Hot Fire Fantasy Football Questions: Week 6
Our “Hot Fire Fantasy Questions” series examines a completely upside down Week 3 following up recent news, fantasy performances, and implications for owners moving forward. Our Hot Fire contributors from our Fantasy Footballers writing staff includes Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive), –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT), and Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg). Give them a follow on Twitter along with all of our Footballers accounts to get goodness like this:
Feel free to flaunt your victory. pic.twitter.com/EmiFA2kL9E
— Andy Holloway (@andyholloway) October 15, 2018
I’m BACK, baby! pic.twitter.com/XLLGd4jR1T
— Jason Moore (@jasonffl) October 14, 2018
1. Which player underwhelmed fantasy owners the most in Week 6?
I’m gonna speak personally here: Kenny Stills. I was hyping Kenny Stills at every possible opportunity this preseason and he has done nothing but disappoint since his Week 1 TD. In the Bears, I saw a team that should provide a positive game script and that had been beaten by WRs. Stills had one first-half target and only registered fantasy numbers late in the game on 2 fluke plays: a 2 point conversion and a lucky tipped pass catch that wasn’t even intended for him. It was another rough week on the Stills hype-train. –Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive)
Deshaun Watson really underwhelmed fantasy owners on Sunday against the Bills. He had his worst performance of the year, posting just 177 pass yards while also turning the ball over three times. Typically, he provides an excellent floor with his legs, but he rushed for just two yards. Watson has been a lock in fantasy lineups for weeks, but he’ll have owners questioning him in their starting lineups next week when he faces Jacksonville on the road. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)
Jarvis Landry‘s 2 catches on 9 targets is downright despicable. His efficiency metrics have taken a complete dive as he’s catching only 47% of his targets for the year, by far a career low for a player who routinely catches near 70%. Since Baker Mayfield took over full-time, he seems to be on a different page than Landry although the opportunities have been there. He’s averaging 3.93 yards per target in the last 3 games. Yuck. This next week’s matchup is tantalizing against Tampa Bay so don’t try to get cute and bench Landry. The volume is there so things should turn around. –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)
2. Is Adam Thielen a top-3 WR ROS?
Short answer, yes. I’m not sure we need a long answer. The main knock on Thielen coming in was that he wouldn’t see the target share he saw last season. Well, he has and he’s done more with it than almost anyone in NFL history. I can’t think of 3 WRs I’d rather own than Thielen. –Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive)
For me, Adam Thielen is about as close to a top 3 option at the position as you can get without actually being inside. I have him just outside the top 3, as I still prefer Antonio Brown, Deandre Hopkins, and Michael Thomas over him. However, I won’t argue with anyone who does have him as a top 3 wideout. All the guy does is produce, and he provides a unique blend of safety with massive upside, something very few players offer. Six straight 100 yard games to open the season is remarkable. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)
If Cousins continues to throw for this kind of volume, Thielen is as consistent as they get while also offering a ceiling. That kind of combination is so hard to find. A 10 catch floor with 100 yards? Those are video game numbers as some have tweeted out. He’s in the conversation with Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, and DeAndre Hopkins. He’s a top-3 WR rest of the season and I’m kicking myself for owning him no-where. –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)
3. Which of these WRs with 2 TDs in Week 6 is most usable ROS: Albert Wilson, Cole Beasley or Tyrell Williams?
Far and away Albert Wilson. Tyrell isn’t even the best Williams on his own team and Beasley is 100% based on game flow. Wilson is legit the favorite target in Miami (sorry, Kenny) and he is dangerous when he touches the ball. Miami has a late bye so he should be a priority add on waivers this week. –Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive)
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Of these three guys, give me Tyrell Williams because I believe he possesses the most upside. The Chargers offense is much more pass happy than the Dolphins and Cowboys offenses, so his role is the most likely to expand in my opinion. I don’t buy into the Cowboys offense being a pass first time with Ezekiel Elliott running the show, and Miami is tied for second lowest in the league in terms of pass attempts on the season. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)
I’ve always had a soft spot for Tyrell Williams since writing a player profile article “Who is Tyrell Williams?” almost 2 years ago. He’s always been able to showcase some major boom games but often it was when Keenan Allen was out with an injury. His catch radius and natural “gliding” running style makes him look effortless sometimes. While you can’t always count on 2 TDs, especially of the long-bomb variety, I’d be looking to play “Tyrell the Gazelle” as a FLEX in high over/under matchups. –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)
4. Give us one under-the-radar statline fantasy owners should pay attention to.
Christian Kirk led the Cardinals in receptions for the 5th straight game. He isn’t putting up superstar numbers yet but he is someone you want to own ROS. After their Week 9 bye, the schedule really opens up for Arizona and there should be some chemistry brewing between Kirk and Josh Rosen. –Ryan Weisse (@TheFantasyFive)
Most people who watched the Carolina and Washington game will probably remember D.J. Moore’s two fumbles, but that’s not the most important stat line in my opinion. Over the past two weeks, his role in the offense has grown, as he’s gotten 4 and 5 targets each of the last two weeks. His opportunity is growing in this Carolina offense, and the Panthers have one of the easiest schedules for fantasy wide receivers rest of season. Don’t sleep on the rookie out of Maryland. –Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT)
Tyler Lockett‘s TD saved fantasy owners that started him. However, this game showed us who is the clear No. 1 in the Seattle pecking order: Doug Baldwin. Baldwin caught 6-of-8 targets for 91 yards and looks back in form. Lockett, on the other hand, had only 4 targets for 3 catches and 13 yards. His weekly fantasy numbers will look similar but he’s due for some major regression in the TD department and enters into Week 7 on bye and then at Detroit, which ranks 3rd overall against fantasy WRs. –Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)