Notable veteran Kirk Cousins emerged as an unexpected star in Week 5, delivering a standout performance that included four touchdowns and 34.4 fantasy points, a stark contrast to his first four games where he accumulated only 42.4 points total. Even though he is unlikely to replicate a four-touchdown game, Cousins has a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers, who have given up high averages of 232.4 passing yards, 2.2 touchdowns, and 18.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season.

Meanwhile, Caleb Williams, the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has shown significant improvement after a shaky start. In his first two weeks, Williams completed 56.1% of his passes for 267 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. However, in the past three weeks, he has completed 67.3% of his attempts for an average of 274.7 yards per game, with 1.7 touchdowns, proving his value as a reliable fantasy option.

Joe Flacco also made a remarkable first start of the season last week. The veteran quarterback recorded 359 yards and three touchdowns against the Jacksonville defense, contributing a substantial 26.6 fantasy points. Over the past three weeks, the Jaguars have allowed quarterbacks to score an average of 27 fantasy points per game, making opposing quarterbacks a viable option for fantasy players.

In the realm of superflex leagues, Jones surprised many with his performance in Week 5, despite the absence of Malik Nabers. Jones threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, earning 22.1 fantasy points. Moreover, his 11 rushing attempts for 38 yards highlighted his dual-threat capabilities. Facing the Bengals’ porous defense, which has conceded 25.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past three weeks, Jones is well-positioned for another strong outing.

Conversely, Dalton struggled mightily against the Chicago Bears last week, managing just 136 yards and 3.7 fantasy points. However, he remains a viable QB2 option, with his first two starts showing promise—averaging 269.5 yards, 2.5 touchdowns, and 20.1 fantasy points per game. While the Falcons’ defense has been effective overall, Baker Mayfield's 23.4 fantasy points against them in Week 5 indicate potential vulnerabilities that Dalton could exploit.

Fantasy managers considering Trevor Lawrence should be cautious. Despite his stellar Week 5 performance against the Indianapolis Colts, where he amassed 371 yards and 21.2 fantasy points, he faces a formidable Chicago Bears defense in Week 6. The Bears have held opposing quarterbacks to just 194.4 passing yards per game and have not allowed a passing touchdown since Week 2, limiting quarterbacks to an average of 7.6 fantasy points per game.

Careful consideration of matchups and recent performance trends can help fantasy football managers make informed decisions for their Week 6 quarterback selections.