Passing
Game Thoughts: Carson Wentz has had a volatile open to
the season yet he may be on the upswing. The second-year starter
has thrown at least 30 passes in every game and he is coming off
his third game with over 20 fantasy points (standard scoring).
Two more factors that I feel boost his fantasy stock this week
are the suddenly high scoring Panthers offense and the less than
stellar Eagles defense. That combo should force Philadelphia into
a higher scoring affair and/or a game where the Eagles are trailing
by halftime. Throwing more passes doesn’t necessarily guarantee
a great fantasy outing but it helps knowing Carolina has only
recorded one interception on the year. Zach Ertz has broken out
and become one of the game’s elite fantasy tight ends. He
currently paces the position in targets (48), receptions (32)
and receiving yards (387). The fantasy top tight end through five
weeks of action will square off against arguably his toughest
opponent to date. His role in the offense makes him a mainstay
in most fantasy lineups but don’t be surprised to see a
subpar outing. If Philly struggles against a pass rush that has
generated 17 sacks this season, Ertz may spend more time blocking
than usual.
One of the reasons Wentz has looked for his tight end so often
this year has been the attention given to Alshon Jeffery on the
outside. The Eagles could get Jeffery more involved by using the
quick screen pass. I like his chances of improving upon last week’s
season-low four targets but I’m not too bullish on much
more. If the Eagles can pass protect, Torrey Smith should find
himself open in this game. That doesn’t mean he will get
targets or connect on any deep balls meaning there is extreme
downside if you gamble with the speedster. One bet worth considering
this week is Nelson Agholor. As I mentioned above, I do like the
Philly offense to throw the ball and I’m not sure Ertz will
see quite as many targets. I don’t think Agholor is going
to “go off” by any means but there’s enough
upside to put him on the flex radar for Week 6.
CAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.26
CAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.27
CAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.19
CAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.24
Running Game Thoughts: Wendell Smallwood missed two days of practice
on a short week and has been labeled a game-time decision with
his ongoing knee injury. While it is possible he will play, fantasy
owners should probably avoid him for another week. LeGarrette
Blount won’t be impacted much if at all by Smallwood’s
status. After a slow start, he has been productive with his 12-15
touches per game. Most teams don’t force the run against
Carolina so his workload might be on the lower side this week.
He’s an option in deep leagues but I’d steer clear
in leagues with twelve and fewer teams. Corey Clement hasn’t
seen a spike in production without Smallwood in the lineup and
that’s not likely to change considering the Eagles are on
the road with a short practice week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Carolina ranks 17th in the NFL with 228.6
passing yards per game. That may not seem impressive but for a
team that has struggled through Cam Newton’s rough patches
that is a huge improvement. Kelvin Benjamin hasn’t been
the workhorse type of receiver fantasy owners would like him to
be but his catch rate is far better than it was at the end of
last season. In the Panthers’ final six games of 2016, Benjamin
caught only 45.9 percent of the 37 balls thrown his way. This
year he is catching 68 percent of his targets. This team still
likes to control the clock via the ground but they might find
better success leaning on Cam Newton’s improved efficiency.
That should help Benjamin and fellow wideout Devin Funchess quality
WR2/flex options for Week 6. Funchess has been a top twenty fantasy
receiver this year, partly aided by the loss of TE Greg Olsen.
Nevertheless, Funchess’ involvement in the offense doesn’t
appear to be going away anytime soon. Since Week 2, Funchess has
averaged at least eight targets and hasn’t posted fewer
than 53 receiving yards in any single game. That type of consistency
makes him a solid WR3 most weeks but in a favorable matchup and
coming off two straight games with touchdowns, I’d bump
him into the top twenty or so fantasy receivers.
The harder decision facing fantasy owners this week is what to
do with Cam Newton. The Panthers QB is coming off back-to-back
300-yard performances. The risks are the same, however, as Carolina
doesn’t attempt a lot of passes (averaging less than 30
pass attempts in the past three games) and Newton has rarely kept
his completion percentage above 60-percent let only the ridiculous
75-percent he’s done in his past two games. The Panthers
and Newton have clearly taken a step forward, but they haven’t
changed the focus of the offense. Ed Dickson has seen nine targets
over the past two games. Despite his 175-receiving yard outing
against the Lions, he’s a fringe starter this week.
PHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.10
PHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.30
PHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.2
PHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.18
Running Game Thoughts: Jonathan Stewart continues to hold down
the lead role in the Panthers backfield but his numbers haven’t
added up. His 77 carries this season place him in the top ten
but he sits outside the top 25 running backs in overall fantasy
points (standard scoring). He’s been tough to love this
season and he is facing a Philly team that has seen the fewest
rushing attempts per game this year. That number could take a
hit with the Panthers almost stubbornly running the ball regardless
of how many yards they gain. Christian McCaffrey is the only other
Carolina running back worth starting. He has been a slight disappointment
on the ground. After opening the year with a 13-carry 47 rushing
yard effort he hasn’t finished with more than 16 rushing
yards in a single contest making him a fring flex option in standard
leagues. He has caught at least four balls in every game this
season so continue to run him out there in PPR leagues as a high
upside RB2 in Week 6.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Sammy Watkins has been held to two or fewer
catches in three of five games this season. He’s not happy
about his usage in the offense but I don’t see Jared Goff
ever committing to Watkins as a premier receiver on a team that
continues to feed the ball to its younger franchise players Todd
Gurley and Cooper Kupp. Watkins may have more talent but he doesn’t
have the confidence of his quarterback so continue to deploy Kupp
as the better option this week. Those owners saddled with Watkins
could look to package him to an optimistic owner or simply hold
him and hope things change for the better.
The Jags secondary is leading the league in interceptions so
don’t expect the Rams to stray from their run heavy ways
in Week 6. Robert Woods is flirting with WR4 upside after filing
his second game with at least five catches and third straight
with at least six targets. I like where his usage is trending
but can’t endorse him in a tough matchup during the same
week Watkins is going to expect a little more love from his quarterback.
Raise your hand if you thought Jared Goff would have outscored
Matthew Stafford, Andy Dalton and Ben Roethlisberger after five
games played? Maybe Dalton but certainly not for the other two.
Don’t let that mislead you into believing he is a top 15
option this week. Until last week’s dance with the Seahawks
pass D, he had only thrown one INT and notched at least one touchdown
pass in every game. I’ll give him a mulligan and plan on
a slightly better outing against the Jags. Slightly better means,
instead of benching everyone except Gurley, there is a little
room for Kupp too!
JAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.31
JAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.7
JAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.30
JAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.10
Running Game Thoughts: Todd Gurley owners are hoping the copycat
nature of the NFL doesn’t keep the running back bottled
up like the Seahawks did in Week 5. The Rams tailback was held
to a season low five fantasy points and surely cost his owners
a win in more than a few leagues. He’s traveling east to
play the Jags on the road in what should be another close contest
as each team tries to control the ground game. Tavon Austin now
has twelve carries over the past two games. He’s the closest
thing in fantasy to a backup at this point. That’s more
carries than Malcom Brown has touches since Week 1. Austin always
flirts with being a useful fantasy asset due to his ability to
turn a short pass into a highlight reel play. Consequently, he
best viewed as a “Hail Mary” fantasy player unless
his role increases.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Jacksonville is averaging the fifth most
points scored in the NFL heading into their date with the Rams.
Yet the team has only seven passing touchdowns to its credit and
four of those came in one game. Jacksonville has constrained Blake
Bortles to limit turnovers and put more markers in the Win column.
That’s great for Jags fans but it’s sapped the fantasy
value out of Jacksonville’s receiving options. Allen Hurns
has played better at home than on the road but that’s not
saying much. He has one game with more than four catches and that
is starting to look like the norm. Meanwhile, Marqise Lee has
similar stats to Hurns this season except he has yet to find the
end zone. The Rams defense isn’t the greatest so there should
be an opportunity for one of the two top receivers to have a good
outing but it’s a coin flip choosing between the two. On
the bright side, TE Marcedes Lewis hasn’t been stealing
away many targets. The longtime Jag has only five receptions on
the year and is a nonfactor in the fantasy realm.
LAR FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.17
LAR FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.1
LAR FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.23
LAR FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.15
Running Game Thoughts: Tom Coughlin’s fingerprints are
easily seen on this football team. Once the team drafted Leonard
Fournette it became clear that the team was going to turn back
the clock in the face of the pass happy ways of the NFL. Over
a month into the season, the plan has worked. Jacksonville is
running the ball on a tick over 56-percent of its offensive plays-more
than any other team in the league. Their opponent this week has
been fantasy’s friendliest foe for running backs and they
are traveling all the way across the country to accommodate Mr.
Fournette in Week 6. If Blake Bortles can do anything in the passing
game, there is immense upside for the Jags rookie to finish the
week near the top of the running back scorers. Look for Chris
Ivory to beg at the table for a few table scraps too. Jacksonville’s
run heavy scheme means they need their backup a little more than
the usual team. As a result, he has seen at least eight touches
in every game this year. Given LA’s propensity for giving
up touchdowns to running backs it wouldn’t be a surprise
to see Ivory score his first touchdown of 2017 this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Fantasy owners needed a jolt from this passing
attack and that is exactly what Jacoby Brissett accomplished a
week ago. Last week’s performance showed just how high the
ceiling is for this offense and should have fantasy owners excited
for the return of Andrew Luck. The franchise quarterback has already
been ruled out for this week but almost anyone can pass against
the Titans these days. I’m starting all my healthy Colts
for Monday Night Football in Nashville as both teams rank in the
top ten friendliest defenses for opposing receivers and quarterbacks.
Brissett should pick up where he left off last week but I doubt
he finishes the game without a touchdown this time around. The
Colts should have TE Jack Doyle back from a head/neck injury for
this matchup. He should help the Colts inside the red zone and
could be a nice under the radar starter in season-long leagues
as well as DFS formats. Donte Moncrief has scored touchdowns in
two of his past three games against the Titans. He hasn’t
had more than three receptions in a single game this season and
his fantasy value remains on life support. I’d view him
as a risky touchdown or bust player for Week 6. If you are choosing
between guys with similar projections at your Flex spot, I’d
lean towards Moncrief in a potential high scoring affair.
TEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.4
TEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.16
TEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.4
TEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.25
Running Game Thoughts: It’s all about Marlon Mack this
week. One of the week’s most popular FAAB additions is coming
off his strongest start of the year and whispers of more work
headed his way are becoming more frequent. Frank Gore may not
be in his prime but he has gone over 80 total yards in each of
the past two games and hasn’t done anything to suggest he
can’t be effective. Indy’s offense should do well
enough to afford Gore a quality scoring chance in this game even
if it doesn’t become a shootout on the scoreboard. I would
continue to plug him in as a low end RB2 or Flex this week with
confidence. Mack has earned more carries in the offense while
moving ahead of Robert Turbin on the depth and it appears that
the coaching staff will try to make that reality. This is a good
week to take a chance on the rookie if your other options don’t
offer much upside but he is far from a certainty to see more than
the eight to ten touches he has received when healthy in 2017.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The word on the street is that Marcus Mariota
will be able to play when the Titans take the field Monday night.
That’s great news for fantasy owners because the Titans
have looked like a ship lost at sea with Matt Cassel at the helm.
A lot of lineup decisions are dependent on Mariota playing in
this game so be sure to check for the latest update on his hamstring
before rolling out anyone in this passing attack. Assuming Mariota
does play, the Titans’ fantasy assets would find themselves
in their most favorable matchup of their young season. That should
translate into a solid game from the safest fantasy receiver on
the team, Rishard Matthews. Mariota’s favorite target should
be active and ready to make an impact after suffering through
Cassel’s time under center. Tennessee has their own version
of Donte Moncrief in Eric Decker. The Titans are waiting to see
the guy they thought they were signing this offseason. Mariota’s
injury aside, he hasn’t caught a touchdown pass or gone
over 50 yards receiving once this year. As I stated with Moncrief,
he’s a risky WR4 knocking on the door as a flex option in
deeper leagues. TE Delanie Walker hasn’t been as involved
this year. He still has the talent to post a double-digit game
but the offense has had trouble finding ways to move the chains
let alone get near the goal so his numbers are down. Rookie wideout
Corey Davis is already being ruled out for the game. He has struggled
to stay healthy and is tough to hold on to as bye weeks require
fantasy owners to use their roster slots for other positions.
IND FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.2
IND FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.11
IND FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.10
IND FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.5
Running Game Thoughts: The Titans are averaging the second most
yards per carry and have the second most rushing touchdowns in
the NFL so the team is executing as well as can be expected. The
team just can’t generate enough in the passing game to keeps
drives alive and defenses honest. The end result has been a less
dominating DeMarco Murray plodding along to be an unspectacular
RB2 most weeks. Tennessee has had an ugly schedule to open the
year but they finally get to play against a team that doesn’t
boast a sound defense. That might not be enough to make Murray
a full blown RB1 but it sure boosts his prospects as a quality
fantasy starter this week. Derrick Henry didn’t get nearly
as many touches as he had earlier in the season. This could be
a sign that he is nursing an injury or it could simply mean they
want to ride Murray as their workhorse. The situation bears monitoring
as Henry could become a true difference maker for fantasy owners
if anything happened to Murray.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Jay Cutler continues to put on a jersey
and play football while the rest of us spend the work week wishing
he didn’t. I’m not sure Miami has a better alternative
but I hope they are looking for one because Miami’s offense
has the talent to produce much more for their fantasy owners than
they have through five games this year. A popular breakout candidate
during the preseason, DeVante Parker is barely passing as a WR3
these days. He wasn’t able to finish the game last week;
exiting with an ankle injury. He didn’t practice Wednesday
and it’s starting to look like he may sit out Week 6 so
his owners should plan accordingly. That would give Kenny Stills
a chance to find a flex spot in some deeper leagues. Like everyone
else in the passing game, Stills’ fantasy upside is tied
to Cutler having a rare good day so you might want to let someone
else take a shot if Parker is ruled out for this game.
Jarvis Landry should be a PPR maven considering he has received
28 targets over the past three games. Unfortunately, the quick-footed
receiver hasn’t topped 50 receiving yards or six receptions
since Week 1. There is more in the tank but I’m not sure
Cutler can help fantasy owners pick all the fruit on the trees.
Landry is a tough matchup for the Falcons and should have ample
targets with Parker playing hurt or sitting out. The setup is
ideal for him to deliver a WR1 type of performance so plug him
in and hope for the best.
ATL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.22
ATL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.9
ATL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.26
ATL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.22
Running Game Thoughts: The Falcons rush defense could still use
some work but they have been pretty successful at preventing touchdowns
(two rushing touchdowns allowed in 2017). That’s not what
Jay Ajayi owners want to hear. Entering his sixth game of the
year, Miami’s unquestioned starter has yet to touch the
end zone outside of warmups and ranks as the 38th best running
back using standard scoring. Everyone who warned of his shortcomings
in the preseason is feeling pretty good these days but I think
this is a powder keg waiting to explode. I’m not sure it
will happen this week but I’m not sitting Ajayi and risking
a big day on my bench. The coaching staff should know by now that
Cutler isn’t their best option when trailing in games. They
may not want to use Ajayi like a workhorse but feeding him the
ball will lead to far better outcomes than hoping Jay Cutler will
realize he’s not retired anymore.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Miami has been good on the defensive side
of the ball but I don’t expect there to be much drop off
in Atlanta’s passing game considering they haven’t
been a top-flight unit to open the season. Matt Ryan has only
one multi-touchdown game on the year and has five interceptions
over his last two. During last season’s strong fantasy season,
Ryan threw his fifth pick in Week 10 and had at least two touchdown
passes in six of his first seven games. I don’t expect Ryan
to see higher than normal passing attempts against the Dolphins
so he will likely end up with his usual 250 or so passing yards.
That means he’ll need more than one touchdown pass to have
a shot at being a top ten fantasy QB. The Bills kept Julio Jones
locked down in Week 4 and he has had an extra week to think about
his three-catch effort. If Ryan can get his top receiver involved
early it will be a long day for Miami’s secondary. Unfortunately,
the passing game has proven to be mediocre for everyone else.
Mohamed Sanu (hamstring), Taylor Gabriel and Austin Hooper all
chip in to some degree. None are likely to rack up much yardage
so the risk may be greater than the reward so keep your expectations
lowered until Matt Ryan can get the aerial attack back on track.
MIA FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.25
MIA FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.24
MIA FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.25
MIA FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.9
Running Game Thoughts: One reason the passing game hasn’t
been as explosive as last season is the running game. Devonta
Freeman has been getting it done in real life and in the fake
game. He’s tallied at least 75 total yards and a touchdown
in the Falcons’ last three games and that streak should
continue against the Dolphins. Miami should put up a good fight
but the Falcons’ rushing attack is hard to handle for four
quarters. The NFL’s leader in rushing touchdowns should
be a top-five fantasy running back this week. Tevin Coleman is
coming off his best game of the year as he continues to be a useful
flex option in all formats. This probably isn’t the game
where Coleman outshines Freeman but Atlanta’s commitment
to using both players has led them to victory in three of their
first four games. Don’t expect them to change things up
anytime soon.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Cleveland is making a change at quarterback
this week opting for 2016 fifth round draft choice Kevin Hogan
to lead the way against Houston. The move puts DeShone Kizer on
the bench so he can rebuild the confidence he had shown during
the preseason. Expect the Browns to keep the passing game simple
with one or two-look reads down the field. Hogan isn’t necessarily
a huge upgrade for the Browns’ receivers because the receivers
have their own limitations. Kenny Britt (groin) may not be able
to suit up this week after aggravating his groin injury during
practice Thursday. Ricardo Louis earned another shot to start
after leading the way for the receivers against the Jets in Week
5. He may be worth a short term add if you have the space to carry
him, but he isn’t a preferred choice. Rishard Higgins? Nope.
The quarterback switch makes Duke Johnson a borderline RB1 in
PPR formats. Johnson’s skill set fits the solution to Kizer’s
shortcomings. Instead of trying to force things down the field
the Browns will opt for a more conservative approach. Whether
he lines up in the back field or is motioned out wide, Johnson’s
quickness will enable Hogan to use quick throws on short routes.
I do expect Hogan to use his tight ends, however that work is
being split between David Njoku and Seth Devalve. A committee
at the TE position? Nope.
HOU FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.6
HOU FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.26
HOU FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.16
HOU FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.11
Running Game Thoughts: Isaiah Crowell is one of only three running
backs with at least 50 carries and no rushing touchdowns on the
year. Some might call that a buy low opportunity while others
would be trying to sell now before it is too late! I’d be
in the latter party due to the inadequacies in the Browns offense
but does that mean he is bench fodder in Week 6? Splitting time
with Duke Johnson in an offense that is averaging only 89.2 rushing
yards per game is not an ideal situation for a fantasy running
back. The team’s inability to hold a lead also makes it
more likely that Johnson will be used in passing situations further
limiting Crowell’s appeal. If you are looking to avoid getting
a goose egg out of a RB2 spot then I suppose Crowell is up to
the challenge but if you are hoping for much more you will likely
end up unsatisfied. I mentioned Johnson’s appeal in PPR
leagues above. He’s going to be used in variety of ways
and may end up with more touches than Crowell this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: My apologies to Houston fans and those who
followed my advice last week. Deshaun Watson not only held his
own against what I still feel is a pretty good Kansas City defense,
he flourished! Houston’s rookie has transformed the offense
from a weakness into a strength. Fantasy owners shouldn’t
expect five touchdowns from Watson every week, but he is clearly
taking shots down the field with great success. All fantasy owners
can do is plug in their Texans and hope for more of the same this
week with the Browns coming to town. A tired Cleveland defense
won’t be able to stop this offense from moving the ball.
It’s not a matter of whether DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller
can be good, but whether the Browns offense will keep the score
close enough to justify Watson throwing the ball in the second
half. In a perfect world Watson will collect a pair of touchdowns
early to salvage his fantasy line. The Browns represent a golden
matchup against the tight end position but Ryan Griffin hasn’t
done anything over the last two weeks and this game shouldn’t
yield different results.
CLE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.5
CLE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.23
CLE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.21
CLE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.2
Running Game Thoughts: Set it and forget it with Lamar Miller.
The Texans rushing attack has taken a back stage to the newfound
passing attack but its reaping plenty of rewards. Miller is averaging
over 4 YPC in Houston’s last three wins but they have still
come up short on the scoreboard in two of those three games. If
the defense can take advantage of a team searching for its identify
on offense, they will be able to let Miller grind away yards on
the ground and ticks on the clock this weekend. While his owners
would love to see a few more totes each week, it’s nice
to know he is being productive without being overworked like he
was a year ago. The extra touches are going to D’Onta Foreman.
The rookie running back has steadily performed well in his current
role as Miller’s caddie but lacks the touches needed to
be a starter this week.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Any team taking on the Saints at home is
in for a battle and there is always a chance for a shootout with
Drew Brees playing for the opposing team. That being said, Marvin
Jones and Golden Tate have made it difficult for owners to start
either player with much confidence this week. Jones has gone three
straight games without a touchdown and has caught three or less
balls in four of the first five outings. Tate has been slightly
better than his counterpart but hasn’t played as well in
both the Lions’ away games this year. Adding another variable
to fantasy owners’ start, sit dilemmas is the likely return
of WR Kenny Golladay. The rookie wideout was able to practice
this week after missing the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.
This is good news for Matthew Stafford, who hasn’t thrown
five touchdowns and zero interceptions in his more recent two
trips to the bayou but it doesn’t clear things up for the
rest of the pass catchers. TE Eric Ebron has the talent to be
a solid fantasy contributor but he has not been able to find his
groove in 2017. Everyone has the potential for a nice fantasy
day considering the Saints are one of the ten friendliest defenses
for receivers to face but all have low floors to consider. Tate
has a good history in past seasons, while Jones appears to be
the better option on the road in 2017. Whomever you prefer, it’s
a good gamble to take and there is still hope both players can
pay off for their owners this week.
NO FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.9
NO FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.13
NO FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.11
NO FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.14
Running Game Thoughts: Ameer Abdullah had his worst game of the
year against the Panthers in Week 5 but his fortunes should take
a 180 this week. He should get plenty of work in game that could
go back and forth a few times before it is over. A quality shot
at 100 total yards has him on the fringes of RB2 territory in
all formats but he remains a solid flex candidate if you have
other higher-rated running backs in Week 6. Theo Riddick could
be a deep league flex option this week. He’s getting work
almost exclusively out of the passing game but could take a back
seat with Golladay back in the lineup.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Get ready for a potential preview of a NFC
playoff matchup. It may be too early to consider these teams playoff
contenders but each has flashed the ability. Drew Brees doesn’t
need much help, but there should be some extra motivation getting
ready for this home affair as the Saints come off a Week 5 bye.
Michael Thomas will likely draw Darius Slay but that shouldn’t
stop him from being a low-end WR1 on Sunday. Thomas is averaging
about nine targets a game and is easily the Saints most consistent
scoring threat. There is some uncertainty behind Thomas on the
depth chart. Willie Snead was ruled inactive last week after returning
from suspension but he should be reinserted into the mix for Week
6. Sneed was pegged as the team’s likely No.2 receiver prior
to the suspension and Ted Ginn Jr. has been holding down the job
since. Unless there are other concerns we don’t know about
I expect Sneed to reclaim his role in this potent passing game
making him an option in deep PPR formats. Nevertheless, check
back for updates heading into the game to gain more clarity on
the situation.
DET FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.18
DET FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.18
DET FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.13
DET FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.12
Running Game Thoughts: New Orleans loved what they have seen
from rookie Alvin Kamara because they shipped a guy named Adrian
Peterson right out of town. The move only confirms what we have
been seeing each week from the Saints. There really isn’t
a winner or loser, but anyone owning Kamara or Mark Ingram should
feel good about their status as weekly starters now that the team
has moved past their bye week. So maybe Ingram isn’t a weekly
starter in shallow leagues, but his dip in production has come
against some of the above average run defenses (MIN, CAR, MIA).
Ingram has a firm grip on the lead role and remains the better
fantasy player this week against Detroit. New Orleans will continue
to deploy Alvin Kamara in a variety of ways to give him plenty
of value in PPR leagues but he’s not an option in standard
leagues as long as Ingram is healthy.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Mitchell Trubisky era began with a promising
first drive against the Vikings on Monday Night Football, with
the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft making accurate
throws while flashing the athleticism he displayed as the starting
QB for the University of North Carolina.
The remaining three-quarters of football were not quite as pretty,
highlighted by an interception deep in his own territory with
just over a minute of play in regulation. John Fox and the Bears
made the right move going with the rookie, as the team could not
do any worse with Mike Glennon under center, and Trubisky can
start the process of gaining confidence and building rapport with
his receivers.
From a fantasy perspective, the increase in mobility and ability
to stretch the field with Trubisky now at quarterback is a boon
for all skill position players on the Bears. Unfortunately, there
are only a few players that you would feel comfortable starting
on your fantasy roster, and none of them play wide receiver.
With four catches for 46 yards, Kendall Wright is the only wide
receiver to consider this week (only deep leagues) against a Baltimore
team that has allowed the sixth-fewest points to opposing wide
receivers. If you take away the fluky blowout loss to the Jags
in London and a busted coverage deep ball to Michael Crabtree
last week, the Ravens would be the stingiest team in points allowed
to wide receivers through five weeks of play.
The way to attack the Ravens is on the ground with a power ground
game and with the tight end on play action. The Ravens rank in
the top-10 in points allowed to opposing running backs and tight
ends and have allowed a touchdown in each of the past three games.
Trubisky will need to lean on tight end Zach Miller in the seams
and Jordan Howard on the ground if the Bears have any hope of
pulling off the upset.
BAL FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.24
BAL FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.8
BAL FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.27
BAL FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.6
Running Game Thoughts: Jordan Howard ranks just outside the top
12 in running back points per game, despite the fact that he has
rushed for more than 76 yards in one game this season. With four
rushing touchdowns in five games, Howard is tied with Kareem Hunt,
Todd Gurley, and Mike Gillislee for second place in the league
behind Leonard Fournette and Devonta Freeman.
Howard’s matchup this week is a favorable one against a
Ravens defense that ranks eighth in points allowed to opposing
RB’s while allowing a rushing touchdown in each of the past
three games. Look for Howard to be used early and often, with
Tarik Cohen and Benny Cunningham mixed in on passing downs. The
lingering shoulder injury for Howard continues to be a problem,
but his excellent production and above-average matchup makes him
a must-start.
On the other hand, Tarik Cohen appears to be a flash in the pan
and is no longer worthy of a start in anything other than super
deep leagues. Cohen’s snap counts have been in steady decline
over the past four games, trailing off from 40 against Tampa Bay
Week 2 all the way down to just 17 against the Vikings in Week
5. Cunningham’s superior blocking has earned the veteran
more snaps on passing downs and Cohen continues to do too much
on many of his carries and receptions, instead of taking what
the defense gives him.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Joe Flacco continues to be a fantasy afterthought
after posting his second zero touchdown game in Sunday’s
30-17 win over the reeling Raiders. On a positive note, he completed
73% of his passes with zero interceptions, but his 222 yards for
10 fantasy points is only helpful for owners in deep two-quarterback
leagues.
Mike Wallace once again appears to be fantasy relevant after
consecutive double-digit performances, including his first 100-yard
game of the season last week against Oakland. The only worry with
Wallace is the limited passing attempts from Flacco, and the likelihood
of a negative game script could limit his targets (1,3,5,10,3
targets per game in 2017). Fellow wideout Jeremy Maclin has benefitted
with the most targets among Raven wideouts, but the fact that
he appears to be touchdown dependent (no game over 60 yards) makes
him a risk as well.
After two games of single-digit duds, Buck Allen came through
with 85 yards on 25 touches last week against the Raiders, with
a majority of his usage occurring in the second half with the
Ravens cruising to victory. A similar game script is likely this
week against Chicago, and a similar amount of volume for Allen
is a probability. Allen’s 20 receptions rank ninth among
running backs this year, and his 9.0 points per game have him
just outside of RB 2 status.
CHI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.23
CHI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.17
CHI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.14
CHI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.13
Running Game Thoughts: An injury to Terrance West has provided
some clarity to the Baltimore backfield, with Alex Collins now
in line to work as the first and second down back and Buck Allen
working in on passing/third downs. It should be noted that in
lopsided games in which the Ravens have been ahead (a likely outcome
in this game), it was Allen getting the majority of the closing
RB work.
With a 7.1 yard per carry average on 37 attempts for 261 yards,
Collins has been one of the most explosive running backs this
year. The problem is that none of those big carries have resulted
in a touchdown. Another knock against starting Collins is the
fact that Allen will occasionally work in the rotation for early-down
carries, and will likely be the guy on the field when the Ravens
are up by two scores on the Bears.
The Bears are decimated by injury in their linebacking corps,
with starting linebackers Jerrell Freeman, Nick Kwiatkoski, and
Willie Young all out with significant injuries. John Timu also
will be out for a while with a high ankle sprain, leaving third-string
backup Christian Jones as the middle linebacker in charge of calling
out plays to the defense. The Vikings took advantage of the Bears
injuries, running a no-huddle offense to catch Chicago off guard
on Jerick McKinnon’s 58-yard run on Monday Night.
Passing
Game Thoughts: In two games vs. Minnesota in 2016, Aaron
Rodgers threw for 560 yards and five touchdowns, while adding
42 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground. Any Rodgers owner
worried about his production against a tough defense like Minnesota
should not be concerned, as Rodgers has a history of putting up
elite numbers against his division foe.
The back injury that kept Jordy Nelson out of the final drive
in Sunday’s comeback win over Dallas appears to be minor
with Nelson a full participant in practice on Wednesday. Much
has been made this season about stud cornerback Xavier Rhodes
and his success limiting opposing No.1 wide receivers, but Nelson
managed an impressive 9/154/2 line last year at home against the
Vikings, while Davante Adams posted a serviceable 4/44/1 stat
line. Rhodes is a great cornerback, but Rodgers and the Packers
have proven to be successful against him, and owners should not
shy away from starting Green Bay wide receivers.
Starting tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga were limited
in practice on Wednesday with hamstring and ankle injuries, although
Bulaga played last week against Dallas and appears ready to play
again this week. Only Houston has allowed more sacks per game
this season than Green Bay, and Bulaga’s presence on the
right side of the offensive line will be vital to the success
of Rodgers and the passing game.
MIN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.27
MIN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.31
MIN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.15
MIN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.8
Running Game Thoughts: Rookie Aaron Jones played in 88% of Green
Bay’s snaps in Sunday’s win over Dallas, posing an
impressive 125 rushing yards on 19 carries and one rushing TD.
It is unclear how the touches in the Packer backfield will be
handled this week with incumbent starter Ty Montgomery a full
participant in practice on Wednesday as he recovers from broken
ribs. Jones has been impressive in limited action this year, but
Montgomery was also successful before sustaining his injury. If
forced to guess, I would imagine a 70-30 split in favor of Jones
in this game.
Regardless of who carries the ball for the Packers, they will
find tough sledding against a Vikings defense that ranks only
behind Denver for the fewest points allowed to running backs on
the year. No running back has topped the century mark on the season,
with Ameer Abdullah coming the closest with 94 yards and a touchdown
Week 4.
It should be noted that the Vikings held Green Bay running backs
to 77 combined yards and no touchdowns in two games last season
and no Packer RB found success in the passing game in those contests.
This is not to say that Jones and Montgomery won’t be good
plays this year, but it would not surprise me to see this turn
into an Aaron Rodgers came with few points scored on the ground.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Sam Bradford’s attempt to come back
from a knee injury failed miserably on Monday Night Football,
as the former first overall pick was uncomfortable from the opening
whistle. Case Keenum relieved Bradford and led the Vikings to
victory with 140 yards on a 17-of-21 passing, with one touchdown
and zero interceptions. With Bradford clearly not right physically,
Keenum will likely earn the start against a Packer team that has
allowed the 19th-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Owners looking for a bye-week replacement may want to consider
Keenum based on the fact that all five quarterbacks who have faced
Green Bay this season have managed double-digit fantasy points,
including Mike Glennon and Russell Wilson, who each had subpar
games at Lambeau Field. Another reason to consider Keenum as a
streamer is the positive game script that Aaron Rodgers and the
Packer offense will likely present by scoring points against the
Viking defense.
A negative factor when considering Keenum for a streamer is the
groin injury suffered by top wide receiver Stefon Diggs last week
against Chicago. The oft-injured Diggs returned to action after
first straining his groin, but he was limited by the injury and
has yet to practice this week.
The Packers have found success this season taking advantage of
teams with below average offensive lines, like Seattle Week 1
and Chicago (good line but hurt by injuries). Teams with good
offensive lines like Dallas and Atlanta have been able to score
points due to the fact that the Packer secondary is weak. This
bodes well for a Viking team that ranks in the top ten this season
in fewest sacks allowed.
GB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.19
GB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.14
GB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.12
GB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.31
Running Game Thoughts: Of the two running backs sharing the backfield
duties in the post-Dalvin Cook world, Jerick McKinnon was far
more impressive that Latavius Murray in Week 5 against Chicago.
McKinnon rushed 16 times for 95 yards and a score while adding
six catches for 51 yards. Murray looks slow and old, and may still
be limited by a knee injury that forced him to miss the early
part of the season, while McKinnon flashed some of the talents
that made him a SPARQ score darling.
Teams have found success running the ball against the Packers,
as Green Bay ranks 14th in points allowed to opposing RB’s,
although those stats are a bit skewed with stud run stopping D
lineman Mike Daniels missing time due to injury. Starting Murray
could be a risk as you are likely reliant on a rushing touchdown
in what could be a negative game script. McKinnon’s work
in the passing game makes him the back to start, with the upside
of receptions out of the backfield boosting his value.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Although his final numbers were decent enough
for fantasy purposes due to a high yardage output, Jameis Winston
was anything but accurate this past week in what should have been
a great matchup against a terrible New England defense. Winston
has been unable to consistently get the ball to Mike Evans and
DeSean Jackson, whom he overthrew multiple times on deep passes
down the field in Week 5. Jackson finally got his first 100-yard
day of the season in what was a down game for Evans, but it was
tight end Cameron Brate who had the best overall fantasy day,
catching five passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. Thankfully,
this unit will have another crack at a bottom-tier pass defense
this week as they’ll be up against a Cardinals secondary
that has already conceded two four-touchdown days to opposing
quarterbacks this season. Jackson and Brate should both be considered
viable starters while Evans becomes a low-end WR1 in this extraordinarily
difficult matchup where he’s likely to be shadowed by Patrick
Peterson, one of the league’s premiere shutdown cornerbacks.
Many receivers can’t overcome being covered by Peterson
but Evans should still get enough targets to have a chance at
producing a WR1 day, especially if he can get into the end zone.
ARI FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.8
ARI FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.29
ARI FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.6
ARI FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.20
Running Game Thoughts: There was plenty of speculation regarding
potential low usage for running back Doug Martin who was coming
off of a suspension on a short week in Week 5, but that turned
out to not be much of an issue. Martin’s 14 touches led
the Tampa Bay backfield by a wide margin and while he didn’t
produce a huge fantasy day, he did score a touchdown in his 2017
debut. Martin figures to be the clear feature back going forward
with Charles Sims handling some passing downs but Martin still
has RB1 upside. Unfortunately, in Week 6 he’ll be up against
an Arizona defense that has given up the fourth-fewest fantasy
points per game so far this season. Still, Martin’s role
in the backfield adds a high floor to his high ceiling, thus making
him a very safe fantasy option even in difficult matchups like
this one.
Passing
Game Thoughts: With his receivers finally getting healthy,
Carson Palmer is looking more and more like one of the better
QB1 streaming options this season. While interceptions remain
an issue, Palmer’s yardage totals have been excellent this
season as he currently sits at second in the league in that category.
This should continue to be a trend as the Cardinals are forced
to pass the ball much more often than they would have if David
Johnson was still healthy. This plays right into the fantasy production
of Larry Fitzgerald who is tied for third in the league in receptions.
While his yardage totals (327) and touchdowns (2) are nothing
special, Fitzgerald’s floor in PPR formats should not be
overlooked. He remains one of the most highly targeted players
in the league and should be in line for plenty of looks again
this week against a Tampa Bay secondary that has averaged well
over 300 passing yards per game against them so far this season.
While Fitzgerald remains the team’s obvious best option
in the passing game, the second option has been difficult, if
not impossible to predict so far this season. J.J. Nelson, Jaron
Brown and John Brown all have had their moments, but it’s
been Jaron who has been the most consistent of the bunch, if for
no other reason than that both Nelson and John Brown have dealt
with injuries. All four receivers are expected to play this weekend
which does make things difficult to predict, but Jaron Brown still
seems like the player to own at the moment until we see something
develop on the field to prove otherwise.
TB FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.3
TB FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.20
TB FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.1
TB FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.30
Running Game Thoughts: Perhaps the biggest fantasy news of the
week came out Arizona this week as the Cardinals opted to trade
a conditional late-round draft pick for Saints running back Adrian
Peterson. Peterson was an offseason signing by the Saints but
had fallen behind Mark Ingram and rookie pass-catching back Alvin
Kamara in snaps, leading to some rather vocal responses from Peterson
after games. Peterson now heads to Arizona, who cut veteran Chris
Johnson in a corresponding move, seemingly to take over as the
team’s primary early-down back. While Peterson likely offers
more upside for the position, it’s still worth noting that
he might not even be the best back to own in this backfield, particularly
in PPR formats where Andre Ellington’s pass-catching abilities
are highlighted. Peterson didn’t show much of anything in
New Orleans and while he’ll probably have a chip on his
shoulder, it’d be hard to predict that he’s going
to be anything more than a Flex option going forward, and even
that is mostly just due to expected workload. The Buccaneers have
given up over 100 yards on the ground in half of their games so
far this season but Peterson is still brand new to the team and
will not have had much time to acclimate himself with the playbook,
particularly in pass protection. This could limit his upside in
this matchup, thus making him a risky Flex option for this game
until we see him get going in this new offense.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The Steelers entered the season with perhaps
the league’s most exciting offense, but they’ve stumbled
out of the gate with just a 19.8 points per game average –
tied for 19th in the NFL. Much of that has been due to the struggles
of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger who has struggled with his accuracy
so far this season. Roethlisberger had perhaps the worst game
of his professional career this past week when he threw 5 interceptions
with no touchdowns in a blowout loss at home to the Jaguars. Worse
yet, four of those interceptions were considered “deep”
passes down the field at 15 yards or more, signifying that the
QB might be struggling with not only his accuracy and decision-making
but perhaps also his arm strength.
This week Roethlisberger and the Steelers passing game will be
on the road in Kansas City against a defense that was absolutely
decimated by rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson this past week,
so there’s some hope that there will be a resurgence of
this once promising offense. Antonio Brown remains an absolutely
elite option at receiver as he has continued to produce even in
games where Roethlisberger has struggled, but fellow wideout Martavis
Bryant has really fallen off the radar in recent weeks, having
not gone for more than 50 yards or scored a single touchdown since
Week 2. Tight end Jesse James has also seen a fall back to fantasy
obscurity since his breakout performance in Week 1. Both Bryant
and James should probably be on most fantasy benches until we
see Roethlisberger get them the ball on a consistent basis.
KC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.7
KC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.21
KC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.3
KC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.16
Running Game Thoughts: While the team’s offensive struggles
have meant some terrible production for most of the other players
in Pittsburgh, running back Le’Veon Bell just continues
to produce. The running back rushed for just 47 yards on 15 carries
in the Steelers’ Week 5 loss to the Jaguars but his 10 catches
for 46 yards in the passing game meant that he was still a great
contributor, particularly in PPR formats. Bell is about as matchup-proof
as it gets and while the Chiefs have given up the third-fewest
fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, Bell still
has to be considered a must-start fantasy RB1. Even if the team
does fall behind on the scoreboard, Bell has the ability to contribute
an elite RB1 day – something that very few backs in the
history of the league can claim to be true.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Still sitting as the leader of the only
remaining undefeated team in the NFL this season, quarterback
Alex Smith is making a serious run at the NFL Most Valuable Player
award. Smith’s ridiculous 125.8 passer rating leads the
league by a wide margin and he’s been doing a great job
of distributing the ball to his top targets, particularly superstar
tight end Travis Kelce who has now caught 15 passes over his past
two contests. Kelce is perhaps the top tight end in all of fantasy
football and will be a locked in TE1 in all contests as long as
he’s able to play. Unfortunately he’s dealing with
a concussion which has held him out of practice for much of the
week and he is currently listed as questionable. The positive
thing about a concussion injury versus most other types of injuries
is that it should not affect his on-field play if he is cleared
by doctors.
The team’s other fantasy-relevant option in the passing
game is wide receiver Tyreek Hill who continues to put up solid
fantasy production this season. While Hill has not scored a touchdown
since Week 3 in the passing game, his usage as a return man has
given fantasy owners an additional source of fantasy production
as he returned a punt for a touchdown in Week 5. While Hill is
widely considered one of the higher-ceiling players on the board,
his floor has actually been great this season as he’s caught
four or more passes in every contest. Unfortunately he’ll
be up against a Pittsburgh defense that has conceded the league’s
fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, but
it’s also worth noting that the Steelers have had perhaps
the league’s easiest schedule in that area. With Smith and
Hill hitting on all cylinders, this might be the most effective
duo the Steelers have played against all season.
PIT FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.32
PIT FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.3
PIT FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.32
PIT FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.26
Running Game Thoughts: Kareem Hunt’s 107-yard rushing performance
in Week 5 was the worst fantasy game he’s had so far as
a pro. Let that sink in for a moment. This rookie has been on
absolute fire to start the season as he leads the league in rushing
yardage by a wide margin and has also been an important piece
of the passing game, having already caught 16 passes for 166 additional
yards and a pair of touchdowns. Hunt now heads home to face a
29th-ranked Pittsburgh fantasy defense against running backs,
which makes him perhaps the top option in all of fantasy football
here in Week 6. Opposing running backs have averaged 167 yards
from scrimmage per game against this Steelers defense and there’s
little reason to believe that Hunt won’t approach or even
exceed those numbers in this contest.
Passing
Game Thoughts: The San Diego passing game continues to
be one of the most volatile units in the league, making it difficult
to trust just about every player. The only one who really stands
out as a steady producer is wide receiver Keenan Allen who has
caught at least four passes in all five games this season, including
two 100-yard games. Unfortunately, Allen has scored just once
this season and it happened back in Week 1. Still, the Oakland
secondary isn’t particularly good and they’ve struggled
to contain Allen in the past. Assuming he continues to see the
roughly 10 targets per game that he’s been getting, Allen
will remain a low-end WR1 with a high floor, making him one of
the better fantasy options in the league, especially in good matchups
like this one.
The other members of the passing game, particularly receiver
Tyrell Williams and tight ends Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry,
have essentially become touchdown-dependent for fantasy purposes.
While a matchup against a bad Oakland defense might look good
on paper, each of their floors is also bad enough that fantasy
owners could very well be left with essentially nothing at the
end of the game. It’s also worth noting that none of them
are being targeted heavily enough to truly produce huge fantasy
numbers.
OAK FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.21
OAK FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.15
OAK FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.20
OAK FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.19
Running Game Thoughts: Finally breaking out with his first 100-yard
performance of the season this past week, Melvin Gordon might
be turning the corner into once again being an elite option at
the running back position. Gordon has struggled to touch the ball
in the running game largely because the Chargers have fallen behind
in many games, but the positive of that has been that he’s
become fairly involved in the passing game, catching five or more
passes in three of his first five games this season. The Raiders
have been about middle-of-the-pack against opposing running games
so far this season, but it’s worth noting that they’ve
given up over 140 yards on the ground in back-to-back games against
the Broncos and Ravens heading into this contest. With the Raiders
themselves struggling to move the ball on offense, this looks
like it should be a positive game script situation for Gordon
and thus a great opportunity for him to have another big fantasy
day.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Derek Carr has practiced in limited capacity
this week, leading to further speculation that the young quarterback
might be able to suit up for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
Carr’s return would be a great thing for wide receiver Amari
Cooper who has practically fallen off the face of the planet with
EJ Manuel throwing him the ball. Fellow receiver Michael Crabtree
seems to have a better connection with Manuel as he was productive
this past week, catching six of his eight passes for 82 yards
and the team’s only passing touchdown. A deflated LA secondary
gives plenty of reason to be optimistic for Crabtree owners but
Cooper owners might want to seriously consider looking elsewhere,
at least if Manuel is behind center again. Even if Carr is back,
Cooper brings significant risk as he has simply been ineffective
so far this season even when he’s been getting accurately
targeted. Tight end Jared Cook is the only other player in this
passing game who should be given fantasy consideration, but he’s
nothing more than another name in the large group of potential
boom-or-bust tight ends.
LAC FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.20
LAC FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.6
LAC FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.9
LAC FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.29
Running Game Thoughts: Fantasy production continues to be practically
non-existent in the Oakland backfield as the Raiders offensive
line has struggled to consistently generate the tremendous push
that made them one of the league’s best units in 2016. Veteran
Marshawn Lynch is still strongly entrenched as the team’s
primary back but that hasn’t meant a whole lot with the
offense struggling as much as it has. Lynch has failed to eclipse
even 50 rushing yards in four straight contests and his usage
in the passing game is only slightly better than completely nonexistent.
As long as that continues to be the case – and there’s
little to reason that it’s going to change any time soon
– Lynch is nothing more than a flier most weeks whose fantasy
potential relies on converting short yardage carries into touchdowns.
The Raiders have given him enough goal line carries to justify
considering him as an RB2, especially in standard scoring formats,
but his floor is among the lowest in the league among “starting”
running backs.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Considered one of the most promising passing
games in the league heading into the season, the Giants have now
possibly become a bottom-five aerial attack. The losses of superstars
Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the season, along with
the likelihood of Sterling Shepard also being unavailable with
an ankle injury this week, means that the team will have to look
down the roster for production. On the surface, the player who
gets the biggest bump is wide receiver Roger Lewis, who caught
a touchdown on his only reception in Week 5. Lewis has quietly
been quite effective with the opportunities he’s been given
so far this season, but those opportunities have been few and
far between. Trusting either he or Eli Manning in this extraordinarily
difficult matchup doesn’t look like a great choice, though.
The other player who stands to see a potentially significant uptick
in usage is tight end Evan Engram who was held catchless for the
first time in his career this past week. Engram had previously
caught at least four passes in every game so far in his rookie
season, so there’s plenty of reason to believe that he’s
going to get back on track this week against a Denver defense
that has given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing
tight ends in 2017. The Broncos pass rush vs. the terrible Giants
offensive line looks like one of the biggest mismatches possible
so Eli could be looking to check down early and often in this
game.
DEN FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.15
DEN FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.32
DEN FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.18
DEN FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.7
Running Game Thoughts: The Giants are still looking for any sort
of consistent production out of their running game and it seems
that, at least for the time being, that a combination of Orleans
Darkwa and Wayne Gallman will handle the majority of the team’s
carries. Running behind a horrendous offensive line on an offense
with essentially no passing game to speak of and matched up against
the league’s No. 1 fantasy run defense, this does not look
like the time to trust either Darkwa or Gallman for fantasy production.
The only back in this offense who should be seriously considered
as anything other than a touchdown-or-bust option is pass-catching
back Shane Vereen. With the team’s receiving corps completely
depleted, Vereen could honestly be considered the best pass catching
option remaining on the entire roster. Look for Vereen to see
significantly more playing time in this game, especially if the
Giants fall behind on the scoreboard as many predict that they
will. Six or more receptions is not out of the question for Vereen
and that could easily translate into a borderline RB1 production
in PPR formats.
Passing
Game Thoughts: One of the hottest fantasy quarterbacks
out of the gate this season, Trevor Siemian has cooled off significantly
in recent weeks, having thrown just one touchdown pass over his
past two contests. Now back after a bye week, Siemian gets a Giants
defense that is downgraded after suspending cornerback Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie. The unit wasn’t playing particularly
well even prior to that decision, however, as they rank 23rd in
the league in fantasy points per game given up to opposing quarterbacks.
Things have been particularly bad recently, as well, as they’ve
conceded three passing touchdowns in back-to-back games against
Jameis Winston and Philip Rivers. Siemian himself is still a bye-week
replacement option at best in this contest but his receivers,
Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, might finally get back
into the good graces of fantasy owners this week in what should
be a plus-matchup. Both receivers should see plenty of targets
in this game which should make them good enough to be high-floor
WR2’s, especially in PPR formats.
NYG FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.12
NYG FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.10
NYG FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.29
NYG FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.1
Running Game Thoughts: C.J. Anderson has seen a resurgence so
far this season and a matchup against a Giants defense that is
conceding nearly 120 rushing yards per game seems like a great
opportunity for him to pick up where he left off prior to the
Broncos’ bye. Anderson has conceded between five to 10 touches
per week to Jamaal Charles but he’s still seeing enough
touches himself to be a strong RB1. On paper, this game looks
like one that could quickly get out of hand if the Denver defense
beats down the New York offense as many predict that they will.
That would theoretically mean an increase in touches for Anderson
who could be used as a “closer” in this contest, leading
to the potential for a big fantasy day.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Despite Brian Hoyer’s season best
performance in an overtime loss in Indianapolis last week, he
is not an option at quarterback this week. Hoyer’s favorite
target, Pierre Garcon, now has 28 receptions through five games.
He is a very safe and reliable WR3, but unsurprisingly lacks the
touchdown upside to be a true difference maker for your fantasy
team. Marqise Goodwin is also coming off his best game of the
season, where he saw the same amount of targets (11) as Garcon,
catching five for a season high 116 yards, which is only 11 fewer
than his first four games combined. Goodwin is a long touchdown
hopeful that doesn’t score touchdowns. The third highest
targeted receiver from last week is rookie TE George Kittle. This
kid oozes athleticism, but is still very raw and caught a combined
five passes over his previous three games before catching seven
last week. With a bunch of TEs on bye/injured/terrible, Kittle
is a worthy dart throw as long as you accept that he is just that
– a dart throw. The Redskins are coming off a bye week and
have been a pleasant surprise on defense this year, making this
matchup more imposing than we would have thought. Other than Garcon,
no one in this passing game needs to be owned.
WAS FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.16
WAS FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.22
WAS FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.31
WAS FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.3
Running Game Thoughts: Carlos Hyde is not only by far the best
player on this team, he is one of the 10 most talented RBs in
the NFL. Nothing against Matt Breida, who has NFL talent in his
own right, but he can’t shine Hyde’s shoes. Nevertheless,
brilliant offensive mind Kyle Shanahan decided that Hyde’s
years of elite performance weren’t worth sticking by because
Breida got the “hot hand,” which is apparently how
he intends to handle this backfield going forward. I will believe
it when I see it. I have a hard time seeing Hyde splitting time
after the man gutted out a hip injury on Thursday night a couple
weeks ago to play just about every snap in the second half. It’s
very plausible to believe that Shanahan is just trying to hide
the extent of Hyde’s injury. Either way, it’s a problem
for fantasy owners as it makes Hyde a risky start, but still doesn’t
allow you to start Breida. Hyde is averaging 4.5 ypc on the season
against Breida’s 4.0. So far, the only RB to rush for 100
yards against the Redskins has been Kareem Hunt. Unless Hyde is
seeing volume, he is not a viable fantasy starter. For now, we
can operate under the assumption that this is a bit of coachspeak.
If Hyde really does split with Breida, then this is going to be
a mess of a situation going forward.
Passing Game Thoughts: Kirk Cousins has rebounded nicely from
a slow start to throw for multiple touchdowns in his last two
games. His completion percentage is up to 66% and he hasn’t
thrown an interception since Week 1. The 49ers just got shredded
to pieces by T.Y. Hilton, which bodes well for Terrelle Pryor’s
chances of finally having a breakout game. I understand it’s
hard to remain excited about Pryor. He has all this raw physical
ability, but it hasn’t come together on the field yet with
Washington. After 11 targets in Week 1, Pryor saw just 13 targets
in weeks 2-4 combined, posting reception totals of two, two, and
three. He needs to get going soon or we may have to write him
off as yet another WR bust in 2017.
Speaking of busts, Jamison Crowder has been completely irrelevant.
He is droppable in almost all formats. He is not involved in the
red zone and he is not seeing anywhere near the volume necessary
for an effective fantasy slot receiver. In standard and Half-PPR
leagues, you and I finished with more fantasy points (0) than
Crowder in Week 4. Hopefully, now having had the bye to rest up,
Jordan Reed somehow still isn’t over his chest injury. Reed
has yet to score a touchdown has been mostly an afterthought in
the offense while dealing with his typical medley of injuries.
Reed was significantly out-snapped by Vernon Davis in the Redskins
last game. That should change this week with Reed at least healthier
than he was two weeks ago, but the elite TE1 we all thought we
were getting may no longer exist. He is at no risk of missing
this week’s game, but it’s fair to wonder if he will
ever be more than a bit player the rest of the season.
SF FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.13
SF FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.4
SF FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.7
SF FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.32
Running
Game Thoughts: Rob Kelley also had the bye come at a perfect
time as he had been dealing with rib and ankle injuries, both
of which should have been healed up enough by now to play normally.
It looks like the rib injury is a thing of the past, but Kelley
did not practice as of Wednesday with his lingering ankle problem.
Jay Gruden went so far as to state that Kelley is a longshot to
play. At this point, we should assume that Samaje Perine is going
to start on Sunday. Perine was mostly ineffective filling in for
Kelley, which means Kelley should resume his two-down role whenever
he gets back on the field, unless Perine impresses in the interim.
However, Kelley is simply not good at football and relies entirely
on volume and touchdowns, neither of which he has been getting
this season with Chris Thompson being so effective.
Thompson’s miracle run of scoring touchdowns came back
down to earth in Week 4, where he posted just 27 total empty yards.
Thompson will likely remain the most fantasy relevant member of
this backfield, but remember that Week 3’s 14 touches is
the outlier. Thompson touched the ball seven, six, and seven times
in his other three games. The 49ers are an excellent matchup for
the Redskins running backs, but the split backfield renders none
of them very useful. With bye weeks in full swing though, you
could do worse than Perine and Thompson.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Note to self: Thursday Night Tom Brady supersedes
Angry Tom Brady. On Thursday night, Brady just seems incapable
of throwing crisp passes. He has played two Thursday night games
this season and thrown just one touchdown. This week, he’s
back on the Sunday slate for a road trip to the Meadowlands where
the surprising 3-2 Jets are waiting. Brady sprained his AC joint
in his left shoulder last week, but will have had 10 days to recover.
That, combined with it being his non-throwing shoulder should
render the injury a nonissue. Rob Gronkowski is fully expected
to return after sitting out last week’s game with a thigh
injury. Obviously that is a huge boost to the offense and Gronk
will reprise his role as elite TE1. Brady will continue to support
three relevant WRs as Danny Amenolda caught all eight of his targets
last week for 77 yards, while Chris Hogan remains a model of consistency,
having 60 yards and a touchdown in every game since Week 2. Brandin
Cooks had a solid outing as well with five catches on eight targets
for 85 yards. He has yet to catch more than five passes in a game
and has eclipsed 100 yards just once. I still think it’s
coming for Cooks and it’s not like you’d even consider
benching him so just stick with it and the returns will be there,
hopefully this week.
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.14
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.5
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.17
NYJ FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.23
Running Game Thoughts: The Patriots aren’t experiencing
as much favorable game script as they have in years past so their
running backs outside of James White have been useless in fantasy.
Rex Burkhead’s expected return this week only further muddies
the waters. Mike Gillislee remains the “lead” back,
but, to the surprise of no one, he is of no value unless he scores,
which he hasn’t done since Week 2. Gillislee is only averaging
3.6 ypc and his 69 yards in Week 2 are his season high. After
his incredibly poor Week 3, James White has bounced back nicely
with 17 receptions over his past two games. He hasn’t scored
a touchdown yet this season, but his receiving floor remains incredibly
high and he’s an excellent PPR RB2. Dion Lewis had been
getting more burn with Burkhead out, but still not enough to be
fantasy viable. Burkhead’s return only guarantees that it
will remain that way, while Burkhead himself will likely be unable
to become fantasy viable. The Jets have given up a receiving touchdown
to a running back in two straight games. With that being said,
this is a game the Patriots should dominate, raising questions
about how much the passing game will be needed. I have a hunch
Gillislee finds the end zone this week and White just isn’t
needed that much.
Passing
Game Thoughts: Josh McCown has been serviceable this year.
His completion percentage is an impressive 71.4%, which can be
attributed to the lack of volume of passes. Given that Jermaine
Kearse and Robby Anderson are his top two receivers, it’s
still an accomplishment. Regardless, McCown is not a viable fantasy
option along with the rest of the Jets passing game. Aside from
one long touchdown against Miami, Anderson hasn’t done anything
this season. His highest reception count is four and he only amassed
22 yards in that game. He’s averaging less than three receptions
and under 45 yards. Kearse has also been mostly unhelpful. He
had his two-touchdown game in Week 2 and he scored last week.
In those two games, his yardage totals were 64 and 38, with the
former being his best performance of the season. Austin Seferian-Jenkins
caught a touchdown last week and remains the best fantasy bet
of the Jets pass catchers, but he doesn’t have a very high
ceiling. ASJ is certainly a back end option at TE, but you’re
hoping for 50 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots have allowed
a 300-yard passer in every game this season. I’m betting
that streak comes to an end with Josh McCown. Avoid everyone.
NE FPts Allowed vs. QBs: No.1
NE FPts Allowed vs. RBs: No.2
NE FPts Allowed vs. WRs: No.5
NE FPts Allowed vs. TEs: No.4
Running Game Thoughts: Elijah McGuire was looking like a very
appealing spot starter when he was the only healthy RB on the
team. McGuire only managed 20 yards on 11 carries last week, but
is still averaging 5.2 ypc on the season. He was previously in
line for a huge workload with Bilal Powell out with a calf injury.
McGuire doesn’t have to be efficient to be effective. McGuire
is a capable pass catcher and the Jets should be trailing for
most, if not all of this game. He could be the catalyst behind
a comeback attempt or just purely amass garbage time numbers.
The only wrench in the McGuire plan is Matt Forte’s return
to limited practice on Wednesday and Thursday. It looks like Forte
is going to make his return to ruin McGuire’s coming out
party. I still think McGuire sees the larger workload, but Forte
is going to steal snaps that would otherwise go to McGuire.
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