Week 6 features only two teams on Bye, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, while giving us several great matchups from an offensive line vs. defensive line context. No matter how talented a team’s quarterback and backfield might be, defenders disrupting the timing of throws and handoffs is how football games are won and lost. In fantasy football, we tend to look at the skilled positions to evaluate player performances, however, gaining an understanding of matchups in the trenches can go a long way toward helping fantasy managers make the best start/sit decisions possible.
As injuries begin piling up to key players, there is an increased need for finding matchups to exploit with players who don’t necessarily have as much name value as other star prospects. It’s important to identify the best offensive and defensive line units in the league, then assess their upcoming matchups to help determine whether or not certain skilled players will return value in fantasy football lineups in Week 6. We’ve got several matchups to key in on for Week 6, ranging from lopsided mismatches to competitive matchups on either side of the line of scrimmage.
NFL fantasy analyst Matt MacKay is here to give us his latest offensive and defensive line rankings, plus several key matchups to monitor in order to maximize the amount of fantasy points in your lineups for Week 6.
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Offensive Line Rankings & Matchups
1. Detroit Lions
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. San Francisco 49ers
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key Week 6 Matchups
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Kansas City’s offensive line unit has looked solid this season, keeping Patrick Mahomes (QB – Chiefs) on his feet with a clean jersey, as the two-time NFL MVP has only taken four sacks through five games this season. Whether it’s run blocking or pass protection, Kansas City’s offensive line unit can do it all. They get arguably the softest matchup in the league on a short week, hosting the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. The Broncos rank 32nd in pressure percentage (14.8%), 28th in quarterback knockdown percentage (6.5%), and 32nd in hurry percentage (2.3%) which are all indicative of a defensive line that fails to disrupt opponent backfields. Mahomes and the Chiefs have been dominant in this head-to-head AFC West rivalry matchup, and it shouldn’t be any different in Week 6, which is why the Chiefs are -10.5 ATS. All Chiefs skilled players get a bump in Week 6 due to this favorable matchup at home against a bad Denver defensive line.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay’s offensive line has been one of the biggest surprises this season, surrendering only four sacks, leading to a 3.1 percent sack rate, which is second-lowest in the league behind only Kansas City. Rookie Cody Mauch (G – Buccaneers) is looking like a great value pick in the second round shoring up the Bucs’ interior offensive line, while Tristan Wirfs (LT – Buccaneers) continues to dominate and protect Baker Mayfield’s (QB – Buccaneers) blind side. Tampa Bay will get a stiff challenge against Detroit’s defensive line, led by Aidan Hutchinson (DE – Lions), who single-handedly disrupts opposing backfields on run and passing downs. The Lions defensive line ranks top-eight in pressure percentage and hurry percentage, so it’ll be interesting to see which unit wins this battle down at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Sunday.
New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills’ defensive line is set to feast against a porous New York Giants offensive line in Week 6. It’s a prime time home game for Buffalo, who is nursing its second loss of the season after failing to beat Jacksonville in London during Week 5. The Bills have suffered several key injuries to defensive starters, but its defensive line ranks first in pressure percentage (32.6%) and just got Von Miller (DE – Bills) back in the fold, adding an elite veteran edge rusher into the mix. Conversely, the Giants are 32nd in sack percentage allowed (15.3%) this season, which is a big reason why Daniel Jones (QB – Giants) suffered a neck injury in Week 5. The Giants backfield could be filled with Bills defenders in Week 6, giving Giants skilled players a low ceiling and floor in a difficult road matchup due to their bad offensive line play matched up against a top-three defensive line unit.
Defensive Line Rankings & Matchups
1. Buffalo Bills
2. Detroit Lions
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. Atlanta Falcons
Key Week 6 Matchups
Atlanta Falcons vs. Washington Commanders
Arthur Smith gets a lot of heat for his offensive play calling, but he’s assembled one of the most stout defensive lines in the league this season. The Falcons are ranked third in quarterback knock down percentage (13%), fifth in pressure percentage (28.2%), and second in hurry percentage (13.2%) this season. Now, they face Washington, who are surrendering a 13.2 percent sack rate, ranked second-highest in the league. The Commanders made the Bears’ woeful defensive line look dominant in Week 5, so Sam Howell (QB – Commanders) should once again be running for his life facing quality players like Calais Campbell (DE – Falcons), Grady Jarrett (NT – Falcons), and David Onyemata (DT – Falcons) along the Falcons’ defensive front in Week 6.
Cleveland Browns vs. San Francisco 49ers
After a week 4 loss where Baltimore routed Cleveland at home, the Browns’ defense may be getting slept on yet again. Led by Myles Garrett (DE – Browns), Cleveland faces the red-hot San Francisco offense in Week 6. The Browns are ranked second in pressure percentage (30.3%) and first in quarterback knockdown percentage (18.9%), but they rank much lower in sacks recorded and hurry percentage. San Francisco’s offensive line is 10th in fewest sacks allowed at 5.5 percent, with Trent Williams (LT – 49ers) protecting Brock Purdy’s (QB – 49ers) blind side with efficiency. Garrett versus Williams will be the matchup within the game to monitor closest, but if the Browns can get back to how they played in the first three weeks defensively, the 49ers could wind up losing their first game of the 2023 season.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Jets
Philadelphia’s young nucleus of talent along its defensive line, combined with veterans like Fletcher Cox (DT – Eagles) and Montez Sweat (DE – Eagles), should fare well against a bad New York Jets offensive line in Week 6. The Jets are top-eight in sack percentage allowed (9.1%) and the Eagles rank fifth in hurry percentage (11.6%), tenth in quarterback knock down percentage (10.9%), and sixth in pressure percentage (28%) this season. The Eagles’ run defense is just as stout this season, ranking top-five in yards per attempt (3.4 YPC) and only two rushing touchdowns, so Zach Wilson (QB – Jets) will be tasked with overcoming the dominant Eagles’ defensive line while playing behind a bottom-ten offensive line unit. Fantasy managers should have lower expectations for Jets skilled players in Week 6.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.