Fantasy Football / NFL
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- Written by Jason Evans
Welcome to Statistically (in)Significant, the place to find great stats that probably only matter at the water cooler (or bar). Each week I'll dig through the stats of the week gone by and deliver you some choice conversation starters. All fantasy stats are standard Yahoo scoring unless otherwise noted.
158.3 Passer Rating
The NFL’s all-time leader in passer rating, Aaron Rodgers (with 103.2 for his career) finally posted his very first game with a perfect passer rating on Sunday. Rodgers went 25/31 for 429 yards and 5 TDs, adding another TD on the ground in perhaps the best game of his career. This was good for 43.76 fantasy points, which is 10 more than the next closest player this week. Perhaps Rodgers has finally figured out the new system that has been implemented in Green Bay this year. While they have done fantastic in the win-loss column, they definitely have not looked like the juggernaut offense that we all expected from a team led by Aaron Rodgers, until this week. This game was domination from start to finish, with Rodgers throwing for a TD in every quarter, and also spreading the love. All 5 TDs went to 5 different players. Honorable mention goes to Marquez Valdes-Scanting, who averaged 66.5 yards per reception (2 catches for 133 yards and 1 TD).
576 Rushing Yards
Lamar Jackson, after fooling us all with only 6 rushing yards in Week 1, just posted his third game out of the last 6 where we went over 100 rushing yards. This is a historic pace and projects to 1,316 yards over 16 games. If Jackson can keep this up, he will crush the single-season record by Mike Vick, which is 1,039 yards back in 2006. Jackson also continued his fantasy dominance, leading the league with 180.6 total fantasy points in 7 games. When you consider that he has not thrown for a TD in the last two games, this is just amazing. Not bad for a guy who was drafted 106th overall on average (QB14). He’s the kind of player that allows for league dominance when you can find that kind of value. To further put Jackson’s rushing dominance in perspective, he’s on pace to break Vick’s career total of 6,109 rushing yards in only 111 games, versus Vick’s career 143 games. That’s two full seasons worth of games.
9% of Yahoo Leagues
This week’s leading RB scorer was Chase Edmonds, who was started in only 9% of Yahoo leagues on Sunday. Currently, he’s owned in 48% of leagues, which includes a 14% jump from yesterday. To me, this means that 14% of Yahoo leagues probably do not operate with a waiver system, which is bizarre to me, but I digress. Edmonds was able to dominate the Giants non-existent rushing defense, scoring 3 TDs all from at least 20 yards or more. Edmonds will definitely be the #1 waiver wire pickup this week, and deservedly so. It looks like David Johnson might wind up sitting a week or two, considering he spent almost all of Week 7 on the sideline and the Cardinals were able to win with only 104 passing yards. Edmonds’ 33 points basically doubled up the rest of his entire team combined, which was led by Kyler Murray’s whopping 6.96 points. On a side note, Murray joined Patrick Mahomes and Matt Ryan in the formerly high-floor group falling back to earth. At least Murray doesn’t have an injury he’s nursing.
1 of the Top 10 Fantasy Performers
Only one of the top 10 fantasy performances turned in this week was by a player owned in 100% of Yahoo leagues. To give some context, there are 23 players owned in 100% of leagues and another 15 owned in 99% of leagues. This is usually a stat that I like to track early in the season to find out who’s performing that we weren’t expecting. To see this kind of disparity halfway in the fantasy season means that we’re probably flat out ignoring some players. And I think we are – guys like Matt Stafford (58% owned) who is the QB8 in points per game, Jacoby Brissett (48% owned) who is QB10 in the same category and Kirk Cousins (64% owned), who is averaging 26 points per game the last 3 weeks. Throw in big performances by Latavius Murray and Marvin Jones and you have an average ownership of just 75% across the top 10 fantasy performers in Week 7. This is probably just a fluky week, but I think it’s time to take notice of a few of the QBs that fantasy players seem to insist on not rolling out there.
104 Rush Yards Per Game
The NFL’s rushing yards leader is currently Dalvin Cook, with 725 yards across 7 games. There’s only been one 200+ yard performance this season (Leonard Fournette, 225 yards, Week 4), so we’re lacking the gaudy totals that we have seen in previous years. But, none of that really matters to fantasy players as long as your guys are finding the end zone as well, which is what Cook is doing. Cook has scored 8 TDs on the season, which is tied with Aaron Jones for the league lead. Cook has also managed to have an amazing points floor, never scoring below 11.4 points on the season. Only Ezekiel Elliott can claim such a double-digit elite status. Even super fantasy RB Christian McCaffrey (who still leads Cook in points despite having his bye week already) cannot claim such a floor. Cook and McCaffrey sit alone in tier 1, about 30 points above the tier two guys, who all have 107-111 points. Cook’s ADP of RB10 this season makes him one of the few second round “steals” that are pretty rare any year.
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- Written by M.J. Nicholas
Hello, fellow risk-takers. If you are unfamiliar with my my column, it is geared towards NFL wagering. Every week I'll bring you 3-5 of my most confident, spread based picks, as well as the same amount of point based picks to stay away from. Additionally, I will give you several 3-game, moneyline parlays that I think are a lock to win. Finally, I present my weekly confidence pool picks for those looking for an edge against their competition. As always, good luck and wager wisely!
Hey everybody, I just wanted to mention that this could be one of those weeks with a lot of the away teams walking away with a victory. Another theme is divisional games. Make sure you run your numbers and data an extra time before placing bet slips and making pool picks.
NICK'S PICKS:
SF -9.5 I personally think that the 'Niners should have no problem beating one of the NFC's worst teams(Washington Redskins), by at least 10 points. I know San Francisco is on the road, traveling across the country, but they are looking way too tough for Washington to stop. I lowered the spread on this game a half point, down from 10.0.
JAX -4 Another road team, but in the same time zone as their opponent, the Jaguars are formidable enough to overcome the likes of the sad, sad, Cincinnati Bengals.
TEN -2.5 Can the Titans win by a field goal over the 'what the hell happened to us Chargers'? I think Tennessee's defense can make a victory happen. The offenses have both been adrift in a sea of non-consistent mediocrity.
NICK'S NIX PICKS(stay away from these games if you like your $$$):
(MIN -2.5 / DET +2.5) Going to be a close division game with the Vikings on the road. Anything can happen.
(HOU +1 / IND -1) Another division game that will probably come down to a few big plays. Save your flow for another game.
(MIA +16.5 / BUF -16.5) I hate to sound like a broken record, but I really do hate these inter-division games, especially with spreads near 20 points.
(BAL +3 / SEA -3) I personally like the Ravens in this game, but the Seahawks keep finding ways to win. Too close for comfort.
(NOS +4 / CHI -4) Too much can and will go wrong in this game. Injuries, back-ups and good defenses are the themes of this game.
NICK'S ULTRA MONEYLINE PARLAY PICKS:
(SF -424 / BUF -1176 / MIN -145)
(NEP -413 / DAL -149 / HOU +102)
CON-MAN CONFIDENCE(you can't get what I'm selling anywhere else):
* = WINNER
NEP* - 16 - NYJ
SF* - 15 - WAS
MIA - 14 - BUF*
JAX* - 13 - CIN
LAR* - 12 - ATL
LAC - 11 - TEN*
MIN* - 10 - DET
HOU* - 09 - IND
OAK - 08 - GB*
ARI - 07 - NYG*
BAL - 06 - SEA*
PHI - 05 - DAL*
NOS* - 04 - CHI
KC* - 03 - DEN
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- Written by Matt Cochrane
Bust out your folding tables and trim up your mustache, because this week we’re picking the Buffalo Bills. The Bills come into this week off a bye and should be getting back a healthy Josh Allen and Devin Singletary to take on the Miami Dolphins on their home field. They are also this week’s biggest odds on favorite at -17.
I would feel even better about this pick if the Fins were still rolling out Josh Rosen, but either way this ferocious Bills D should make that O-line look like swiss cheese. No amount of Fitzmagic can save them.
A close 2nd this week would be to pick the 49ers on the road vs the Washington Redskins favored by 10. I opted to take the Bills though, for the home field advantage, and because San Francisco is a better team overall that I can use later on in the season.
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- Written by Tad Bukowski
Well every week can’t be a winner.
While last week wasn’t exactly horrible (we still finished over .500) it wasn’t exactly our best. Seems like a good time to remind you that most season long pools have the option to throw out your lowest score of the season. It’s used as a way to say "Hey, if you miss a week, not a prob!"
Time to get back on track!
Week 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
14 – BUFFALO over Miami – When you can’t beat the Redskins at home, you probably won’t be winning a game this season.
13 – San Francisco over WASHINGTON – When you can only beat the Dolphins by one point, you probably won’t be winning another game this year.
12 – New England over NEW YORK JETS – Sam Darnold looked solid in his return…but will probably be brought back down to Earth on Monday Night.
11 – Los Angeles Rams over ATLANTA – Geez, no Talib or Peters against the Falcons? Atlanta may have a chance…oh hey Jalen!
10 – DETROIT over Minnesota – This may seem like an overshot, but the Lions are better than what their record says.
9 – GREEN BAY over Oakland – Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaan’t fully express just much I personally hope I am wrong on this one!
8 – TENNESSEE over Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers have turned this into basically one of the least interesting games of the year.
7 – DALLAS over Philadelphia – Simply put, the Cowboys NEED this game … and they know it!
6 – SEATTLE over Baltimore – Baltimore is good, I just don’t think they’re "travel across the country and beat a hot Seahawks team" good.
5 – New Orleans over CHICAGO – Things are bad right now in Chicago, and they only got worse with the loss of Akiem Hicks
4 – Kansas City over DENVER – There is something fishy about this Thursday Night matchup. So, in kind of a "CYA" move, my BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE BRONCOS WILL BEAT THE CHIEFS.
3 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Arizona – Who knew that we would get our first Kyler Murray/Daniel Jones matchup so soon?
2 – INDIANAPOLIS over Houston – Something tells me that the Texans may be out of gas this week after beating the Chiefs in KC last week.
1 – CINCINNATI over Jacksonville – I think the Bengals will win…you’re legally not allowed to have any faith in that statement.
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- Written by Shawn Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We’re nearing the midway point of the fantasy regular season, and we’re starting to get a better idea of which surprising performances have been just a hiccup or flash in the pan, and which are trends with staying power. Last week went mostly as expected for the rookie crop.
Terry McLaurin and Kyler Murray continued their standout rookie seasons, Miles Sanders was relegated to mainly passing down work (although he did find some success there), Daniel Jones fell flat in a really tough matchup, and DK Metcalf, Darius Slayton, Benny Snell and Jakobi Meyers all found their way to respectable performances. Snell was especially impressive posting 75 yards on 17 carries and another 14 on 1 reception. With James Conner banged up with a quad injury, Snell is a running back worth targeting in next week’s waivers (or to scoop up off the free agent heap this week if he’s still out there due to the Steelers’ bye).
Another rookie who is on a bye this week to take note of is WR Scotty Miller of the Bucs. With Breshad Perriman sidelined and a negative game script Miller played 60% of the offensive snaps and was targeted 7 times in London. Some folks will forget about him through the Bucs bye this week. Keep him in mind in deep PPR leagues (especially dynasty). This week should be a more productive one for the rookie RBs with Montgomery, Jacobs, and Singletary back on the field, but there are plenty more rookies to talk about in week 7. Let’s dive in…
Rookies to Start:
QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 7: @NYG): Kyler posted his best fantasy game yet in week 6 against the hapless Falcons’ defense, and he gets another substandard unit this week. The Giants are allowing the 5th-most QB points per game. They’ve coughed up more than 300 passing yards 4 times in 6 games and have given up multiple TDs in 5 of them (including rushing scores). Murray ranks as the QB7 for the year in terms of points per game, and he’s run for 221 yards in the past 4 weeks. He’s a locked-in QB1 this week and should be a top-5 option at the position if Christian Kirk returns to the field.
RB Josh Jacobs, OAK (Wk. 7: @GB): The Packers did a pretty good job of containing Kerryon Johnson on the ground on Monday night, but most of his attempts came after the Lions had put Green Bay in a hole and their run-heavy play calling became obvious to predict. On the season, The Packers rank just 26th in Football Outsiders’ run defense DVOA stat and have allowed the 4th-most fantasy points per game to the position. Jacobs is the RB15 on the season in PPR points per game. The Raiders have been committed to the run and have managed to get Jacobs to 79+ rushing yards in 4 of 5 contests. I like the chances that he makes it 5 of 6 here as the Raiders try to work the run game to keep Aaron Rodgers off the field.
WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 7: @Sea.): If Brown plays this week, he should probably play for you. He’s seen at least 5 targets in every game he’s been active. The Seahawks have a middling secondary that ranks 15th in pass defense DVOA, but they allow the 8th-most passing yards per game in the league and this is the 2nd time all year the Ravens will be underdogs. The last time they were an underdog Brown was targeted 9 times against the Chiefs. His production didn’t really measure up to his usage in that game, but KC’s secondary has been better than expected this year. If any team knows what it takes to keep Lamar Jackson contained in the pocket and keep him throwing rather than running, it’s the one that practices against Russell Wilson every day. I expect Hollywood to post his best performance since week 2 if he’s able to play. His status is genuinely up in the air as of Wednesday, so monitor injury reports if you’re considering him.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Daniel Jones, NYG (Wk. 7: vs. Ari.): Jones was predictably harassed into his worst game of the year against New England last Thursday. He was held to season-lows in rushing yards, completion percentage, passing yards, and completions, and threw a season-high 3 picks. On a positive note, he did become the first QB to throw a touchdown against the Patriots this year. Things get a lot easier this week. The Cardinals rank just 29th in pass defense DVOA and have allowed opposing signal-callers to post an outlandish 121 passer rating. They’ve allowed at least 240 passing yards in every contest and given up multiple TDs in 5 of 6. Jones may be down Sterling Shepard this week but should have Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram back. The return of Patrick Peterson from suspension should improve the entire defense for Arizona, but it will likely take a week for him to shake off the rust of 6 weeks of missed action and he still won’t be a cure-all once he does. Jones should be a high-end QB2 at worst this week.
QB Gardner Minshew, JAX (Wk. 7: @Cin.): The Bengals have ceded the 4th-most QB points per game to opposing passers, but they’ve somehow limited them to just 1.3 passing scores per game. The place they’ve really been burned by quarterbacks is on the ground (Josh Allen 9-46, Kyler Murray 10-93-1, Lamar Jackson 19-152-1). Minshew can run a little himself, but I wouldn’t expect a gaudy output like those other QBs have posted. I expect him to bounce-back this week to a degree against a bad Bengals’ defense. The Bengals are expected to be without both of their starting corners, so Minshew should have a safe floor as a mid-level QB2 despite likely having limited volume again.
RB Devin Singletary, BUF (Wk. 7: vs. Mia.): Singletary gets the ultimate plus matchup in his likely return to action this week. The Bills enter the week as a whopping 17-point favorite and only Cincy allows more running back points per game than the Dolphins. The Bills might not want to give Singletary a full workload in his return so I would expect Gore to still see a good amount of early down work, but Yeldon should be pushed to the bench. This is a matchup that is good enough to have 2 fantasy relevant runners come out of it, so Singletary is very much in play as a low-end RB2/flex option.
RB David Montgomery, CHI (Wk. 7: vs. NO): Montgomery’s volume took a hit in week 5 in London as the Bears trailed by multiple scores for most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but I wouldn’t expect them to get ambushed like that again with an extra week to prepare for the Saints and Alvin Kamara truly questionable to play. He should be back up to 15+ carries and a few targets like we were used to, but the Saints have been a stingy defense since Teddy Bridgewater took over at QB. They allow the 7th-fewest RB points per game and rank 5th in run defense DVOA. This isn’t exactly a smash spot for Monty, but his volume should get him on the RB2 map this week.
RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 7: @Dal.): Sanders demonstrated last week why it’s hard to just write him off even when he is phased out of the running game. Head coach Doug Pederson stayed true to his word and gave a bigger share of the carries to Jordan Howard, limiting Sanders to his lowest snap share and lowest number of touches of the season. He managed to salvage a reasonable fantasy week despite this, pulling in 3 catches for 86 yards and a score on just 3 targets. The bigger concern here is that he only got those 3 targets. The Eagles were behind all game and Sanders was operating as the primary receiving back with Darren Sproles out. You’d have expected the ball to come his way a bit more. He’s a dicey flex option this week even if Sproles is out again. You’d be hard-pressed to expect Sanders to duplicate last week’s output if his usage is the same, and the Cowboys have only allowed 2 running backs to reach 40 receiving yards on the year.
WR Terry McLaurin, WAS (Wk. 7: vs. SF): If you have McLaurin, you are probably starting him. I just wanted to list him as a ‘Borderline’ option to emphasize that this is a really tough matchup for him. The 49ers rank 1st in pass defense DVOA and have allowed a league-low 10 pass plays of 20+ yards thus far. McLaurin thrives on the deep ball, ranking 2nd in the NFL with 124 air yards per week. He’s clearly cemented himself as the #1 wide receiver in DC, but this week he is more of an upside WR3 than the locked in WR1/2 he’s played like.
WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 7: vs. Bal.): Metcalf’s targets have been inconsistent this year (31 targets in 6 games), but he’s managed to top 60 yards in 4 of 6 contests this season. He may be squaring off with Marcus Peters this week after the Ravens traded for him from the Rams. Peters has had a reputation as a playmaker who can get burned due to his aggressive style, but so far this year Pro Football Focus has graded him as a top-10 corner in the league. Metcalf may still see a good number of targets come his way with Will Dissly suffering an achilles injury and Tyler Lockett drawing shadow coverage from Marlon Humphrey. He’s an interesting option in DFS tournaments on the off chance that Peters reverts to his burnable ways, and is in play as a WR3 due to the likely bump in volume.
TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 7: vs. Min.): Hockenson gets the borderline treatment this week because of how ugly things get at the end of the TE1 list, especially in a week with Greg Olsen, Vance McDonald, and OJ Howard on byes (ok, OJ hasn’t really been helpful). It’s hard to picture Hockenson having a big week against a Viking defense that has made tight ends work for their points this year, but TJ’s 6 red zone targets in his past 3 games means he’s got as good a shot as any Lions’ pass catcher of finding the end zone. The Vikings have allowed 5 different tight ends to top 40 yards and all 5 of them had at least 8 targets to get there. Only 2 of them (Darren Waller and Austin Hooper) cleared 55 yards, and none of them got in the end zone. Hockenson doesn’t see the same kind of volume as the guys that the Vikings have been facing. He’s averaged 5 targets per game and hasn’t had more than 6 in a game since week 1. I wouldn’t expect him to post a big day, but the shot at a TD keeps him in play.
Rookies to Sit:
RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 7: @Det.): Mattison set season-highs in carries (14) and yards (63), and once again most of it came in garbage time with the game decided. He also lost a fumble which could ding his playing time in the near future. Game script continues to be the biggest factor in his fantasy performances, but until he starts getting more opportunities to catch passes or get the ball at the goal line, he’s going to be a low-upside option. This week’s game in Detroit has just a 1-point spread in the Vikings’ favor. If they wind up playing from ahead, Mattison probably finds his way to 50+ scoreless, catchless yards again. If not, he probably won’t make much of an impact.
RB Justice Hill, BAL (Wk. 7: @Sea.): Hill’s time is eventually going to come, but for now it’s at least encouraging that he hasn’t been completely erased from the game plan. The 17 snaps he played in week 6 was the most he’s seen since week 1, and he managed to tally 35 rushing yards. He remains a guy to keep stashed in deeper leagues. If something were to happen to Ingram or Gus Edwards, he could be a league-winner in this offense.
RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 7: vs. Phi.): Pollard continued to be an afterthought in week 6 with the Cowboys trailing all game. They’re just a 3-point favorite this week in what should be a close game with Philly. Pollard has been on the field for just 15 snaps in the last 3 weeks, and I don’t expect a big jump there unless the Cowboys pull away.
WR Mecole Hardman, KC (Wk. 7: @Den.): Mecole saw just 4 targets against Houston with Tyreek Hill back on Sunday, and he was the receiver who saw his snaps take the biggest hit from the return, playing the lowest snap % he has all year. The Broncos rank 7th in pass defense DVOA and allow the fewest points per game to opposing WRs. 50 yards would be a positive outcome for Hardman even with Sammy Watkins ruled out again. There is always the threat of a homerun play with Mecole, but the chances he makes good on that threat are greatly reduced with Hill back.
WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 7: @Was.): The 49ers have been the run-heaviest team in the league so far, throwing on just 43% of their offensive plays, and their pass distribution has been wildly inconsistent from week to week. Samuel is second on the team in targets, and he averages just 4.4 per game. He also entered the week with a questionable tag due to an injury suffered Sunday. The 49ers enter week 7 as a 10-point road favorite against Washington. I don’t expect there to be enough of a passing game to support more than one or two fantasy relevant pass-catchers, and if there is a guy beyond George Kittle that comes through this week, it will most likely be Dante Pettis, who is starting to look more like the guy we expected him to be.
WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 7: vs. LAC): There’s been a changing of the guard at QB in the Music City and hopefully it will jump start the Titans’ offense. This week they face the struggling Chargers. The Chargers rank just 27th in pass defense DVOA, but they have been especially vulnerable against WR1s. They’ve allowed 4 different WR1s to reach 17 PPR points against them in 6 games (TY Hilton, Golladay, DeVante Parker and Courtland Sutton). Kenny Stills is the only non-WR1 to reach 70 yards against them. Corey Davis is the most likely receiver to benefit from the matchup this week. The Titans’ first plan of attack is always the run game, and they should have success against a Charger defense that is coughing up 120 rushing yards per game. That should keep the passing volume low and make Brown no more than a dart throw in deep leagues and DFS tournaments.
WR Preston Williams, MIA (Wk. 7: @Buf.): The Dolphins’ offense is projected to get wiped out this week. Vegas gives them a ridiculously low implied total of just 11.5 points, and the Bills have been excellent against opposing WRs. They’ve allowed the 3rd-fewest PPR points per game to the position. Only 4 receivers have reached 50 yards against them, and only 2 have reached 70. Williams has had a better connection with Josh Rosen than newly re-appointed starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. I wouldn’t count on Preston to post much more than 30-40 yards in this one.
WR KeeSean Johnson, ARI (Wk. 7: @NYG): Johnson has had opportunity this year, but thus far the snaps and targets just aren’t turning into fantasy points. He’s seen 21 targets and 1 rushing attempt in the last 5 weeks, and he’s posted just 21.2 PPR points in that time. Christian Kirk will likely return this week, limiting Johnson’s opportunity even further. There just isn’t a lot of reason to roll him out there at this point, even in a matchup against the defense that allows the 5th-most WR PPR points per game.
WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK (Wk. 7: @GB): The potential absence of Tyrell Williams at least makes Renfrow someone you could consider if you were in a pinch in a deep PPR league this week, but I don’t like this spot for him. Green Bay ranks 5th in pass defense DVOA this season, and although they’ve shown some vulnerability against the pass lately it’s been perimeter receivers who have hurt them. They’ve allowed 3 outside WRs to top 100 yards in the last 2 weeks (Golladay, Gallup, Amari Cooper). Renfrow should see a handful of targets, especially if the Raiders play from behind, but I wouldn’t count on him turning them into much. He’s yet to top 30 yards this season.
WR Miles Boykin, BAL (Wk. 7: @Sea.): With Hollywood Brown out last week Boykin played 56% of the offensive snaps (less than only Willie Snead among the WRs), but he only managed to post 2 catches for 28 yards on 3 targets. The Ravens continue to be a run-first offense, and when they do throw the passing game gets funneled to Mark Andrews and Brown. Even with Brown out, Andrews was the only player to be targeted more than 5 times and received 24% of the team’s total targets. There would be some upside for Boykin as a cheap DFS option this week if Hollywood were to sit again. The Seahawks have been just a middling pass defense and Baltimore would likely have to throw more than they did last week, but we haven’t seen enough of a ceiling yet to trust Boykin in season-long formats.
WR Parris Campbell, IND (Wk. 7: vs. Hou.): Campbell is listed as doubtful for this week, but if by some miracle he does manage to play he’s managed to top 6 PPR points just once in 4 games (8.2 in week 2).
TE Noah Fant, DEN (Wk. 7: vs. KC): Fant’s role in the offense has been secure, but his fantasy production has had a low ceiling thus far. On paper the Chiefs look like a favorable matchup for a tight end. They’ve allowed the 4th-most catches and 4th-most yards to the position. The problem is that few tight ends have really posted big days on their own. The Jaguars’ tight ends went 8-59 against them, but it was split between Geoff Swaim and James O’Shaughnessy. The Raiders posted 9-96, but it was split between Waller and Derek Carrier. In all, the Chiefs have allowed 11 tight ends to record 3+ catches against them in just 6 games. Only 3 of them made it to 50 receiving yards, and only one of them found the end zone. Fant will likely need a touchdown to return value this week, and that’s something the Chiefs haven’t been surrendering to tight ends.
TE Foster Moreau, OAK (Wk. 7: @GB): Moreau has seen his snap count increase for 4 games in a row, but not because Darren Waller is playing any less. Moreau set his season highs in London with 4 catches for 46 yards. The Packers are unlikely to let him reach those numbers again this week. Green Bay has allowed the 6th-fewest TE PPR points per game, and Zach Ertz is the only tight end they’ve allowed to total more than 4 catches and 40 yards all year.
Rookies on Byes this week: QB Devlin Hodges, PIT, RB Benny Snell, PIT, RB Reggie Bonnafon, CAR, WR Diontae Johnson, PIT, WR Scotty Miller, TB, TE Zach Gentry, PIT
Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:
QB Drew Lock, DEN (Wk. 7: vs. KC): Obviously Lock isn’t a guy that has any relevance this week. He’s currently on IR, but it’s possible he could be activated as early as week 8. There are rumors afoot this week that if Denver loses on Thursday, they may look at trading Emmanuel Sanders. It would only be a matter of time before they hand the QB job over to the heir apparent if this becomes a lost season. He’ll have some young weapons even if they trade Manny – Courtland Sutton, Noah Fant, Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman, DaeSean Hamilton. If you are in a 2-QB league with slim waiver pickings, it might make some sense to stash Lock a little early in hopes he takes the job sooner than later.
RB Darrell Henderson, LAR (Wk. 7: @Atl.): Henderson FINALLY got a chance to play a little bit last Sunday with Todd Gurley sidelined, and he did not disappoint. It wasn’t all perfect – he did fumble a pitch at one point, but the skill he showed on his very first rushing attempt was tantalizing. He played just 17 snaps but managed to turn 7 touches into 48 scrimmage yards. I think he did enough to warrant more playing time going forward if Gurley is sidelined again, but it might be even better than that for Darrell. Malcolm Brown is questionable for this week as well with an ankle injury. There is a chance that Henderson is the lead back against a Falcons’ defense that has given up 7 TDs to running backs in 6 weeks. They had been limiting backs in the passing game prior to week 6, but Chase Edmonds and David Johnson combined for 101 receiving yards and 2 scores Sunday. Gurley has been trending towards playing, but if Gurley and Brown both sit, Henderson is an RB2 this week. If Gurley plays and Brown doesn’t, I’d still expect a decent amount of Henderson. Grab him if he is still on waivers in your league.
WR Jakobi Meyers, NE (Wk. 7: @NYJ): Meyers was solid on Thursday night filling in for the injured Phillip Dorsett, posting 4-54 on 4 targets. I’d be surprised if Dorsett returns this week, but Josh Gordon also came away with an injury in Thursday night’s game. It’s possible that Meyers will be playing as the WR2 against the Jets. New York has allowed the 12th-most WR PPR points per game this year and let all 3 of New England’s wide receivers (Dorsett, Gordon, and Julian Edelman) catch for more than 50 yards in the first meeting between the teams in week 3. If Gordon and Dorsett both sit, I’d expect Meyers to duplicate his output from last week with the upside for more.
WR Darius Slayton, NYG (Wk. 7: vs. Ari.): Patrick Peterson’s return will make the Cardinals a tougher matchup overall, but they have coughed up the 4th-most WR PPR points per game. P-squared won’t suddenly change that overnight, and he’s unlikely to spend a lot of time matched up with Slayton. Slayton has shown a nice rapport with rookie QB Daniel Jones. The returns of Engram and Barkley will put a damper on his upside, but Sterling Shepard is likely to sit which will keep Slayton on the field. He played 98% of the offensive snaps last week and saw 8 targets. He wasn’t overly productive with those targets, but he goes from a brutal matchup to a very favorable one and he’s getting high-value targets as well, averaging just over 18 air yards per pass attempt in his direction. Slayton is an interesting DFS tournament play at a very reasonable price ($4,100 on DraftKings).
WR N’Keal Harry, NE (Wk. 7: @NYJ): While Jakobi Meyers has been doing a nice job filling in for the banged-up Pats’ wide receivers, their 1st round pick N’Keal Harry has been getting closer to returning. He is set to start practicing this week, and once that happens the Pats will have 3 weeks to move him to the active roster. If Harry plays like the guy that the Pats thought they were drafting, he could move ahead of Meyers and Dorsett on the depth chart once he’s activated. It’s probably a little premature to scoop him off the waiver wire this week in most formats but keep an eye on the practice reports and monitor where the Patriots are at with him. This is a high-scoring offense, so if Harry has a role he will likely have some late-season fantasy relevance.
TE Dawson Knox, BUF (Wk. 7: vs. Mia.): The only thing keeping me from making Knox a borderline TE1 option this week is the pending return of Tyler Kroft, who seems likely to play. We don’t know what kind of split the Bills will employ with their tight ends, but every offensive player has a shot a good day when your team plays the Dolphins. Miami has allowed the 12th-most PPR points per game to opposing TEs, and Knox has averaged 4 targets and 39 yards per game over the past 4 games. It’s ugly out there when you’re searching for a fill-in TE, and Knox does have the upside for a solid game.
TE Josh Oliver, JAX (Wk. 7: @Cin.): The Bengals boast one of the worst pass defenses in the league, and after Geoff Swaim went down with a probable concussion last weekend the Jaguars were down to just Seth DeValve at tight end. The Jaguars play with multiple tight ends on nearly 40% of their offensive snaps and the Bengals have given up lines of 3-67-1 to Dawson Knox and 6-99 to Mark Andrews. Oliver is no more than a dart throw for a TD this week, but if he doesn’t miss this game with injury he should be on the field a decent amount. If he misses, DeValve becomes an interesting minimum-priced DFS option.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your toughest lineup decisions involving rookies. Keep a close watch on the injury report this week to make sure of the status of anyone who can affect your lineup, even if it’s not the guy in your lineup. For example, Jakobi Meyers loses some of his appeal if Josh Gordon and/or Phillip Dorsett are good to go. If you have any specific questions or just want to yell at me about any of the info included above, feel free to hit me up on twitter and let me know (@Shawn_Foss). As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.
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- Written by Mike Mocerino
If you read my last player highlight, I covered Tight End Dawson Knox. He continues to be a hot add, but the tight end landscape is more barren then ever and makes me yawn just thinking about covering another deep speculative add. This week I am going to cover the 4th quarter darling from the Monday night game, Allen Lazard. What caught my eye with Lazar was Aarons confidence going to him on back to back plays with the game on the line. In a game where it looked like every receiver on the packers had stone hands, it was a breath of fresh air.
What we know:
6’ 5” 227 lbs
23 years old
4.55 40 time
38” vertical jump
Was recruited to Notre Dame, Stanford, and others but ultimately chose Iowa State where his father and brother both player. Athletic genes.
Started for the Cyclones as a true Freshmen.
Finished his college career 7 receptions and 678 yards away from breaking school records in both categories
Rodgers lobbied for him to get into the game in the 4th quarter
What I think:
With Allison and Adams likely out this week for the packers, it will be the same group of stone handed receivers on the field for the packers this week against the Raiders. This could be the time that Lazard needs to prove himself on the field and earn a larger role with the offense moving forward. Allison and MVS have not been very sharp this year. When Allison returns I feel there might be opportunities for fresh young legs to work more in the mix IF he proves himself this week.
What I am looking forward to is if Rodgers continues to look his way this week. In Rodgers post game interview, he said that Lazard has been doing this all year in practice and dropped that touchdown right where it needed to be. They seem to have the chemistry and anyone that develops trust with Rodgers is worth a roster spot. Worth noting that Rodgers sits next to Lazard at meetings. Can’t be too many seats next to Rodgers in those team meetings…
Overall, this is a complete dart throw. But one that could pay off if he turns into the third option for Rodgers in that offense.
Happy Hunting and good luck this week!
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- Written by Jason Evans
Welcome to Statistically (in)Significant, the place to find great stats that probably only matter at the water cooler (or bar). Each week I'll dig through the stats of the week gone by and deliver you some choice conversation starters. All fantasy stats are standard Yahoo scoring, unless otherwise noted.
5 TE’s at the Top
Through Sunday in Week 6, the tight end spot in fantasy has been quite a slog. There’s been no dominant player at the position, though there have been a few pleasant surprises. Going into this week, there were 5 players between 49 and 51 points on the season. Unfortunately, it looks like Will Dissly, who led the pack by a very slim margin, could be done for the season with an Achilles tear. That leaves us with the newest break-out TE Austin Hooper as our leader. Hooper took advantage of a Cardinals defense that is giving up an absurd amount points to opposing TEs. Hooper has now finished as a top 3 TE in 3 of 6 weeks so far this season. Rounding out the top 5 are the always reliable Travis Kelce, Evan Engram (who missed a game, so his per-game average is still pretty good), and finally the Ravens break-out star, Mark Andrews.
78 Passing Yards
Jared Goff had a whopping 78 passing yards on Sunday, a career low for him, which roughly equates to $20,833 per yard gained through the air this week. The Rams had a particularly bad game against the still undefeated 49ers. They scored a TD on their opening drive and then did nothing for the rest of the game. The fact that they gained all their yards on the ground that first drive seems like a bad omen for the way the rest of the game went for them. It’s hard to tell where this team’s fantasy potential is headed. On one hand, this offense was a juggernaut last season and now have scored at least 27 points in 4 of 6 games this season. On the other hand, you have Jared Goff, who has thrown more picks than touchdowns in the last 4 weeks. Aside from this week, the Rams are still putting up decent fantasy points with their big players, so I wouldn’t ditch them all yet, but I would consider who I start against the 49ers going forward.
116 Passing Yards in One Drive
The Chiefs haven’t done a lot of winning the last couple weeks, but Patrick Mahomes is still doing amazing things on the field. In their first drive, thanks to several penalties, Mahomes managed the stunning mathematical trick of throwing for 116 yards in one drive. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they only gained another 157 yards through the air the remainder of the game. They only had about 20 minutes in time of possession for the entire game, and clearly this has become the (rather obvious) method for defeating the Chiefs. Last week, they had just under 23 minutes in time of possession. Against the Texans, the Chiefs only ran the ball 11 times despite never being down more than 7 points in the game. On the other side, the Texans ran the ball 41 times to go along with 42 passing attempts. Balance, my friends, is key in all things.
27 D/ST Fantasy Points
With another 27 fantasy points this week, the New England Patriots D/ST squad has just dominated fantasy football. Their 27 points made them the 8th highest scoring “player” in Week 6. On the season, the defense and special teams have combined for 5 TDs and have 16 turnovers in just 6 games. They’re second in the league with 25 sacks and have given up only 3 touchdowns on defense all season. Their 127 fantasy points on the season make them the 9th highest scoring entity in fantasy football this season, behind only one non-QB, Christian McCaffrey. Compared to other D/STs, they are 52 points ahead of the second highest scoring team and have more than doubled up the 4th highest scoring team.
36.5 Fantasy Points in Week 6
The squeaky wheel does often get the grease, though sometimes it takes a few weeks to apply it. This week, Stefon Diggs had a monster game, scoring 3 TDs and 167 yards on 7 receptions, adding 18 rushing yards on 2 carries just for fun. This more than doubles his season total in points – he had just 27.3 through 5 games going into Week 6. Since the Vikings rough defeat in Chicago Week 4, they have put up 66 points in just two games. During that time, Kirk Cousins has 2 300+ yard games to go along with 6 TDs and just one pick. It turns out that the Vikings can’t just run the ball all game, like they did early in the season. They need to pass it as well, thus giving their offense balance. Déjà vu, no?
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- Written by Matt Cochrane
Well it was quite refreshing seeing the Kansas City Chiefs fall last week to the Indianapolis Colts. I am developing a theory that good guy Andrew Luck just wanted Jacoby Brissett to get a fair shake at starting QB after he earned it filling in for Tom Brady a few years back during the Deflategate suspension. With that loss we saw another 135 members drop out of the pool followed by 43 poor saps who thought the Bears were a good team. Heck, a team slightly better than the Raiders would have rolled that pathetic Bears offense, rather than gift them a turnover to make it look close. This brings the remaining entrants down to a manageable 326.
This week I am going with the Baltimore Ravens to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals. They opened up as the 2nd biggest favorite of the week at home -11.5, following only the Patriots at -16.5 who mopped the Giants Thursday night. Pretty simple logic here, I already selected the Pats earlier this year and this doesn't look like a spot for the Bengals to get their first W. In fact, this might be a good point in the season for the Bengals to consider losing all of their games and get a decent QB in the draft. By default, either the Dolphins or Redskins will get a win this week, which will give them a leg up, especially if that winner is Miami.
I do believe the Ravens will be the most popular pick this week so if you want to go off the board a little might I suggest going with the Chargers against the Steeler's backup's backup. They will be facing a tough Pittsburgh crowd at Dignity Health Sports Park, but I think ole Phil and the guys can overcome the noise.
On a final note, I would like anyone to submit a theory as to how the Cleveland shit Browns opened as a favorite vs the Seattle Seahawks. Did another of Russel Wilson's teammates sleep with his wife or something?
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- Written by M.J. Nicholas
Remember last week when I stated that I hardly ever wager on the Chicago Bears? I said it was nothing personal but decided to put action on them last week to win. Obviously, they had to burn me and make me look like a biased football fan of the Windy City's finest. A couple lessons here: the Bears are a non-consistent joke that you should never wager on, and, you should probably not put any action on games played in London. It seems that teams play a different game script across the Atlantic. It probably comes down to travel, food and wanting to take in the sights. Maybe trying to find the perfect gift while souvenir hunting? In other disappointing, NFL gambling results, I'm getting concerned about the Kansas City Chiefs. If their defense doesn't improve and they can't solidify the run game, I will re-think taking action on all of their future spreads. Maybe it's that time for a mid-season assessment on sportsbook-related, team trust.
NICK'S PICKS:
SEA -1.5 You would think if the Seahawks could beat the Rams by a point, that they could beat the hapless Browns by at least two ticks. After all, Russell Wilson is very good and Baker Mayfield is garbage. Nick Chubb seems to be the only bright spot on Cleveland's roster since they have no positive QB play. Seattle is on the road playing across the country, but the spread seems more than reasonable for them to attain.
LAC -6.5 This is a game that I lowered the spread down half a point. A touchdown victory for the Chargers is definitely within reason, especially since the Steelers have to start their third string QB and are without pass-catching RB Jaylen Samuels. Pittsburgh will also be playing on the road, across several time zones. Los Angeles should only have to be concerned about the Steelers' defense, which can look stout at times, but does lack consistency.
ATL -2.5 Look, I know the Falcons' defense can only hold their own as much as a wet, paper bag... but their offense is actually potent. QB Matt Ryan throws the ball a ridiculous number of times every game and has the weapons to haul in most of those targets. The Cardinals are starting to look a little better as the season plays out, but they still give up a ton of passing yards, especially to the TE position. I think overall team experience will win this one for Atlanta.
NICK'S NIX PICKS(stay away from these games if you like your $$$):
(CAR -2 / TB +2) Carolina has a great defense but they are on the road in a division matchup, against a rival QB with some very talented receivers. Ever hear of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans? These games make me nervous.
(WAS -3.5 / MIA +3.5) Probably two of the worst teams in the league. Miami had an extra week to rest(coming off a bye) and is at home. Do I smell a skunk or is it an upset?
(SF +3.5 / LAR -3.5) A tough division game with very good defenses, even though the Rams' D has slipped a little over the last few weeks. Todd Gurley is also a little banged up and his game status is in question. I'm still waiting to see what the 49ers are all about, especially since they've been lucky and played the Browns, Bengals, Buccaneers and Steelers so far this season. If they play a +.500 team and get a win, maybe I'll buy more Fog City stock.
(TEN +2.5 / DEN -2.5) If I had a gun to my head, I'd go with the Titans. Luckily, I don't play with firearms.
(NOS +1 / JAX -1) Flip a coin. Oh wait, I only have plastic on me.
(HOU +4 / KC -4) The Chiefs couldn't stop the Colts with home field advantage. They are at home again against Deshaun Watson, Deandre Hopkins and Will Fuller of the Texans. There should be a lot of offense. There should be...
NICK'S ULTRA MONEYLINE PARLAY PICKS:
(SEA -127 / MIN -168 / BAL -510)
(ATL -128 / DAL -337 / LAC -282)
CON-MAN CONFIDENCE(you can't get what I'm selling anywhere else):
* = WINNER
NEP* - 16 - NYG
CIN - 15 - BAL*
DAL* - 14 - NYJ
PIT - 13 - LAC*
DET - 12 - GB*
SEA* - 11 - CLE
SF - 10 - LAR*
ATL* - 09 - ARI
HOU - 08 - KC*
CAR* - 07 - TB
TEN* - 06 - DEN
NOS* - 05 - JAX
WAS - 04 - MIA*
PHI - 03 - MIN*
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- Written by Shawn Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! We’re another week deeper into the season and finally starting to get into the bye weeks where things can get a little dicey for your squads if you don’t have great depth. I wouldn’t expect to find much running back help from the rookie crop this week with David Montgomery, Josh Jacobs and Devin Singletary all on byes. Jacobs did put on a show across the pond on Sunday though. Week 5 also saw Kyler Murray get his first win, saw DK Metcalf and Marquise Brown each get back in the end zone, and saw another outstanding performance from Gardner Minshew albeit in a loss. The rookie running backs might have a bleak outlook this week, but there are plenty of other rookies to talk about. Let’s talk about what we can look forward to in week 6 from the rookie crop…
Rookies to Start:
QB Kyler Murray, ARI (Wk. 6: vs. Atl.): The Falcons’ defense has really struggled this year, especially since Keanu Neal went down late in the first half of their week 3 game. They rank 30th in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA stat and in the last 3 weeks they’ve allowed 963 passing yards and a 10:0 TD to INT ratio. They also allowed Marcus Mariota and Deshaun Watson to combine for 69 rushing yards (nice) in the last 2 weeks. Murray has started to use his legs as an asset, racking up 189 yards and 2 scores on the ground in his last 3 games. He may also get Christian Kirk back this week. The TDs will eventually come for Kyler. The Cardinals are tied for 4th in the NFL with an average of 4 red zone trips per game. I expect Murray to be a top-8 QB this week.
WR Terry McLaurin, WAS (Wk. 6: @Mia.): Don’t be concerned about the coaching change in Washington when it comes to McLaurin. Offensive coordinator Bill Callahan is the guy taking over, so things shouldn’t change much. Former head coach Jay Gruden had a lot of control over the offense previously, so I would expect Callahan to put his own wrinkles in (most notably he’s talked about wanting to run more), but it should remain largely the same offense. The better news for McLaurin this week is that he should get Case Keenum back at QB. Keenum is much more willing to throw downfield than Colt McCoy. McLaurin also goes from facing the best defense in the league to one of the worst. Miami has been shredded by opposing WR1s so far, so McLaurin should be a safe WR3 in your lineups this week.
WR Marquise Brown, BAL (Wk. 6: vs. Cin.): Keep an eye on the injury report this week. Head coach John Harbaugh said Brown’s injury is nothing serious, but he isn’t practicing yet as of Thursday. If he does play and it sounds like he’ll be close to 100%, get him in your lineup. The Bengals rank 31st in pass defense DVOA and have allowed the 3rd-highest yards per attempt in the league to opposing passing attacks. Baltimore has an implied total of 29.5 points, so there should be plenty of offense for them in this one. Other deep threat receivers have fared well against Cincy. DK Metcalf posted 4-89, Marquise Goodwin went 3-77-1, and they also allowed long scores to Diontae Johnson and Tyler Lockett this year. Brown shouldn’t be on your bench unless the injury keeps him there.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Gardner Minshew, JAX (Wk. 6: vs. NO): I keep telling you to sit Minshew each week, and he keeps responding by making me look foolish. He’s continued to turn what look like limited upside matchups into efficient and strong QB2 performances. This week he has a matchup that actually does have some upside for him. Naturally, he’s going to inevitably lay an egg in the week that he should blow up because fantasy football likes to laugh at us, but this looks like a spot where he is a reasonable bye week fill-in and a must-start in 2QB formats. The Saints rank 20th in pass defense DVOA and have allowed the 5th-most points per game to opposing QBs on the year. 4 of the 5 QBs they’ve faced topped 20 fantasy points. Minshew is an interesting option in DFS cash games this week that could allow you to spend your money on the other positions. He’s the 25th-highest priced QB on DraftKings ($5,000) but has yet to finish worse than the QB16 in any week this year.
WR Mecole Hardman, KC (Wk. 6: vs. Hou.): I’d lean toward starting Mecole this week if you’ve got him, especially if Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins both sit out. As of Wednesday, it sounds like Hill will be a game-time call, and Watkins is probably on the wrong side of questionable. Houston has allowed the 9th-most WR points per game on the year and the Chiefs have an implied total of 30 points. If Watkins and Hill both sit, 3-wide sets will consist of Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, and Byron Pringle. All 3 would have upside in this matchup, but I’d prefer Hardman over the other two. The return of Hill or Watkins would push him down to more of a WR4 this week.
WR Preston Williams, MIA (Wk. 6: vs. Was.): It feels awkward calling any Dolphin even as much as a borderline fantasy play, but Preston fits the bill this week. Washington has allowed the 3rd-most WR points per game, and Williams has been the target on nearly a quarter of Josh Rosen’s pass attempts this season. Rosen being named the starter for the remainder of the year is unquestionably a positive thing for Williams’ fantasy outlook. Preston has topped 10 PPR points in 3 out his 4 games this year, and he did that against tougher opponents than Washington. Williams is a reasonable WR3/flex option if you’re dealing with injuries or byes at the position this week.
WR DK Metcalf, SEA (Wk. 6: @Cle.): Metcalf’s deep ball upside keeps him in play as a WR3/flex option, but this might not be the best week for him. The Browns have had a conservative approach on the back end of the defense, taking away the deep ball and letting teams beat them underneath. They’ve allowed just 12 passes of 20+ yards though 5 games. It only takes one big play for Metcalf but be aware that he’s a volatile option.
Rookies to Sit:
QB Daniel Jones, NYG (Wk. 6: @NE): Jones posted his worst start of the year in week 5, and things look unlikely to get much better this week. Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard and Wayne Gallman have all been ruled out already for Thursday night’s game and the Giants have an implied total below 14 points. The Patriots rank 2nd in pass defense DVOA and haven’t allowed at TD pass all year. They also have 11 interceptions through 5 games. This is the worst possible spot to start Jones.
QB Devlin Hodges, PIT (Wk. 6: @LAC): Hodges came into last Sunday’s game against the Ravens after an Earl Thomas hit knocked Mason Rudolph out cold, and he appears likely to get the starting nod this week. He didn’t look completely lost in his first NFL action, completing 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards and adding a 20-yard run, but there were some other incompletions (including an INT) that were negated by penalties. It would be a huge gamble to roll the dice on the undrafted rookie this week. The Chargers rank just 25th in pass defense DVOA, but only Deshaun Watson has reached 20 fantasy points against them. The Steelers are likely to go with as run-heavy a game plan as they can this week.
QB Dwayne Haskins, WAS (Wk. 6: @Mia.): Bill Callahan made it clear after taking over as the new head coach that he shares Jay Gruden’s outlook for Haskins: they don’t want him starting right now. Callahan said Haskins may be inactive some weeks with Keenum and McCoy both healthy. There is no reason to hold onto Haskins in redraft leagues right now.
RB Miles Sanders, PHI (Wk. 6: @Min.): Sanders is a really dicey flex option this week after comments from Doug Pederson that Jordan Howard will get more carries going forward. Howard has been a more decisive runner and has taken advantage of the Eagles’ mauling offensive line more effectively than Sanders has. The rookie may have a saving grace this week with Darren Sproles sidelined. It should be Sanders working as the primary receiving back this week (unless Corey Clement pops up). The problem is that Minnesota has allowed the 2nd-fewest RB receptions and receiving yards per game. I’d avoid playing Sanders this week unless you have to. Even if he still sees ok rushing volume, the Vikings rank 2nd in run defense DVOA.
RB Tony Pollard, DAL (Wk. 6: @NYJ): There is a chance that Pollard actually has a nice week at the Meadowlands. Pollard averaged 11 touches per game in the Cowboys’ 3 easy wins to open the year, and then played just 7 combined offensive snaps in the two losses since. The Cowboys are a touchdown favorite on Sunday, so Pollard may get involved late. The reason I list him as a ‘rookie to sit’ is because the Jets do have a decent run defense (11th in run defense DVOA) and I really don’t know what kind of league I would be desperate enough to play him in.
RB Alexander Mattison, MIN (Wk. 6: vs. Phi.): Mattison continued his trend of flashing in games with positive game script in week 5. He’s averaged 53 scrimmage yards per game in the Vikings’ 3 wins and just 19 yards in their 2 losses. Minnesota is a 3-point favorite this week, but I wouldn’t be looking for another 50-yard day out of Mattison. The Eagles have wiped out opposing running games, allowing less than 50 rushing yards per game to opposing backfields. Dalvin Cook might struggle to get to 50 yards on the ground in this one. I don’t expect there to be much left over for the rookie.
RB Justice Hill, BAL (Wk. 6: vs. Cin.): The matchup in week 6 is a juicy one for Baltimore’s backfield. The Bengals allow the 2nd-most RB points per game and rank 26th in run defense DVOA, but Hill has been an afterthought in this offense. He played the fewest snaps that he has all year in week 5. His DraftKings price tag is just $3,200, so you could roll the dice on him getting some extended run in a GPP tournament if you’re feeling feisty, but Gus Edwards is likely the biggest benefactor if the Ravens win in a rout.
RB Ryquell Armstead, JAX (Wk. 6: vs. NO): Armstead followed up a strong performance in week 4 with a disappearing act in week 5. He’s got 12 touches on the year, and 9 of them were in that week 4 contest. He’s no more than a Leonard Fournette handcuff at this point with next to no standalone value.
RB Dexter Williams, GB (Wk. 6: vs. Det.): Dexter seemed to have a prime opportunity to step up last weekend with Jamaal Williams sidelined. Instead the Packers activated Tra Carson from their practice squad and let him serve as the #2 back. Apparently, Dexter’s pass blocking isn’t where it needs to be for the Packers to trust him on the field. There isn’t any reason to have him rostered in redraft formats.
WR Diontae Johnson, PIT (Wk. 6: @LAC): Johnson has had a healthy target share for the Steelers since Big Ben went down and the Chargers are in the middle of the pack when it comes to points allowed to WRs, but Devlin Hodges at QB means I’m not willing to trust Diontae in lineups this week, even with James Washington sidelined. Johnson also needs to fix his ball control issues going forward. He’s fumbled twice in as many weeks, and his playing time will start to go down if that continues.
WR Miles Boykin, BAL (Wk. 6: vs. Cin.): Boykin gets a decent matchup against the Bengals this week. As I mentioned with Hollywood Brown earlier, they rank 31st in pass defense DVOA, and the Ravens have an implied team total of just under 30 points. Unfortunately for Boykin, he’s settled in as a guy playing right around 30% of the offensive snaps each week. That just isn’t enough playing time to trust him even in good matchups. This isn’t a bad week to hope he finds the end zone, but that’s really as much as you can hope for here unless Brown misses this game. If Brown is out, Boykin should get a little additional run but is still more of a dart throw than reliable option.
WR Andy Isabella, ARI (Wk. 6: vs. Atl.): Kliff Kingsbury stayed mostly true to his word last weekend and didn’t move Andy Isabella into the slot to replace Christian Kirk. Instead he used a rotation of Pharoh Cooper and his 2 tight ends (Maxx Williams & Charles Clay). Isabella did see a season-high 10 snaps, but he wasn’t targeted at all. He did get 2 rushing attempts. It sounds like Kirk will return this week, but even if he doesn’t, Isabella isn’t a guy to consider.
TE Irv Smith, MIN (Wk. 6: vs. Phi.): Smith played 51% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps last week…and wasn’t targeted even once. There will be weeks where the ball comes his way, but those weeks will be hard to predict in this low volume passing offense.
TE TJ Hockenson, DET (Wk. 6: @GB): The fact that the Lions had to come out after Hockenson’s concussion and say that he won’t be put on IR doesn’t make it sound like he’ll be back right away. Stunningly he was back at practice Wednesday & Thursday, but he is still in the concussion protocol. It seems like he’s trending in the right direction, but he could end up a game-time decision and the Packers have allowed the 6th-fewest tight end points per game this year. Since Hock plays on Monday, there really won’t be a way to have backup plan if Hockenson sits at the last minute. You’d basically be choosing between Jesse James and Robert Tonyan in that scenario (unless you have Jimmy Graham). I’d much rather just play someone else rather than wait on Hockenson in a tougher matchup.
Rookies on Byes: RB David Montgomery, CHI, RB Josh Jacobs, OAK, RB Devin Singletary, BUF, WR Hunter Renfrow, OAK, WR Parris Campbell, IND, TE Dawson Knox, BUF, TE Foster Moreau, OAK
Deep League Sleepers, Stashes, and Cheap DFS Options:
RB Jon Hilliman, NYG (Wk. 6: @NE): With Gallman and Barkley ruled out, Hilliman is the default starting running back for the Giants this week. He doesn’t get an inviting matchup. The Patriots haven’t let any running back get into the end zone this year, and they allow the 2nd-fewest RB fantasy points per game and rank 3rd in run defense DVOA. With the game script expected to be very negative for the Giants, Hilliman will have to do work in the passing game to return a decent day. He did catch 36 passes in his last 2 college seasons despite not being a workhorse back, so he may not be a slouch as a receiver. I wouldn’t be too interested in him in redraft leagues, especially with Saquon looking like he’ll return next week, but a $3,200 price tag in DraftKings for a starting running back is at least intriguing in a GPP tournament.
RB Benny Snell, PIT (Wk. 6: @LAC): The Steelers only face one defense ranked higher than 23rd in run defense DVOA in their next 7 games, and Jaylen Samuels is out for a month. Samuels had been mixing in behind Conner a decent amount, and while Snell isn’t nearly as versatile as Jaylen, the Steelers are very likely to focus on running the football while Devlin Hodges is at QB. Snell should work as a change of pace back behind Conner for the coming weeks and is worth scooping up in deeper formats.
RB Reggie Bonnafon, CAR (Wk. 6: @TB): For some inexplicable reason Jordan Scarlett is the highest priced rookie running back on DraftKings this week ($4,300) despite playing just 5 offensive snaps on the season. Anyone paying attention knows Bonnafon is the handcuff back here. Bonnafon played 11 snaps last weekend when Christian McCaffrey was dealing with cramps and he turned in a 5-80-1 line. I don’t suggest using Bonnafon this week as the Bucs rank #1 in the league in run defense DVOA. Bonnafon is worth scooping up as insurance in deep leagues if you have CMC.
WR AJ Brown, TEN (Wk. 6: @Den.): Brown has been the epitome of boom or bust this season. He’s has more PPR points in each of his two ‘boom’ games than he does in the other 3 combined. Chris Harris Jr. is likely to shadow Corey Davis this week, which should benefit Brown. Other notable number one receivers who have faced the Broncos include Allen Robinson (4-41), Davante Adams (4-56), DJ Chark (4-44) and Keenan Allen (4-18). Number 2 receivers have fared better – Marquez Valdes-Scantling (6-99-1), Dede Westbrook (5-66) and Mike Williams (6-74). Brown is in play this week in deep leagues and in DFS tournaments.
WR Deebo Samuel, SF (Wk. 6: @LAR): The 49ers have had one of the toughest WR groups to figure out for fantasy purposes. None of them were useful on Monday night as they blew the doors off the Browns. No receiver had more than 4 targets. This week’s game projects as more of a shootout with an over/under of 50. The 49ers should be forced to throw a little more, and the Rams rank 24th in pass defense DVOA. San Francisco has tried to manufacture ways to get the ball into Deebo’s hands, so he’s the 49er receiver I’d be most likely to take a shot on having a big game this week.
WR KeeSean Johnson, ARI (Wk. 6: vs. Atl.): Johnson was basically a full-time player in week 5 with Christian Kirk out. Kirk might be out again this week, and Johnson was targeted 7 times in his absence on Sunday. The Falcons allow the 2nd-most WR points per game, so there is legitimate upside for KeeSean this week if Kirk sits again.
WR Jakobi Meyers, NE (Wk. 6: vs. NYG): With Phillip Dorsett sidelined, Meyers will step in as the full time WR3 for the time being. That didn’t result in much fantasy production last week, but he should be more of a factor moving forward. If Dorsett misses several weeks Meyers should be a decent add in deep leagues. He gets a decent matchup with the Giants this week who rank 29th in pass defense DVOA. He’s basically a dart throw this week in a game the Pats should run away with.
WR Darius Slayton, NYG (Wk. 6: @NE): Slayton doesn’t have a great matchup this week, but Daniel Jones will have to throw the ball somewhere and Slayton has been the guy he’s had the best connection with among the available options. He’s topped 11 PPR points in two of his last 3 games and costs just $100 more than the minimum on DraftKings. He has nice upside for a bottom of the barrel DFS tournament play, even in this brutal matchup.
TE Noah Fant, DEN (Wk. 6: vs. Ten.): Fant saw his lowest target total of the season last Sunday and was outscored by teammate Jeff Heuerman, but he remained right around the same snap share that he’s been playing (66%). The Broncos got an early lead and leaned on the run game against the Chargers. This week’s matchup is one to target with tight ends. The Titans have allowed a tight end score in 4 of 5 games this year and allowed a 9-130 line to Austin Hooper in the other game. Fant is a solid TD dart throw this week.
TE Josh Oliver, JAX (Wk. 6: vs. NO): I mention Oliver this week because the Jaguars’ starting tight end James O’Shaughnessy suffered a season-ending ACL tear this week. I wouldn’t be racing to the waiver wire to pick him up in any redraft formats, but he may be worth a flier in deep dynasty leagues, especially TE premium formats. Oliver was the team’s primary pass catcher as a senior at San Jose State last year, hauling in more than 21% of the team’s catches, and more than 22.5% of their receiving yards. Geoff Swaim and Seth DeValve are both likely ahead of Oliver on the depth chart, but Jacksonville has utilized 3 tight ends this season, and Oliver may be the best receiver of the healthy trio. DeValve had played at least 22% of the offensive snaps each of the past 3 weeks as the team’s TE3. DeValve hasn’t seen a single target this year, and Swaim has turned 15 targets into 12 catches for just 60 yards. Monitor how much Oliver is used this week. If he has an obvious passing game role, he should become a guy worth adding in redraft formats.
That’s all I’ve got for this week. Hopefully it helps you with your toughest decisions involving rookies this week. Keep a close eye on the injury report this week. There are a ton of injuries that could have an impact on these outlooks – Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, Tyreek Hill, Saquon Barkley, Christian Kirk, Phillip Dorsett, etc. Make sure you know what injuries may affect your lineup and have a backup plan ready for Sunday. As always: Good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It’s just a game.