Fantasy Football / NFL
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- Written by Jim Hutchins
Six weeks of the season are in the books and unfortunately, no perfect lineups to show for it; let's change that around! This week we are going with a low cost QB/WR stack who face off against a team that scores a lot of points, spending high on a couple of stud RBs with great matchups and selecting a duo of old man WRs whose teams happen to be going head to head.
QB - Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ - $7,100 at NE: Fitzpatrick has been steady all season and should get a boost in production this week up against New England. Look for the Jets to throw the ball more than normal to keep up in this game as well as there being a high potential for garbage time points.
RB - Devonta Freeman, ATL - $8,700 at TEN: Freeman has been shredding defenses all season and the Titans 5th worst run defense isn't going to stop him this week. Great matchup here as the Falcons should have a lead throughout the game which leans the offense even further towards the run.
RB - Todd Gurley, STL - $7,400 vs. CLE: It looks like Tre Mason will be sitting out week 7 so Todd Gurley will be getting a huge workload against the worst run defense in the NFL. Great price tag for the value here.
WR - Larry Fitzgerald, ARI - $7,800 vs. BAL: Old man receiver number 1 in our lineup has a great matchup against the 4th worst pass defense. Fitzgerald also should get a boost this week as it looks like John Brown will not be playing due to a hamstring injury.
WR - Steve Smith, BAL - $6,900 at ARI: Old man receiver number 2 in our lineup has a tough matchup against the Cardinals, but his high volume of targets will make up for it since Flacco has no one else to throw to.
WR - Eric Decker, NYJ - $6,200 at NE: Selecting Decker as a wide receiver stack to Fitzpatrick. The Patriots like to scheme against a the opposing teams best player which means that Brandon Marshall should draw the defenses attention away from Decker.
TE - Travis Kelce, KC - $6,000 vs. PIT: Kelce should continue to see an increase in targets after Jamaal Charles was injured and he may see even more this week as Jeremy Maclin still hasn't been cleared to play from a concussion he received last week.
K - Stephen Gostkowski, NE - $5,100 vs. NYJ: Rolling with the kicker that scores the most points.
DEF - Atlanta, ATL - $4,700 at TEN: Unfortunately the Broncos are on a bye this week but Atlanta draws a great matchup against a Titans team that giving up the most fantasy points to opposing defenses this year.
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- Written by David Biggs
Week 6 brought us tears of pain and of joy, depending on what side of the match-up you were on. When setting your lineup each week, it's important to have the very latest information and analysis in order to make the best possible decisions on any given Sunday. We're not 100% accurate (and neither is anyone else!) but we hope to guide you on your way to the playoffs, and from there onto sweet, sweet victory. So take these recommendations under advisement and add in your own gut feelings and fantasy knowledge. Go forth, and kick some ass!
Week 6 Quarterback Starts
Brian Hoyer (HOU) vs. MIA- Hoyer, you ask? Yeah, we're higher on him than most experts because of his efficiency so far this year (8 TDs with only 2 INTs) and how prolific his main target (DeAndre Hopkins) is on the football field. The Texans are also struggling with their defense in the first half of the season, forcing the offense to throw the ball downfield.
Week 6 Quarterback Sits
Matthew Stafford (DET) vs. MIN - Stafford killed it last week against a Bears' secondary that is questionable at best, but likely won't have the same success this week against a Vikings' pass defense that has only given up 6 TDs through the air.
Week 6 Running Back Starts
T.J. Yeldon (JAX) vs. BUF - Yeldon is just now coming back from a groin injury in week 5 and his return is not assured just yet, but it looks promising. The Bills have a great defense, but when Yeldon is healthy he has soaked up the majority of the touches at RB and this week should be no different.
Antonio Andrews (TEN) vs. ATL - Andrews is a risky RB2 or flex play this week, but he should still get around 10 touches including some goal line carries against an Atlanta defense that is allowing less than 80 yards per game on the ground, but has given up 10 TDs.
Week 6 Running Back Sits
Duke Johnson (CLE) vs. STL - In weeks 4 and 5, Duke was an unexpected asset to some fantasy teams (especially in PPR), but his lack of TDs and membership in a RBBC that includes Isaiah Crowell and Robert Turbin does not bode well for fantasy production in week 7. Add to that an opposing Rams' defense that has only given up 3 rushing TDs this season and the stars aren't exactly lining up for Johnson.
Ameer Abdullah (DET) vs. MIN - Last week may have been Abdullah's final chance for quite a while to prove himself as a bell-cow back for the Lions. Not that he won't have a part in the offense on a weekly basis, but another RBBC has started up in Detroit co-starring Theo Riddick and Joique Bell, whenever he can get healthy. Abdullah may have another chance to prove himself, but it won't be right away.
Week 6 Wide Receiver Starts
Tavon Austin (STL) vs. CLE - Austin has been lighting it up recently, and without many receiving options, the Rams are starting to look to him quite often. Unfortunately, he has yet to practice this week so keep your eyes peeled to any updates that come out before Sunday. Regardless, I'm continuing to start him as long as he's out there.
Vincent Jackson (TB) vs. WAS - Jackson has been a boom or bust receiver this season, really disappointing fantasy owners in his last start with only 1 catch for 14 yards in week 5 against the Jaguars. A lot of that can be explained by the run-first scheme that the Bucs used in that game, though, and I expect them to utilize Jackson much more this week.
Week 6 Wide Receiver Sits
Mike Evans (TB) vs. WAS - Evans was soooo good last year, but that was a different season and with a different QB. I'm certainly not suggesting to drop Evans just yet, but two weeks of sub-par stats and 0 TDs so far this season warrant a benching until he can figure it out. We're rooting for you, Mike, but not starting you until we see something good.
Week 6 Tight End Starts
Crockett Gillmore (BAL) vs. ARI - Gillmore is healthy again after missing a few weeks. The Ravens offense is just in shambles outside of Steve Smith, but Flacco loves a good dump-off target and Gillmore has has been averaging about 4 receptions per game. Conventional logic says to avoid playing TEs against an Arizona defense that has been exceptional against the position this year, but I have confidence that Flacco will need to slag the football over to Gillmore at least 4 or 5 times in week 7, which makes him a low-end TE1.
Week 6 Tight End Sits
Kyle Rudolph (MIN) vs. DET - Over the past 3 games, Rudolph has managed just 2 receptions per game for relatively few yards. He is only fantasy relevant, then, when he's able to score TDs (which is only 40% of the time, to this point). This TD dependence is not a good sign going forward and makes Rudolph a coin-flip kind of play.
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- Written by Shawn Foss
Welcome back to the Rookie Report! This season seems to get stranger by the week. What’s wrong with the Seahawks? What exactly constitutes a catch? Can the Saints get back in the NFC playoff picture? Is someone going to go undefeated?...I’m not going to talk about any of these things. Instead, I’ll dive into the breakout week of Stefon Diggs, the continued disappearing act of Melvin Gordon, and the health status of Matt Jones, TJ Yeldon, and Marcus Mariota, and also what you should do with your rookies for week 7. Let’s dig in….
Rookies to Start:
RB Todd Gurley, STL (Wk. 7: vs. Cle.): Gurley is the only rookie I can confidently recommend starting this week. He was a terror on opposing defenses for the last 2 games before the bye, and now he gets to face a Browns team that has allowed an NFL-high 789 rush yards to opposing RBs and the 4th most fantasy points per game to the position. Gurley will get the rock a ton, and has easy RB1 upside in a plus-plus matchup. Get him in there this week.
Borderline Rookies:
QB Marcus Mariota, TEN (Wk. 7: vs. Atl.): Mariota is confident that he will play this week, but I’m not. If he does suit up, I think he’s due for a bit of a turnaround game. The Falcons have allowed just a 7:6 TD:INT ratio for the season, but they’ve also allowed over a 65% completion percentage and over 295 passing yards per game on the season. I think he’ll find some success throwing against a Falcons’ team that hasn’t been quite as good as their 5-1 record would make you think. He should be a decent QB2 option if he plays, and a sleeper QB1 in really deep leagues. Several starting QBs have tough matchups or byes this week (Rodgers, Bradford, Dalton, Bortles, McCown, Kaep). I know they aren’t all big names, but all have been productive at points this year.
RB Melvin Gordon, OAK (Wk. 7: vs. Oak.): I'd lean toward sitting Gordon this week after he was benched for fumbling last week. He failed to break out against two bad run defenses in Cleveland and Green Bay this year, and this week he gets a decent one. The Raiders have allowed just 3 RB TDs all year, and 14.2 fantasy points per game. I'd expect the Chargers to go back to Gordon this week despite the benching, but there might not be much upside.
RB Duke Johnson, CLE (Wk. 7: @StL.): Duke remains an intriguing PPR option. The Rams have a strong defensive front vs. the run, but they've averaged giving up 6 catches and 55 receiving yards per game to opposing RBs. Johnson will remain very involved in the game plan and could be a really solid PPR flex play once again.
RB Matt Jones, WAS (Wk. 7: vs. TB): Keep an eye on Jones's health this week. This could be the most positive game script Jones has seen in weeks. Washington is a 3-point favorite, and Tampa is allowing 105 RB rush yards per game and have give up 4 rushing TDs. I think Washington will actually be able to establish the ground game this week, and I like Jones better than Alfred Morris as long as he's able to play.
WR Amari Cooper, OAK (Wk. 7: @SD): You are likely playing Cooper if you have him, but this is not a week to run him out there in DFS. He saw just 4 targets in a tough matchup with the Broncos before the bye, and this week he gets to tangle with Jason Verrett, who has yet to allow more than 2 completions in any game on passes thrown into his coverage. Number one receivers Calvin Johnson, AJ Green, Randall Cobb, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown have all failed to record 50 rec. yards and none had more than 3 catches against San Diego. That isn’t a fluke. I wouldn’t be optimistic for Amari in week 7.
WR Stefon Diggs, MIN (Wk. 7: @Det.): Diggs has done enough to warrant more work over the past 2 games. He may have surpassed Charles Johnson on the depth chart while CJ's been out with a rib injury. The Vikings' offense centers around AP running it, so the volume won't be consistent for Diggs, but the matchup this week is juicy. The Lions allow 15 catches and over 200 yards per week to WRs, and Diggs has been the most effective Viking WR this season. He's a better play if Johnson is out again, but still in the WR3 discussion even if Johnson plays.
WR Jamison Crowder, WAS (Wk. 7: vs. TB): DeSean Jackson is unlikely to play again this week, and Crowder has seen at least 6 targets in 4 straight games, and at least 8 in 3 straight. Jordan Reed seems likely to play this week, which could cut into Crowder's targets, but I'd still expect him to be good for at least 5 catches and is a decent PPR WR3 option. The Bucs allow the 5th most WR fantasy points per gm.
Rookies to Sit:
RB TJ Yeldon, JAX (Wk. 7: vs. Buf.): You might not have any better options with how thin the RB position has been this year, but this week doesn't set up well for TJ. He might not even play due to injury, and if he does play, he might be competing for touches with the now healthy Denard Robinson. Yeldon hasn't been very efficient with a lot of volume, and this week's matchup is tougher than it looks on paper. The Bills are middle of the road vs. opposing RBs, but they've held the opposition under 50 RB rush yards 3 times in 6 games. The Jaguars might make it 4 of 7. I'd steer clear of Yeldon if you can.
RB David Johnson, ARI (Wk. 7: vs. Bal.): Johnson finally showed what should happen when you only get 4 touches in a game. He had been scoring touchdowns weekly with very few touches, and this week it finally caught up with him as he turned his 4 touches into 17 scoreless yards. The Ravens have been stingy to opposing RBs, allowing just 14 ppg to them each week, and DJ still is fighting with CJ2K and Ellington for touches.
RB Tevin Coleman, ATL (Wk. 7: @Ten.): The matchup is better for Coleman than it looks on paper, but unless something happens to Devonta Freeman, the workload won’t be large enough for Coleman to be worth playing him. He did manage 40 yards on 4 carries last week, and he’s got home run potential, but to bank on him producing with single-digit touches would be a desperation play. Leave him benched.
RB Thomas Rawls, SEA (Wk. 7: @SF): Rawls got just one carry last week with Marshawn back at full strength. He’d be a threat to get more work if the Seahawks blow this game open, but the 49ers have been playing well in primetime games (win over MIN and last minute loss to NYG) and the Seahawks haven’t looked like themselves, blowing 4th quarter leads in all 4 of their losses this year. Don’t look for much work for Rawls in this one.
RB Karlos Williams, BUF (Wk. 7: @Jax.): It's unlikely that Williams plays yet again as he battles back from a concussion, and Shady McCoy re-established himself in week 6 with a big game. If Karlos is able to go, he'll likely see just a few change of pace carries unless it's a blowout, making him a TD dice roll. It's not a gamble I'd want to take. Editor's Note: Karlos Williams was removed from this list, since he didn't make the trip to London with his team.
RB Javorius Allen, BAL (Wk. 7: @Ari.): This is a tough matchup, and Forsett has emerged as the workhorse in the Ravens’ backfield again since Taliaferro went on the IR. Forsett has had 24 or more touches in each of the last 3 games while Allen has totaled 18 touches. Allen needs a Forsett injury to be relevant in most leagues.
WR Nelson Agholor, PHI (Wk. 7: @Car.): Agholor should be back from injury this week, but he gets a brutal matchup in the return. If he plays, he will likely see a bunch of Carolina’s top CB Josh Norman, who has been one of the league’s top cover guys thus far in 2015. Agholor hasn’t been lighting up the stat sheet in plus matchups. Why play him in a really bad one?
WR Devin Smith, NYJ (Wk. 7: @NE): After his inefficient performances in his first two games, Smith ran behind fellow rookie Quincy Enunwa in week 6 and saw zero targets. He’ll have to work his way back up to be an option in any leagues. Enunwa is also not worth starting this week.
WR Devin Funchess, CAR (Wk. 7: vs. Phi.): His volume increased in week 6, seeing a season-high 6 targets last week, but he did drop a couple of them and tallied just 2 catches. Until he develops some consistency, his targets won't increase much. Keep him sidelined again this week.
WR DeVante Parker, MIA (Wk. 7: vs. Hou.): Parker had zero targets in the Dolphins’ first game under interim coach Dan Campbell. I wouldn’t expect much to change for him this week in a tougher matchup.
WRs Keith Mumphery and Jaelen Strong, HOU (Wk. 7: @Mia.): With Cecil Shorts back last week, Mumph and Strong combined for just 5 targets against the Jaguars. They had twice that many with Shorts and Nate Washington both out the week before. Shorts will be out again this week, but Washington is expected back. With DeAndre Hopkins soaking up all the targets he can handle, there isn’t enough to go around to the 3rd and 4th WRs in the pecking order, even in a plus matchup.
TE Maxx Williams, BAL (Wk. 7: @Ari.): With Crockett Gillmore back from injury, Williams is an afterthought in the pass game. He has just 5 catches for 24 yards in the past 2 weeks. Leave him sitting.
Deep League Sleepers and Cheap DFS Options:
QB Jameis Winston, TB (Wk. 7: @Was.): Jameis's transition to the NFL hasn't exactly been smooth, but he may have some sneaky upside this week against a Washington defense that has allowed a 9:3 TD:INT ratio in 6 games. They've allowed less than 240 pass yards per game, but they haven't played with a ton of leads and teams aren't throwing on them late very often. There won't be many DBs in this matchup that can cover V-Jax or Mike Evans, and ASJ may return as well. This could be a good week to take a chance on Winston in a 2 QB league or as a DFS punt option.
RB Ameer Abdullah, DET (Wk. 7: vs. Min.): I think this is the week that the Lions get the run game going. It might be Joique Bell, it might be Abdullah. Ameer has had issues with fumbles this season, but the Lions did put him back in the game late vs. the Bears. For the season, the Vikings have allowed the 7th fewest points to opposing RBs, but that doesn't tell the whole story. At home, Minnesota has given up just 153 rush yards and zero TDs to RBS, but on the road they've allowed 335 yards and 3 TDs in 2 games, as well as 4.5 yards per rush on the season. I have a hunch that either Abdullah or Bell has a nice game, I'm just not sure which one.
WR Tyler Lockett, SEA (Wk. 7: @SF): San Francisco gives up heaps of fantasy points to opposing WRs, and the Seahawks don't have a WR who stands out as the obvious guy who will score them. That makes Lockett an interesting really cheap DFS option. He's always a threat to score a return TD, and someone on this team will score some points. Why not Lockett? Don't read much into the 2 targets he had last week. No Seahawk WR had more than 4 in that game, and Lockett had 5 in each of the two games before that. Is that a lot of volume? No, but if he gets 5 targets and takes a kick or punt to the house? DFS Gold.
That's all I've got for this week. Hopefully it helps you make some tough lineup decisions with some big bye weeks upon us. Feel free to hit me up on twitter if you want to say nice things or call me an idiot (@shawn_foss). As always, good luck, trust your gut, and have fun. It's just a game.
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- Written by Tad Bukowski
Another solid week as we draw closer to the midway point of the season.
If you’re like me, your fantasy season is pretty much shot, but at least we still have our confidence pool to give us…well…confidence for the rest of the season! (see what I did there?) No time to waste, another week is so close to kicking off!
Week 7 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!
(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)
14 – NEW ENGLAND over New York Jets – The Pats have been running roughshod over the entire league to this point. Add in the fact that they love beating up on the Jets and this could get ugly.
13 – ARIZONA over Baltimore – The Cardinals have hit a bit of a slow spot on their way to the playoffs but apparently a game against the Ravens is something that every team in the league looks forward to – just ask the 49ers.
12 – INDIANAPOLIS over New Orleans – It seems like Andrew Luck may have just needed a little time off to heal his shoulder. I am back on the bandwagon…until viciously thrown off again like I was last time.
11 – SAN DIEGO over Oakland – Phillip Rivers threw for over 500 yards last week in Green Bay. Against the Raiders secondary, there is a legit chance that Rivers might reach 800 yards…ish.
10 – CAROLINA over Philadelphia – The Panthers showed last week that they are no fluke with a win in Seattle. Look for them to continue their momentum to roll over another division leader.
9 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Dallas – No Romo and possibly still no Dez for the Cowboys means no chance of winning in Jersey.
8 – Seattle over SAN FRANCISCO – The week starts with what was one of the hottest rivalries in the league just a few years ago. Now, while the rivalry is still there, its to try and stay out of the basement of the division.
7 – ST LOUIS over Cleveland – Todd Gurley is legit and has shown that he was worth the top 10 pick the Rams used on him. Look for Gurley to continue running over the league this week.
6 – Atlanta over TENNESSEE – Speaking of running over the league, his name is Devonta Freeman.
5 – Buffalo over JACKSONVILLE (in London) – The league continues to shove the Jaguars down the throats of Europeans. This year it is the Bills that try to make Jacksonville stay across the pond.
4 – WASHINGTON over Tampa Bay – Bringing back an old gem for this one – the Skins will pull this out simply because they are the home team.
3 – KANSAS CITY over Pittsburgh – If Ben Roethlisberger returns for this game then flip this one around – the Steelers will win. But without him, the Chiefs will need to win this game and establish a new running game without Jamaal Charles. This week’s BOLD PREDICTION is that CHARCANDRICK WEST WILL HAVE THE FIRST 100 YARDS RUSHING GAME OF HIS CAREER. (even if it doesn’t happen, at least I still successfully typed Charcandrick)
2 – DETROIT over Minnesota – The Lions are off the schnide! No 0-16 season this year! One division win could provide the momentum needed to get another one.
1 – Houston over MIAMI – Two teams that have disappointed this year. Don’t let Miami’s big win last week fool you, it was against the Titans.
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- Written by Troy Maples
The waiver wire well runs shallow these days, but we are here to help. Don’t give up on the wire just because the gold is few and far between. Injuries are always a concern and bench depth is important. Stash those guys with upside this week. If you still holding out hope for those late round draft picks, then you have the room on your roster.
Quarterbacks
Blake Bortles, JAX – Second year quarterback Blake Bortles continues to have fantasy relevance. His last 2 weeks he’s thrown for 634 yards and 7 touchdowns. The downside continues to be his accuracy and interceptions. That being said Jacksonville will continue to rely on the passing game and that is only going to increase Blake Bortles’ fantasy value. He’s only owned in 44% of leagues.
Running Backs
Christine Michael, DAL – All reports coming out of Dallas suggests Christine Michael is going to start. He received first team reps on Monday and Joseph Randle has produced little. Some may want to wait for Michael to prove himself, but you’re smart to grab him this week. He has a great matchup against the New York Giants bottom third run defense coming off of a bye week. He’ll also be running behind one of the best offensive lines in football. He’s still available in 60% of leagues out there.
Charles Sims, TB – 2015 seems to be the year of the 3rd down back. Charles Sims is one of the more consistent guys out in that role. His hard work is paying off as he saw an increase in carries last week with 12 for 51 yards. As with all third down back fantasy plays his value resides in his pass catching abilities. Before the bye week Sims posted 85 yards on 4 catches. I am not gonna lie, he is a risky pick, but if you need a flex option Sims has consistency going for him right now. He’s only off the board in 25% of leagues.
Wide Receivers
Stefon Diggs, MIN – This is going to be the most added player by tomorrow morning when waivers clear. In his last two games Stefon Diggs has 13 catches on 19 targets for 206 yards. Mike Wallace is already comparing him to Antonio Brown. While I am not inclined to talk that confidently about Diggs, he certainly has proved enough to be owned in all formats. He has a great matchup this week against the Lions awful secondary.
Michael Floyd, ARI – Its late in the fantasy season and the waiver wire is getting slim. Michael Floyd is a good bet if you need some depth at wide receiver. He saw a season high 8 targets last game, catching 5 of them for 50 yards and a TD. Floyd is more of a stash pick at this point, but it's never bad to stash WR’s playing on elite offenses.
Tight Ends
Benjamin Watson, NO – I will be the first to admit that until last week, Benjamin Watson has done virtually nothing to be considered relevant in fantasy circles. That being said the Saints are struggling and Watson’s size is something familiar to Drew Brees. The last two weeks he has found the end zone. Last week he saw an incredible amount of targets and his best game yet. Optimism says he will settle somewhere in between there.
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers defense has been holding their own from a fantasy standpoint. Realistically any time a defense can earn you more than the 10 points they start with it’s a decent day. Pittsburgh has done that in their last four games. They have a good matchup this week against Kansas City without Jamaal Charles.
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- Written by David Biggs
Around the NFL
Injuries:
Tyrod Taylor (BUF) – missed week 6 with an MCL sprain. Not guaranteed to start in week 7 but as he almost started last week according to some sources, he should be back soon. With both Percy Harvin (hip, may be out for a significant period of time) and Sammy Watkins (ankle sprain, could play next week but it’s an early game in London) possibly out, Taylor is in trouble even if he gets back on the field this week.
Emmanuel Sanders (DEN) – we started the season under the impression that Sanders’ role would diminish a little in the Broncos offense, but he has been performing at a high level this year, and is the 5th most targeted wide receivers, with 65 targets in 2015. Unfortunately, he sprained his AC joint last week, which can be a lingering injury. Thankfully, the Broncos have a bye in week 7 and we’ll have to wait and see if Sanders can get healthy leading up to week 8.
Marcus Mariota (TEN) – a grade 2 MCL injury could have Mariota sidelined for up to 3-4 weeks, so it’s very unlikely that he starts this week. Zach Mettenberger may be the Titans’ QB for a little while. If so, that doesn’t really hurt Kendall Wright and Delanie Walker.
Jeremy Maclin (KC) – A nasty looking hit resulted in a concussion for Maclin, and he is currently moving through the league’s protocol. After the loss of star RB Jamaal Charles for the season, the Chiefs may choose to play it safe and hold Maclin out a week. Make sure to watch for updates on this.
Top Performers for Week 6
QB - Matthew Stafford 405 Passing Yards, 4 Passing TD's, 37 Rushing Yards, 1 INT, 33 Fantasy Points
QB - Philip Rivers 503 Passing Yards, 2 TD's, 28 Fantasy Points
QB - Andrew Luck 312 Passing Yards, 3 Passing TD's, 35 Rushing Yards, 27 Fantasy Points
RB - Devonta Freeman 13 Carries for 100 Yards, 8 Catches for 56 Yards, 2 Total TD's, 27 Fantasy Points
RB - Chris Ivory 20 Carries for 146 Yards and 1 TD, 3 Catches for 50 Yards, 25 Fantasy Points
RB - James Starks 10 Carries for 112 Yards, 1 Catches for 5 Yards, 2 Total TD's 23 Fantasy Points
WR - DeAndre Hopkins 15 Targets, 10 Receptions for 148 Yards and 2 TD's, 26 Fantasy Points
WR - Martavis Bryant 8 Targets, 6 Receptions for 137 Yards and 2 TD's, 25 Fantasy Points
WR - Calvin Johnson 9 Targets, 6 Receptions for 166 Yards and 1 TD, 22 Fantasy Points
TE - Greg Olsen 11 Targets, 7 Receptions for 131 Yards and 1 TD, 19 Fantasy Points
TE - Benjamin Watson 12 Targets, 10 Receptions for 127 Yards and 1 TD, 18 Fantasy Points
TE - Gary Barnidge 9 Targets, 3 Receptions for 39 Yards and 2 TD's, 15 Fantasy Points
Player Transaction Trends (Yahoo)
ADD – Blake Bortles, 13k leagues. Duh! Surprised to see he was still not owned in so many leagues.. even against BUF this week, Bortles should perform well.
DROP – Sam Bradford, 9k leagues. Bradford is our QB, says Chip Kelly. Well, things are improving slowly over there but Bradford’s performance is still sub-par.
ADD – Stefon Diggs, 24k leagues. Wow, looks like a breakout here.. 19 targets for over 200 yards in the last 2 games.
ADD – Brandon LaFell, 9k leagues. Will he play this week? That’s up for grabs.. but if he does he’ll immediately be a WR2 and a stud in PPR.
ADD – Christine Michael, 12k leagues. So many sources close to the team are saying that Michael will get his chance this next few weeks to show he can be the starter in Dallas.
DROP – Charcandrick West, 10k leagues. Whoops. Looks like Jamaal Charles can’t be replaced so easily. A committee will likely form in KC.
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- Written by Jason Evans
We've reached the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season, so how are things going for your team? That bad? Well, I'm hurting too, but there's still plenty of time left. Remember, you just need to make the playoffs! There are not many good waiver wire prospects this week, perhaps due to a rather healthy week 6 around the NFL. This week, we do need to contend with three undefeated teams on bye, the Bengals, Broncos, and Packers. The Bears are also on bye, though there's fewer fantasy implications with them being off.
If you're in need of a spot starter this week, look no further than Brian Hoyer, who is playing very well since resuming QB duties in Houston - plus he'll just throw the ball the DeAndre Hopkins all day long. Don't fall into the Matthew Stafford trap, he's only had one good week - that was against the Bears who give up the 5th most fantasy points to opposing QB's. The Vikings, on the other hand, are giving up the 28th most. Look for the Lions to look more like the bumbling team they have been all year.
Antonio Andrews seems to be one of the only decent options at RB in Tennessee this week, and will a full game of carries, could wind up as a legit RB2. Meanwhile, Alfred Morris just can't get anything going. Even with the absence of Matt Jones, Morris only had 11 carries for 21 yards. Despite a favorable matchup against Tampa, you should sit Alfred Morris this week.
Travis Benjamin, who is inexplicably not owned in 18% of Yahoo leagues, has the 5th most fantasy points among WR's. Benjamin should be starting EVERY week, but I just wanted to take this opportunity that point out that, yet again, we have him ranked much higher than the crowd. Mike Evans, on the other hand, you have my permission to bench. His best game this year is a measly 10.1 points, and the Tampa offense has left a lot to be desired. Start him if you're short on players, but if you're choosing between Evans and someone else, go with whoever else that may be.
Ladarius Green is a guy that could provide you with a streaming or bye week fill-in for week 7. The Chargers seem to be using lots of two tight end sets, especially with all their injuries at WR. Additionally, the Raiders are giving up the most points to opposing TE's, so Green definitely has a respectable floor, and a good ceiling for someone who is only 27% owned in Yahoo leagues.
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- Written by Jason Evans
Dion Lewis has exploded onto the fantasy scene as the newest versatile running back on the Patriots. There always seems to be room for a guy who can run and catch on the New England offense, and this year, it's Lewis's turn to give it a go. Thus far, Lewis has averaged almost 15 touches per game, not having fewer than 13 in any game. He's in the top 10 of fantasy scoring for RB's, and he's played fewer games that everyone except Adrian Peterson and Le'Veon Bell....not bad company.
Lewis was drafted by the Eagles in 2011 in the 5th round. Though he had played well in college, he had to take a back seat to a dominant LeSean McCoy. Lewis is definitely undersized for the NFL, checking in at only 5'8", 195lbs. This has never really been a problem for the Patriots, as they've had a few good ones recently, like Kevin Faulk and Danny Woodhead.
So, how does Lewis shape up for the rest of the season? Well, he's currently sharing backfield duties with LeGarrette Blount. Blount has 19, then 13 touches in his two games this year. The only danger in Blount and Lewis not at least splitting touches comes whenever the Patriots are blowing out their opponent and they just go with Blount all game. Lewis winds up with a decently high floor every game since he catches passes out of the back field and can line up as a wide receiver. He has 23 receptions in only 4 games, which will continue because Tom Brady knows how to get the ball to his backs.
Lewis should be a safe play most of the remainder of the season, and I'm predicting right now that he finishes in the top 10 RB's in standard leagues. That's pretty good for a guy who was the 59th ranked RB in the preseason on FantasyPros, and had an ADP that was way lower than that. It looks like Dion Lewis is the lucky waiver pickup of the early part of the season.
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- Written by Jim Hutchins
Well we are 5 weeks into gambling season, and results have been bleak. All we can do is forget the past and use that second mortgage wisely going forward to hit the jackpot! This week we are going with a QB/WR stack with two of the top dogs this year, making a play based on historical precedence and otherwise taking value where available. Good luck Gamblers!
QB - Andy Dalton, CIN - $7,600 at BUF: Dalton is averaging over 300 yards and 2 TDs per game so far this year and he is matched up against one of the worst pass defenses in the league in week 6. Great play for a decent price.
RB - Arian Foster, HOU - $8,500 at JAC: It looks like Foster is finally healthy and gets a tasty match up against a Jaguars team that just allowed Doug Martin to run all over them while scoring 3 TDs in the process.
RB - LeGarrette Blount, NE - $6,500 at IND: Looking back on recent Patriots and Colts games there seems to be one constant and that is Blount putting up monster performances. The stars seem aligned on this one as Dion Lewis popped up on the injury report mid-week and is questionable to play which would put Blount in line for more touches.
WR - A.J. Green, CIN - $8,100 at BUF: Stack play with Dalton to raise the point ceiling using one of the best receivers in the league.
WR - Emmanuel Sanders, DEN - $7,900 at CLE: Not sure what's going on with the Denver offense, but with Demaryius Thomas bunged up and a non-existent running game I like the odds of Sanders coming away with a big game.
WR - Kendall Wright, TEN - $5,800 vs. MIA: Wright recently expressed frustration with his involvement in the offense which should be well received as he is the best play maker they have. Look for big play potential here as the Dolphins are allowing the 4th worst average yards per reception in the league.
TE - Antonio Gates, SD - $5,500 at GB: Gates was dominant in his first game back from suspension posting over 90 yards and 2 TDs. San Diego will need to score to keep up with the Packers which means he should get plenty of opportunity to score.
K - Stephen Gostkowski, NE - $5,100 at IND: Rolling with the kicker that scores the most points week in and week out.
DEF - Broncos, DEN - $5,000 at CLE: Decent match up for a white hot defense.
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- Written by David Biggs
Marching right along to Week 6, aren't we? Here are some starts and sits to keep in mind for this week's games. Do you have any specific questions? Feel free to leave a comment or email me directly at
Week 6 Quarterback Starts
Josh McCown (CLE) vs. DEN - McCown has been throwing the ball a crazy amount of times each game and that looks to continue this week. Can we trust newcomers to fantasy football relevancy like Travis Benjamin and Gary Barnidge? For as long as they are putting up points, of course we can! Denver has a great defense this year, but McCown will still need to sling the football around in order to give Cleveland a chance in this game. At the time this column was written, McCown was our #11 QB for Week 5. That makes him a great bye-week fill in or even a low end starter.
Week 6 Quarterback Sits
Andrew Luck (IND) vs. NE - Yes, we know that he is Andrew Luck. Lots of experts are very high on him this week. Our advice is to let him sit for one more week and throw in whatever replacement that you were previously using, if possible. The Colts offensive line still looks as bad as it did early on in the season and Luck will be under pressure from a good New England defense during this match-up. Classic recipe for a disappointing performance.
Week 6 Running Back Starts
Danny Woodhead (SD) vs. GB - Woodhead lost a few snaps to Melvin Gordon last week against the Steelers, but continues to show that he is productive every time he touches the football. Gordon looked better, but still not as good as Woodhead when catching the ball in the backfield and operating on 3rd downs in general. Expect Woodhead to have more opportunities in a game against the Packers where they are likely to be playing from behind.
Ryan Mathews (PHI) vs. NYG - Mathews had 73 yards and 1 TD on just 8 carries in last week's game against the Saints. He also added on a few receptions to that total. Chip Kelly is starting to realize that using Mathews and Murray as more of a tandem (and ceding goal-line carries to Mathews) may end up being a better offensive strategy. Look for more of the same for Mathews this week from a Giants defense giving up 17+ points per game to Running Backs.
Week 6 Running Back Sits
Ronnie Hillman (DEN) vs. CLE - For some reason, Hillman keeps popping up on RB rankings in the top 25. He simply does not get enough opportunities to be treated as an every week RB2 or flex start. Add to that a hamstring tweak from last week and the Broncos' offensive woes in general. Nope.
Alfred Morris (WAS) vs. NYJ - Morris used to dominate all short yardage and goal-line work for the Redskins. The only way he was fantasy relevant was by compiling the majority of carries in any given match-up. Now that he has been joined by two other touch-hungry running backs (Matt Jones and Chris Thompson) in the backfield, this is a full-blown RBBC and it will be difficult to every play Alfred Morris again in a starting role.
Week 6 Wide Receiver Starts
Torrey Smith (SF) vs. BAL - Here's a bold one.. I've seen Torrey Smith out on some waiver wires already this year - and while I don't entirely disagree with that move based on Smith's boom or bust way of playing lately, I'm looking at Smith to perform at a high level this week against the dismal Ravens' secondary. WR2 numbers, maybe? At least 80 yards and a TD will be on Smith's stat sheet after week 6.
Mike Wallace (MIN) vs. KC - Wallace is developing some chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater in a time that really calls for some passing plays downfield. The Vikings are starting to realize that they need to throw more in order to balance their offense, and Wallace is becoming the go-to guy in Minnesota. Originally we thought it would be Charles Johnson after some great performances down the stretch in 2014, but injuries have put a damper on his production so far this year. The Titans are giving up almost 20 points a game to opposing WRs - expect Wallace to get most of that.
Week 6 Wide Receiver Sits
Donte Moncrief (IND) vs. NE - Assuming that T.Y. Hilton plays, he should continue to sop up the most targets from Andrew Luck, but I'm looking at the mid-season resurgence of Andre Johnson as the Colts' WR2. After gaining more self confidence in last week's 'grudge match' against his former team, Johnson should continue to perform at a high level. Also, the addition of Ahmad Bradshaw in passing downs should give Luck a great target to dish the football off to when being pressures. Don't get me wrong, I like Moncrief - but he'll have less opportunities than he previously found himself with.
Week 6 Tight End Starts
Ladarius Green (SD) vs. GB - Even though Antonio Gates is back on the warpath, the Chargers are using Ladarius Green fairly heavily throughout the game. Makes sense, considering their other passing options have not been performing up to their expected potential. We should see Green out there by himself as well as in two tight end sets along with Gates. I expect high-end TE2 production for the foreseeable future.
Week 6 Tight End Sits
Zach Ertz (PHI) vs. NYG - Ertz stepped up last week against the Saints, but still has no touchdowns and has been generally disappointing so far in 2015. Some of that can be blamed on the performance of the offense in general, but remember that the Eagles are still splitting snaps between Ertz and Celek. In what could be a tight game between the Eagles and Giants, I think we'll see a lot of Celek because of his skill at blocking. It's all about opportunities, people!