Five weeks into the NFL season, the Draftstars landscape is beginning to take shape. We've seen which offenses can consistently produce fantasy points, which players are earning greater opportunities and, importantly, where salary discrepancies can create opportunities for tournament players.
Week 6 presents several outstanding stacking options, headlined by Buffalo against Las Vegas, the Rams hosting Arizona and an intriguing Chicago-Atlanta matchup.
However, my preferred tournament construction takes a slightly different approach.
New Orleans travels to New York to face the Giants in a game that could produce considerably more points than the market anticipates. Both offences possess talented receiving options, and the matchup presents an opportunity to build a relatively inexpensive game stack while retaining premium players elsewhere.
That's particularly appealing when players such as Bijan Robinson and Puka Nacua command substantial salaries.
The challenge this week isn't identifying the obvious fantasy environments. It's deciding whether to follow the popular constructions or target a less fashionable matchup with comparable tournament upside.
Let's examine the players and strategies worth considering.
Also the NFL Star returns at Draftstars this year with $60,000 up for grabs! You can find out all the important NFL Star details here.
NFL 2026-27 Daily Fantasy Tips: Week 6
Quarterbacks
Josh Allen – $19,150
Josh Allen is the obvious premium quarterback selection this week as Buffalo hosts Las Vegas.
The Bills enter this matchup as strong favourites, with one of the highest projected team totals on the slate. Given Allen's combination of passing production, rushing ability and involvement near the goal line, there's an obvious opportunity for another enormous fantasy performance.
Las Vegas has struggled defensively, and Buffalo possesses the offensive weapons to exploit those weaknesses.
Allen's rushing involvement remains particularly valuable in daily fantasy. Unlike quarterbacks who rely almost entirely on passing touchdowns, Allen can generate significant fantasy points even when Buffalo's running backs dominate stretches of a game.
That versatility provides an excellent foundation for tournament lineups.
The obvious concern is salary. At $19,150, Allen requires a substantial investment, particularly if we're pairing him with additional Buffalo players. However, the matchup certainly justifies consideration.
A combination involving Allen, Khalil Shakir or Dalton Kincaid, with Brock Bowers or Ashton Jeanty coming back from Las Vegas, could be one of the most popular constructions of Week 6. It's also one of the most appealing on paper.
Tyler Shough – $12,970
Tyler Shough is my preferred alternative at quarterback, particularly for tournament players looking to differentiate their lineups.
The Saints have struggled over the past three weeks, culminating in an extremely disappointing offensive performance against Minnesota.
Shough managed only 96 passing yards in that defeat, making him a difficult selection to trust. However, that performance also creates an opportunity.
New Orleans now faces a Giants defence that has been competitive but remains vulnerable to a productive passing attack. More importantly, the Saints' own defensive problems could force Shough into another high-volume passing game.
Despite last week's performance, New Orleans ranks among the league's better passing offenses in terms of yardage through five weeks.
Chris Olave remains the obvious stacking partner, although his availability must be monitored after missing practice through illness.
At $12,970, Shough offers a substantial saving compared with Allen. That difference becomes particularly valuable when attempting to fit premium selections such as Nacua and Robinson into the same lineup.
The risk is considerable, but if Saints-Giants develops into a shootout, Shough could provide one of the best salary-adjusted quarterback performances on the slate.
QB Strategy
Buffalo-Las Vegas is the obvious starting point, and Allen deserves to be one of the most popular quarterbacks. However, popularity matters in large-field tournaments.
My preferred alternative involves attacking Saints-Giants, potentially pairing Shough with Olave and bringing back Malik Nabers or Isaiah Likely.
Jameis Winston also deserves consideration from the Giants' side. His aggressive approach creates turnover risk, but also the potential for explosive passing production.
Matthew Stafford is another attractive option against Arizona, particularly alongside Nacua, with Trey McBride or Michael Wilson providing the bring-back.
Chicago-Atlanta also carries a substantial total, but the uncertainty surrounding Caleb Williams' hamstring and Michael Penix Jr.'s ribs makes that matchup harder to approach confidently.
There are several viable quarterback options this week. My preference is to save salary with Shough and invest the difference elsewhere.
Running Backs
Bijan Robinson – $21,170
Bijan Robinson is expensive, but there's a compelling argument that he's worth every dollar. The Atlanta running back has established himself among the most dangerous offensive players in the NFL, combining elite rushing ability with substantial receiving involvement.
Two weeks ago, against New Orleans, Robinson helped power the Falcons to a 45-24 victory, reinforcing his importance to Atlanta's offense. However, he struggled last week, with his second lowest output of the season. He now faces a Chicago defence that was comprehensively beaten by Green Bay last week.
The Bears have been particularly vulnerable to outside-zone rushing concepts, which is significant given Atlanta's preference for attacking the edges with Robinson.
Chicago's defensive struggles create an excellent opportunity for a substantial bounce back performance.
The quarterback uncertainty surrounding Michael Penix Jr. is worth monitoring, but Robinson's involvement should remain significant regardless of who starts.
At $21,170, he's the most expensive player on the slate. However, his ability to produce through both rushing and receiving makes him an attractive standalone option in virtually any lineup construction.
James Cook – $15,210
James Cook offers another excellent opportunity to attack Buffalo's favourable matchup against Las Vegas.
The Bills should have opportunities to establish offensive control, and Cook remains central to their rushing attack.
At $15,210, he provides a considerably cheaper alternative to Robinson while retaining significant touchdown potential.
The Raiders' defensive problems also make Cook an appealing option in lineups built around a Buffalo victory.
There is an interesting strategic consideration here. Cook can be paired with Josh Allen, although the combination introduces some competition for rushing touchdowns.
If Cook scores multiple times on the ground, Allen might not produce the passing touchdowns required to justify his premium salary.
However, Buffalo's projected offensive production is substantial enough that both players could still deliver strong fantasy scores.
Cook can also be selected independently, particularly if we're anticipating Buffalo establishing a comfortable lead and leaning heavily on its running game.
Blake Corum – $8,000
Blake Corum is one of my favourite speculative selections this week. The Rams host Arizona as enormous favourites, and I'm anticipating a comfortable Los Angeles victory. That potential game script creates an interesting opportunity for Corum.
His involvement has been inconsistent, and Kyren Williams remains the clear leader of the Rams backfield. However, Corum was impressive against Buffalo last week, producing 72 total yards and a touchdown from eight touches.
He achieved that despite playing only 24.4% of the offensive snaps. That limited involvement highlights the risk, but his efficiency and explosiveness were encouraging.
Arizona has struggled to contain opposing rushing attacks, particularly when opponents reach the second level. If the Rams establish a substantial lead, Corum could receive additional opportunities during the second half.
At just $8,000, he doesn't require a massive workload to justify his selection. Ten to twelve touches, particularly with a touchdown, could make him an excellent value option.
This is a game-script gamble rather than a prediction that Corum has permanently overtaken Williams.
RB Strategy
Robinson is my preferred premium selection, while Cook offers an attractive way to gain Buffalo exposure. Corum provides the salary relief necessary to accommodate expensive players elsewhere.
The suggested lineup pairs Robinson with Corum, effectively betting on two different outcomes: Atlanta continuing to feature its superstar running back, and Los Angeles establishing sufficient control to increase Corum's involvement.
That combination creates considerable upside without spending heavily at both running back positions.
Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua – $20,130
Puka Nacua is my preferred premium wide receiver this week. The Rams host an Arizona defence that has struggled against opposing passing attacks, and Los Angeles enters the matchup with one of the highest projected team totals on the slate.
Nacua remains the focal point of Matthew Stafford's passing offense, combining substantial target volume with the ability to produce explosive gains.
His involvement makes him particularly appealing in Draftstars scoring. Unlike receivers who rely heavily on touchdowns, Nacua can generate an enormous fantasy score through receptions and yardage alone.
The biggest concern is the potential game script. Los Angeles is favoured by double digits, creating the possibility that the Rams establish an early lead and reduce their passing volume during the second half. However, Nacua could already have produced a substantial score by that stage.
He can be paired with Stafford for an obvious stack, while McBride and Wilson provide excellent Arizona bring-back options.
At $20,130, Nacua requires a significant investment, but the matchup and his established role make him one of the strongest individual selections available.
Malik Nabers – $13,060
Malik Nabers is central to my preferred Saints-Giants game stack.
The Giants receiver has already demonstrated his ability to command significant targets, and the matchup against New Orleans creates an opportunity for another productive performance.
The Saints have struggled defensively, particularly when opposing offenses have been able to establish an aggressive passing approach. That suits a Giants offense currently led by Jameis Winston.
Winston's willingness to attack downfield can produce inconsistent results, but it also creates opportunities for receivers to generate substantial fantasy scores.
Nabers is particularly appealing at $13,060. That price is considerably more manageable than the premium receivers on the slate, despite his potential to command a substantial share of New York's passing production.
He also provides the perfect bring-back for lineups featuring Tyler Shough and Chris Olave. If New Orleans scores heavily, Winston could be forced into an aggressive approach, increasing Nabers' opportunities.
The reverse construction, featuring Winston and Nabers with Olave coming back, is equally viable.
Khalil Shakir – $7,810
Khalil Shakir offers an inexpensive route into Buffalo's highly attractive matchup against Las Vegas.
The Bills receiver has exceeded 80 receiving yards in each of his past two games, suggesting his involvement is becoming increasingly productive. That recent form is particularly encouraging given his modest $7,810 salary.
Las Vegas has struggled against slot receivers, creating an appealing matchup for Shakir's role within Buffalo's passing offence. He doesn't necessarily require a touchdown to provide value.
A handful of receptions and another productive yardage performance could be enough to comfortably outperform his salary.
Shakir is particularly appealing alongside Josh Allen, providing a much cheaper stacking partner than some of Buffalo's other offensive options. He can also be selected independently, as demonstrated in my suggested lineup.
While I'm not building the entire team around Buffalo, I still want some exposure to an offense that could score heavily. At this price, Shakir provides exactly that.
WR Strategy
There are three obvious passing environments worth attacking.
Buffalo v Las Vegas offers Allen with Shakir, Kincaid or other Bills receivers, with Bowers, Jeanty or Tre Tucker coming back.
Rams v Arizona provides Stafford-Nacua, with McBride or Wilson on the opposing side.
And Saints v Giants offers the more contrarian combination of Shough-Olave with Nabers or Likely.
Chicago v Atlanta also deserves consideration, particularly if both starting quarterbacks are cleared. Drake London and the Bears' receiving options could benefit from the substantial projected total.
However, I prefer targeting Saints v Giants at lower expected ownership while retaining Nacua as a premium standalone selection.
Shakir completes the suggested receiving group by providing inexpensive Buffalo exposure.
Tight Ends
Isaiah Likely – $11,730
Isaiah Likely is an attractive selection against New Orleans, particularly given his role in the Giants' passing offense.
The Saints have struggled defensively, creating opportunities for New York to generate production through multiple receiving options. Likely provides an alternative to Nabers for anyone looking to construct a Giants-focused stack. He can be paired with Winston, with Olave coming back from New Orleans.
Alternatively, Likely can be included alongside Nabers in a more aggressive four-player construction featuring Shough and Olave.
That approach requires Saints v Giants to develop into a genuinely high scoring contest, but that's precisely the outcome we're targeting in tournaments.
At $11,730, Likely is considerably more expensive than the minimum priced tight ends.
However, his receiving upside makes him an appealing option for lineups where we're willing to allocate additional salary to the position.
Tyler Higbee – $5,000
Tyler Higbee is primarily a salary-saving selection, but the matchup against Arizona creates some genuine upside.
The Rams are expected to score heavily, and Higbee provides inexpensive exposure to an offense featuring Matthew Stafford, Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams.
At the minimum $5,000 salary, expectations are modest. A handful of receptions could be enough to justify the selection, while a touchdown would make him an excellent value play.
There is also a potential opportunity created by the Rams' tight end injury situation, with Colby Parkinson dealing with a shoulder problem during the week.
However, Higbee's role still carries uncertainty, and he's unlikely to command the target volume of the premium tight ends, however he has been playable the last two weeks.
His primary attraction is roster construction. Saving more than $6,000 compared with Likely creates additional flexibility to accommodate Robinson and Nacua.
TE Strategy
Likely is the preferred option for lineups targeting Saints v Giants, particularly those featuring Winston.
Higbee provides the inexpensive alternative and works well in Rams-heavy constructions.
Trey McBride and Brock Bowers also deserve consideration in their respective games, particularly as bring-back options.
However, my suggested lineup uses Higbee at minimum salary. The objective is to gain exposure to the Rams' projected offensive production without sacrificing the premium selections elsewhere.
Defence / Special Teams
Kansas City Chiefs – $7,030
Kansas City provides the premium defensive option this week. The Chiefs possess the defensive talent to generate pressure, create turnovers and produce significant fantasy scores when opponents are forced into obvious passing situations.
At $7,030, the salary is substantial, meaning we're looking for more than simply a solid defensive performance. Sacks, turnovers and potentially a defensive touchdown are required to make this selection particularly valuable.
Kansas City offers that type of upside, but the investment makes roster construction considerably more difficult.
For lineups featuring cheaper quarterbacks or fewer premium receivers, the Chiefs remain worth considering, as they take on the broken offense of the Chargers at home.
Cleveland Browns – $4,610
Cleveland provides a considerably cheaper defensive alternative.
The Browns host Baltimore in an AFC North divisional matchup, and while the Ravens possess dangerous offensive weapons, Cleveland's defensive front creates opportunities for pressure and negative plays.
At $4,610, the Browns don't need to dominate the matchup to provide value. A handful of sacks and a turnover could be sufficient.
There is obvious risk in selecting a defence against Baltimore, but defensive scoring is volatile, and salary allocation remains an important consideration. And with Lamar Jackson potentially limited IF he plays, I like the Browns here, particularly at home against their rivals.
The Browns provide substantial savings compared with Kansas City. Those savings are particularly valuable when constructing a lineup featuring both Robinson and Nacua.
D/ST Strategy
Kansas City is the premium option, while Cleveland offers greater salary flexibility. My preference in the suggested lineup is Cleveland.
With substantial investments already made at running back and wide receiver, spending heavily on defence would require sacrificing upside elsewhere.
The Browns are a calculated gamble, but their modest salary makes the risk acceptable.
Slate Strategy & Roster Construction
Week 6 presents several excellent stacking opportunities, but my preferred approach involves targeting a game that might receive less attention than the obvious high-total matchups.
Saints v Giants is the centrepiece of my tournament strategy. The market isn't projecting an extraordinary scoring contest, but both teams possess offensive weapons capable of generating explosive plays.
New Orleans has demonstrated an ability to produce significant passing yardage, while its defensive struggles could force Tyler Shough into an aggressive approach.
The Giants, meanwhile, have Jameis Winston at quarterback, creating the potential for a volatile but productive passing game.
The obvious construction is Shough with Chris Olave, bringing back Malik Nabers or Isaiah Likely. For those willing to commit more heavily, Shough-Olave-Nabers-Likely provides a four-player stack capable of producing an enormous combined score if the game becomes a shootout.
The alternative involves Winston with Nabers or Likely, bringing back Olave. Olave's availability remains important, particularly after missing practice through illness.
However, the suggested lineup takes a slightly different approach. Shough is selected at $12,970, with Nabers providing the opposing correlation.
That construction leaves sufficient salary to accommodate two of the strongest individual selections on the slate: Bijan Robinson and Puka Nacua.
The next consideration is Rams v Arizona. Los Angeles enters as a substantial favourite, and I'm expecting the Rams to establish control. Nacua provides exposure to the passing offense, while Corum offers the possibility of increased second-half rushing involvement. Higbee adds another inexpensive route into the Rams' projected scoring.
These three selections don't necessarily benefit from identical game scripts. Nacua could produce heavily while the Rams establish their lead, with Corum receiving additional rushing opportunities once the game is under control. Higbee simply needs enough receiving involvement to justify his minimum salary.
The more conventional Rams stack involves Stafford and Nacua, with McBride or Wilson coming back from Arizona.
That construction is extremely appealing, but also likely to attract considerable attention.
Buffalo v Las Vegas is the other obvious game to attack.
Allen, Cook and Shakir provide several ways to construct Buffalo-heavy lineups, while Bowers, Jeanty and Tucker offer potential bring-back options. With a total around 53.5 points, there's every reason to expect significant offensive production.
However, that also means these combinations are likely to be popular. I'm looking to take a slightly different approach.
Rather than building the entire lineup around Buffalo, the suggested team uses Shakir at just $7,810 to gain inexpensive exposure.
That leaves us with another important value selection. Efton Chism III at $6,070 is a calculated punt based on his expanding role in New England's receiving group.
With Mack Hollins unavailable and A.J. Brown working his way back from injured reserve, Chism has received increased opportunities over the past two weeks.
Last week against Las Vegas, he caught five passes for 57 yards from six targets while playing more than three-quarters of New England's offensive snaps. That involvement is encouraging for a player available at almost minimum salary.
If Brown remains unavailable or limited, I'm anticipating another five or six targets for Chism against the Jets. At $6,070, that could be sufficient to provide excellent value, particularly if he finds the end zone.
Brown's final status is important, but Chism provides a plausible route to salary relief rather than simply occupying a cheap roster spot.
Finally, Chicago v Atlanta deserves attention.
The total is extremely attractive, and a healthy Caleb Williams against Michael Penix Jr. could create another excellent stacking opportunity. However, with both quarterbacks managing injuries, I'm reluctant to commit heavily until their availability and expected mobility are clearer.
Robinson provides exposure to that matchup without requiring us to predict either quarterback's passing performance.
The resulting lineup is built around several different outcomes: Saints v Giants exceeding expectations, the Rams dominating Arizona, Buffalo producing efficiently and Robinson continuing his outstanding individual form. It's an aggressive tournament construction, but one with a clear purpose.
Suggested NFL Draftstars Lineup
