With New Orleans and Kansas City taking the week off owners of some of fantasy’s top producers find themselves with lineup decisions that they aren’t accustomed to having to make on a weekly basis. Whether you’re looking for the next-best option without Drew Brees, or a sneaky RB play to cover Jamaal Charles absence… or you’ve been bit by the injury bug elsewhere, we’ve got you covered below.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Start: Quarterbacks
Eli Manning at Philadelphia
After a sluggish preseason and a rough opening week the Giants offense seems to have figured things out in recent games, with Eli Manning completing 63% of his passes or better in all but the opening week and boasting a 10:3 TD:INT Ratio during that time (8:1 in last three weeks). The Giants take their show on the road to face an Eagles’ defense that, while opportunistic, has given up a minimum of 17 fantasy points to opposing QBs this year including 375+ yard games in two of their last three and three touchdown passes in three of five games (with multiple TDs allowed in all games). Philly hasn’t kept anyone off the scoresheet this year and they won’t do it with Eli this week, either.
Tony Romo at Seattle
Fans may have other memories of Tony Romo’s trips to Seattle, but this week he is not to be written off (Photo: John Froschauer/Associated Press).
I detailed my reasons for supporting Romo this week in a Friday post, but the background is simple: the Seahawks haven’t presented the threat to opposing QBs this season that we are used to, and Romo has been solid since his Week 1 struggles. I won’t recommend him as a top-5 play by any stretch, but, if you’re looking for a fill-in this week, you could do worse than Romo as a back end QB1 than some of the more creative options on the waiver wire.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sit: Quarterbacks
Cam Newton at Cincinnati
And so it begins, our weekly ‘avoid Cam Newton’ caveat, but, he still hasn’t unleashed his legs this season and until he does, Newton is hard to use. I know you watched Tom Brady and the Patriots have their way with the Cincinnati secondary on Monday Night but the Bengals have held all other opponents in check this season including complete shutdowns of Matt Ryan and Jake Locker (five interceptions between them).
Andy Dalton vs. Carolina
Keeping with the train of thought on Newton, I’m expecting a low scoring outing in Ohio this weekend with both teams focused on the ground game (Carolina expects to get Jonathan Stewart back). The folks in Vegas agree, setting the over/under at 43.5, tied for the lowest line of the week. Dalton projects to be down AJ Green and Marvin Jones‘ return is not yet in sight so, it’ll be him, Mohamed Sanu and a bevy of secondary options against the Panthers. Expect a heavy dose of both Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill in the run game, and while Bernard could help pad Dalton’s stats, there are better options elsewhere with the red rocket’s top playmaker sidelined.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Start: Running Backs
Andre Williams at Philadelphia
On a per touch basis, Andre Williams has been perfectly average this season at .5 FPPT which ranks right around the middle among RBs with regular usage (Le’Veon Bell‘s number is 0.7, for some perspective). This week though, he is in line for his biggest workload yet and has acquitted himself well with 35 carries in the past two weeks, scoring in each game. As mentioned above, we’re expecting Eli to effectively matriculate the Giants offense down the field meaning that there will be opportunities to move the chains and perhaps score from short yardage for Williams. Peyton Hillis will see some relief carries, but is not a threat to his workload against a team that has allowed six touchdowns to Running Backs in five weeks.
Joique Bell at Minnesota
The Lions look to be without starting tailback Reggie Bush and receiver Calvin Johnson against the Vikings in Minnesota. Bell, with a clean bill of health following his concussion, is in line for a monster workload against a defense that is allowing a healthy 4.3 YPC this year and the 14th most rushing yards per game. 18-20 touches can go a long way for Bell, who topped 16 fantasy points in each of the four games in which he had 20+ touches last season.
Bishop Sankey vs. Jacksonville
Perhaps, like me, you were a week early on the Bishop Sankey hype train after coach Ken Whisenhunt promised more work for the rookie back. This week, it appears unlikely that the tempatation of Shonn Greene will linger for Whiz, as the veteran back is doubtful to suit up. In line for his first start, Sankey should see a big workload against a Jaguars team that has allowed a 14+ point rusher in every game but one. Last week, while failing to hit the mark, Le’Veon Bell cake-walked to 100 total yards. Whether the Titans end up with Charlie Whitehurst or Jake Locker, reportedly throwing at less than full velocity, you can expect a heavy dose of run in the game plan.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sit: Running Backs
Ronnie Hillman at New York Jets
The answer to the sit/start question on Hillman is contextual. He’ll start for Denver and is a better option than any of the 8-10 carry backs you may be mulling over, but, if you’re expecting big time production simply because he starts for Peyton Manning‘s offense I wouldn’t bet on it. This game marks Hillman’s first career start, and he has been kept out of the role in the past because he simply hasn’t met expectations to date. Round 1 as the lead back comes against a Jets’ defense that allows just 3.3 YPC and 83 YPG on the season, yielding two scores. With CJ Anderson and Juwan Thompson in the mix for work Hillman will have a hard time outperforming most other starting backs this week.
Zac Stacy vs. San Francisco
With Stacy, it is all a question of workload. The Rams are expecting him to play, and he has the extra day of rest to get ready after missing early week practice time, but with Benny Cunningham stepping in well last week after Stacy’s injury, you may see the workload tilt more heavily to the backup this week – and he’d already been cutting into the incumbent starter’s workload this season. Add to that the uncertainty of his status and a Monday start time and a 49ers defense that has been tough to run on this year and there are better options out there.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Start: Wide Receiver
Golden Tate at Minnesota
With Calvin Johnson’s role limited significantly in the last two weeks, Tate has reaped the benefits in Detroit. The first-year Lion has amassed 19 targets and 15 receptions over the past two games, topping 100 yards receiving in each of them (his first 100-yard games with his new team). Tate, finally seeing a heavy dose of targets after his years in Seattle is responding well and should do so again this week with Johnson out of the lineup. That may mean he sees more of Minnesota’s top coverage but, with a secondary that Pro Football Focus ranks in the bottom half of the league there really isn’t much to be worried about. WR1s have posted a minimum of 66 yards against Minnesota this year, so the floor appears to be quite high.
Terrance Williams at Seattle
While Seattle doesn’t send Richard Sherman all over the field to cover an opponents top receiver, you can bet that the game plan will be to mitigate Dez Bryant‘s impact all the same and when opponents have thrust their attention on Dez this season, Williams has answered the bell. With a knack for timely catches (four touchdowns in his last three games) Williams is a big play waiting to happen. He should draw 6-8 targets this week and is averaging 3.5 fantasy points per reception in 2014.
Mohamed Sanu vs. Carolina
We discussed AJ Green’s absence when eschewing Andy Dalton, and while we can expect a down game from the QB that doesn’t mean his top receiver for Week 6 should be ignored. Cincinnati has shown a knack to get Sanu the ball in creative ways under Hue Jackson this year, and that should continue to be the case this week when the passing game needs a boost. Coming off a 9/5/70 week with a score, a similar line could be expected based on volume alone.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sit: Wide Receiver
Jacksonville receivers not named Cecil Shorts at Tennessee
There is some ambiguity about Cecil Shorts’ return to the lineup this week, and this statement hinges on him making the start. If he does, I simply don’t see enough targets to go around for the young receivers as Marqise Lee appears to be on the mend as well. The Jags will have to throw the ball plenty all season, but with many young mouths to feed, predicting who will draw the looks in any given week is a fools mission. As such, I’m avoiding all of them rather than find myself on the wrong end of a three target, one reception, 12 yard nightmare.
Cordarrelle Patterson vs. Detroit
The word is that the Vikings remain anxious to get Patterson the ball, and while that may remain the case they haven’t found a way to do it this year. He has seen just four targets in each game since Week 2, and isn’t being used as a rusher either. Until Norv Turner and co. back up the talk with action, it is hard to use the dynamic receiver as anything more than a WR3. Add to that the possible struggles for rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater against a Lions defense that has been dialing up the pressure this season (12 sacks) and it could be hard for Patterson to get the ball in space.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Start: Tight End
Charles Clay vs. Green Bay
After the bye week, Clay’s knee injury should be improved. The issue has limited him all season and has kept the 25-year-old from reaching last year’s lofty levels of production. In a game where Ryan Tannehill is going to have to put a lot of balls in the air, you can expect a healthy dose of targets for a hopefully rejuvenated Clay. He won’t be a top option this week, but owners in need of a bye week replacement should check the wire for the Dolphins’ TE.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Sit: Tight End
Tim Wright at Buffalo
I know we’re all excited about the way Wright was used in the New England offense in Week 5. It seems that he is finally figuring out his role, and the team will begin to turn to him more often now that he is acclimated. With that said, he played just 19 snaps a week ago and his five targets won’t be enough to produce big stat lines every week. If you have a solid option on your roster, give Wright another week to see if regular use becomes a trend. If the snap count is on the ups and the target load maintains, we can talk in Week 7.
Week 6 Fantasy Football DST to Stream
Unfortunately, most of the top options are owned commodities this week, but if you can find the Chargers still available against a still injured Carr and the Oakland Raiders, go all in. Beyond that, the Lions and Broncos are great options but sit at 80% owned.
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