less than 50-percent rostered.

Week 6 Streaming QBs

Ryan Tannehill (vs BUF)

Want to dance with the devil in Week 6? See if you can scoop up Tannehill this week as he and the Titans host the Bills on Monday Night Football.

Tannehill is rostered in 70-percent of leagues but after only scoring 13.98-fantasy points in Week 5 – and generally disappointing fantasy stakeholders most of 2021 – I feel this is a guy who will be dropped this week, and you can pick him up and stream him.

You do not need to be a genius to see that the Bills’ defense has played next-level football in 2021. Even against quarterbacks, they are only allowing 10.6-FPPG to the position, so proceed with caution – you have been warned.

Here is the real case for Tannehill in Week 6: the Bills know that Derrick Henry is the key to Tennessee’s offense, especially with Julio Brown still trying to get healthy. An easy thing for the Bills to do would be stacking the box and force Tannehill to beat them, which he has shown in the past that he is capable of.

The over-under on this game is a juicy 54-point line. The Titans’ defense is bad, which means Josh Allen and the Bills should dominate. On the other side of the ball, Tannehill will have to play keep-up or catch-up. He will likely be playing from behind and even if Tennessee is playing competitive football, it is hard to imagine the Bills walking away with less than 24 points.

For Tennessee to win, they are going to have to get the most out of Tannehill, and for that reason, I will be making him the top streaming option in Week 6.

He is only available in 30-percent of ESPN leagues running into waivers, but this will likely be a player dropped by managers, so make sure you check the “players dropped” section come Wednesday morning.

Taylor Heinicke (vs KC)

Heinicke would be the top streaming candidate but the return of Ryan Fitzpatrick lingers heading into Week 6. Nevertheless, whoever starts this game will certainly be a streaming candidate, but both have “benching” risk so keep that in your head as you finalize your roster for the week.

If Heinicke gets the start, and I truly believe he will, he will be going up against the worst defense at defending quarterbacks: the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have allowed 28.1-FPPG to quarterbacks over the course of the 2021 season and that is a league-most.

Heinicke struggled against New Orleans and that was to be expected. New Orleans has been a stout defense at times, even dating back to last season. Despite the loss, he still dropped back 41 times and rushed for 40 yards. I would expect more of the same for Heinicke going up against one of the NFL’s most potent offenses.

It will be Heinicke’s job to keep the Washington Football Team in this game. That means he will likely have to score at least three touchdowns, as the Football Team’s defense has been putrid (especially factoring in their success last season).

Heinicke is available in 87-percent of ESPN Leagues heading into Week 7.

Baker Mayfield (vs ARI)

Coming off 300 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers, Mayfield is a player to target for fantasy managers. 

While the Browns normally want to run the ball first, they likely will have a pace-up game as they welcome Kyler Murray to Cleveland. Murray is extremely hard to stop and for that reason, the Cardinals have a legitimate shot at imposing their will against the Browns’ defense. 

Even if Murray does not impose his will, the Cardinals still have a team-implied total of 24 points. Should the Cardinals reach their team-implied total, Mayfield will likely have to throw it around and get some passing yardage in the box score. The better scenario is Murray and the Cardinals jumping out in-front early, which would force Mayfield to drop back even sooner.

Mayfield is always a risk for a “dud” game, but going up against one of the league’s best offenses I can see easy paths to a successful stream in Week 6.

Mayfield is rostered in 50-percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 6.

Week 6 Streaming QBs — Honorable Mentions

1. Trevor Lawrence (vs MIA)
2. Mac Jones (vs DAL)

Week 6 Streaming DSTs

Indianapolis Colts DST (@HOU)

The Texans are one of the league’s most friendly teams at giving the ball away. So far they have logged eight turnovers, five being interceptions thrown by rookie quarterback Davis Mills. Additionally, the Colts have been great at taking the ball away as they are top-six in takeaways. 

The Colts have yet to pour it onto a team and while I expect this game to be a little more competitive than the -10 spread suggests, the Colts could show up with some authority against Houston. Divisional games have been known to get weird in the NFL though.

We always want to target rookie quarterbacks and Davis Mills is one of the worst ones we can look to exploit.

Indianapolis is available in 57-percent of ESPN leagues.

Miami Dolphins DST (@JAX)

– London Game (9:30/8:30 AM Kickoff EST/CST)

Miami’s 2021 defense feels lightyears away from their 2020 defense, but in Week 6 they certainly can be streamed.

Facing off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, the Dolphins will go up against the NFL’s league leader in turnovers, Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence by himself already has 10 turnovers, which is more than all NFL teams except one.

The Jaguars’ London trip will also be another wrinkle for them in this game: one that can mean nothing, or sometimes expose teams even further.

While the Dolphins have struggled, their defense will come into this game desperate for positive regression and who better else to beat up on than one of the NFL’s worst teams? Not to mention, this is an in-state, toilet-bowl rivalry. The Dolphins will not want to become Florida’s worst NFL team and I expect them to show up with some juice on defense.

The Dolphins are available in 83-percent of ESPN leagues heading into Week 6.

Dallas Cowboys DST (@NE)

What more do the Cowboys need to show the fantasy world in order to see they are playmakers on defense?

Once again, and for the fifth consecutive week, we saw Trevon Diggs snag another interception from an opponent. The Cowboys have secured 12 takeaways this season and that only trails the Buffalo Bills. Additionally, Dallas has forced multiple turnovers in nine straight games, going back to last season.

Their opponent in Week 6 will be the New England Patriots, who possess a rookie quarterback still developing at the professional level. We have seen Mac Jones struggle against respectable defenses so far in 2021, and Dallas should be able to get some opportunities at sacks and turnovers. 

Dallas is available in 65-percent of ESPN Leagues heading into Week 6.

Likely rostered, but should be started if available: 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers D/ST (vs SEA)
2. Los Angeles Rams D/ST (@NYG)

Week 6 Streaming DSTs — Honorable Mentions: 

1. Green Bay Packers D/ST (@CHI)
2. Cincinnati Bengals D/ST (@DET)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars D/ST (vs MIA)

For more help with your Week 5 Streaming QBs and D/STs, just ask!