Guys like Frank Gore and Willie Parker are getting back on the field. Other guys like Matt Forte, Ladanian Tomlinson and Pierre Thomas have fantasy owners optimistic in their return. Nobody has to play Peyton Manning or watch Ronnie Brown run the Wildcat. It’s week 6 in the NFL and it’s not too early to start thinking about your lineup on Sunday! Read More
I think Week 6 figures to give fantasy owners some growing pains as several pleasant surprises of the 2009 season could disappoint. Yet, some of the season’s early disappointments should shine with quality match ups.
Start Sit or Squat and Pray!
QB
Start: Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks – (Gulp) I am still not a fan of him this season, but I can’t bench him this week. He was great last week and gets an Arizona defense at home that has been far better at stopping the run than the pass.
Sit: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings – Right now, I would not want to be facing the Ravens. A team that prides itself on defense will heads to Minnesota with a chip on their shoulder. Favre is playing well but I think he makes a few bad throws in this game.
S and P: Eli Manning, New York Giants – I hate to place Manning in this post three straight weeks but he remains one of the tougher decisions for fantasy owners. Manning seemed ok last week playing with the injured foot. Just keep in mind the Saints have allowed only two passing touchdowns this year.
RB
Start: LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles – I’m expecting the Philadelphia defense to create turnovers and provide ample scoring chances. Throw in some garbage yards as the team runs out the clock late and McCoy becomes a nice flex option despite having to travel west.
Sit: Ladanian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers - I'm not sitting LT over every guy but I have yet to see the same old LT and am not comfortable plugging him in despite an extra week of rest. He's really a boom or bust pick on Monday Night so unless you are playing one of the better teams in your league and need to take the risk I'd play it safe.
S and P: Leon Washington, New York Jets – Washington has seen his touches decrease in recent weeks, but the Bills just let an old Jamal Lewis rush for over 100 yards against them. I’m betting on Leon to finally break out and bust a few long plays on Buffalo at the Meadowlands.
WR
Start: Bryant Johnson, Detroit Lions – Anyone can tell you to start Randy Moss against the Titans, so I’m ramping it up a notch. The Packers are allowing the 7th most fantasy points WRs and Calvin Johnson is dealing with a minor injury. Johnson is also averaging 8 targets over his last three games. Stafford or Culpepper under center isn’t going to matter when the Lions are down and need to throw the ball.
Sit: Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs – Washington is allowing the 10th fewest fantasy points to receivers. He has yet to catch more than 5 passes in a game and should have a tougher time finding the end zone.
S and P: Santana Moss, Washington Redskins – Most would think Moss is an absolute start this week. The Chiefs have been torched through the air and are on the road, but he has eclipsed 75 yards and 5 receptions in a game only once this season. Added drama about a potential coaching change mid-season and Moss isn’t a lock to produce.
TE, DEF, K
Start: Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears – I think this game is close, with both teams moving the ball. As a result, I like Gould indoors in a conservative game.
Sit: Seattle Defense – They won’t be shutting out the Cardinals this week. Warner won’t be affected by the noise and has been sacked only 8 times this season (4 coming in one game vs. Colts).
S and P: Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens – The Vikes do a pretty good job against the run and on the outside against the WRs. I’d go with Heap in a bind and hope he can continue to make Minnesota’s defense the most fantasy friendly towards tight ends.
----------------------------------
Week 5 Recap:
QB
Start: Kurt Warner – 302 pass yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Sit: Eli Manning – 173 pass yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
S and P: Tom Brady – 215 pass yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
I was expecting a little more from Warner but will gladly take a 300+ and two score day from my QB1. Elijah made the most out of his 10 passes, salvaging his fantasy day for those who made the risky play. Brady missed a few touchdowns but threw for more than 1 TD for the first time since week 1.
RB
Start: Marshawn Lynch – 69 rush yards, 0 TD, 6 rec, 56 rec yards, 0 TD
Sit: Steven Jackson – 84 rush yards, 0 TD, 2 rec, 25 rec yards, 0 TD
S and P: Michael Turner – 97 rush yards, 3 TD
The Bills offense had trouble moving the chains and prevented Lynch from having a nice fantasy day. Jackson was held out of the end zone and fell short of RB1 stats. Michael Turner turned in his best performance of the season and will now try to shed the “only plays well against weak teams” rap.
WR
Start: DeSean Jackson – 1 rec, 1 rec yards, 0 TD
Sit: Braylon Edwards – 5 rec, 64 rec yards, 1 TD
S and P: Steve Smith – 3 rec, 70 rec yards, 0 TD
All of the signs pointed to a nice day from the Eagles passing attack, however it was Jeremy Maclin cashing in rather than Jackson. I was impressed with Edwards, but fantasy owners need to keep in mind Jerricho Cotchery was limited as well. Steve Smith connected on a long pass play to post modest production.
TE, DEF, K
Start: Buffalo Defense – 6 Points Allowed, 1 Sack, 1 Int,
Sit: John Carlson – 2 rec, 31 rec yards, 0 TD
S and P: John Kasay – 1 FGM, 1 XP
The Bills defense was nothing spectacular last week. However, the depleted unit still kept the score down for leagues in which the score matters. Carlson didn’t get in the action as Matt Hasselbeck was tossing the pigskin to his wideouts most of the day. Kasay didn’t double his season totals, but 4 points was better than nothing.
NFL GAMES WEEK 6 (All times EST)
Bye: Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals - 1 p.m.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers - 1 p.m.
St. Louis Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars - 1 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings - 1 p.m.
New York Giants at New Orleans Saints - 1 p.m.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers - 1 p.m.
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Bucs - 1 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs at Washington Redskins - 1 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at Oakland Raiders - 4:05 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks - 4:05 p.m.
Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots - 4:15 p.m.
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets - 4:15 p.m.
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons - 8:20 p.m.
Monday: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers - 8:30 p.m.
BOXCAR Football updates are also available on RSS and Twitter!
