Week 6 Fantasy Picks: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for Bengals vs Lions

The Detroit Lions will look to win their first game of the 2021 season when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 NFL action. FanDuel Sportsbook has the Bengals slated as small 3-point road favorites in a game that is sure to have fantasy football implications.

If you need some help with your fantasy lineups, here's some start 'em, sit 'em advice for this Week 6 showdown.

Joe Mixon Fantasy

Start Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: Running back Joe Mixon may have played in just 28% of the offensive snaps in Week 5, but it was good sign to see him out there at all. The Bengals ball-carrier seems to be working back to full health and heads into Week 6 with the backfield all to himself. Backup Samaje Perine was recently placed on the COVID-19 list due to a positive test. Mixon is averaging a solid 4.2 yards per carry this season and now faces a Lions' defense that has posted the fifth-worst rush defense DVOA rating. Overall, Detroit has allowed the fourth most PPR fantasy points to opposing RBs. That gives Mixon RB1 upside this week.

Amon-Ra St. Brown Fantasy

Start Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions: Someone needed to step up at the wide receiver position for this Lions' offense and Amon-Ra St. Brown has started to take on that role. The rookie pass-catcher has seen a team-high 16 targets over the last two games and hauled in 13 of them for 135 yards. St. Brown drew his first career start in Week 5 and has now played in 62% of the offensive snaps this season. It's notable to point out that the Bengals have given up the fourth-most receptions to opposing WRs this season as well as 941 yards (No. 22 in NFL). St. Brown is a viable FLEX option heading into Sunday.

Tee Higgins Fantasy

Sit Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Wide receiver Tee Higgins returned from a shoulder injury in Week 5 and finished with 32 yard on 5 receptions (7 targets). However, he may be as low as No. 3 on this WR depth chart. The connection between quarterback Joe Burrow and rookie Ja'Marr Chase is beginning to push Higgins' value down in fantasy football. The second-year pro trailed both Chase and Tyler Boyd in snap rate last week and is averaging a low 6.8 yards per target this season. The Lions present a favorable matchup, but it's hard to trust that Higgins will see enough volume to perform well.

Jared Goff Fantasy

Sit Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions: The last three weeks have not been kind to quarterback Jared Goff. The Lions' quarterback has come crashing back down to earth, throwing just 2 touchdowns over that span. He also threw his third interception of the season in Week 5 and draws a tough matchup on Sunday. Cincinnati has posted the 12th-best pass defense DVOA rating this season and is allowing just 9.3 yards per completion (T-No. 4 in NFL). This isn't the matchup to stream Goff.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.