Fantasy Football Week 6 Quarterback Start Decision: Geno Smith, Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, Brock Purdy, Drake Maye and More

Taking a look at several fantasy quarterback starting options for week 6.

Another week of fantasy football is upon us, which means it’s time for a quarterback start/sit decision article.

We’ll include the two quarterbacks playing on Thursday night and then any QBs they are in trending decisions with on the FantasySP Start/Sit tool. That gives us Brock Purdy, Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, Justin Fields and Caleb Williams this week, and I’m going to throw Drake Maye in for fun.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Season Stats

Purdy has 1,374 passing yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions on the season. He’s completed 65.6% of his passes and added 108 rushing yards.

Smith has 1,466 passing yards and 146 rushing yards. He’s completed 71.9% of his passes, thrown five touchdowns and four picks and also rushed for one score.

Mayfield is up to 1,164 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions for the season. He’s added 107 rushing yards and two scores on the ground, while completing 71.9% of his passes.

Prescott has 1,424 passing yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions so far this season. He’s completed 65.4% of his passes and added 24 rushing yards and a score on the ground.

Cousins erupted in week 5 and now has 1,373 passing yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s completed 67.2% of his passes and not added anything as a runner.

Burrow has 1,370 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and two picks for the season. He’s rushed for 39 yards and completed 72.3% of his passes.

Love has 873 passing yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions across three games. He’s completed just 56.1% of his passes and added 16 rushing yards.

Allen has only 945 passing yards, but eight touchdowns and no picks. He’s added 160 rushing yards and two scores, while completing 60.3% of his passes.

Hurts has completed 68.2% of his passes for 930 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He has 163 rushing yards and two scores as well.

Murray is up to 972 passing yards, seven touchdowns and two picks for the season. He’s also got 247 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Fields has completed 67.6% of his passes for 961 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He’s rushed for 172 yards and three scores. 

Williams has 1,091 passing yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions, while completing 62.9% of his passes. He’s also got 113 rushing yards.

Maye will be making his first NFL start in week 6. He had 34 total yards across eight passing attempts and two rushes back in week 3.

Week 6 Matchups

Purdy and Smith have similar matchups in the Thursday night battle. Both the Seattle and San Francisco defenses allow 16 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week.

Mayfield has a tough matchup against the Saints, who allow only 11 fantasy points per week. Prescott has a pretty average matchup against the Lions, who allow 17 points.

Cousins has a favorable clash against the Panthers, who give up 19 points per week. Burrow’s matchup is more average, as the Giants allow 17 points per week.

Love has a slightly above-average clash against the Cardinals, who give up 18 points per week. Murray’s test against the Packers is a bit tougher, as Green Bay allows just 15 points per game.

Allen has a brutal matchup against the Jets, who give up only eight points per week. Hurts’ matchup is a bit better, with the Browns allowing 14 points per game.

Fields’ battle with the Raiders is pretty average, with Las Vegas allowing opposing QBs to score 17 points per week. Williams has the most favorable matchup, as Jacksonville surrenders 23 points per game.

Maye has an average matchup against the Texans, who allow 17 points a game.

Projections and Recommended Starters

As you might expect, Hurts and Allen have two of the highest projections for week 6, at 22 and 19 fantasy points respectively. Purdy is also projected for 19 points.

Smith, Love, Murray and Burrow are all projected for 18 points, while Prescott and Fields are at 17 points. Cousins and Williams check in with 16 points each, while Mayfield is set for 15 and Maye 11.

I too like Hurts the most of the bunch. He’s only really had one great fantasy week, but I’m still trusting my top-end draft pick to get the job done.

The same can be said for Allen, who I rank second. He’s had a few down performances, and has a very tough matchup, but you didn’t draft Allen that early to sit him over any of these other QBs. Trust that Allen will get the job done.

I’d take Love next. He’s fared pretty well as a fantasy performer despite some interceptions in his three games played. The matchup is solid and I think Love is in for another big day passing.

I like Burrow next. He’s got great numbers (which I think are being overshadowed by the team’s bad record) and a pretty good matchup ahead. I think he’s headed toward another above-average showing.

I’ve been down a bit on Prescott in similar articles this season, but am not waiting any longer to start him. Prescott has solid season numbers and a pretty nice matchup. He’s posted pretty solid fantasy totals, at least, in three straight weeks, and I think he delivers again in week 6.

I’d take Cousins here. I don’t think he’ll replicate his outstanding week 5 showing, but I think that game was a turning point for him and the Falcons’ offense. The matchup is perfect for Cousins to deliver another big fantasy showing.

I’d place Purdy here. I think his projection is a little high based on his performance so far and the matchup he has. He’s still capable of going off any week inside that offense, but until we see it consistently, I’m not taking him any higher than this.

Usually I take dual-threat quarterbacks a bit earlier, but the matchup for Murray scares me, and so I dropped him here. He’s coming off a good fantasy day against a tougher defense, and I’d be fine trying him again against another tougher opponent.

Williams has a fantastic matchup, but because of his inconsistent play so far, I can’t trust him with a spot higher than this. He very well could erupt this week, and for that reason, I’d be fine starting him in any league type.

This is where I tend to gravitate toward sitting a QB this week, and the first QB in that list is Fields. His matchup is solid, and he’s done pretty well over the past three weeks, but I just do not trust him because so much of his fantasy success relies on running the ball, and if he doesn’t score on the ground, you’re likely looking at a pretty weak fantasy showing.

I was pretty high on Smith in my Thursday night starting options story, but after seeing the other QB options, have him further down my list than I expected. His lack of passing TDs this season is concerning, and although he’s throwing for a bunch of yards, his fantasy numbers have been boosted by three solid games on the ground. He could do the same on Thursday, but my gut is telling me he’s in for a poor showing.

I’m usually a big fan of Mayfield, but the tough matchup this week has changed my opinion on him. He’s still more than capable of producing an average or better fantasy outing, but I’m simply not very confident in it.

That leaves Maye for the last spot. Things might be different if we had a start or two to go off of, but in his first NFL start, I prefer to be a little more cautious and avoid playing young QBs. I still believe he’s a solid starting option for those of you in deeper leagues.

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