Tony Cutillo
As we sift through the remnants of the NFL’s Week 6, we are still left dealing with more than our handful of meaningful decisions. Aaron Rodgers [who looks like he can’t even discount double check right] and Eddie Lacy [now dealing with an injury], are continuing to disappoint fantasy owners each week. Obviously those are only two Green Bay Packers, but their entire team is playing below expectations as a whole. It speaks volumes to the uncanny unpredictability that makes its way throughout all fantasy leagues each year in general.
The biggest questions still are who to trust and how much thought should be put into a one-week performance. We are at the breaking point for most leagues and now is the time to make your move. There have been plenty of players just starting to find themselves, but the real question is, “Will they find you?” Let’s take a look at the recap for Week 6 below to see how some of the old reliables fared and how the rest of the bigger names disappointed again.
Standout Stars
QB
- Drew Brees.………………465 yds 4 TD/1 INT
- Matthew Stafford……..270 yds 4 TD
- Case Keenum…………….321 yds 3 TD/1 INT…..7 yds Rush, 1 TD
RB
- David Johnson……..111 yds…3 TD…..3 rec, 27 yds
- LeSean McCoy……..140 yds…3 TD…..2 rec, 2 yds
- Jay Ajayi………………204 yds…2 TD
WR/TE
- Odell Beckham Jr…..8 rec, 222 yds, 2 TD
- Kenny Britt.…………….7 rec, 136 yds 2 TD
- Golden Tate…………….8 rec, 165 yds, 1 TD
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Substandard Stiffs
QB
- Ryan Fitzpatrick….174 yds, 1 INT
- Cason Wentz………..179 yds
- Alex Smith……………224 yds
RB
- T.J. Yeldon…..21 yds…1 rec, 5 yds
- Jeremy Hill ……38 yds…1 rec, 3 yds
- Carlos Hyde…..52 yds
WR/TE
- Michael Crabtree.…..2 rec, 10 yds
- Travis Benjamin……..3 rec, 17 yds
- Doug Baldwin…………4 rec, 31 yds
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Surprise Performers
Case Keenum – What is going on in Ramsland? Keenum is ballin’ and the Rams are playing at a level no one thought was possible, including me! He is averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game, but don’t let that fool you. If you are desperate for a bye week replacement, you will have to assume all the risk. His 38-point performance in Week 6 was great, but unlikely to happen again.
Jay Ajayi – This was the targeted running back on a lot of draft boards in the offseason. Adam Gase, better known as the Quarterback Whisperer, took over in Miami and the thought of Ajayi running in his offense was equivalent to dreams the late ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage had when seeing a Slim Jim. However, the Dolphins also signed Arian Foster straight from the 55 and older community and those dreams seemed to shatter. Now, after a 204-yard performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, everyone is back on the wagon. Did the offense finally click? Will Gase ride him like he did Forte? I’m leaning on him being a valuable commodity for the rest of the year.
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Statistical Busts
Alex Smith – The Chiefs faced a secondary that has more holes than a freshly planted pumpkin patch and Smith could only muster 224 yards without a touchdown. Will he ever decide to excite anyone? He is more vanilla than vanilla extract itself. Why can’t he just produce for one week and throw a pass longer than six yards? For all my wrestling fans, there is only one word to describe him and I am going to spell it out for you, S-A-W-F-T!
Mark Ingram – While Drew Brees spent his Sunday throwing darts to the tune of 465 yards, Mark Ingram was busy creating fake GIFs on the sideline to battle back against the NFL’s new social media policy. When we drafted him this year we were expecting more than an average of 14 carries and 54 yards per game. Looks like the Saints will continue to air it out on their way to blowing up scoreboards all around the NFL. This just means more GIF making for Mark. Please proceed.
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Week 6 Thoughts and Theories
Shady’s back! – When Chip Kelly traded away LeSean McCoy as head coach of the Eagles, there were many who questioned the move. From locker room problems to on the field gap play, Shady was made out to be a lazy player who could only run in his own scheme. After Chip watched him explode for 140 yards and three touchdowns this week against him, it’s fair to say he may have to recant those statements. So yes, just like the song goes, “Shady’s back, back again!”
Antonio Brown owners beware! – Well, it’s not like we haven’t seen this scenario play out before. However, with Antonio Brown not putting up his usual numbers over the first six weeks, hope was still on the horizon. Now, is it In Landry We Trust? Unfortunately, we have a better chance of seeing Donald Trump grab Hillary Clinton by the … you know what, let’s change the subject.
Matthew Stafford has found himself again – Could Matt Stafford be better without Megatron? It sounds odd, but it could be true. We all know Johnson was one of the best receivers in the game, but maybe that pressure made Stafford force a lot of throws he normally wouldn’t have thrown. Either way, he has been a different signal caller in 2016. So far he has compiled a line of 14 touchdowns against only four interceptions. The only bad part for fantasy owners is the version of Russian Roulette he continues to play with the receivers.
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Skinny Post for Week 6:
Yes, your eyes are correct. That is Case Keenum as a Stud for Week 6 … The legend of Landry looks to be back. No, not Tom Landry … It sure looks like Gronk needs Tom Brady’s balls to be effective … Terrelle Pryor continues to stay hot and will finish in the Top 10 this year as long as his hammy holds up … Christine Michael is carrying the load in Seattle, even if CJ “I can’t keep a team” Spiller makes an appearance … Chip Kelly is getting closer to college. Maybe while he’s there he can pick up an NFL degree, too … Rex Ryan has his boys rolling in Buffalo. Rumor is for every loss, five players need to show him their feet … Carson Wentz is not a fantasy quarterback, but Dak Prescott is … Aaron Rodgers will be average for the rest of the year. Make your adjustments now … It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Ah, nope. It’s only Geno Smith. Can he last an entire season without getting punched? … Bring on Week 7!
As always, you can stop by my Facebook page (Fantasy Sports Addiction) or tweet me (@TCutillo23) for questions or some nice fantasy debates. I can also be heard weekly via the internet stream live at WENG RADIO every Monday at 4:00 P.M. ET for a weekend sports wrap. But most importantly, you can catch me here at Pi!
For fantasy purposes, all my articles are predicated upon a PPR-based system.