Week 6′s slate of NFL action proved that the unbeatable can be beaten, but the defeated remain defeated. The Jets and Browns pulled off the unthinkable Sunday, upsetting the Eagles and 49ers in dramatic fashion while the Panthers remained winless behind rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who some are already calling a bust. While the NFL season proves to be unpredictable week in and week out, teams get a chance to regroup during their respective bye weeks, and that’s what I did last week. Let’s take a look at how I fared in Week 5 before my bye week:
The Good: Finally, I have a lot of good to report back. Last week’s running back predictions were spot on aside from Zach Moss. David Montgomery, Alvin Kamara and Breece Hall all finished in the top ten, while Miles Sanders and Jonathan Taylor failed to exceed more than five fantasy points.
Puka Nacua proved that he’s still an elite fantasy option even with Cooper Kupp back, finishing with more than 20 fantasy points for the fourth time this season. At the tight end position, Darren Waller bounced back against the Dolphins with a top-ten performance while Hunter Henry failed to record a single catch against a Saints defense that always gives trouble to tight ends.
The Bad: Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones had shortened Sundays after leaving their respective games early due to injury. As a result, both quarterbacks finished outside the top 20 for the week. Zach Moss ran all over the Titans defense, finishing with two touchdowns and 195 total yards, good for running back two on the week.
The Roman Empire wasn’t built overnight (though it still fascinates me every second). It started with a few bricks and then built its way up. I’ve had two weeks to cook to create my favorite picks yet. Let’s build on Week 5′s performance and keep this hot streak firing with this week’s Week 7 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em. For the rest of last week’s results, look at the bottom of the article.
Quarterback
START: Brock Purdy (SF) @ MIN Brock Purdy looked human last Sunday after losing both Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey to injury, allowing his first turnover while failing to come back against the then 2-2 Browns. Fortunately for Purdy, he isn’t going to face the top-three Browns defense every week, and coming off his first loss as a starter, Purdy has a great bounce-back opportunity this week against the Vikings. The Vikings have allowed the sixth-most FPPG to quarterbacks this season and after dropping less than eight points last week, I expect a twenty-piece from Purdy this week.
SIT: Kirk Cousins (MIN) vs. SF On the other side of the ball, Kirk Cousins faces his first difficult matchup without top receiver Justin Jefferson, as the 49ers have allowed the fourth-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season. While Kirk will likely have a negative game script throwing the ball a ton, I envision Cousins struggling from the pressure from Nick Bosa and the 49ers, yielding a poor performance in fantasy for the Vikings quarterback.
Snoozer: Jordan Love (GB) @ DEN Coming off a bye, the Packers travel to Denver to face the worst defense in football so far this season. With an amazing matchup and extra rest, I expect Jordan Love to cook against the Broncos who have allowed the third-most FPPG to quarterbacks this season. The Packers need a bounce-back win after losing to the Raiders in Week 5, and they get the perfect opportunity to do just that against the Broncos this week.
Running back
START: Aaron Jones (GB) @ DEN Staying in Denver, Aaron Jones should finally be healthy after nursing a hamstring injury since Week 1 and while he may be limited while he works his way back, Jones is still a must-start in fantasy. The Broncos have allowed the most FPPG to running backs this season and are top five in most explosive plays allowed. Don’t overthink this one. If Jones plays, he will finish as a top-ten running back on the week.
SIT: Najee Harris (PIT) @ LAR Najee Harris has been a shell of his former self this season and while he may seem like an enticing start coming off a bye, it’d probably be best to keep him on your bench. Harris has virtually been splitting carries 50/50 with Jaylen Warren all season and this will likely remain the same coming off bye. The Rams have allowed the sixth-fewest FPPG to running backs this season, so expect another dud from Harris this week.
START: Brian Robinson Jr. (WSH) @ NYG Over the last three weeks, Brian Robinson Jr.’s upside has skyrocketed as he’s getting utilized more in the passing game, hauling in eight catches over his last three games. This week, the Commanders square off against the Giants, who have allowed the third most YPG and seventh most FPPG to running backs this season. In a game where Robinson Jr. will be fed both through the air and on the ground, I expect a big performance from the back out of Alabama.
SIT: Rachaad White (TB) vs. ATL Rachaad White fared poorly last week against the difficult Lions rush defense and this week he gets treated with an equally hard matchup against the Falcons, who have allowed the third fewest FPPG to running backs this season. After splitting carries last week with Ke’Shawn Vaughn, White’s fantasy output took a drastic hit, and with another difficult matchup, you’d be better off keeping White on your bench.
Snoozer: Javonte Williams (DEN) vs. GB This pick is risky considering Williams hasn’t eclipsed ten points once this year, but with a favorable matchup against the Packers in Week 7, I’m buying the bait. Williams has been extremely disappointing to start the season but he’s been most promising in the pass game. The Packers have given up the fifth-most FPPG to running backs this season, allowing more than six receptions per game to the position. With a very favorable matchup, I anticipate Williams surpassing double-digit points for the first time this season.
Wide receiver
START: Brandon Aiyuk (SF) @ MIN The 49ers need a huge bounce-back performance, and with Christian McCaffrey nursing an oblique injury, Purdy is going to need to rely on his go-to target in Aiyuk. The Vikings are bottom three in FPPG to receivers this season, and I expect that to continue with a successful showing for Aiyuk. Purdy just lost his first game as an NFL starter; expect him to come out slinging to his favorite receiver.
SIT: Michael Pittman (IND) vs. CLE The Colts just announced that starter Anthony Richardson is out indefinitely after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, meaning it’s Minshew Mania in Indianapolis! Michael Pittman has looked good with Minshew to start this season – yielding multiple games with double-digit targets – but facing a Browns secondary that’s allowed the fewest FPPG to receivers this season, I expect Minshew and Pittman alike to struggle.
START: Marquise Brown (ARI) @ SEA Marquise Brown has struggled in step with his team over the past two weeks, hauling in just four catches per game over the team’s last two losses. But this week, Brown and the Cardinals welcome a favorable matchup against a weak Seahawks secondary that’s allowed the most FPPG to receivers this season. Brown has seen double-digit targets in four of his last five weeks, so the volume is there, and I expect the production to finally hit this week against Seattle.
SIT: Courtland Sutton (DEN) vs. GB The Broncos receiving core is extremely hard to trust in fantasy with Russell Wilson under center. Wilson spreads the ball around, targeting eight or more receivers every game so far this season. This week, Sutton enters Green Bay to likely matchup against Jaire Alexander, and the Packers have allowed the seventh-fewest FPPG to receivers this season. With Wilson already distributing the rock a ton, I would not be surprised if he looks past Sutton frequently if he’s draped by Alexander.
Snoozer: Rashee Rice (KC) @ LAR Rashee Rice has slowly turned into one of Mahomes’ most reliable options on offense, netting five or more targets in three of his last four games. After getting his second-highest snap count of the season in Week 6, Rice’s usage is only going to increase as the season progresses. Facing the Chargers in Week 7, who have allowed the third-most FPPG to receivers this season, I expect Rice to feast for his first breakout game of the season.
Tight end
START: Pat Freiermuth (PIT) @ LAR The Steelers have had two weeks to prepare and scheme for the Rams after coming off a bye, and I expect them to come out slinging through the air to exploit the Rams’ weakness: their secondary. The Rams have allowed the third-most FPPG and second-most yards to tight ends this season and I anticipate the Steelers utilizing Freiermuth heavily for those reasons, yielding a big fantasy performance.
SIT: Evan Engram (JAX) @ NO Evan Engram is gonna be hard to pull from your lineups as he’s received seven or more targets every week since Week 2, but in Week 7 Engram faces the Saints who have allowed the second-fewest receptions to tight ends this season. In a game where the Jaguars will likely hold the lead and not need to throw, I envision a weak performance from Engram against the Saints who allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends last season.
Snoozer: David Njoku (CLE) @ IND David Njoku saw his second-highest snap count of the season in Week 6 and with Deshaun Watson back this week, Njoku’s volume is only going to increase. The Browns square off against the Colts in Week 7, who have allowed the ninth most FPPG to tight ends this season. With a favorable matchup and more usage weekly, Njoku is a great streaming option for Week 7.
Week 5 Results
Quarterback
START: Anthony Richardson (4.42, QB28)
SIT: Trevor Lawrence (15.7, QB16)
Snoozer: Daniel Jones (7.16, QB24)
Running Back
START: David Montgomery (20.9, RB5
SIT: Miles Sanders (1.2, RB64)
START: Alvin Kamara (18.7, RB7)
SIT: Zach Moss (33.5, RB2)
SIT: Jonathan Taylor (4.4, RB42)
Snoozer: Breece Hall (28.4, RB3)
Wide Receiver
START: Puka Nacua (20.1, WR11)
SIT: Jerry Jeudy (11.0, WR29)
START: Zay Flowers (12.3, WR25)
SIT: Deebo Samuel (11.5, WR27)
Snoozer: Christian Watson (11.6, WR26)
Tight End
START: Darren Waller (16.6, TE7)
SIT: Hunter Henry (0.0, TE55)
Snoozer: Hayden Hurst (5.1, TE24)