It was another close Week in the NFL as eight of the 13 games were decided by seven points or less (excluding Monday Night). A few of those games provided unexpected statistical performances by players that would have been helpful to fantasy football players if they owned and started them.
Here are the best performances from players who were mostly unowned (or at least not started in the majority of leagues) in Fantasy Football leagues in Week 6. Each week, one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end will be highlighted.
You can see the Week 5 team here.
Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buccaneers
Week 6 stats: 290 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 10 rushing yards
Fitzpatrick had one pass attempt on the season entering Sunday's game, but a shoulder injury to Jameis Winston forced him into action. He struggled mightily last season while starting 11 games with the New York Jets. His three touchdown passes in Week 6 represent more than he threw in any game in 2016, and he threw for more than 290 yards just once last year.
Running backs
Chris Ivory, Jaguars
Week 6 stats: 3 rushing yards, 9 receptions, 74 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Ivory's two carries and three rushing yards on Sunday are easily both new season-lows, as previously his lows were six and 17, respectively.
His running isn't what got him on the list, though, it is the work he did catching the ball out of the backfield that did. In the Jacksonville Jaguars' first five games, Ivory had just seven catches for 69 yards. He surpassed both of those marks in one game in Week 6 while also scoring on a 22-yard reception during the first quarter.
His previous career-high for receptions in a game was six.
Orleans Darkwa, Giants
Week 6 stats: 117 rushing yards, 1 reception, 13 receiving yards
For the second straight week Darkwa makes the list, and for the second straight week he posted a new career-high in rushing yards. Facing a stout defense in the Denver Broncos, and with the New York Giants missing four wide receivers, Darkwa was one of the main keys in helping New York pull off the upset and get their first win on the year.
The Giants were able to establish the ground game early and Darkwa finished with 21 carries, nine more than his previous career-high.
Wide receivers
De'Anthony Thomas, Chiefs
Week 6 stats: 3 receptions, 61 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Entering this season, Thomas had just 47 career receptions for 331 yard and one touchdown in 34 games. He wasn't very productive in his first five games of 2017 either, only catching three balls for 22 yards. His 61 receiving yards in Week 6 overtook his previous career-high of 47.
Kenny Stills, Dolphins
Week 6 stats: 4 receptions, 49 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Stills had 726 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2016 but wasn't much of a factor in the Miami Dolphins' first four games this year.
He entered Sunday with just 10 receptions for 114 yards on the season and only 26 yards total in Weeks 4 and 5. His third quarter touchdown on Sunday got the Dolphins on the board and started off a comeback win for Miami after they trailed 17-0.
Tight end
Dion Sims, Bears
Week 6 stats: 2 receptions, 42 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Sims only had four catches for 56 yards in the Chicago Bears' first five games. On Sunday he scored on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Trubisky in the third quarter. It was his first touchdown since he scored two in Week 15 last season as a member of the Dolphins.
