Fantasy Stars
Week 6 fantasy football rankings: Don't be afraid to start the Texans defense
Oct 12, 2017, 1:48 pm
The injuries the Texans have suffered on defense shouldn't keep you from starting them against Cleveland. Photo by Michelle Watson/Catchlight Group
Below are my PPR fantasy rankings for Week 6. Most leagues are using points per reception these days, so take that into consideration when looking at the ranks. Six points are awarded for every receiving and rushing TD, and four points for every passing TD. If you are playing in a non-PPR league, pass-catching running backs lose a bit of value and so do possession receivers. Make sure you check the status of players that have been limited or out of practice. The rankings will be updated on Friday and Sunday.
If you have any start-sit questions, feel free to hit me up at @jordanpfx on Twitter, and I will do my best to get to every question. Include your scoring system with your questions. Good luck!
QB
1 T. Brady NE
2 D. Brees NO
3 A. Rodgers GB
4 D. Watson HOU
5 M. Ryan ATL
6 M. Stafford DET
7 K. Cousins WAS
8 C. Newton CAR
9 P. Rivers LAC
10 C. Palmer ARI
11 A. Smith KC
12 C. Wentz PHI
13 D. Carr OAK
14 B. Roethlisberger PIT
15 J. Winston TB
16 J. Brissett IND
17 T. Siemian DEN
18 M. Mariota TEN * Questionable
19 J. McCown NYJ
20 J. Goff LAR
21 C. Keenum MIN
22 J. Flacco BAL
23 J. Cutler MIA
24 E. Manning NYG
RB
1 L. Fournette JAC
2 L. Bell PIT
3 K. Hunt KC
4 T. Gurley LAR
5 D. Freeman ATL
6 M. Gordon LAC
7 C. Anderson DEN
8 M. Ingram NO
9 L. Miller HOU
10 D. Murray TEN
11 D. Martin TB
12 A. Jones GB *Lower expectations if Montgomery is active.
13 J. Howard CHI
14 M. Lynch OAK
15 J. Ajayi MIA
16 A. Kamara NO
17 C. McCaffrey CAR
18 J. Allen BAL
19 C. Thompson WAS
20 A. Abdullah DET
21 T. Coleman ATL
22 D. Johnson CLE
23 M. Gillislee NE
24 L. Blount PHI
25 J. White NE
26 F. Gore IND
27 J. McKinnon MIN
28 C. Hyde SF
29 S. Perine WAS
30 J. Stewart CAR
31 D. Henry TEN
32 T. Riddick DET
33 A. Ellington ARI
34 I. Crowell CLE
35 T. Montgomery *Questionable
36 S. Vereen NYG
37 A. Peterson ARI
38 L. Murray MIN
39 E. McGuire NYJ
40 W. Gallman NYG
41 J. Charles DEN
42 D. Foreman HOU
43 M. Breida SF
44 A. Collins BAL
45 M. Forte NYJ
46 O. Darkwa NYG
WR
1 A. Brown PIT
2 D. Hopkins HOU
3 J. Jones ATL
4 L. Fitzgerald ARI
5 T. Hilton IND
6 J. Nelson GB
7 M. Thomas NO
8 K. Allen LAC
9 B. Cooks NE
10 D. Adams GB
11 C. Hogan NE
12 M. Evans TB
13 S. Diggs MIN *Out
14 T. Hill KC
15 M. Crabtree OAK
16 J. Landry MIA
17 G. Tate DET
18 T. Pryor WAS
19 D. Funchess CAR
20 D. Amendola NE
21 A. Jeffery PHI
22 A. Thielen MIN
23 P. Garcon SF
24 A. Cooper OAK
25 D. Jackson TB
26 E. Sanders DEN
27 K. Benjamin CAR
28 R. Cobb GB
29 W. Fuller HOU
30 D. Thomas DEN
31 C. Kupp LAR
32 M. Wallace BAL
33 M. Bryant PIT
34 J. Crowder WAS
35 M. Jones DET
36 W. Snead NO
37 M. Lee JAC
38 T. Williams LAC
39 J. Doctson WAS
40 R. Matthews TEN
41 T. Gabriel ATL
42 K. Wright CHI
43 J. Kearse NYJ
44 J. Maclin BAL
45 John Brown ARI
46 S. Watkins LA
47 Jaron Brown ARI
TE
1 R. Gronkowski NE
2 T. Kelce KC
3 Z. Ertz PHI
4 A. Seferian-Jenkins NYJ
5 H. Henry LAC
6 D. Walker TEN
7 K. Rudolph MIN
8 C. Brate TB
9 J. Reed WAS
10 R. Griffin HOU
11 E. Engram NYG
12 M. Bennett GB
13 A. Hooper ATL
14 B. Watson BAL
15 E. Dickson CAR
16 J. Cook OAK
17 G. Kittle SF
18 C. Fleener NO
19 D. Njoku CLE
20 J. Doyle IND *Questionable
21 Z. Miller CHI
DEF
1 Broncos
2 Jaguars
3 Texans *All bets are off if Clowney and Joseph don't play.
4 Ravens
5 Falcons
6 Patriots
7 Redskins
8 Panthers
9 Chiefs
10 Packers
11 Eagles
12 Bears
13 Cardinals
14 Buccaneers
15 Chargers
Kicker
1 S. Gostkowski NE
2 M. Bryant ATL *Questionable
3 J. Tucker BAL
4 M. Crosby GB
5 A. Vinatieri IND
6 H. Butker KC
7 J. Myers JAX
8 J. Elliott PHI
9 K. Fairbairn HOU
10 W. Lutz NO
11 M. Prater DET
12 N. Novak LAC
13 G. Gano CAR
14 D. Hopkins WAS
15 B. McManus DEN
It's time to seriously question the Astros' front office. Photos via Getty Images, ESPN IG.
The Astros have officially entered a new era, but it’s hard to spin Alex Bregman’s exit as anything but a gut punch. Bregman, a cornerstone of Houston’s championship core, is gone — and the Astros' strategy (or lack thereof) is front and center. The questions are mounting fast, and the answers don’t inspire confidence.
Let’s be clear: This isn’t about refusing to pay players. It’s about how the Astros are willing to pay them. Jim Crane’s approach has become increasingly rigid — no deals with high annual values and opt-outs, but also no long-term contracts for $160+ million. Essentially, Crane is looking for a Goldilocks zone in modern baseball that no longer exists. Good luck winning another World Series with that strategy and a depleted farm system.
If Crane’s blueprint is to focus on cheap positions (first base, closer) or short-term deals with aging veterans past their prime, this team could be in serious trouble. We’ve seen it before with Correa. He could’ve been retained on a shorter-term contract (3-years, $105 million), but Crane’s pride — and his refusal to engage with Scott Boras on deals that include opt-outs — kept the Astros out of the conversation.
Dana Brown publicly called Bregman a top priority. Clearly, that wasn’t true for Crane. Brown’s reaction to the Bregman news felt more like a man at a funeral than an optimistic GM on the opening day of spring training for pitchers and catchers. He wouldn’t even comment on the deal.
Crane’s strategy already backfiring
The Astros locked up Rafael Montero and José Abreu to questionable contracts that now feel like self-inflicted wounds. Would Crane have let Bregman walk if not for those deals? If that’s the case, Houston just sacrificed its long-term core for short-term bets that didn't pay off.
And get ready — Framber Valdez is probably next. When his contract comes up, don’t expect him to stick around.
Leadership void
Losing Bregman isn’t just about stats. It’s about leadership, swagger, and presence. Players like Jeremy Peña, Chas McCormick, and Isaac Paredes aren’t exactly striking fear into opponents. Correa, Bregman, and Kyle Tucker? Entirely different story.
A missed opportunity
Imagine choosing between Josh Hader’s deal (5-years, $95 million) or what Bregman just signed for (3-years, $120 million). I would take Bregman all day. When Hader signed last season, we were fine with it as long as it didn't preclude the club from trying to extend Bregman and/or Tucker.
But here we are one year later with Tucker, Bregman, and Ryan Pressly playing for new teams. And Pressly was better than Hader in 2024 despite dealing with a role change.
For now, the most exciting things about the 2025 Astros are the short porch in left field — which might make Paredes look good again — and the weak AL West.
So, get your season tickets now!
This is one video you don't want to miss as the crew from Stone Cold 'Stros examines all the ramifications from Alex Bregman's Astros departure, and much more!
Spring training is up and running. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!
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