Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em: Expect this rookie wideout to carry momentum into Week 6

Several key fantasy contributors were injured in Week 5 of the regular season, and now that four teams are on bye, the pickings are slim for setting lineups.

With that in mind, here's what to do about several flex options, streaming candidates and other players you could be on the fence about plugging into your starting lineup in Week 6.

Quarterbacks

Start: Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

Falcons at Panthers / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday

The four-time Pro Bowler became a popular waiver wire pickup after throwing for a franchise-record 509 yards and four touchdowns during Atlanta’s thrilling 36-30 overtime win over the Buccaneers last week. While Cousins doesn't offer any rushing upside, fantasy managers should feel confident about his potential to build off his stellar outing. So far this season, Carolina has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks ( 93.38 ), along with an NFL-high 11 passing touchdowns.

Other starts: Daniel Jones, New York Giants; Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Sit: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Texans at Patriots / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Stroud, the QB11 overall , isn't necessarily a must-sit, but he is a risky start against the lowly Patriots, who allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to signal-callers (13.6). As you may know, Texans star wideout Nico Collins — the league leader in receiving yards — will miss at least the next four games with a hamstring injury, which limits Stroud's production.

Even though Houston has more than enough talent to topple New England, this could also work against Stroud and his fantasy potential. If the contest gets out of hand early, an outcome that is more likely to happen than not, Houston will lean on the running game rather than letting Stroud air the ball out.

Other sits: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions; Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Running backs

Start: Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

Colts at Titans / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The ex-Cowboy has quickly emerged as one of the more notable steals from fantasy drafts, ranking as the RB18 in PPR points per game ( 14.6 ) to begin his first season with the Titans. Pollard is being heavily relied upon by Tennessee in both the rushing and passing games, averaging the 12th-most touches at his position ( 18.5 ), according to StatMuse.

With that type of volume, Pollard is poised to enjoy a productive performance against Indianapolis, which has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards (595), sixth-most receiving yards (232) and 11th-most fantasy points (98.70) to tailbacks.

Other starts: Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals; D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

Sit: Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

Lions at Cowboys / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday

Dowdle has seen his role increase over the last two games and has averaged the 14th-most PPR points among running backs ( 16.3 ) . While he has flashed RB2 upside, Dowdle is more of a matchup-based flex option, which will surely be an issue this week.

The former undrafted free agent faces arguably his toughest test of the season on Sunday in Detroit's elite run defense, which has surrendered the fewest rushing yards ( 233 ) and fourth-fewest fantasy points (56.50) to running backs.

Other sits: Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars; Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts

Wide Receivers

Start: Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars at Bears (in London) / 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday

It's worth noting that Thomas has a difficult matchup on deck, having to face a formidable Bears defense that gives up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to wideouts ( 15.2 ). Nevertheless, the rookie has become a set-it-and-forget-it fantasy option after he caught 11 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games . Expect Thomas' chemistry with QB Trevor Lawrence to be on display, with the LSU product again finishing as Jacksonville's leading receiver.

Other starts: Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns; Tank Dell, Houston Texans

Sit: Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints

Buccaneers at Saints / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

One of the most unexpected breakout stars of the season, Shaheed has shined for New Orleans, posting at least 15.7 PPR points in four of his first five games. Cousins torched Tampa Bay's secondary, but it's hard to trust Shaheed to thrive this week, given the Saints' quarterback situation.

Fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler will make his first career start for New Orleans in place of the injured QB Derek Carr (oblique), which already puts Shaheed at a disadvantage. Additionally, it appears that Rattler will depend on wideout Chris Olave the most among the Saints pass-catchers, telling reporters on Wednesday, “I make it a key point that when [Olave is] in, get him the ball.”

Other sits: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers; George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

Tight Ends

Start: Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

Commanders at Ravens / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The 12-year veteran may have been dropped by one of your league mates after he caught just two passes for 10 yards during Washington's 34-13 Week 5 home win against Cleveland. Even so, Ertz could be a worthy streaming candidate for tight-end-needy teams.

Although Ertz is only averaging 32 receiving yards per game, his 24 targets are the 11th-most among tight ends this season, giving him a relatively safe floor and providing optimism entering a favorable matchup. Aside from allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends ( 36.80 ), the Ravens are listed as a 6.5-point favorite against Washington, suggesting the Commanders will be playing from behind and forced to throw often.

Other starts: Tyler Conklin, New York Jets; Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

Sit: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Browns at Eagles / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The 2017 first-round pick returned to action last week after missing his previous three games with a high ankle sprain and barely made an impact, hauling in just one of his three targets for 14 yards.

It's probably best to leave Njoku on the bench, not only this week against an Eagles defense that has allowed the third-fewest points to tight ends (2.8), but for as long as Deshaun Watson remains Cleveland's starting quarterback. After all, Njoku is averaging a mere 36 receiving yards per game and has scored just one touchdown with Watson in the lineup dating back to last season.

Other sits: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots; Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers