Last week was a pretty good week, but I do want to apologize. I forgot to include Melvin Gordon on the list last week and I was on him all week. I will make sure that this does not happen again. Plus, I’m hoping to make some late adds to the list on Sunday morning based on more information and updated matchups, if necessary. This week, we want to target the top tier running backs and find quality mid-tier wide receivers with huge upside.
Quarterbacks
I’m off Rodgers and Brady this week, it’s not because I don’t like them or their match up, but they’re too damn expensive and there is plenty of great options that are much cheaper. So, I’m fading Rodgers and Brady.
Drew Brees- He’s at home playing in the dome where he always puts up great numbers, coming off a bye week and is getting another weapon back in Willie Snead. Detroit’s defense has given up the second most passing yards total, this season.
Kirk Cousins- At home, playing well and facing a poor 49ers defense. 49ers have given up the third most passing yards this season.
Deshaun Watson- Has been a fantasy stud and this week, he gets the Browns. Should be able to put up good numbers.
Philip Rivers- Has bounced back strong from three weeks ago. This week, he gets a terrible Oakland secondary and gets their top draft pick back, Mike Williams.
Ben Roethlisberger– One of two sneaky cheap plays. He was bad last week and he was completely embarrassed by his performance. He has a great matchup against a bad Chiefs’ secondary and I think Big Ben comes out fired up.
Brian Hoyer- This is my second sneaky cheap play. With no Josh Norman, this Redskins’ secondary isn’t great. The 49ers will be playing from behind most of this game and Hoyer will be chucking the ball all over the place to try and keep San Fran in this one.
Running Backs
I would pay up here this week and find value at the other positions. The top running backs this week have too good of matchups to not play them in week 6.
Leonard Fournette- The Rams can’t stop anyone on the ground and Fournette has been awesome this season.
Kareem Hunt- The Steelers’ run defense is bad and at this point, we have all seen what this guy can do. I’m expecting a big day from Mr. Hunt. Play Him!
Melvin Gordon- Showed us again last week that when you give him touches, he puts up big points.
Todd Gurley II- Jacksonville’s defense has been great against the pass but you can run on them. I don’t expect McVay to limit his star player again like he did last week. He realized that he can not win with out him being on the field.
Jordan Howard- Love his matchup, but I just don’t trust the rest of that offense. Use with caution.
Mike Gillislee– This is looking like a Gillislee week. Patriots should get an early lead and with Brady’s shoulder injury the Patriots should run the ball a ton.
Tevin Coleman- I think Atlanta will have a little bit of a tough time running the ball against the Miami defense. This means more passing from the Atlanta offense, which sets up well for Coleman.
Marshawn Lynch- He hasn’t been very good but the Chargers’ run defense stinks and I think with Oakland trying to protect Carr, who isn’t 100%, will run the football.
Elijah McGuire- Powell is hurt and the Jets will try their best to keep the Patriot’s offense off the field. Look for the Jets to run the football.
Alvin Kamara– I really like Kamara this week. Could be a cheap option at running back or a great flex option. He will be heavily involved in the passing game.
Mark Ingram- No more Adrian Peterson in New Orleans. This could mean 4 to 7 more touches this week for Ingram and he is super cheap.
Wide Receivers
The top wide receivers have good match ups this week, but if you want to fit those stud running backs in, you need to find good mid-tier wide outs with big time upside and there is a lot out there.
Antonio Brown– His the best wide out in the NFL and facing a bad Chiefs’ secondary. He is however, very expensive.
Julio Jones- Great matchup, but if Atlanta gets a lead early, they will lean on the run game.
Keenan Allen- Oakland’s secondary isn’t good and Allen should put up good numbers this week.
Michael Thomas- I love the Saints’ offense this week.
Packers’ Wide Receivers- I like Jordy, Adams, and Cobb. They all come in at different price points and we just have to stay aware of who Xavier Rhodes will be covering.
Chris Hogan- I like the matchup and Brady looks for him on deep routes. But, he comes in with a pretty high price tag for a guy who may not get double digit targets.
Golden Tate- Has a good matchup, but I don’t know if I trust him. The Lions’ offense has been like watching paint dry this season, can’t really get excited about it.
Pierre Garcon- No Josh Norman and this is a revenge game for Garcon. The 49ers will probably be playing from behind, so this should set up for him to have a big game.
DeSean Jackson- Wide Receivers have been killing the Arizona defense this season. Evans will see a lot of Patrick Peterson and teams don’t typically pick on him. This means DJax should see an increase in targets.
Michael Crabtree– Carr should play and Crabtree easily looks like the best Wide Receiver in Oakland right now.
Terrelle Pryor- I know him and Cousins haven’t had great chemistry this year, but this a good matchup and I think things with Pryor are starting to improve in Washington.
Danny Amendola- Brady loves this guy and views him as the guy that really replaces Edelman in the offense. Super consistent from week to week and has a good matchup against the Jets.
Amari Cooper- I know, he’s been bad, but he is too good to stay this bad. He is so cheap in DFS this week, it’s hard not to use him. I really like Cooper and Carr will try to get him involved.
Willie Snead- I like anyone from the Saints’ offense this week.
Martavis Bryant- The Chiefs have been picked apart in the passing game this season. This could be Bryant’s coming out party this season.
Taylor Gabriel- No Sanu this week for the Falcons. Gabriel should see an uptick in targets and this guy’s big play ability, is unreal.
Mike Wallace- He looks to be back as Flacco’s favorite down the field target and Flacco has a big arm. Which makes Wallace a nice play.
Jeremy Kerley- This is one of my sneaky plays for the week. The Jets are going to be down early and are going to have to throw the ball. And for some strange reason, he has been a Patriot killer.
Jamison Crowder- I like the Washington passing attack this week and Crowder should have a big role in that.
Ted Ginn Jr- Again, I’d play anyone from the Saints’ offense this week.
JuJu Smith-Schuster– I think the Steelers’ passing game and Big Ben bounce back this week. Plus, they are going to have to keep up with that Kansas City offense. I like the options in the passing attack for the Steelers this week.
Tight Ends
I always pay down at tight end and this is definitely the week to be doing so.
Rob Gronkowski- He’s the biggest match up problem for defenses in the NFL and always has the potential to bust out a huge stat line. Just too damn expensive.
Travis Kelce- He is the best receiving threat on his team and he has cleared concussion protocol. But for the price, he needs a huge game in order to reach value and the Steelers’ defense has been good against the tight end.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins– Great matchup against the Patriots’ defense, but the value isn’t there anymore.
Hunter Henry- I hate suggesting him because he is so hit or miss, but he has a great matchup against a bad Raiders’ pass defense.
Cameron Brate- He’s a big part of the Buc’s offense, especially in the redzone. He has scored in three straight weeks and I think he will make four straight. He’s playing a bad Arizona line backing corps and secondary.
Austin Hooper- With no Sanu for Atlanta, Hooper could benefit. Plus, Miami’s defense has been generous to the tight end this season.
George Kittle– Every week his role increases in the San Fran offense. On top of that, he gets a Washington defense that has been really bad against the tight end.
Coby Fleener- Love the Saints’ offense this week. Fleener should see from 4 to 6 targets and make good use of them.
Zach Miller- He is soooo cheap and with Trubisky at QB, I think the target increase will continue. This is where I would go at TE this week.
Defense
Could go in a few different directions this week at defense. It will all depend on what you can fit in your lineup based on salary.
Texans– They’re playing the Browns’ at home. Do we need any other reason?
Jaguars- At home playing the Rams’ and they have been one of the best fantasy defenses this season. Gurley will do his damage on the ground but the Jaguars should be able to limit the points put on the board by the Rams.
Falcons- The Dolphins offense sucks and Atlanta is at home.
Redskins- Facing a terrible 49ers offense and are averaging 3 sacks per game and just under 2 turnovers per game. This is my favorite defense of the week.
Patriots– They’ve been bad but last week they showed huge improvement. They should be playing from ahead in this one and that means more sacks and turnover opportunities against a mediocre Jets’ offense.
Packers- They are on the road but get to face Case Keenum and no Diggs for the Vikings’ offense.
Saints– This is my sneaky play of the week. They are at home, coming off a bye, and this young defense has been improving and putting up good fantasy points. I think they are capable of returning double digit points this week.