Fantasy football advice, Week 6: Who to start/sit for Chiefs vs. Vikings

The Kansas City Chiefs are going through something of a nightmare season so far. They’ve lost four straight since opening the season with a win. And now they’ll play the rest of the season without superstar running back Jamaal Charles after he tore his ACL in Week 5. Sunday, they’ll try to salvage their year on the road against the 2-2 Minnesota Vikings.

The Chiefs come into Sunday largely healthy. Tight end Travis Kelce is on the weekly injury report with a groin problem, but he’ll be fine for Sunday’s game. On the Vikings side, the team is dealing with wide receiver issues, with Mike Wallace (knee), Charles Johnson (ribs) and Jarius Wright (hand) all on the report. Wallace and Wright should be fine to play, with Johnson a bit more of a question mark.

Sunday’s game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the fantasy names to consider:

CHIEFS
Start ‘em: After a relatively quiet first two weeks, Jeremy Maclin has been the strong fantasy producer many of us expected the last three weeks. ... The first three weeks of the season, Travis Kelce averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game. The last two weeks, he has five total points. You’re still using him, but you’re needing some better numbers.

Start ‘em?: With Jamaal Charles out, Charcandrick West is going to get the first shot at being the team’s top running back. He probably won’t get the full workload like Charles did, but he has potential. ... Take out that aberrational Week 4, when he put up 27 fantasy points, and Cairo Santos is averaging only five fantasy points per game. ... The Chiefs’ defense has had either great or awful games, with no in-between.

Sit ‘em: The Vikings have held Colin Kaepernick, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning to an average of 13 fantasy points per game. Alex Smith is unlikely to do much better. ... Knile Davis needs to be owned in all leagues, but for now he’s slotted behind West in the pecking order.

Start ‘em: After basically a year off, Adrian Peterson has produced like he missed no time at all. ... The Vikings’ defense has played well since its Week 1 struggles, and with Charles out the defense could pick on the Chiefs.

Start ‘em?: If he were healthy, Mike Wallace would be closer to must-start territory. As it is, he’s still a flex play. ... Blair Walsh has been good-not-great at kicker this year.

Sit ‘em: What was supposed to be a take-the-next-step season for Teddy Bridgewater has gone the other way, and he’s not usable in fantasy right now. ... Wallace is the only reliable pass-catcher the Vikings have right now. Charles Johnson has been a bust, Stefon Diggs has had only one decent game and tight end Kyle Rudolph has one combined fantasy point the last two games.

Start in every league: Jeremy Maclin, Travis Kelce, Adrian Peterson, Minnesota defense
Start if you’re desperate: Charcandrick West, Cairo Santos, Kansas City defense, Mike Wallace, Blair Walsh
Bench: Alex Smith, Knile Davis, Teddy Bridgewater, Charles Johnson, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Rudolph