The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 6
That wonderful time has passed. A time filled with your entire roster playing, unless injured. I hope you enjoyed it because bye weeks are here and fantasy football gets even more challenging. Woohoo! We are missing the Titans, Raiders, Lions, and Texans this week. If you are missing key players, you need The Fantasy Footballers. Not only will they help you navigate who to pick up and drop with waivers, but their patented Starts of the Week segment on the Thursday show is a must-listen. See below for the entire episode from this Thursday on YouTube.
If you like what you watch on YouTube, join the #Footclan at jointhefoot.com. Here you will find all sorts of fantasy goodness. To get a quick reminder as you set your lineup for Sunday morning, below is a breakdown of Andy, Mike, and Jason’s Starts of the Week for Week 6.
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB- Aaron Rodgers vs. NYJ
Andy talked about him on Tuesday as a potential streamer candidate. He is back at home after a loss against the Jets. The defensive numbers for the Jets look good, but they have played a stinky trio along the way of Jacoby Brissett, Mitch Trubisky, and Skylar Thompson. The other two QBs they have faced are Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, who both had three passing touchdowns. Since LaFleur became the head coach, Rodgers is 9-0 coming off a loss, averaging 250+ yards and 2.5 touchdowns. Bank on the bounce back from Rodgers this week, and start him at your QB position.
RB- Rhamondre Stevenson vs. CLE
This week, it was a race to the show doc to claim Rhamondre as a Start of the Week. Jason even slightly stole him back during the episode since Andy was absent. Why all the fuss over Stevenson? Because when Damien Harris was injured last week, Rhamondre saw 89% of the snaps. He crushed the Lions for 161 rush yards. This week, Stevenson faces a Cleveland defense that has allowed the highest expected points per rush attempt, the third most fantasy points to running backs, and the second most 10+ yard runs. Belichick has said he is the dude. Make him your dude, and enjoy Stevenseason while he is here.
WR- Hollywood Brown vs. SEA
Someone you should be playing weekly, but have extra confidence in him this week. Seattle is a great matchup. The Seahawks allow the 2nd most expected points per pass attempt and the 2nd most 20+ yard pass plays. These are all right in the Hollywood bread basket. In the last month, Brown has seen 11, 17, 11, and 10 targets in each game. That kind of opportunity, combined with the matchup, means you have to find a way to get Hollywood into your lineups this week.
TE- Dallas Goedert vs. DAL
Dallas versus Dallas. Yes, the Cowboys’ defense and pass rush are for real, but so is the other Dallas. Goedert saw nine targets last week. He was sixth in tight end target share and second in yards per route run. On top of that, Jalen Hurts loves him. Goedert and Hurts rank as the top QB/TE duo when it comes to target success rate. The real Dallas is a lock for top-five status among tight ends for the rest of the season. Play the man!
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB- Kirk Cousins vs. MIA
You have to love the matchup against the Dolphins. Miami is allowing the highest expected points per pass attempt. That has led to them allowing the fourth most points to the quarterback position. The Vikings have a 25-point team-implied total. This game isn’t in prime time, which means you are good to play Cousins. All the ballers have him ranked in their top 12 this week. Trust that this is a good week to put Cousins in your lineup and go for it.
RB- Jeff Wilson vs. ATL
His name is Jeff, and he has seven runs of 15+ yards. That trails only Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley. He has been a top-12 RB every week he has started. His matchup against Atlanta is juicy. The Falcons’ defense allows the second-highest expected points per rush attempt. In the last two weeks, the Falcons have given up big games to the running back position. Leonard Fournette had 139 yards and two scores. Nick Chubb had 118 yards and a touchdown. So stay in the flames with Wilson and enjoy what should be a good week.
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WR- Adam Thielen vs. MIA
Stacking with Kirk Cousins, Jason goes against his typical stance and now sees a matchup Thielen could genuinely exploit. All the stats from Cousins continue here, with Miami allowing the highest expected points per pass attempt and the second-highest pass success rate. Thielen has been a bit touchdown-dependent, but Thielen hasn’t gone three straight games without catching a touchdown since 2016. He last caught a TD in Week 3. The math checks out that Thielen should be a solid FLEX option, and could even be a WR2.
TE- Zach Ertz vs. SEA
Seattle is awful at defending the TE. So you target them all season. Plato once said, as quoted many times by Jason, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Ertz is essential for the offense while Hopkins is still out. For another quote, we turn to another great scholar, Oaken from Frozen, “Yoo Hoo Big Summer Blowout!” This week is the clearance wrack week with Zach Ertz. Hopkins returns next week, but you get one last week of Ertz necessity. Boy is it a good one to end on, as Seattle is allowing the most points to the tight end position this season. So, if you need to bet on a TE, Ertz is a good option this week.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB- Tom Brady vs. PIT
The plant man is back. It was a rocky start, but the passing game seems to be rounding into form. They have been throwing the ball more in the last two weeks. The Steelers have given up top 12 QB numbers in four-out-of-five weeks. Pittsburgh has also allowed the most 20+ yard passing plays. That defense has not been good, and Brady should exploit that weakness easily.
RB- Melvin Gordon vs. LAC
Mike wasn’t sure yesterday that Gordon would be where he would go. However, the matchup is just too juicy to avoid. The Chargers have given up top six points to the running back position in four straight weeks. LA is allowing a league-high 5.8 yards per carry. Last week, Gordon was the clear number-one back when he had 18 total opportunities for 103 yards. If this continues, it is hard to know the ceiling, and you want the potential in your roster.
WR- Michael Gallup vs. PHI
It is time to start getting Gallup back into your lineups. Yes, he plays the Eagles this week, and that defense is good. Except they are giving up points to the WR position. Gallup only ran 17 routes last week, which looks terrible, until you realize CeeDee Lamb only ran 19. Gallup is indeed back. Dallas will have to throw the ball because the Eagles’ defense is top-five against the run but sees the third-highest opponent pass rate. We have witnessed Gallup put up big games against Philly before, so feel confident as the bye weeks are coming that Gallup could provide a nitro boost to your roster if needed.
TE- George Kittle vs. ATL
Kittle has been a major letdown this year, but this could be his week. The Falcons allow 14 points per game on average to the tight end. Even Cade Otton had six catches for 43 yards last week. When you drafted Kittle, you had to know there would be ups and downs; this could be an entrance into ascension. In two career games against Atlanta, he has had 17 targets for 13 catches and 134 yards, and last year six catches for 93 yards. It could be a big game. It takes guts to play Kittle this week, but it could be a big week.