NFL Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

We thought we knew the NFL. The Eagles were a dream team, the Jets and Steelers were impossible to run the ball against and the 49ers and Bills haven't been good teams since the mid-90s.

This has been a different year for us on all those accounts. But the fact those curveballs were thrown our way in fantasy should teach us anything can happen on any given Sunday.

We should fully expect the Eagles to come around, the Jets and Steelers to roll as their schedules soften considerably and the 49ers and Bills to finally suffer some growing pains. This is the week for this to all come true, but we have been wrong on these accounts multiple times this year already.

Regardless, start your Eagles, Jets and Steelers with supreme confidence and begin to worry that your 49ers and Bills fantasy options are about to hit a wall.

Here is the Start 'em and Sit 'em for Week 6, a week without Chargers (Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Ryan Mathews), Cardinals (Larry Fitzgerald, Beanie Wells), Titans (Chris Johnson), Broncos (Tim Tebow, Willis McGahee), Chiefs (Dwayne Bowe) and Seahawks (Sidney Rice).

Note: The obvious choices are omitted below. We focus our energy on the players you might actually be making a decision on.

Philadelphia at Washington

Start 'em

• QB Michael Vick, RB LeSean McCoy, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jeremy Maclin, K Alex Henery, D/ST Eagles

The Eagles offense woke up against the Bills last Sunday, but turnovers kept them from winning the game. This one counts as a must-win if Week 6 games can be that. Everyone in the Eagles offense should be good to go and potentially productive, even if the Redskins are top five against quarterbacks and top 10 against running backs and receivers. Your Eagles are too good to sit and that goes for that maligned defense, too. The Eagles figure to get some turnovers in this one.

• RB Ryan Torain, RB Tim Hightower, TE Fred Davis

It is an unfortunate situation the Redskins don't have a surefire RB starter this week, because the Eagles are worst in fantasy against RBs to date. We should figure both Torain and Hightower play, but Torain was the hot hand before the bye and he should be the initial option here, particularly since Hightower has a sore shoulder. As for the Redskins in the air, Santana Moss has a tough matchup against those corners but probably should remain active. Davis should be used frequently in the middle of the field with the corners clamping down the wideouts on the outside.

Sit 'em

• D/ST Redskins, QB Rex Grossman

The Redskins are in first and the Eagles in last in the NFC East, but it doesn't figure to look like it in this one. The Eagles can make most of their poor start by taking one in Washington and they are going to do it by getting after the quarterback and forcing Grossman into mistakes. The Eagles offense is going to get hot, too, so avoid the Redskins defense.

Buffalo at N.Y. Giants

Start 'em

• QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Steve Johnson, K Rian Lindell

The Giants have given up the second-fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL, mostly because they have been so exposed on the ground to date. Going into the season, you had to figure the Giants would be the other way around, vulnerable to the pass with a banged-up secondary and stout against the run with a solid defensive front. Fitzpatrick has been mediocre at best in recent week, but he should be productive against the Giants, making Johnson and David Nelson viable options in all leagues. You obviously have to be using your fantasy MVP to date, Fred Jackson.

• QB Eli Manning, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Hakeem Nicks

The Bills are the second-worst team in fantasy against QBs, even if they have forced 12 interceptions. Manning's error-prone ways returned last week, but he should still be productive through the air with the emergence of Victor Cruz, the improving health of Mario Manningham and the continued presence of Nicks. All three Giants receivers should be active in most formats. Manningham is going to break through against a Bills team that has given up the fourth-most receiving yards to receivers. Bradshaw, meanwhile, should benefit from Brandon Jacobs' knee strain and the Giants needing to getting back to running the ball. They have been one of the worst rush offenses in the NFL, despite a commitment to the running game. The Bills are bottom 10 against RBs.

Sit 'em

• D/ST Giants, D/ST Bills, RB Brandon Jacobs

There is no good reason to sit anyone in this game, because neither team has played much defense to date. The Giants were victimized by turnovers last week and the Bills defense has been getting them in bunches, but it won't continue here. The Giants are going to focus on ball control and play keep away from the Bills' potent offense. Don't use the banged-up Jacobs or either defense in this probable shootout.

St. Louis at Green Bay

Start 'em

• RB James Starks, RB Ryan Grant, WR James Jones, WR Jordy Nelson, D/ST Packers, K Mason Crosby

This is a great week to buy into the Packers running game. It hasn't been used all that much, but the Rams are one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL. They are fourth-worst against RBs to date and the Packers figure to be all over them early and often, leaving the mop-up duty to Starks and Grant. As for the receivers, Jones' resurgence has made Donald Driver disappear and Nelson a non-factor of late. Still, you can get use out of Jones and Nelson.

• QB Sam Bradford

No one can be sure who Bradford is going to use in the passing game, but you can be sure there will be ample garbage-time yardage for the Rams to pick up here. Brandon Gibson should likely be the wide receiver of choice, ahead of Mike Sims-Walker and Danario Alexander. The loss of Danny Amendola (triceps) for the season should open up Gibson as a sleeper.

Sit 'em

• RB Steven Jackson

The Rams might want to get back to establishing the run with a healthier Jackson, but trying that against the Packers defense has been bad for business for Green Bay's opponents. You should look elsewhere if you have Jackson, even amid the bye season. Only the Cowboys, who have played just four games, have allowed fewer rushing yards. The Packers have allowed the second-most receiving yards to backs, but Jackson hasn't been involved in that way in this Rams offense. He has just four receptions in three games.

San Francisco at Detroit

Start 'em

• WR Michael Crabtree, TE Vernon Davis, D/ST 49ers, K David Akers

Alex Smith has finally proven to be a capable starter, mostly because the 49ers defense is so good and they are winning the field-position battle. Smith's usefulness in fantasy still isn't there, but at least Davis and Crabtree aren't worthless any more. Even though the Lions are playing well against the run, you still shouldn't sit Frank Gore.

• QB Matthew Stafford, TE Brandon Pettigrew, D/ST Lions, K Jason Hansen

Stafford is going to be leaned on heavily in this one to win the game and he will use his secondary receivers more than he has yet. The 49ers have a good defense -- maybe even a great one -- and they are going to clamp down on Calvin Johnson and force Stafford to go elsewhere. When Stafford does go elsewhere, it is usually to the tight end, which makes Pettigrew a must-start and Tony Scheffler a sleeper. If you want to take a flier on a Lions receiver, we would advise rookie Titus Young over Nate Burleson now.

Sit 'em

• RB Jahvid Best

Backs coming off busy Monday night performances and then playing the 49ers' run defense just are not good plays -- ask LeGarrette Blount. Best had a career-best effort against the Bears -- another good run defense -- but the 49ers are in a league of their own against RBs this season. Not only are they No. 1 in fantasy against them, but they have yet to allow a rushing TD. Best has just one 100-yard game in his career and it is a pretty good bet he won't get another one here, or a rushing TD. Sit him if you have viable alternatives.

Carolina at Atlanta

Start 'em

• RB DeAngelo Williams, TE Greg Olsen

Cam Newton has opened up the Panthers offense and this one should be a shootout. Williams and Jonathan Stewart might not get a lot of yardage on the ground, but the offense will get them chances to score in the red zone via the pass. Olsen has emerged as a solid fantasy starter in a Panthers offense that loves using the tight end.

• QB Matt Ryan, TE Tony Gonzalez, K Matt Bryant, D/ST Falcons

Ryan hasn't gotten off to the start we thought he would, but now the schedule loosens up a bit for him and the Falcons. He still has elite potential in fantasy. Gonzalez and Roddy White should have big weeks, and the defense should have its best week yet.

Sit 'em

• WR Julio Jones, D/ST Panthers

Jones was quiet last week against the Packers, mostly because he missed the second half with a hammy issue. Even if Jones is able to go, and recent reports say no, he will be facing a Panthers secondary that is top 10 in fantasy against WRs.

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh

Start 'em

• QB Ben Roethlisberger, TE Heath Miller, K Shaun Suisham, D/ST Steelers

This is a "start all Steelers" game against the Jags, except for the shaky status of the running backs. Big Ben has taken matters into his own hands and should remain as productive as any quarterback not named Rodgers or Brady. That makes Mike Wallace an elite option, Miller a viable start at tight end and Hines Ward, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders sleepers.

Sit 'em

• WR Mike Thomas, TE Marcedes Lewis

We probably don't need to remind you how good the Steelers secondary is, but they are No. 1 against QBs and WRs. They will also be facing a rookie starting QB in Blaine Gabbert. The Steelers have been giving up yards on the ground, surprisingly, so don't sit Maurice Jones-Drew. You just don't want to be running the Jags leading receivers, presumably Thomas and the disappointing Lewis, out there.

Indianapolis at Cincinnati

Start 'em

• WR Pierre Garcon, WR Reggie Wayne, K Adam Vinatieri

The Bengals are behind only the Steelers and Jets against QBs, which is good company. We still wouldn't sit Wayne, and Garcon has been a monster since Curtis Painter took over the starting role. Painter isn't a good play, but he at least has made Garcon viable again for fantasy owners.