We decided to keep tabs on the best and worst fantasy football performances after all the surprising breakout games that occurred last week.
Not many expected to see Panthers running back Rico Dowdle and 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne carry their respective fantasy managers to victory in Week 5. Well, they did it again this week. Dowdle proved he wasn’t a one-game wonder, as he made the Cowboys pay during an epic revenge game on Sunday. Bourne continued to flash his chemistry with Mac Jones during the 49ers’ road game in Tampa Bay.
Hopefully, by now, we’ve all learned to be bold with our lineups, because even Week 6 started with a surprising result after rookie running back Cam Skattebo delivered 98 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns during the Giants’ upset win over the Eagles on Thursday night.
And if you decided to bench players from the Jets-Broncos game in London, well, pat yourself on the back because that was not a friendly one for fantasy football managers.
Here are the studs and duds from NFL Week 6.
This story will be updated throughout the day. Points from Sleeper PPR standard scoring format.
Studs
Kendrick Bourne, WR, 49ers
Fantasy points: 19.20
Stats: Nine targets, five catches, 142 yards
Once again, Bourne was Jones’s favorite target. The two former Patriots have leaned on their chemistry to keep their new team afloat. It wasn’t Jones’s best performance during the loss in Tampa Bay, but it’s clear he’s going to keep feeding Bourne as long as he remains the starter for the 49ers.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals
Fantasy points: 25.10
Stats: 12 targets, 10 catches, 94 yards, 1 TD
Welp, the Bengals haven’t won a game in a month, but at least Chase has found a rhythm the past two games. The prolific receiver didn’t waste time establishing chemistry with new veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who connected with Chase on a 19-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Packers. Last week, Chase had 32 points against the Lions.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Packers
Fantasy points: 32.00
Stats: 18 carries, 93 yards, 2 TDs; five catches, 57 yards
A trap game didn’t materialize in Green Bay thanks to Jacobs finding the end zone twice against the Bengals. Jordan Love struggled to get the passing game going, but was bailed out by Jacobs’s efficient day on the ground. Jacobs handed his team a 10-point lead after a 14-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
De’Von Achane, RB, Dolphins
Fantasy points: 32.00
Stats: 16 carries, 128 yards, 2 TDs; four catches, 22 yards
The speedy Achane kept the Dolphins in the game against a Chargers defense that has struggled to stop the run the past three weeks. Achane broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run in the first quarter before scoring again on a four-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, Patriots
Fantasy points: 26.30
Stats: Five catches, 93 yards, 2 TDs
Boutte only saw five targets, but he made them count by averaging 18.6 yards per reception during the Patriots’ win in New Orleans. Boutte tends to go hot and cold, but he’s starting to become a consistent weapon for Drake Maye.
Rico Dowdle, RB, Panthers
Fantasy points: 34.90
Stats: 30 carries, 183 yards; four catches, 56 yards, 1 TD
Dowdle said he wanted to make the Cowboys pay for letting him go in the offseason. It’s safe to say he accomplished that with his epic revenge game, filling the stat sheet as a runner and receiver. With back-to-back stellar performances from Dowdle, the Panthers might have a tough decision to make on who to start in the backfield once Chuba Hubbard returns from injury.
George Pickens, WR, Cowboys
Fantasy points: 31.80
Stats: 11 targets, nine catches, 168 yards, 1 TD
Pickens continued to step up in CeeDee Lamb’s absence. Pickens did everything he could to spoil Dowdle’s revenge game, unleashing random stiff arms and attempting to hurdle over defenders. The wild playmaker found the end zone for the fifth consecutive game.
Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
Fantasy points: 34,24
Stats: 18-of-26, 261 yards, 3 TDs; nine carries, 28 yards
Quietly, Maye has been one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football. He did have somewhat of a dud last week against the Bills, scoring only 12.12 points. But Maye has generated at least 23 points in four of his six starts this season. Maye was nearly perfect in New Orleans, throwing three touchdowns in the first half.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers
Fantasy points: 23.00
Stats: Nine targets, seven catches, 100 yards, 1 TD
McConkey rewarded his fantasy managers who didn’t lose faith in him. After playing third fiddle for weeks, McConkey stepped up for the banged-up Chargers. The receptions machine had a clutch 42-yard reception to set up Los Angeles’s game-winning field goal in Miami.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
Fantasy points: 33.20
Stats: 13 targets, eight catches, 162 yards, 1 TD
The star receiver known as JSN has emerged as a strong candidate for Offensive Player of the Year. Smith-Njigba’s latest dominant performance helped the Seahawks pull away from the Jaguars, recording a 61-yard touchdown bomb in the second quarter. Smith-Njigba has played like a top-five wide receiver all season.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers
Fantasy points: 22.80
Stats: 18 carries, 124 yards; three catches, 14, TD
Vidal continued the trend of backup running backs making the most of their starting opportunities. The second-year running back was the clear No. 1 option during the Chargers’ first game without rookie running back Omarion Hampton. Vidal went from having a modest performance to an impressive outing after recording a seven-yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Dolphins.
Cameron Skattebo, RB, Giants
Fantasy points: 31.00
Stats: 19 carries, 98 yards, 3 TDs; two catches, 12 yards
It’s starting to look very strange that Skattebo fell to the fourth round of the 2025 draft. With how well he’s performed, the rookie running back could be leading many fantasy managers to the postseason. Skattebo put the finishing touches on the beatdown of the Eagles on Thursday night, scoring three consecutive touchdowns to end the game.
Duds
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Buccaneers
Fantasy points: 4.40
Stats: Four targets, two catches, 24 yards
Egbuka’s prolific rookie season was derailed by a hamstring injury sustained in the second half against the 49ers. This will be one to monitor moving forward for fantasy managers who have benefited from Egbuka quickly establishing himself as a star receiver in the league.
Jauan Jennings, WR, 49ers
Fantasy points: 1.70
Stats: Three targets, one catch, seven yards
Jennings managed to return after a two-game absence, but he was a nonfactor in the loss against the Buccaneers. Jones rarely looked in Jennings’s direction, which could continue to happen if the backup QB starts again for the injured Brock Purdy. Jones has better chemistry with Bourne and tight end Jake Tonges.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts
Fantasy points: 4.00
Stats: Three targets, two catches, 20 yards
Pittman has had a nice season with Daniel Jones throwing him the ball, but the two sides couldn’t get on the same page during the Colts’ high-scoring victory against the Cardinals. Pittman has four touchdowns this season, but this was the first time he didn’t score in four weeks.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
Fantasy points: 11.34
Stats: 17-of-26, 181 yards, TD
Stafford cooled off in a big way in Baltimore after producing more than 30 points in back-to-back games. Stafford appeared lost once Puka Nacua exited the game due to an ankle injury. Rams coach Sean McVay didn’t express optimism in Nacua playing next week in London against the Jaguars. It might be better to sit Stafford in Week 7 if Nacua can’t go.
Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
Fantasy points: 4.80
Stats: Three targets, two catches, 28 yards
Nacua’s historic pace slowed drastically after the star receiver injured his ankle in the first half. Nacua did manage to return to the game, but the Rams didn’t need him against the reeling Ravens. It was a rough one statistically for Nacua, but his fantasy managers can’t be too mad after how well he played in the first five weeks.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals
Fantasy points: 5.20
Stats: Two catches, 32 yards
There was a lot made about Harrison returning to Indianapolis, where his father produced a Hall-of-Fame career. But Harrison exited before halftime to be evaluated for a concussion. It’s starting to become difficult to trust Harrison in fantasy lineups, with or without Kyler Murray.
Javonte Williams, RB, Cowboys
Fantasy points: 8.40
Stats: 13 carries, 29 yards; five catches, five yards
Surprisingly, Williams couldn’t get much going during the shootout between the Cowboys and Panthers. Williams was in the midst of a breakout season before Sunday’s dud in Carolina. He often went backwards and averaged only 2.2 yards per carry.
Justin Fields, QB, Jets
Fantasy points: 4.90
Stats: 9-of-17, 45 yards; seven carries, 31 yards
Maybe fantasy football isn’t for you if you decided to start Fields against the Broncos’ ferocious defense. Fields couldn’t get anything going, not even with his legs, which has been the case for the second consecutive week. The 0–6 Jets only had 82 total yards in London, including minus-10 yards passing. Fields was also sacked nine times.
Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets
Fantasy points: 4.30
Stats: Eight targets, three catches, 13 yards
Wilson might have shouted more in coach Aaron Glenn’s direction after this atrocious offensive performance from the Jets. Wilson should probably ask for a quarterback change, too. Fields tried to hit Wilson late in the game, but threw the pass too late before he took a sack on fourth down to end the game.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fantasy Studs and Duds NFL Week 6: Cam Skattebo’s Breakout.
