Binge, Stream, Skip: Week 6 Fantasy Football

by



Recreation surroundings is the foundational start line in making fantasy soccer lineup selections. As such, I’m going to interrupt down every recreation on the slate into three classes: Binge, Stream and Skip.

Video games you wish to “binge” are just like the present you’ll be able to’t miss; you’re watching as quickly because it goes dwell and may simply crush all of the episodes in a single weekend. These are the start-all-your-guys fantasy video games and ones with season-defining storylines.

Video games you wish to “stream” are just like the exhibits you definitely watch begin to end, however maybe you’re ending it over time as an alternative of 1 shot. Whereas these video games won’t function a ton of “must-starts,” we are able to choose and select our spots, and the groups are more likely to matter within the NFL playoff image.

Lastly, the video games you wish to “skip” are just like the exhibits you’re leaning towards passing on, however you may catch an episode right here and there (or may persist with studying recaps on-line to remain up with the tradition). There can be a non-obvious participant or two who stands out in these video games, however total, they aren’t the most effective surroundings for fantasy soccer.

Let’s dive into my Week 6 Fantasy Soccer Viewer’s Information.

5 weeks in the past, we in all probability wouldn’t have pegged this recreation as the most effective fantasy matchup of the week. And but, right here we’re. Jayden Daniels is the QB2, trailing solely his Week 6 opponent, Lamar Jackson.

The Washington offense handed a giant check by getting previous the Browns protection final week. Even when Cleveland isn’t what it was final 12 months, they’re a superior unit to a few of these Washington dunked on in its earlier video games. We additionally noticed some continued developments and alerts that may matter on this recreation towards a Baltimore protection that quietly permits essentially the most passing yards within the league.

In keeping with Subsequent Gen Stats, Terry McLaurin has run a vertical route on 41.1% of his routes this season. That is the best vertical route price since his rookie season (42.7%). McLaurin has caught 4 of his 12 targets for 158 yards (Tenth-most within the NFL) and a pair of scores on vertical routes. McLaurin has already generated +7.4 EPA on vertical targets this season, greater than what he amassed all of final 12 months. The Daniels-to-McLaurin connection downfield has modified this offense. McLaurin ranks seventh within the NFL in air yards this 12 months with 516; no different wideout has cleared 90.

We additionally noticed continued progress from the rookie quarterback. Daniels has accomplished seven of eight passes for 113 yards on scrambles this season, He’s rushed for 244 speeding yards on such dropbacks however the truth he’s additionally selecting to throw when he begins to scramble actually issues as a result of that was a weak spot in his scouting report.

He’s evolving. Daniels has now generated a +29.5 EPA on scrambles, essentially the most recorded by Subsequent Gen Stats since 2016.

On the Ravens facet, we noticed loads of proof that the offense fields one of the crucial lethal run video games within the league. Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson have been demolishing groups on the bottom. As a substitute of doubling down on that identification towards the woeful Bengals protection, they took to the air.

Jackson threw for 348 yards and 4 scores in a win over their division rival. This was a reminder that, when this offense can shield up entrance and are incentivized to throw, they’ve the quarterback and go catchers to be harmful in a superb matchup.

Zay Flowers was lastly unleashed on downfield routes, Rashod Bateman was really focused because the perimeter menace and all three Ravens tight ends bought concerned. Clearly, the Bengals protection deserves a ton of (dangerous) credit score however their Week 6 opponent within the Commanders rank twenty fourth in dropback success price allowed. Don’t rule out one other large passing day from Jackson and Co.

The goal squeeze and lack of quantity issues are at all times current however these receiving gamers may be fantasy choices should you’re in a pinch.

The Lions are coming off their bye into a great spot to do what they do greatest: pound the rock.

Detroit has been extra bodily and decided as a run group than we’ve ever seen. They rank second in speeding success price up to now within the younger season. The offensive line even will get a lift with heart Frank Ragnow, who appears to be like to have dodged a critical harm and will return on this recreation. A matchup towards the Cowboys, who’ve struggled to defend the run and have now suffered cluster accidents up entrance is a critical benefit for Detroit. Count on a wholesome dose of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Within the passing recreation, Sam LaPorta ought to be more healthy coming off the bye after coming into the season with a couple of maladies. The issue is, with the persistent use of the bottom recreation and Jameson Williams’ emergence within the passing recreation, it’s a stretch to think about his goal complete of 2023 returning this season. He’s nonetheless a fantasy starter at tight finish, the ceiling is simply diminished.

The Cowboys discovered one thing in each Rico Dowdle and Jalen Tolbert. The Week 5 movie helped cement that. Count on to see loads of each in what ought to be a shootout on this recreation.

Dowdle has out-snapped and out-carried Ezekiel Elliott within the final two weeks. Elliott is even dropping passing-down work to fullback Hunter Luepke, who has run extra routes than each backs within the final two weeks. Dowdle might not be an RB1 in fantasy however so long as he holds a 57% share of the carries on an offense that feels prefer it’s ascending, he can be in lineups.

Tolbert is fascinating, as nicely.

He stepped up final week to be the main receiver within the first recreation after Brandin Cooks was positioned on IR. Tolbert wasn’t used as a vertical X-receiver, which is the position I assumed he’d take. As a substitute, CeeDee Lamb took extra reps at X and that opened issues up for different go catchers, Tolbert included.

This Cowboys offense desperately wants extra choices past Lamb and Jake Ferguson. Tolbert is taking part in like a man who may be the reply. The Lions’ exterior protection is healthier than their slot protection however as a result of Lamb performs all three positions, Tolbert will get some reps on the within.

Most necessary Payments storyline: The Payments offense bought off to a scorching begin in Weeks 1 to three with video games towards inferior opponents just like the Cardinals, Dolphins and Jaguars. It’s been a very totally different story towards the Ravens and Texans the final two weeks. Look no additional than the shortage of separation by the skin receivers towards high quality corners.

The offensive line can also be risky in go safety, which has made an untenable state of affairs for the Payments on offense. It’s solely going to worsen with slot receiver Khalil Shakir in peril of lacking a second straight recreation and James Cook dinner additionally lacking follow this week. We may very well be taking a look at a dramatically undermanned Payments offense. Wideouts Keon Coleman and Mack Hollins towards Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed is simply such a mismatch within the Jets’ favor.

From a fantasy perspective, if Cook dinner misses this recreation, rookie backup Ray Davis might not be a must-start however he ought to be 100% rostered. The run recreation for the Payments continues to be good and he brings a bruising component to their hole scheme.

Most necessary Jets storyline: The Jets fired Robert Saleh earlier this week and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich elected to take away Nathaniel Hackett because the play-caller. Ulbrich put in passing recreation coordinator Todd Downing within the position. Downing has by no means overseen an above-average offense throughout his time as a coordinator and his promotion possible doesn’t transfer the needle a lot. It doesn’t assist that the Jets’ passing-offense design was one of many largest issues, amongst many, for the entire operation.

It’s gorgeous simply how little the Jets look to reap the benefits of the intermediate and quick space of the sector with their No. 1 wideout. In the meantime, each different good offense is dominating this space within the trendy NFL. This subject compounds a run recreation that simply isn’t going anyplace. Except Downing’s promotion comes with a critical overhaul of the ideas and method, we’ll possible see the identical outdated Jets offense towards good defenses, particularly since that is what Aaron Rodgers desires to do.

Most necessary Jaguars storyline: Over the past two video games, Tank Bigsby has dealt with 42.6% of the group rush makes an attempt to 36.2% for Travis Etienne Jr. This isn’t a fluke and it’s not going to alter. Bigsby has earned the promotion. His 19% explosive speeding price coming into Week 5 led all operating backs after which he added one other pair of explosive runs towards the Colts.

Bigsby is now main the NFL in yards per carry. It is a enormous transformation, an entire night-and-day distinction from his rookie season after he misplaced his confidence amid errors final 12 months. In the meantime, Etienne has simply two explosive runs this season throughout 69 complete touches. Bigsby might not develop into the bell-cow again for this offense however he has made this factor a cut up. Each guys appear to be RB3/Flex choices now, though Etienne was drafted to be an RB1.

Most necessary Bears storyline: Caleb Williams and the Bears offense is coming off the most effective recreation of their season. After all, it was towards the Carolina Panthers but it surely nonetheless goes down as progress for the rookie passer. Williams has gotten higher each week, which is what you wish to see out of him. The Jaguars don’t profile as a way more tough matchup. Their protection performs a ton of man protection however ranks thirty second in dropback EPA allowed. Gashes can be accessible for Williams by means of the air.

We even have extra readability about how the Bears wish to method their offense after Week 5. Williams took 30 of his 35 dropbacks from 11 personnel and solely three large receivers noticed the sector for the unit. Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen and DJ Moore all ran a route on 88.6% of the dropbacks. No different receiver ran a route. We wish to see all passing offenses as concentrated as attainable.

Most necessary Cardinals storyline: Marvin Harrison Jr.’s manufacturing has been up and down this season and that’s primarily as a result of he performs essentially the most tough large receiver place. Harrison strains up solely as an X-receiver and primarily runs low-percentage vertical routes. Harrison was an ultra-refined faculty participant, so you’ll be able to ask this extremely tough activity from the younger man, however simply because you’ll be able to, doesn’t imply it is best to … not less than not on a regular basis. Harrison would profit from extra place versatility in his deployment.

The Cardinals have a man in Michael Wilson who performed some X-receiver to finish his rookie season in 2023. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has an opportunity to take this offense to a different degree by shifting these wideouts throughout totally different alignments. The Packers rank Thirtieth in dropback success price allowed, so it is a spot for them to get rolling.

Most necessary Packers storyline: As of this publishing, we don’t know who will take the sector for the Packers at large receiver. It seems that Christian Watson prevented a critical ankle harm, so he might return this week. Romeo Doubs is again from his one-game suspension. If one or each of these guys get on the market, it is going to be fascinating to see what occurs to Dontayvion Wicks. The gifted Packers wideout is a robust separator however his ball-skills are a large number. He misplayed some passes and dropped others. If the teaching employees retains him on the market forward of those different guys, it is going to be a giant assertion, as a result of he didn’t profit from his probabilities. Jordan Love does share some culpability with Wicks for the misses as a result of he might have been extra correct on a couple of throws however bear in mind, these guys don’t have as many reps collectively. All of this may be ironed out in time if Wicks is ready to earn it.

Most necessary Texans storyline: The Texans will play this recreation with out their elite No. 1 wideout, Nico Collins. It’s an enormous blow to the offense, regardless of the popularity of their large receiver room. Stefon Diggs has been an awesome addition to the offense however he’s primarily been used because the beneath slot man. To my eye, Tank Dell simply hasn’t appeared like the identical separator this season as he’s labored again from a serious harm.

Dell might get rolling at any second the additional he will get from final 12 months’s season-ending leg harm however we haven’t seen the explosive participant we noticed as rookie, but. The Texans want that man again proper now. Xavier Hutchinson was the person to switch Collins within the lineup, operating the third-most routes on the Texans final week. Hutchinson profiles as extra of a giant slot receiver who blocks nicely and wins beneath. With a full week to arrange for all times with out Collins, I ponder if we see him kick inside and Diggs transfer exterior because the veteran has a lot expertise on the market.

Most necessary Patriots storyline: Clearly, it’s Drake Maye making his first profession begin. A lot hand-wringing has been accomplished by the nationwide media within the wake of the choice to throw him on the market for Recreation 1 towards the Texans. However the actuality is, it’s important to play the man in some unspecified time in the future. It’s previous time.

Maye’s potential to create off-schedule performs is required for an offense that wants juice. He’s a particularly underrated runner at quarterback. Maye ran for 1,147 yards and 16 scores over his remaining two faculty seasons. The Texans protection confirmed final week they aren’t afraid to man up on lesser receiver rooms. Man-coverage protection encourages scrambling from quarterbacks, so don’t be shocked to see Maye take off a couple of instances on Sunday.

Most necessary Buccaneers storyline: The Bucs have gotten a neat and tidy offense from a fantasy perspective. Contemplating that their protection struggles to defend the go, that is necessary once we’re making an attempt to venture this group in shootout recreation scripts. The large receiver room is run by means of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. The duo accounts for 47.1% of the group targets and operates in numerous roles. The backfield is tidy in its ambiguity. Over the past two weeks, the speeding work has been a near-even cut up, with Rachaad White proudly owning a 39.2% share of the group carries and Bucky Irving at 37.9%. White is unlikely to fully get phased out of the groundwork, particularly after Irving’s late-game fumble in Week 5, and has run 38 routes to 22 for Irving over the past two video games. For now, we are able to think about this a straight committee, which is a muddled image, however not less than we all know what to anticipate.

Most necessary Saints storyline: The deep passing recreation was the staple of the Saints’ aerial assault, particularly deep pictures off play-action. Derek Carr threw deep on 14.8% of his passes by means of Week 5, a top-six price amongst quarterbacks, per Professional Soccer Focus. With Carr on the shelf for a number of weeks, the Saints will flip to rookie Spencer Rattler. These accustomed to Rattler’s recreation in faculty know he has no points letting it rip downfield. The important thing for the Saints can be maintaining this recreation shut to allow them to take the designed pictures to the receivers off play-action. The Bucs rank twenty sixth in dropback success price allowed and have loads of points on the again finish. Rattler should not have any points accessing all areas of the sector from an arm expertise perspective however Todd Bowles can warmth up younger quarterbacks in lengthy down-and-distance conditions and unfavourable recreation script. Protecting Rattler out of these moments can be essential.

Most necessary Falcons storyline: The brand new Falcons teaching employees is lastly proactively getting Drake London designed targets as the ability slot participant. I used to be desperately eager to see this all through his first two NFL seasons however he was usually caught on the X-receiver in Arthur Smith’s offense. This position goes to result in main manufacturing.

London caught eight of his 9 slot targets for 117 yards in Week 5. The Panthers’ middle-of-the-field protection doesn’t stand an opportunity towards Kirk Cousins when he desires to pepper London on this space.

The Bucs play essentially the most zone protection within the NFL, per Fantasy Factors Information, however the Panthers don’t rank far behind at third. Cousins is simply so good at studying these coverages out, over-the-middle slot targets can be pure solutions. The hulking Falcons receiver appears to be like like he’s in one other smash spot and nicely on his solution to returning worth at his excessive ADP.

Most necessary Panthers storyline: Chuba Hubbard leads all operating backs in speeding success price at 67%. For those who’re not accustomed to the metric, it’s basically a measure of gaining optimistic yards towards a primary down on early downs and changing on third down. Hubbard has been essentially the most environment friendly again within the NFL. Dave Canales has stated since he was employed as the top man in Carolina that he was “going to point out you ways cussed he may be with the run recreation,” however Hubbard has made his tendency to stay with the run something however a mirrored image of hardheadedness — it’s working. Hubbard ought to be the focus of the offensive assault in Week 6 with a matchup towards the Falcons’ Thirtieth-ranked run protection in success price allowed on deck.

Most necessary Bengals storyline: We do all these thought workouts within the offseason about how the Bengals can evolve on offense sooner or later with Tee Higgins possible exiting in 2025. Then we get into the video games and it is so clear that not solely the offense however frankly this whole operation doesn’t have a prayer until Joe Burrow is on the market throwing haymakers to his two stars on the perimeter. Fortunately, Burrow and the offense seem like clicking and firing off at close to the peak of their potential. With the best way the protection is persistently giving up manufacturing on the opposite facet, don’t count on the Bengals offense to take the foot off the gasoline.

As Scott Pianowski would say, that is your “Fantasy Carnival” group of the 12 months.

Most necessary Giants storyline: I’m not saying that the Giants are a greater offense with out Malik Nabers as a result of that might be silly. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that in its first recreation with out the rookie receiver, New York loved its greatest offensive exhibiting of the season. The Giants ranked fifth in offensive success price final week in a robust win over Seattle. Malik Nabers has already been dominated out. That’s a disgrace going up towards a Bengals group that’s outright disastrous on protection. That stated, the very fact is Daniel Jones and Brian Daboll put collectively an environment friendly assault with mid-level receiver expertise, one thing we noticed them do in 2022. The largest fantasy storyline is Tyrone Tracy, the rookie operating again who shined as a pure rusher in his first prolonged motion. Tracy could be a must-start possibility if Devin Singletary is absent or maybe even restricted on this recreation.

One purpose to perhaps watch: The Colts are possible going through a multi-week absence from prime receiver Michael Pittman Jr. That’s a brutal improvement, particularly if Anthony Richardson returns in Week 6 towards an underrated Titans protection. A attainable silver lining right here is that Josh Downs ought to take in extra targets within the quick and intermediate areas of the sector. You possibly can argue that Downs is the group’s most dependable total participant and definitely their greatest separator.

Downs has run 73 routes over the Colts’ final three video games and leads the group with a 27.4% goal share. Each Richardson and Flacco have discovered him to be a snug participant to look to and a simple man to with whom to kind robust chemistry. Sadly, Downs additionally missed time at follow this week, as did RB1 Jonathan Taylor. The Colts are one of many early leaders for essentially the most snake-bitten groups by accidents on offense this season.

One purpose to perhaps watch: The Eagles are more likely to get each A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith again popping out of their bye week. For the primary time since Week 1, we’ll be capable of see what was an enchanting passing recreation again at full energy. Again in that win over the Packers, we noticed each Eagles receivers common over 3.0 yards per route run when the group used movement and Smith grew to become a matchup benefit within the slot. Brown hasn’t performed since and Smith missed most of Week 3 and 4 with a concussion. Brown is in an awesome spot this week with a matchup towards a Browns group that performs essentially the most single-high protection within the league. All of the methods the Eagles use movement to achieve leverage exterior ought to have him prepared to tear large holes on this protection.

One purpose to perhaps watch: The Chargers are popping out of their bye week, and whereas that is an early one, we nonetheless sometimes use these video games as progress landmarks for rookie receivers. Of their Week 4 recreation, Ladd McConkey led the Chargers in route participation (82.8%) and was focused on 29% of them, per Fantasy Factors Information. On the season, he’s their most efficient receiver however his movie exhibits a participant who may very well be much more concerned. The Broncos play a ton of man protection and have two nice perimeter corners. Patrick Surtain II has solely lined up inside on 8% of his snaps, per Professional Soccer Focus, so that ought to maintain McConkey out of his crosshairs.

One purpose to perhaps watch: Justin Fields is coming off his shakiest recreation because the Steelers beginning quarterback by way of lacking some open receivers and errors. They’re additionally coping with issues within the skill-position division. Najee Harris has appeared woefully overmatched because the lead again with Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson out, whereas there’s something odd percolating between George Pickens and the coaching staff. Fields has a superb matchup this week towards a Raiders group that performs man protection on the Eleventh-highest price, per Fantasy Factors Information, and ranks twenty fourth in speeding success price allowed. He’s simply operating out of gamers he can depend on within the Steelers offense, which can also be coping with cluster accidents on the offensive line.




Leave a Comment