In each round, the picks get more variable and make drafting harder. Each early pick matters, though, and finding a stud in the sixth round who performs like a second-rounder can propel a team.
Who are some players to target in the sixth round of your fantasy football drafts?
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The Top Players To Target in the Sixth Round
For this draft, this is considered a 12-team half-point PPR league, and the consensus top 60 by ADP are all taken. What players are under consideration as a pick for the sixth round? Let’s dive into some names!
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Starting with a possibly controversial player, Kyle Pitts, as a rookie, posted the second-most receiving yards all time. In that rookie year, he posted 68 catches on 110 targets for 1,026 yards and one touchdown. This was good enough for a TE7 finish.
Kyle Pitts first NFL touchdown caps off a 92-yard drive‼️
📺: NFLN | @kylepitts__ pic.twitter.com/k52D45KUsU
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons)
As a second-year guy, Pitts managers had high hopes that were quickly dashed. He played 10 games last season, amassing 28 catches on 59 targets for just 356 yards and two TDs.
In case you’ve missed it, QB Marcus Mariota did Pitts no favors in 2022. Pitts led all TEs in uncatchable targets in 2022 despite playing in just 10 games and seeing only 59 targets. Twenty-six of his 59 targets were deemed “uncatchable” (44% of his targets). For perspective, Travis Kelce only saw 22% of his targets as uncatchable.
MORE: 2023 Fantasy Football TE Rankings
Another factor is the overall offense. The Falcons were super run-heavy, and while this likely continues, something to consider is how the QBs were treated. Mariota averaged just 23 passes per game, while 2023 starter and third-round rookie Desmond Ridder threw just under 29.
Both Pitts and teammate Drake London saw just over 28% of the target share. If you throw 29 times per game, Pitts’ pace would be roughly 140 targets, which would’ve been TE2 in 2022. Assuming Ridder gets him the ball a little closer to his monstrous frame, Pitts has a clear path to a top-three TE finish and easily pays off a sixth-round pick.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Stop me if you heard this before, but Diontae Johnson scored zero TDs on 147 targets. He’s also seen 140+ targets each of the last three seasons. This includes 18 red-zone targets, 10th most at WR, and 11 more than teammate George Pickens.
Pickens might be the “new hotness,” but Johnson is the player to target in most fantasy leagues. He’s a lock for a high-volume role. When Kenny Pickett takes a second-year leap, including in his TD rate, Johnson will follow that jump and easily perform closer to a third-round WR than the sixth-round pick he’s currently going at.
Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy came into his first extended game during Week 13. From Week 13 on, Brandon Aiyuk was the WR18. Overall Aiyuk posted 78 catches on 114 targets for 1,015 and eight TDs, finally showing that breakout that was widely predicted.
Despite the rapport Aiyuk showed with Purdy, he’s going as WR29 in consensus ADP. In the words of Michael Scott, “Why don’t you explain this to me like I’m five?”
Aiyuk is a massive value likely because people are afraid of the many weapons in San Francisco. He plays a more vertical and outside role than his teammates, so his role doesn’t overlap as much. He also has upside if some of them miss time.
Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos
This one is being suppressed due to the injury concerns. J.K. Dobbins suffered a similar injury earlier in the prior year and played in just eight of 17 games in 2022. The thing is, all players recover differently, and Javonte Williams busted his but in rehab.
To be clear, this isn’t an early-season ceiling play. Drafting Williams with an injured Cooper Kupp and a suspended Alvin Kamara is a bad idea. In Williams’ first preseason game, he saw eight opportunities and played just 12 snaps. The most exciting part? Williams totaled five targets and seems primed for a large pass-catching role with an injured WR group. As the season goes along, he’ll get stronger and take on a primary role.
Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
All the buzz in Tampa Bay has been how Rachaad White is playing all over. His coaches have referred to him as a three-down back. The concerns regarding going from the GOAT in Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield are somewhat valid, but do they hold up?
In 2022, Mayfield checked down at the highest rate amongst quarterbacks at 11.9% (335 attempts). This includes the second-highest rate of 12.6% on third-down snaps. Brady was in the middle of the pack in all attempts and 10th most on third down. Even with a drop-off in pass attempts, Mayfield likely throws to White as much — or more — than Brady, leading to several more opportunities and points for White.
The Players To Avoid in the Sixth Round
D’Andre Swift, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
To be honest, this is such a confusing ADP. D’Andre Swift is here because he was highly drafted and on a good running team. This team feels like it’ll be gross to play any running back and to expect any type of floor. This does fall in line with our fantasy rankings, but Swift feels like a potential landmine.
Rashaad Penny has always been a super-efficient runner and is currently going in Round 9 by ADP. At that price, he feels like a better shot than Swift in the sixth round. Rather than Swift, three more RBs are being picked in the seventh that seem like better bets, so going WR or TE in the sixth round is not a bad option.
Cam Akers, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Look, Cam Akers was absolutely a stud down the stretch in 2022. Over the final four weeks, he trailed only Christian McCaffrey in fantasy points. If he’s close to that, this prediction will look silly. However, the buzz on another running back in camp for a second season is hard to ignore.
Kyren Williams was talked up before getting hurt on the opening kick return for 2022. Once back, he played reasonably well for the Rams and has been a fantastic receiver for Matthew Stafford this camp. If Akers only sees early-down work for a bad team that’s likely to trail a lot, he could get game scripted out too many times to return value in the sixth round.
Who Should You Draft in Other Rounds?
Want to see what options might be available before or after your pick in other rounds? We have you covered.