With bye weeks and Covid cases now in full stream, finding appropriate starters is still paramount but more difficult. Week 6 is upon us and if your fantasy club is struggling to this point, don’t give up as there is plenty of football left. With many teams on the bye this week, its time to take advantage of those teams who will be shorthanded. Follow us as we look at the best to play and sit this week.
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Ryan Fitzpatrick (MIA)
At this point, arguments can be made for Ryan Fitzpatrick to be a full-time fantasy starter, but he is the prototypical bye week filler. Having a great matchup verse the Jets – Fitz-magic should be ready to score points at will. Miami is moving in the right direction and this is an easy win for your team.
Before entering the bye week, the Lions picked up their level of play offensively and received a gift of sorts to come off their rest week to face the Jaguars. We should see more dedication to the ground game to open the play action pass, but with that – Stafford should be on point to at least hit the 30-point mark for the first time this season. Big day is forthcoming.
Alexander Mattison (MIN)
One of the largest gifts given this season thus far, is the wavier pickup and instant play of Alexander Mattison. Dalvin Cook will be missing in action in week 6 with a groin, and Mattison will get the start verse a horrible Falcons defense. With how the Vikings trust Mattison to hold a full workload, he should earn very strong numbers this week. The one caveat rests in Mike Boone taking touchdowns away, but this should be an easy play with high potential.
Seeing much more usage last week, the Bears David Montgomery has new life after witnessing increases in the pass game with Tarik Cohen on the injured reserve. This week the potential increases as the Bears face the Panthers and their league worst run defense. Even though we have seen the level of play increase from Carolina on the defensive side, injuries have been present. Monty should have another 15-point day.
Even as the Cleveland Browns are one of the league leaders in stuffing the run game, James Conner has a fresh outlook with a pass game that is opening up all lanes for him to gallop through. With Big-Ben back in the mix and playing extremely well – Conner has new life in seeing 16.3 carries on average the past three games. The Browns will have their hands full with the receiving core, leaving Conner to eat well.
AJ Brown (TEN)
It was a sight for all AJ Brown supporters last week to witness him find the endzone and look healthy and dominate. Moving forward, the Titans should continue to utilize his talents while featuring him as the club’s number one target. AJ Brown is an easy play this week as Tennessee are coming off a blow out victory verse the Bills and facing the Texans who are prone to give up big plays weekly. Fully expect Brown to feast this week again.
With news that Odell Beckham has been sidelined due to an illness, its possible the lack of practice time will affect his play this week. Adding to that, facing the Steelers and their stout defense, Beckham would draw top coverage leaving a great matchup for Jarvis Landry. Travis Fulgham toasted Steven Nelson last week, and Landry should see plenty of Nelson in this contest. Don’t be shocked to see Landry lead the team in targets this week.
With his teammate DJ Chark hobbled with an injury, Laviska Shenault is in for a heavy dose of playing time. Facing the Lions and a defense that is more then gifting when it comes to yardage and points to the position – Shenault could be in for a career day in this offense. If Chark plays given his status, we could see him be used as a decoy, leaving this rookie to have a banger day. We love the prospects of that occurring.
Tyler Higbee (LAR)
Even though the matchup doesn’t appear that it could bear fruit, Tyler Higbee is a wonderful play this week. San Francisco was absolutely killed on the defensive side in week 5 and will try their best to stop the Rams heavy hitters in the pass game. Over the span of the last three weeks, Higbee hasn’t been used as much as most would’ve expected – but get ready for that to change in this one. Finding the endzone off a play action pass should be a formality.
Tom Brady (TB)
Typically, Tom Brady is a safe bet to score 20-points on any given week, but for our appetite, we will sit him down in week 6. The Green Bay Packers are coming off the bye and will have had an extra week of preparation for this offense. Adding to that, the Packers live by the blitz with great rushers that will have the glory of facing a shotty offensive line. Brady will compete, but we’ll play it safe. Bench Brady this week.
For those of us who thought the Giants Daniel Jones would be much better for fantasy football in 2020, it really is hard to trust him even in a great matchup. The issue with Jones is that he can’t stop turning the ball over which derails his overall outlook and crushes your team. Facing the Washington defense that is great at rushing the passer but not so much at stopping the pass – Jones will have good plays but should get sacked a lot. You can’t pay us to play him right now.
David Johnson (HOU)
With everything we preached coming into the season, the Texans still can’t find creative ways to get David Johnson involved regularity. The volume in touches has been present this entire season, but stacked boxes continue to foil the output. With how the Texans integrated Brandin Cooks to help alleviate the extra pressure – this could be the week DJ sees high value. Nevertheless, we’ll play it safe and bench him this week.
More cautionary then must bench, Raheem Mostert gets no favor from us this week going up against the Rams powerful defense. There is of course opportunity for Mostert to break a big run and inflate the stats, but if that doesn’t come to pass – his day could be bottled up for the most part. In this environment with running backs being limited, we can’t ever fault playing Mostert, but it could come at a cost this week.
If at this point you continue to play Mark Ingram, we must ask why? Granted, we completely understand that if you roster holds limited amounts of playmakers at the position, he might be the only play. With that said, The Ravens continue to not utilize the ground game leaving their rushing projections far off base. One of these days this back will breakout – but this shouldn’t be one of them. The Eagles play great run defense leaving Ingram on tap for another fail.
DJ Moore (CAR)
If there has been one assessment, we went on a limb about this offseason, its that DJ Moore would see lesser numbers with Teddy Bridgewater. Hitting that nail on the head to this point, we must again preach the benching of this talented pass catcher. Facing the Bears and their strong pass defense – it will be tough for Bridgewater to find Moore regularly. There are better options this week.
We all fell in love with the fact that Scotty Miller would be a thing in this offense with Tom Brady, but he has become far too inconsistent to be that play each week. Until we witness a greater commitment to getting him the ball on an offense loaded with talent – Miller will remain on our bench unless things are totally dire on your roster.
Its not that we don’t value and appreciate the skillset of this receiver, but more so the injuries that have piled up for him that bring us fear. This is now a major concern in our eyes as his teammate Chase Claypool is leaping in front of him to take targets away. If Johnson can’t stay on the field of play, he will become a liability to your fantasy team with a start and knock out within the same contest. We have faith that he will bounce back, but need proof to endorse moving forward.
Austin Hooper (CLE)
Even as we like the trend for Austin Hooper the past several weeks in the form of consistent target increases, we fear this is the week the Browns will use him more on the line to help block. Facing the Steelers and their relentless amount of pressure off the edge – Hooper should be a fixture on the line to help Baker Mayfield stay upright. We will play it safe and keep him on the bench even as his outlook is rising.
Kirk Cousins (MIN)
While the Vikings Kirk Cousins has seen high levels of drop off this season in terms of fantasy production, this is the week we can endorse his play 100%. Facing the Falcons and their atrocious defense, Minnesota should capitalize on all opportunity. With greater chemistry building with Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen playing like we envisioned – Cousins is prime to see at minimum 25 fantasy points. A big day is coming.
While its no question that the Cardinals Kyler Murray is a weekly start no matter what, the objective here is to highlight the potential top earners for the week. Facing the Cowboys defense that is literally operating at all time lows – Murray could find himself as the best fantasy producer in week 6. Its not a stretch to say he’ll feast, but 40-points isn’t out of the question.
Kenyan Drake (ARZ)
When it comes to the Cardinals Kenyan Drake and his disappointing season thus far – this is truly the contest everything could get back on track. Facing the Cowboys in primetime without Dak Prescott and a defense that can’t stop a cold – Drake could be the beneficiary of redzone runs that find paydirt. This is the game he should get back on track.
So far this season, the Detroit Lions have used a three-headed monster in their backfield which has removed the top end numbers from this rookie. Coming off the bye week and likely to see his role expand as the season moves on – this could become a very strong week for D’Andre Swift. Facing the Jaguars and their weaker group of defenders, we wouldn’t be shocked at a career day. There is still risk to this start, but his floor is becoming safer.
Some may be shocked to see the Vikings Mike Boone on the list of potential big day players, but allow us to explain. With all the injuries and bye week troubles looming, Boone has an opportunity to be the team’s touchdown vulture and garbage time runner. Alexander Mattison will be first in line, but Boone will see at least 10-touches from this backfield in week 6. If you are stuck at the position, the heavy risk to reward is here and could pay off. But keep in mind – this is a massive risk of a play.
Justin Jefferson (MIN)
While it appears, we are playing every viable Viking this week, it really is the case. Justin Jefferson is prime to have a blow-up contest verse the Falcons and their awful secondary. Most of the attention will be dictated to Adam Thielen in this contest – so Jefferson will be running free with high probability of finding the endzone at least once. We absolutely love this play to be a heavy earner this week.
With the injury to Sammy Watkins and the way in which the Buffalo Bills play on defense – Mecole Hardman is poised to have a very solid day. Buffalo struggles at the best of times to cover tight ends and will be forced to use a safety in support. Why is that important for Hardman? Easy, he will be the forgotten man in the deep game and should get lesser coverage to come his way. Buffalo will have a tough time covering the deep pass and the tight end, one is about to go off.
The Dolphins Preston Williams is one player that started slow but is beginning to find traction in this offense. With the run game now being plausible and somewhat efficient, the pass game is opening up in bunches. Williams secured his first 100-yard day last week against the 49ers and will be leaned upon verse a weak Jets defense. This contest will make him a waiver wire top dog in week 7.
Trey Burton (IND)
Since returning from injury two weeks prior, Trey Burton has been a favorite of coach Frank Reich to see good amounts of targets. Posting 11 targets in the past two contests and Phillip Rivers still struggling to find his wide receivers – Burton could be in for another good showing and perhaps the endzone makes its first appearance for this player. There is large risk, but good reward as the Colts look to be better form their loss last week.
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