Week 6 NFL Matchup Preview Part Two
Be sure to check out Part One of our Week 6 NFL Matchup Previews.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016
1:00 PM EST
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
EAGLES
QB Carson Wentz: The rookie has been doing a great job as an NFL QB and currently falls in as a borderline QB1 in fantasy points per game. The Washington matchup sets up for him to be a solid QB option again this week.
RB Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles: The Washington defense has struggled against RBs this season, allowing the 2nd highest rushing TD total this season (8 rushing TDs allowed in 5 games). Ryan Mathews should be an RB1 start for the week, while Sproles is getting enough opportunities to be a flex play.
WR Jordan Matthews: Coming off a quiet week, some owners may be concerned with the Eagles tendency to spread the ball around. Jordan Matthews is still the primary target and should be started as a WR2.
TE Zach Ertz: The Eagles feature the TE regularly in the passing game and the Redskins are mid-pack at defending the TE. He’s a solid start at TE this week.
REDSKINS
QB Kirk Cousins: The Eagles secondary has been stingy thus far, keeping opposing QBs to an average of 193 passing yards per game. Cousins still projects to be a decent QB option, but not a high-end QB1.
RB Matt Jones: The Eagles have allowed the 3rd least rushing yards per game and Matt Jones has not been a very reliable option. He should be a low-end RB2 this week.
WR DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcón, Jamison Crowder: DeSean Jackson has been his typical up-and-down self thus far, but this should be a game where the WRs get a little volume bump with the news that Jordan Reed has a concussion. Jackson is a boom/bust WR2 while Pierre Garcón and Jamison Crowder are merely flex options to cover a bye week.
TE Jordan Reed, Niles Paul: Jordan Reed has been placed into the concussion protocol. While coach Jay Gruden hasn’t ruled him out, the signs are pointing to him missing the game. If he does, Niles Paul becomes a very interesting streaming TE option.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Preview on YouTube
Cleveland Browns at Tennessee Titans
BROWNS
RB Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson: The Browns duo should be the focal point of the offense with the injury situation at QB. The Titans are mid-pack in rushing defense, averaging less than 100 yards allowed per game. While the volume should make Crowell an RB2, the upside is capped by a low scoring, slow game plan. Duke Johnson hasn’t been the PPR stud we’ve expected and is 40th in fantasy ppg. He’s merely a flex option in a bye week.
WR Terrelle Pryor: The Swiss Army Knife is doing it all, including taking practice snaps at QB. He’s a must start due to his upside and volume of touches.
TE Gary Barnidge: Gary Barnidge has come on over the past 3 weeks, averaging over 5 receptions and 65 yards. Unfortunately, the offense he is in limits his upside due to a lack of TDs. He’s a solid TE start based on his floor.
TITANS
QB Marcus Mariota: The Browns defense is one to target in all aspects of the game. Mariota is a solid QB1 start.
RB DeMarco Murray: DeMarco Murray is the #1 RB in fantasy and an absolute must start in this amazing matchup.
WR Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, Andre Johnson: While the matchup is nice, the Titans WR corp has been impossible to project. None of them are worth starting outside of the deepest leagues.
TE Delanie Walker: Delanie Walker is the one reliable Titans receiving option to be started in fantasy football. He’s a TE1 for this week.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Preview on YouTube
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016
4:05 PM E
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
CHIEFS
QB Alex Smith: Alex Smith is rarely a target for many fantasy owners, but facing a division rival who is allowing a league-high 330 passing yards per game and 2.4 passing TDs, Smith is a must-start streaming QB this week.
RB Jamaal Charles, Spencer Ware: Jamaal Charles has declared himself “110%” healthy. While that is encouraging, there is a real chance that he’s in a timeshare with Spencer Ware. Both RBs are low-end RB2 options due to the matchup and the possibility to score a TD.
WR Jeremy Maclin: The Raiders have been susceptible to opposing primary WRs, especially when they run routes out of the slot. Jeremy Maclin is a great start this week and has WR1 upside.
TE Travis Kelce: I’ve been following a rule thus far this season that has paid off nicely. Start your TEs against Oakland. Kelce is a must-start TE.
RAIDERS
QB Derek Carr: The Chiefs secondary hasn’t been as strong as in years past, and on the road, they are allowing 270 ypg. Carr is a solid QB start this week in a divisional game that could end up being a high-scoring affair.
RB Latavius Murray, DeAndre Washington, Jalen Richard: Latavius Murray is still dealing with the turf-toe injury and may not play this week. The Raiders are a full-fledged RBBC, so DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard limit each other’s upside, making neither anything more than a flex.
WR Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper: Amari Cooper finally had a big game last week, but Crabtree is still leading the duo in receptions and TDs. Both players are solid WR2 starts this week.
TE Clive Walford: Clive Walford is dealing with a knee injury and has not been heavily involved in the offense prior to missing Week 5. He shouldn’t be starting this week.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Preview on YouTube
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016
4:25 PM EST
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
COWBOYS
QB Dak Prescott: Dak Prescott has been solid thus far as an NFL QB, but in fantasy football, he’s just a mid-pack QB2. The Cowboys will face a very tough run defense, potentially forcing Prescott to throw a bit more. He’s still just a streamer or bye-week fill-in.
RB Ezekiel Elliott: Ezekiel Elliott has been an absolute stud thus far and is a must play. He is averaging 5 yards per carry and leads the league in rushing with 546 yards. Conversely, the Packers have allowed a league-low 171 yards rushing. All season. They are holding opponents to just 2 ypc, have given up a long run of just 14 yards and allowed just 1 rushing TD. You should not bench Elliott, but this is going to be a real test for him and his offensive line.
WR Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Dez Bryant: The way to beat the Packers is through the air. They rank 25th in passing yards per game. Dez Bryant has been a limited participant in practice this week, so keep an eye on his status. I don’t personally expect him to play and if he does, he could be used in the “decoy” role. The rest of the WRs are flex options based on the matchup.
TE Jason Witten: Jason Witten is a low ceiling play based on his lack of TDs, but this could be the week to play him. He’s a reasonable TE play based on his floor.
PACKERS
QB Aaron Rodgers: While his yardage totals haven’t been up to the expectations of his owners, he is still top 10, must-start QB1.
RB Eddie Lacy, James Starks: The RB situation is one to monitor, as Lacy has been dealing with an injury while Starks is dealing with personal issues. It sounds like Lacy will play, but he’s no more than an RB2.
WR Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams: Jordy Nelson hasn’t had the big plays we’re used to, but he’s finding the end zone regularly and is a high-end WR2. Randall Cobb finally showed up for his owners but took a nasty hit at the end of the game. He should be ok for this week, but his usage thus far and lack of TDs makes him a low-end WR2 or flex option. Davante Adams has seen the red zone looks that Cobb is missing, making him a boom/bust flex option.
TE Richard Rodgers: The Cowboys have been fairly generous to TEs thus far, which makes Rodgers a decent streaming option at TE.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Preview on YouTube
Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks
FALCONS
QB Matt Ryan: The league leader in passing yards per game faces another tough test, traveling to Seattle for a matchup with the league’s best pass defense. The Seahawks are allowing just 184 passing yards per game and have given up just 1 passing TD. You don’t want to bench him and he showed last week he can still post reasonable stats against a tough defense, but he’s barely a QB1 start this week.
RB Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman: The Falcons’ duo of Freeman and Coleman are both top 10 RBs in PPR leagues, they face a very stout run defense that is allowing just 80 ypg to opposing teams. Their usage in the passing games makes both players solid RB2 starters.
WR Julio Jones: Julio Jones owners are left wondering which player they can expect; the one who has posted two games in the past three weeks with less than 2 receptions and 29 yards, or the monster who hung 300 yards in one game. Facing the Seahawks is a tough test for anyone, and you would expect them to focus on Julio. He’s a stud that you can’t bench, but he’s not projected to have a big game.
TE Jacob Tamme: after a solid start to the season in Weeks 1 & 2, Tamme has become unusable, especially in a tough matchup.
SEAHAWKS
QB Russell Wilson: With the Falcons offense putting up huge stats, the defense is facing a lot of pressure as teams try to keep up. Russell Wilson should have plenty of opportunities to move the ball against a defense allowing 290 passing yards per game. Wilson is a great start this week.
RB Christine Michael, C.J. Spiller: Christine Michael has a nice matchup against a defense allowing almost 100 yards per game to opposing RBs, but the Falcon’s have only allowed 2 rushing TDs on the season. The Seahawks may look to run the ball a lot to keep Matt Ryan on the sideline, making Michael an RB1. C.J. Spiller found the end zone prior to the Seahawks bye week, but shouldn’t be trusted to be anything more than a desperation flex option in PPR leagues.
WR Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett: The Doug Baldwin roller-coaster has been a rough ride, but this sets up for him to have a solid week as a WR2. Coach Pete Carroll says that Lockett has “looked good” and to “expect a greater workload”. Meanwhile, teammate Doug Baldwin said Lockett was playing with a torn PCL in his knee. The matchup is nice, but I’d take the wait-and-see approach with Lockett unless you don’t have any alternative options for your flex position.
TE Jimmy Graham: Atlanta has been very friendly to opposing TEs, giving up significant yardage and 20% of their 14TDs allowed have been to TEs. Graham is a must-start TE this week.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Preview on YouTube
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016
8:30 PM EST
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
COLTS
QB Andrew Luck: Houston leads the league with just 181 passing yards allowed per game and just 3 passing TDs allowed through 5 weeks. While Andrew Luck is typically considered a must start, this is a tough matchup, where you may have a better streaming option available.
RB Frank Gore: While the Texans are limiting the opposing passing game, they are in the bottom 10 in rushing yardage and TDs allowed. Gore should be considered a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside due to the possibility of a TD.
WR T.Y. Hilton: T.Y. Hilton faces a tough matchup, but has been the only option at WR for the Colts. He’s a must start as a WR2.
TE Dwayne Allen: With the rough matchup, Allen is a limited upside TE. He shouldn’t be counted on in most cases.
TEXANS
QB Brock Osweiler: The Colts are allowing the 5th most passing yards per game at 301, making Osweiler an interesting streaming option.
RB Lamar Miller: Will this be the week Lamar Miller finally scores a TD? While he should have a solid yardage game, the Colts are in the middle when it comes to rushing TDs, allowing just 5 thus far. The volume should keep Miller on the brink of RB1 status even without a TD.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller: DeAndre Hopkins got a little bump by scoring his 3rd TD of the season, but he has only exceeded 60 yards once this season. The matchup is good and he should be a solid WR2 for the week. Meanwhile, his rookie running mate leads the team in yardage and should continue to see great matchups with Hopkins drawing the top corner and double coverage. Fuller is a great play at WR2 this week.
TE C.J. Fiedorowicz: Quietly posting top 10 TE numbers over the past two weeks, Fiedorowicz is an interesting streaming option at TE to cover a bye week.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Preview on YouTube
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016
8:30 PM EST
New York Jets at Arizona Cardinals
JETS
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick faces a tough matchup against the Cardinals pass defense allowing the 4th least passing yards per game at 190. They also rank 2nd in interceptions and 3rd in sacks, with 7 interceptions and 18 sacks. All that adds up to a tough game for Fitzpatrick, who shouldn’t be started this week.
RB Matt Forte, Bilal Powell: As we’ve seen with other teams, being tough against one aspect of the game typically leads to a weakness against the other. This is the case with the Cardinals, who are top 10 in rushing yards allowed while also allowing the 3rd most rushing TDs. The workload for Matt Forte has been a bit concerning recently, but he should be a decent RB2 this week. Powell quietly has three straight games with 6 receptions, making him a flex play in PPR leagues.
WR Brandon Marshall, Quincy Enunwa: Brandon Marshall is a stud, you shouldn’t bench him, but the opposition limits his ceiling. After a hot start, most people have expected a bigger output from Quincy Enunwa with Eric Decker out of the way, but that’s not been the case. With the tough matchup, Enunwa is more of a low-end WR2 or flex play.
CARDINALS
QB Carson Palmer: The Jets are allowing the 2nd most passing yards to opposing QBs at 303 per game. They have allowed the 3rd most passing TDs and have just 2 ints for the season. Palmer should be a great QB1 start at home this week.
RB David Johnson: The Jets have been a tough matchup or RBs in the rushing department while being easily beaten by pass catching RBs. David Johnson is a must-start RB1 stud.
WR Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown: Larry Fitzgerald has been the only consistent WR for Cardinals, but the matchup this week makes all three WRs good starts; even Michael Floyd after his dud in Week 5.