Top 5 Passing Matchups
LA Rams at Baltimore
Matthew Stafford and the Rams come into Week 6 playing as well as anyone through the air, despite last week's heartbreaking loss to San Francisco. Stafford was nearly flawless statistically, hitting on 30 of 47 throws for 389 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers. That came on the heels of 375 yards against Indianapolis and 298 in a Week 2 dismantling of Tennessee. Stafford looks completely in rhythm again, running Sean McVay's system with tempo and precision. This attack has settled into a clear hierarchy that keeps it efficient and fantasy-friendly. Only two receivers are truly involved, making target distribution easy to read. Puka Nacua continues to dominate the league, averaging ten catches and 118 yards per game through five contests. For perspective, Cooper Kupp averaged eight for 105 in his 2021 MVP-caliber season. Davante Adams has been less consistent, but he remains Stafford's preferred red-zone option, drawing ten of the team's 30 inside-the-twenty targets. He has only converted two so far, so positive touchdown regression is coming. The pair accounts for roughly 60 percent of all team looks, which should keep both at elite fantasy relevance in a favorable matchup.
Baltimore's defense, once the cornerstone of its franchise, is now unraveling under coordinator Zach Orr. Injuries and regression have left it one of the league's most vulnerable units. All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton may return this week which would be a big boost to this defense, but is still questionable this week. Top corner Marlon Humphrey looks unlikely to play this week as he missed practice on Wednesday. Jaire Alexander was reinserted after an early-season benching but has looked disengaged and slow to react. Even when Hamilton returns, this group is beatable at every level. Opponents consistently find success using pre-snap motion and play-action, exposing coverage breakdowns across zones. Last week, Houston's struggling offense torched this group for 44 points and a 143.9 passer rating. That came from C.J. Stroud, who had previously looked lost; now the Ravens face a far more complete passing machine. Stafford's chemistry with Nacua and Adams, paired with Baltimore's communication lapses, gives Los Angeles an enormous advantage. Even if a few starters return, the structural problems remain, and the Rams' high-efficiency attack projects to roll through another vulnerable secondary.
Green Bay vs Cincinnati
Jordan Love has become one of the most efficient and composed quarterbacks in the league despite a laundry list of injuries to his receiving corps and even a lingering thumb issue of his own. Love has completed 69 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and only one interception through five games. He ranks second among qualified passers in on-target throw rate and continues to test defenses vertically even without deep threat Christian Watson. His command of Matt LaFleur's offense has kept the Packers' attack explosive. Romeo Doubs leads the team in red-zone opportunities and found the end zone three times in last week's thriller against Dallas. Rookie Matthew Golden flashed his upside with six targets, including a 46-yard catch that nearly scored. Tight end Tucker Kraft has quietly carved out a strong role and could be the featured weapon this week against a defense that cannot contain tight ends. Over the past three weeks, Cincinnati has allowed 67.8 PPR points and four touchdowns to the position.
Cincinnati's defense remains a soft target. Despite facing mostly underwhelming passers early in the year, the Bengals have still surrendered 265 yards per game and eight total touchdowns. Last week, Jared Goff carved them up on 19-of-23 passing for 258 yards and three scores. The Bengals rarely blitz and rely almost entirely on Trey Hendrickson, who accounts for more than a third of their total pressures. Without complementary rushers, quarterbacks have ample time to throw. The coverage unit behind them is no better. Dax Hill and D.J. Turner continue to give up big gains downfield, while former breakout Cam Taylor-Britt has been demoted into rotational duty. The soft zone coverage routinely concedes easy completions, particularly to slot and seam routes. Eleven different pass-catchers have already topped 50 yards against this group, and even journeymen tight ends like Brock Wright and Josh Oliver have scored red-zone touchdowns. Green Bay's quick-hitting attack matches up perfectly with this defense's weaknesses, and Love should again produce one of the week's most efficient fantasy lines.
Indianapolis vs Arizona
Daniel Jones' revival under Shane Steichen and Jim Bob Cooter has become one of 2025's biggest surprises. The Colts quarterback sits near the top of nearly every advanced metric, ranking sixth in average depth of target, fourth in completed air yardage, and sixth in bad-throw rate. For the first time in his career, Jones is pairing aggression with accuracy. Protected by one of the league's top pass-blocking lines, he has time to find his downfield trio of Michael Pittman Jr Sr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce. Pittman remains the alpha with a 23 percent target share and four touchdowns in five games. Downs continues to churn out PPR volume underneath, while rookie tight end Tyler Warren has grown into a major short-area weapon. Pierce, who averages 19 yards per catch, brings vertical juice if cleared from concussion protocol. This offense ranks top ten in explosive pass plays and could post another big day against a depleted secondary.
Arizona's defense plays hard but is hanging on by a thread. Injuries have stripped away most of its early-season optimism. Star slot corner Garrett Williams is out indefinitely, while starters Will Johnson and Max Melton have battled through various issues. Kei'Trel Clark, a backup-caliber corner, now plays nearly every snap, and safety Jalen Thompson has been forced into the slot, where he struggles in man coverage. The results are predictable. Over the past three weeks, the Cardinals have allowed Bryce Young, Mac Jones, and rookie Cam Ward to post efficient, multi-touchdown performances. Ward in particular hit on multiple long completions during a fourth-quarter rally that sealed Arizona's latest collapse. This week's test against Jones and the Colts' multi-layered passing game looks daunting. Indianapolis spreads the field with tempo and takes frequent deep shots. With no reliable coverage answers available, Arizona will need constant pressure to survive, something its thin defensive front rarely delivers. The Colts' balanced, high-volume attack should again pile up yardage and points.
Carolina vs Dallas
Bryce Young remains a work in progress, but there are encouraging flashes of progress each week. His frame limits him inside the pocket, yet his poise and accuracy on the move are improving. Last week he overcame a miserable start, rebounding from an early interception and fumble to complete 17 of his final 25 passes and throw two touchdowns. His overall trend shows growth: a 68.4 rating in first halves versus 89.0 after halftime. He is learning to process faster and take what defenses give him. Rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan has become his top target, commanding 25 percent of team looks and never falling below 48 yards in a game. At 6-foot-5 with excellent body control, McMillan has drawn five red-zone targets and feels overdue for a scoring breakout. If Carolina can generate a bit of rhythm, this matchup presents that opportunity.
The Cowboys defense is barely recognizable from its former identity. Once defined by pressure and turnovers, it now profiles as one of the league's worst. Through five weeks, Dallas ranks dead last in pass defense, allowing nearly 350 yards per game and 12 touchdowns in its last four outings. The loss of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence gutted the pass rush, while the secondary remains a patchwork of declining veterans and stopgaps. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland have struggled mightily in coverage, and former first-rounder Kaiir Elam continues to get picked on whenever he plays. Safeties Reddy Stewart and Juanyeh Thomas are vulnerable in space, and linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. has always been a liability in zone. Even mediocre tight ends have produced big games here, with Jets rookie Mason Taylor catching nine balls last week. Opposing quarterbacks are completing nearly 73 percent of their throws at 8.9 yards per attempt. The Cowboys generate hurries but not hits, meaning clean pockets for opponents. Young's quick release and developing chemistry with McMillan could make this his most productive day yet.
Chicago at Washington
Caleb Williams continues to flash special traits, even if the development curve remains steep. Statistically, he has settled inside the top ten fantasy quarterbacks, averaging over 20 points per game. The highlight so far remains his four-touchdown dismantling of Dallas in Week 3, but every performance has featured NFL-caliber throws on the move. His latest line of 22-for-37 for 212 yards and one touchdown would have looked better if not for multiple drops from Cole Kmet. Williams' arm talent and improvisation keep him dangerous on any snap. Second-year receiver Rome Odunze has already become his unquestioned number one target, commanding between 22 and 33 percent of team looks each week. Odunze has five touchdowns through four games and has topped 60 yards in every outing since the opener. His blend of physicality and route precision makes him a nightmare in single coverage. Kmet and D.J. Moore are secondary options but remain capable of exploiting soft spots if attention tilts toward Odunze.
Washington's pass defense is trending the wrong way under Dan Quinn. A top-half unit a year ago, it now ranks 27th in net yards allowed per throw. Three of five opponents have surpassed 285 yards with multiple scores. Last week's success against the injury-ravaged Chargers came mostly from circumstance rather than dominance, as sacks, turnovers, and penalties killed the Chargers' offensive production. The Commanders' cornerback trio of Marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos, and Mike Sainristil has struggled across the board. Lattimore has lost his edge in man coverage, and the coaching staff has shifted him into more zone responsibilities. Sainristil, dynamic last year, has been repeatedly beaten from the slot. The front four remains solid but lacks the burst to pressure mobile passers like Williams, who has been hit only seven times all season. Washington must disrupt him early to have any chance; otherwise, Odunze's route timing and Young's patience could tear apart this soft secondary. Expect another efficient outing from Chicago's ascending offense.