Welcome to The Playbook for Week 6, which kicks off Thursday night with Seahawks at Broncos. Mike Clay and Tristan H. Cockcroft break down score projections, over/unders, win probabilities and easy-to-follow fantasy advice for seasonlong leagues and DFS. The guide is built to help with sit/start calls, last-minute waiver adds and lineup choices.
This week's column folds in the Shadow Reports, which use play-by-play data to identify defensive schemes and where each wide receiver and cornerback lines up on each play. By tracking these WR/CB matchups, including potential shadow situations, the analysis offers targeted guidance each week. A separate WR vs. CB Cheat Sheet and strength-of-schedule breakdowns provide additional detail.
The advice centers on 12-team PPR leagues with standard scoring and a lineup of 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 Flex, 1 K and 1 D/ST, with notes for shallow and deep formats. Matchup ratings come from a proprietary metric that factors in raw and volume-adjusted fantasy points allowed to each position. DFS values apply only to Sunday's main slate.
In the opening breakdown, Seattle is projected to beat Denver 23-18, with Emanuel Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba named as lineup locks. Jaylen Waddle's struggles in Denver continue, as he sits outside the top 30 receivers despite a palatable 21% target share, and is viewed as no more than a flex option against a Seattle defense that has allowed the third-fewest yards and fantasy points to receivers this season.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing