DFS Week 6: Christian McCaffrey or Puka Nacua?

The Cardinals/Colts and Cowboys/Panthers will likely be the most stacked matchups in Week 6, but the biggest DFS decision will be paying up for Christian McCaffrey or Puka Nacua. Jonathan Taylor also has a case, but CMC and Nacua both have silly high projections given their volume. Prices have tightened this week, which is particularly tricky at quarterback with no Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels or Jalen Hurts on the slate.

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford ($6.4K) @ Baltimore Ravens 

Stafford has the second best YPA (8.2) of his career, and he’s thrown 10 touchdowns over the last four weeks. He offers no rushing equity, but only the Packers have a higher implied team total (27.5 points) this week. The Ravens have ceded an NFL-high 13 passing scores and the second most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to quarterbacks. Nacua and/or Davante Adams provide an obvious stacking opportunity, although Baltimore offers few viable comebacks. 

Drake Maye ($5.9K) @ New Orleans Saints 

Maye will be chalk this week given his salary, matchup and lack of QB alternatives. He gets a matchup indoors against a forgiving New Orleans defense. Maye was fantastic Sunday night in Buffalo, but two RB rushing scores limited his fantasy stats. He’s gotten 9.1 YPA since Week 1 and owns a 9% scramble rate that’s just below Justin Fields and Hurts. Stefon Diggs has emerged as a pairing option, and the Patriots seemingly don’t trust either of their remaining running backs. 

Mac Jones ($5.6K) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

There’s a small chance Brock Purdy returns this week, but Jones looks set to start for San Francisco once again. He’s averaged 301.7 passing yards and 2.0 touchdowns over three games with Kyle Shanahan, and he’s coming off a big performance against a tough defense without the 49ers’ top four pass catchers (and his day started off by discovering a dead body!). The 49ers are the only team in the league without a rushing score this season, and they get a pass-funnel Tampa Bay defense in Week 6; the Bucs rank first in EPA/rush allowed but just 27th in EPA/dropback.