We are now done with 5 weeks of the 2016 NFL season & you’re either content where you’re fantasy football team is at or you’re panicking, staying up all night for waiver pick ups or looking for trades to make. The sooner you realize that fantasy football isn’t just a game but a lifestyle the sooner you’re going to be successful. Fun fact: Did you know the Vikings defense is 10th in fantasy scoring? They are outscoring the likes of Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, & Drew Brees. In this article I’ll be letting you know what players I believe are due for a big week & which ones I’d pass on starting. My opinions on who to start/sit are completely based on PPR scoring.
Top 3 Performers From Last Week:
Ben Roethlisberger: 37 Fantasy Points
Marcus Mariota: 36 Fantasy Points
Tom Brady: 35 Fantasy Points
QBs to start in Week 6:
Brian Hoyer (vs. Jaguars): What in the heck happened to the completely garbage Brian Hoyer we saw in the Wild Card game last year? He seems like a new QB in Chicago throwing for 1,016 yards, 6 touchdowns & no interceptions in the 3 games he’s started while Jay Cutler’s been hurt. I don’t see how Chicago goes back to Cutler unless Hoyer gets hurt cause Hoyer looks like an actual serviceable QB unlike someone (I won’t totally call out Cutler like Martellus Bennett did but come on Cutler is awful). This week Hoyer plays the Jaguars who have allowed the 7th most fantasy points to opposing QBs. You can count me in on the Hoyer train after he was the 5th best fantasy QB in Week 5 with 27 points.
Russell Wilson (vs. Falcons): While being hurt in Week 4 Wilson was able to put up 30 fantasy points against the Jets before the Seahawks bye week in Week 5. Hopefully over the bye week the Seahawks figured out a way to protect him better because he’s been running for his life so far this season. This week Wilson matches up against the Falcons who have allowed 14 TDs through the air already which is the worst in the NFL. I love Wilson this week especially when you throw in the fact it looks like Jimmy Graham is healthy.
Marcus Mariota (vs. Browns): This decision is purely on Mariota’s matchup this week. Mariota had his best week in fantasy in Week 5 scoring 36 fantasy points against the struggling Miami Dolphins. I see another big outing for Mariota against the Browns who have given up the 5th most fantasy points to opposing QBs. I like Mariota as a streaming option this week if you have a guy like Jameis Winston as your QB or if your QB has a bad matchup this week (look at my sits for QBs you may want to sit for Mariota this week).
My Star QB of the Week: Ben Roethlisberger (vs. Dolphins): This is the 2nd week in a row I have him here & it’s for good reasons. One is the Dolphins secondary is full of young guys who are unproven & who have struggled mightily the past few weeks. Second, he has an arsenal of weapons to use with Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, & the emerging Sammie Coates. Third, he’s coming off a 37 point performance in Week 5 against the Jets need I say more?
Under the Radar QB: Alex Smith (vs. Raiders): Well this is awkward. I’m telling you to start Alex Smith. In fantasy football. I hope I don’t have to say to start him again this season cause it doesn’t feel right while I’m typing this. With all that said his matchup this week works in his favor playing against a Raiders defense that has given up the 3rd most points to QBs & have allowed 12 touchdowns through the air. Only play Smith if you absolutely have to because as we all know Smith can under perform when he’s supposed to have a good game.
QBs to sit in Week 6:
Matt Ryan (vs. Seahawks): I know I said Ryan would struggle against the Broncos in Week 5 but who didn’t say he would? In Week 6 Ryan has another tough matchup against a Seahawks defense that has only allowed 1 passing touchdown all season & are the best defense against QBs allowing an average of just 8.8 fantasy points a game. Seahawks are also coming off a bye so they had an extra week to prepare for the Falcons offense.
Kirk Cousins (vs. Eagles): The Eagles allowed Matthew Stafford to get 24 fantasy points in Week 5 but Stafford is a better QB than Cousins & this Eagles defense is still pretty solid. The Eagles defense have only given up 3 passing touchdowns this season which all came in Week 5 & have 14 sacks this season which is 5th best in the league. I see Cousins having a rough day throwing the ball especially while under pressure.
RBs to start in Week 6:
C.J Anderson (vs. Chargers): I know Anderson is a RB everyone believes they should be giving up on & selling low but I see a big week from Anderson this week. Anderson is going up against a Chargers defense that have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing RBs & Trevor Siemian is playing hurt this game so I see a huge workload in store for C.J Anderson.
Lamar Miller (vs. Colts): Miller is another RB that is everyone is worrying about but if there’s a week you want to start him it’s this week. Miller has only scored a total of 16 points the last 2 weeks but this week he plays a Colts defense that allows an average of 22.4 points to opposing RBs. Miller has yet to score a touchdown this season but I see at least 1 coming on Sunday. Stick with Miller as a RB1 this week.
Christine Michael (vs. Falcons): The Seahawks were expecting Thomas Rawls to be their featured back this season but with Rawls being injured, Michael has stepped in & has performed pretty well. Michael in the 2 weeks he’s started has put up 43 points & the Seahawks love him. I see a nice performance for Michael against a Falcons defense that’s given up the 10th most fantasy points to opposing RBs. I like Michael as a RB1 this week.
My Star RB of the Week: LeSean McCoy (vs. 49ers): McCoy is coming off a 150 yard, 17 point performance in Week 5 against the Rams. McCoy is still one of the best running backs in the NFL & he will be playing against the coach who traded him in Philly in Chip Kelly. You don’t think that’ll be in the back of his mind in this game? I see a motivated McCoy having a huge day against a 49ers defense that has given up the 7th most fantasy points to opposing RBs.
Under the Radar RB: Theo Riddick (vs. Rams): Riddick is strictly a PPR play since most of his touches come in the passing game. With the Lions they don’t have a definitive RB that is carrying the workload although they signed Justin Forsett but I see the Lions using the short passing game as a running game & the recipient of those passes will be Theo Riddick. The Rams defense is a middle of the pack defense giving up the 15th most fantasy points to opposing RBs but that doesn’t stop me from starting Riddick as a RB2 or flex this week.
RBs to sit in Week 6:
Eddie Lacy (vs. Cowboys): I thought someone said Lacy lost weight this offseason? No offense but I don’t see it. It looked like Lacy had such a promising breakout game on Sunday night against the Giants but it got cut short with an ankle injury. With Lacy being hurt & an unfavorable matchup I don’t like him this week. The Cowboys have given up the 9th least points to opposing RBs & I don’t see Packers having much success on Sunday.
Isaiah Crowell (vs. Titans): Crowell is surprisingly the 10th leading RB in fantasy this season on a Browns team that doesn’t have much to look forward to. Crowell has had 2 20+ scoring weeks but this week he goes up against a stout Titans run defense that has only given up 60 points to opposing RBs this season. I don’t like Crowell this week but if you absolutely have to start him then I’d have him as a low RB2 or flex play.
WRs to start in Week 6:
Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. Ravens): Am I putting him here because I just traded for him & I’m playing against the person who traded him to me? Maybe. Odell is coming off a 16 point performance against the Packers where he had an amazing toe tapping catch in the back of the endzone for his 1st touchdown of the season. I see Odell going no where but up the rest of the season & this week he plays the Ravens who have given up the 6th most fantasy points to opposing WRs.
Julian Edelman (vs. Bengals): Brady’s back right? I was expecting a huge week from Edelman in Week 5 but he came out with just 5 catches for 35 yards. Edelman has yet to score a touchdown this season but I believe he’s due for one on Sunday against the Bengals. The Bengals have surrendered the 9th most fantasy points to opposing WRs & Edelman has had the whole week to ask his best friend Tom Brady “Hey can I get one of those touchdowns this week?”
Marvin Jones (vs. Rams): Marvin Jones is the 7th leading WR in fantasy this season (Bengals really could use this guy back). Jones is in a pass heavy offense under Jim Bob Cooter & the Lions don’t have much of a running game anyways. This week the Lions take on the Rams who are most likely going to be without their starting CB in Trumaine Johnson so I could see a big day for Jones this week.
My Star WR of the Week: Antonio Brown (vs. Dolphins): Wow, I really went out on a limb on this one huh? Brown has Roethlisberger as his QB against a Dolphins team that seems to falling apart & has a decimated secondary. The Dolphins have given up the 4th most fantasy points to opposing WRs. I expect a field day for Brown in this game.
Under the Radar WR: Jeremy Maclin (vs. Raiders): I know it’s tough to feel confident in anyone who has Alex Smith throwing them the ball but it seems like Raiders are always in shootouts this year so this might be the week to feel confident. Maclin has had a sub par year so far only getting 1 touchdown which came in Week 1. The Raiders defense has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing WRs so maybe this a breakout week for Maclin.
WRs to sit in Week 6:
All Chargers WRs (vs. Broncos): I do not trust any of the Chargers WRs this week against the Broncos. Yes, I know the Broncos looked unlike themselves in Week 5 but they still shut down Julio Jones to 2 catches for 29 yards & Mohamed Sanu to 3 catches for 43 yards. I see a Broncos defense looking to shut people up completely shutting down the Chargers offense this week.
Alshon Jeffery (vs. Jaguars): Do I even need to explain my reasoning here? Jeffery has been disappointing this season & has yet to score a touchdown. It seems like him & Brian Hoyer either hate each other or have yet to meet because Alshon has been rarely targeted. I mean Cameron Meredith stepped in for Kevin White & look what he did! He scores 26 fantasy points. In his first week starting. He caught a touchdown. Not Alshon Jeffery. Should I keep going?
TEs to start in Week 6:
Jimmy Graham (vs. Falcons): Jimmy Graham finally looks healthy & has looked comfortable in this offense so far. Graham has scored 37 fantasy points the last 2 games he’s played (Seahawks had a bye in Week 5). Graham is going up against a Falcons team he used to see twice a year on the Saints & a Falcons defense that has allowed the 2nd most fantasy points to TEs so I expect a big week again for Graham.
Travis Kelce (vs. Raiders): I said to start Alex Smith & Jeremy Maclin so why not start Kelce too right? Right. Again it’s a favorable matchup because the Raiders have had shootouts every week no matter who they play. The Raiders have also given up the 6th most points to opposing TEs so that also works in Kelce’s favor.
My Star TE of the Week: Delanie Walker (vs. Browns): Walker is the number 1 target on a team that has a mediocre passing game. But this week the Titans play the Browns and who doesn’t like playing the Browns? No one. Walker is always a must play at TE & I see a big week this week after his 17 point performance in Week 5.
Under the Radar TE: Jesse James (vs. Dolphins): If you could start the Steelers offensive line in this game I’d say do that too. I love everyone in this Steelers offense against the pitiful Dolphins who seem like arguably the worst team in the NFL. I like James as a streaming option this week for a TE that’s on a bye or has a bad matchup.
TEs to sit in Week 6:
Jacob Tamme (vs. Seahawks): Remember when Tamme was the leading WR on this Falcons team? Yeah me neither. Tamme started fast having 29 points in the first 2 weeks but since then has completely fallen of scoring just 14 points in the last 3 weeks. It doesn’t help Tamme plays the Seahawks this week either who have allowed just 8 points to opposing TEs all year.
Antonio Gates (vs. Broncos): Gates came back from injury in Week 5 & caught a touchdown but that was against the Raiders defense not the Broncos. He’s also sharing targets with fellow rookie TE Hunter Henry so I don’t like the idea of starting him this week. The Broncos defense has yet to give up a touchdown to an opposing TE this season & I don’t see that changing.
DEF/STs to start in Week 6:
Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Dolphins): Wow what a surprise another Steeler to start this week. The Dolphins offense looks like a high school level offense with a QB that’s just playing because his dad’s the coach. I’ve given Tannehill the benefit of the doubt but now I’ve finally started to doubt him like everyone else has. I see a mediocre Steelers defense having a fun day harassing the Dolphins.
Tennessee Titans (vs. Browns): This decision is strictly based on their matchup. I would not advise starting the Titans defense the rest of the season. I would advise however to start the defense that’s playing against the Browns every week. The Browns are still rolling with rookie Cody Kessler at QB who’s struggled in his first couple starts. There’s talent on this Browns offense with Isaiah Crowell & Terrelle Pryor but it’s hard to see what they are fully capable of on the Browns.
DEF/STs to sit in Week 6:
Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Patriots): It looks like the struggling Bengals are next in line in the “Tom Brady vs. the NFL” tour. The Patriots might’ve played the Browns but they did what most expected them to do in Tom Brady’s debut this season; they dominated. Brady threw for 406 yards & 3 touchdowns & the Patriots look unstoppable with their 2 headed monster at TE with Gronk & Martellus Bennett & then you add Edelman, Amendola, Hogan, James White, & Blount. Did I forget anyone? I probably did because they have a multitude of weapons on offense. I want no parts of any defense that plays the Patriots.
Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Raiders): The Chiefs are going against the Raiders this week & the Raiders are one of the best passing offenses in the NFL with Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, & Michael Crabtree. The Chiefs defense has allowed 23 points a game & I see the Raiders putting up 30+ in this game so I don’t see many fantasy points to be had for the Kansas City defense.
