Week 6: Start 'Em/Sit 'Em
QUARTERBACK - START 'EM:
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (Home vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Ryan struggled In Week 5 as the Steelers were able to generate pass-rush pressure on almost one-third of Ryan's drop-backs which caused his fantasy day to be a nightmare. We don’t expect to see that happen again this week against a Tampa Bay defense that ranks last in defense DVOA and next-to-last in pass-pressure rate. Matt Ryan is a must-start.
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (Home vs Pittsburgh Steelers)
We like Dalton as another bounce-back candidate after he was held to a measly 12 points by the Dolphins defense in Week 5. Andy Dalton has a very favorable matchup against a Steelers defense that’s given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Add a healthy Joe Mixon to the mix and the Bengals are looking good this week.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (Away at New York Jets)
Andrew Luck is on pace to throw NFL-record 784 passes this season for the Colts' checkdown-centric offense. With that much volume it’s hard to ignore Andrew Luck as a fantasy starter every single week, even in a potentially tough matchup against a 6th ranked Jets defense DVOA. If Case Keenum can put up over 350 on the Jets, imagine what Luck can do.
*Week 6 QB Sleepers*
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Away at Atlanta Falcons): There couldn’t have been much of a worse scenario for Winston to return to action than in the middle of the game against the best defense in the NFL. Predictably, Jameis struggled, but a matchup against an injury-riddled Falcons secondary could be exactly what he needs for a bounce back game. Also, there’s a good chance he’s available as he’s only rostered in 33% of leagues!
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (Away at Oakland Raiders): Wilson had a much more impressive fantasy week than we expected in Week 5 against a tough Rams defense. Even though the Seahawks are on the road in Week 6 this matchup is much friendlier as the Raiders' have a league-worst pass-pressure rate. Wilson should have lots of time to make plays so we’re expecting the veteran to take advantage.
QUARTERBACK - SIT 'EM:
Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins (Home vs Chicago Bears)
Tannehill has been pretty miserable so far this season ranking 29th in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks. Things don’t get much easier this week either as the Dolphins get a visit from a Bears team that ranks 1st in defense DVOA and has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Avoid Tannehill at all costs!
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee TItans (Home vs Baltimore Ravens)
Mariota had an abysmal Week 5 in which he threw for 129 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception netting him only 4.2 fantasy points. We don’t think he’ll have that bad of a performance again, but we certainly wouldn’t start him against a stout Ravens coming off a tough loss. Expect the Ravens to take out all their frustrations on Mariota and the Titans.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (Home vs Jacksonville Jaguars)
Prescott hasn’t hit 20 fantasy points all season long and we really don’t expect the first time he hits that mark to be against a suffocating Jaguars defense. Dak is ranked 25th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring while the Jacksonville boasts the 3rd best defense DVOA. Prescott and the Cowboys are in for another tough week.
RUNNING BACK - START 'EM:
Marshawn Lynch, Oakland Raiders (Home vs Seattle Seahawks)
You better believe Lynch will have revenge on his mind in his reunion with the Seahawks. Marshawn is averaging a hefty 17.8 touches per game and the Seattle defense that has allowed nearly 23 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in the last three games. Beast Mode will be activated on Sunday and you should take advantage.
T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars (Away at Dallas Cowboys)
We're going with Yeldon again this week as Leonard Fournette will be sidelined with an injury once again. Dallas definitely doesn't have the worst defense, but they gave up 20 points to Alfred Blue in Week 5. A full workload for Yeldon means he's a must start, especially in PPR leagues.
Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons (Home vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Coleman is another great fantasy option if Devonta Freeman is unable to play this weekend. Freeman missed practice Tuesday and Wednesday so his status isn't looking positive for their home matchup against Tampa Bay. The Bucs are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2018 so look for Coleman to produce in a high scoring game.
*Week 6 RB Sleepers*
Sony Michel, New England Patriots (Home vs Kansas City Chiefs):
New England has a juicy matchup at home this week against one of the league's worst defenses. We're hoping that Michel will be able to take advantage of a potentially high scoring game and find the end-zone at least once.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks (Away at Oakland Raiders):
Carson returned from a hip injury last week and posted 119 yards rushing on 19 carries, he could be set for a big game this week in Oakland as Seattle will try to establish the run early. Also, the Raiders have given up the 7th most fantasy points to opposing rushers in 2018.
RUNNING BACK - SIT 'EM:
Alex Collins, Baltimore Ravens (Away at Tennessee Titans)
Alex Collins has been a major disappointment to fantasy owners this season, in fact, Javorius Allen actually leads all Ravens backs in snaps and touches. Also, the Titans are allowing the fifth-fewest points to opposing running backs so we suggest sitting Collins this week.
Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins (Home vs Chicago Bears)
Drake has found his role in the Dolphins offense slowly dwindle as he's seen only 11 carries in the last three games. This should be very alarming for fantasy users especially as the Dolphins are facing the toughest defense in the league. The Bears are giving up the least amount of points to opposing running backs and have yet to let up a rushing touchdown this season.
Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins (Home vs Carolina Panthers)
Peterson is expected to play even though he suffered a shoulder injury in Week 5. At 33 it's hard to trust him at less than 100 percent as nagging injuries could become a problem. To make matters worse, the Panthers have given up the 6th least rushing yards in the NFL this season. We don't think Peterson is worth the risk this week.
WIDE RECEIVERS - START 'EM:
Julian Edelman, New England Patriots (Home vs Kansas City Chiefs)
Edelman picked up right where he left of in his first game back from a four week suspension. He went straight back to being Tom Brady's top target and we expect an even bigger week from the diminutive receiver as the Chiefs come to town. We like Edelman for 100 yards and at least one touchdown!
Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (Home vs Pittsburgh Steelers)
We had Tyler Boyd as a start last week, but he was a major disappointment against a surpassingly tough Dolphins defense. This week, however, the Bengals have a much more favorable matchup against a Pittsburgh defense that resembles anything but a Steel Curtain. The Steelers rank 29th in pass yards allowed and give up the fourth most fantasy points to slot receivers, where Boyd sees a majority of his time. Give Boyd another shot in what should be a high-scoring game!
Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta Falcons (Home vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Sanu is on the best fantasy streak of his career, ranking 15th in wide receiver fantasy points over the past three weeks. We like that to continue again this week as the Flacons take on a very generous Buccaneer/s defense that's allowed the most yards, touchdowns, and PPR points to slot revivers which is where Sanu plays 75% of his snaps.
*Week 6 WR Sleepers*
Chester Rodgers, Indianapolis Colts (Away at New York Jets): Rodgers has been targeted a ridiculous 22 times over the last two games with T.Y. Hilton out of the lineup. Hilton is out again this week and we think Rodgers gets hit first touchdown.
Josh Gordon, New England Patriots (Home vs Kansas City Chiefs): It's hard not to love Gordon's boom potential at home against a bad Chiefs defense. The potential for a two score 200 yard game is here, don't be shocked if he breaks out this week.
WIDE RECEIVERS - SIT 'EM:
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars (Away at Dallas Cowboys)
It's hard to trust Keelan Cole and the Jaguars passing game with Blake Bortles under center, especially as Cole will be seeing a lot of cornerback Byron Jones who has yet to let up a touchdown this season. We would avoid any player on the Jaguars not named T.J. Yeldon.
Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears (Away at Miami Dolphins)
We were a little concerned when the Bears blew out the Buccaneers and Allen Robinson only got four targets. He did convert one of those targets into a touchdown, but this week's matchup features two of the NFL's top defenses. According to Football Outsiders, both the Bears and the Dolphins are Top-5 defenses in both passing and overall defense. This will be a low-scoring matchup that doesn't favor Robinson at all.
Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins (Home vs Chicago Bears)
On the reverse side we don't like Kenny Stills in this game for a lot of the same reasons. Chicago has the best defense in the league and has only allowed four touchdowns to receivers all year. We don't trust either quarterback in this game to deliver as the defenses will dominate.
TIGHT ENDS - START 'EM:
Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons (Home vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
We’ve been playing Hooper in one of our leagues almost all season and he finally delivered last Sunday with a career-high nine catches for 77 yards, the only thing that could have made it better was a touchdown. The Falcons have another enticing matchup at home versus a miserable Tampa Bay defense that ranks last in fantasy points allowed to tight ends.
Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts (Away at New York Jets)
Ebron is coming off a career game against the Patriots and he's a define starter again this week against the Jets. New York has been terrible against slot receivers in 2018 allowing three touchdowns and the third-most yards to slot receivers so far. Surprise, Ebron has run most of his routes from the slot this year! He'll be targeted early and often in a pass happy Colts offense.
*Week 6 TE Sleeper*
C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals (Home vs Pittsburgh Steelers): In the Bengals first game without Tyler Eifert, Uzomah played 91.7% of the snaps and the Steelers have allowed the most catches and second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. We think Uzomah could put up some points this week!
TIGHT ENDS - SIT 'EM:
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (Home vs Los Angeles Chargers)
Njoku posted a decent stat line in last week's win over Baltimore, but he's only a fringe starter this week simply due to the lack of depth at the position. The Chargers' defense has only allowed one score and an average of 9.64 PPR points per game to opposing tight ends this season. Njoku might struggle this week.
Antonio Gates, Los Angeles Chargers (Away at Cleveland Browns)
Antonio Gates is clearly a future Hall of Famer, but we don't really trust him as a fantasy option anymore. Gates ranks 24th in targets for tight ends this season so the volume isn't there and as you can imagine Gates doesn't get on the field for as many plays as he used to. The Browns also rank as one of the best in the NFL at defending tight ends.
Thanks for taking the time to read our Week 6: Start 'Em/Sit 'Em this week! If you have any questions before kickoff be sure to tweet us @LastPlaceFF
