4 Fantasy Football Sleepers for NFL Week 6

Week 6 NFL Sleepers in Summary

• Tyler Shough, QB, Saints
• Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Browns
• Germie Bernard, WR, Steelers
• Pat Freiermuth, TE, Steelers

Every fantasy football week presents new opportunities to uncover value, and some of the best options aren't always the biggest names. Whether it's a favorable matchup, an expanded role, an injury creating opportunity or a player showing signs of a breakout, the fantasy landscape can change quickly from one week to the next.

With that in mind, here are some fantasy football sleepers to consider for this week. These players may not be automatic starts in every league, but each has a combination of opportunity and upside that makes them worth a closer look for the week ahead.

We'll reference our NFL projections. All NFL odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published.

Best Fantasy Football Sleepers for This Week (Week 6)

Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints

Tyler Shough is coming off an ugly performance, but Sunday's matchup with the New York Giants gives him a chance to rebound.

Shough threw for only 96 yards with two interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings last week, but he had produced at least 252 passing yards in each of his first four games, including 410 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1. Through five starts, Shough has totaled 1,299 passing yards and nine touchdowns while completing 66.8% of his attempts.

The Giants have allowed opposing quarterbacks to average roughly 210 passing yards and 1.8 passing touchdowns per game. Shough has also flashed some rushing upside with 72 yards and a touchdown on the ground, giving him another avenue to fantasy points.

For managers streaming quarterback, Shough an appealing bounce-back candidate.

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Cleveland Browns

Jaleel McLaughlin is one of the riskier sleepers on the list, but his potential workload makes him fascinating if Quinshon Judkins can't handle his usual role against Baltimore. Judkins exited Week 5 with an ankle issue and was later spotted in a walking boot while the Cleveland Browns have already lost other backfield depth to injuries. That could push McLaughlin from a seldom-used reserve into a meaningful role.

McLaughlin has received only two carries this season, but he's turned them into 31 yards and a touchdown, including a 28-yard scoring run against Pittsburgh.

He's a speculative play, but running backs who suddenly inherit double-digit touches are exactly the type of players who can emerge as weekly fantasy surprises.

Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Germie Bernard‘s Week 5 usage is difficult to ignore. The rookie caught 6 of 9 targets for 80 yards against Indianapolis, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers in both receptions and receiving yards. He also ran a route on 35 of Aaron Rodgers' 38 dropbacks and played the same number of snaps as D.K. Metcalf, which is a much stronger indicator of future opportunity than his modest season-long production.

Bernard has 13 catches for 140 yards through five games, but 9 of his 20 targets came last week.

With Michael Pittman and other Pittsburgh receivers dealing with injuries, Bernard has an opening to function as one of Rodgers' primary targets against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Another eight- or nine-target game would give him a legitimate chance to deliver useful PPR production.

Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pat Freiermuth is another beneficiary of Pittsburgh's depleted receiving corps. Freiermuth caught 5 passes for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns last week, giving him four receiving scores through five games. He's been particularly valuable near the goal line, with all four of those touchdowns coming on receptions inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

The Steelers also altered Freiermuth's deployment last week, using him on 27 routes from wide receiver alignments while Darnell Washington handled more traditional inline work. That's an encouraging development for fantasy because it can create more target opportunities rather than leaving Freiermuth attached to the line as a blocker.

At a thin fantasy position, Freiermuth's combination of increased route participation and touchdown equity makes him a viable Week 6 sleeper against Tampa Bay.

Fantasy Football Sleepers FAQ

What is a fantasy football sleeper for this week?

A fantasy football sleeper for this week is a player who isn't widely viewed as a must-start but has a favorable combination of matchup, opportunity and recent production that could lead to a strong fantasy performance.

How do you identify fantasy football sleepers each week?

We look at factors such as recent usage, snap counts, targets, touches, red-zone opportunities, injuries and the player's individual matchup. Changes in a player's role can also create new sleeper opportunities from week to week.

Should I start a fantasy football sleeper this week?

That depends on your league, your roster and the player's situation. A sleeper can be a strong option when you're dealing with an injury, a bye week or a difficult matchup for one of your usual starters, but it's important to consider each player's floor as well as their upside.

Do fantasy football sleepers change every week?

Yes. Sleeper candidates can change significantly as the season progresses because of injuries, emerging players, coaching decisions, matchups and changing workloads. That's why it's useful to reevaluate potential sleepers each week.

New customers can get up to $350 in Bonus Bets — guaranteed — when you bet $5 every day for seven days. Place your first wager now! See here for full terms and conditions. Learn about today's other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.

Interested in playing NFL DFS? Head over to FanDuel’s daily fantasy football lobby to see all the offerings for this week's slates.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.