It’s hard to believe that it’s already Week 6 and the NFL season is nearly a third of the way over. The fantasy football season is nearly halfway over, with the majority of postseasons beginning on Week 13 or 14.

Whether you’re 0-5, 5-0, or anywhere in between at this point, you still have a chance to have a successful season, make the playoffs and roll the dice on winning a championship.

However it all starts with getting wins, and getting wins starts with making good decisions on which players will have big days and which ones are best left on the bench. This weekly list of potential booms and busts will provide a blueprint to help you make these crucial decisions.

 

Potential Week 6 Booms

Quarterbacks:

Andy Dalton (QB, CIN)

After his stellar Week 5 performance against the “vaunted” Seahawks' defense (331 passing yards, two touchdowns), Andy Dalton has entered rarefied QB 1 territory and has become a weekly must start. This week he’s even more of a must start, facing a Bills team that has allowed 10 touchdowns and an average of 17.96 fantasy points per game to QBs through the first five weeks of the season.

Peyton Manning (QB, DEN)

I know, Peyton has been letting the fantasy world down all season long. This week’s game in Cleveland feels like a “now or never moment” for the legendary signal caller. The Browns have given up 20 or more fantasy points to QBs three weeks in a row and have allowed multiple touchdowns in four out of five contests. If Manning can’t redeem himself in this game, I’m not sure that he will ever have a big game this season.

Running Backs:

Matt Forte (RB, CHI)

His seeming inability to consistently score touchdowns makes him a boring start, but the volume of touches can’t be denied. Matt Forte is the first, second and third option in Chicago, and Detroit hasn’t exactly been stellar at defending running backs. Last week the Lions surrendered three rushing touchdowns and 191 rushing yards to Arizona running backs, neither of whom are the caliber of Forte. The Lions have had a few good showings against the run, but not enough to doubt Forte.

C.J. Anderson (RB, DEN)

I completely understand if the mere sight of his name makes you cringe with disgust. Like his teammate Peyton Manning, the question of "if not now, when?" is valid. C.J. Anderson’s season has been an abysmal disappointment up to this point and it’s difficult to trust him. However, Cleveland provides a plus match up for Anderson and Ronnie Hillman is battling an injury. If Anderson can’t take advantage of this golden opportunity, it may be time to cut bait and move on.

Wide Receivers:

A.J. Green (WR, CIN)

A.J. Green has only had one really explosive game this season, but he has an enticing matchup against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. With the exception of last week’s game in Tennessee (and they don’t have any real quality receivers), the Bills have been owned by wide receivers this season, allowing seven touchdowns to the position in five weeks. Buffalo is vulnerable in the secondary and the Bengals have one of the best offenses in the league. Start Green with confidence.

Larry Fitzgerald (WR, ARI)

It seems like Larry Fitzgerald has turned back the clock about five years with the way he has been dominating this season. In five games he has drawn 44 targets, 490 receiving yards and six touchdowns. As the number one option against a very average Pittsburgh secondary, Fitzgerald’s renaissance season should continue.

Brandon Marshall (WR, NYJ)

In what is turning out to be one of the best draft bargains of the year, Brandon Marshall has looked great for the Jets this season. He’s topped 100 yards in his last three games and has also hauled in three touchdown passes. This week he gets a Washington team that has been okay against wide receivers (six receiving touchdowns allowed to receivers in five games), but is certainly prone to getting beat.

Defense:

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings haven’t been great on defense, but they haven’t been awful either, averaging over eight fantasy points per game. The Chiefs haven’t exactly been easy on defenses, but the loss of Jamaal Charles for the season and playing in Minnesota makes this a nice matchup for the Vikings.

 

Potential Week 6 Busts

Quarterbacks:

Alex Smith (QB, KC)

Alex Smith isn’t exactly an exciting start anyway, averaging 15.7 fantasy points per game, but Minnesota has fared decently against quarterbacks this season as well. Without Charles and facing a defense allowing just 13.6 fantasy points per game to QBs, steer clear of Smith this week.

Running Backs:

Andre Ellington (RB, ARI)

While Andre Ellington has scored in both games he played this season, his limited carries last week coupled with Pittsburgh’s strong running defense makes it difficult to trust him. The Steelers haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown to a running back this season so things don’t look good for Ellington.

Lamar Miller (RB, MIA)

Perhaps a new coaching regime will finally make Lamar Miller fulfill the promise we’ve been teased with for three years now. This week doesn’t seem like the time for it to start, with the Titans holding their own against the running back position, allowing just three rushing touchdowns so far. Losses because of bye weeks combined with his high draft price will make owners rush to plug Miller back in to lineup this week. Hold off if you can.

Duke Johnson Jr., (RB, CLE)

Back-to-Back productive games may have owners thinking Duke Johnson Jr. is on the verge of dominating touches in the Cleveland backfield, and perhaps this is true. But facing the league’s number one ranked defense, the Denver Broncos, is not likely to lead to a big day for the rookie running back. Add in the fact that Isaiah Crowell is also getting his share of touches, and Johnson’s upside is extremely limited.

Wide Receivers:

Pierre Garcon (WR, WAS)

Basically anyone who is facing Darrelle Revis will likely have a bad day. When it’s a glorified No. 2 receiver like Pierre Garcon, a bust is even more likely. Fantasy owners may have no choice but to start Garcon because of bye weeks, but a trip to Revis Island is rarely productive.

Jeremy Maclin (WR, KC)

Conventional thinking may lead one to believe that the injury to Charles will lead to more targets for Jeremy Maclin. While this may be true, the injury also means that defenses will key more on Maclin, forcing Smith to try and fit passes into tight windows to hit his WR – something he’s not very good at. Minnesota’s passing defense has been middle of the pack, but with no threat of Charles in the backfield, Kansas City’s offense doesn’t seem too scary.

Tight Ends:

Gary Barnidge (TE, CLE)

Suddenly the third ranked fantasy tight end in the league, Gary Barnidge looks the part of a potential beast this season. But against an elite Denver defense that has yet to surrender a touchdown to a tight end this year, it may be wise to leave Barnidge on the bench this week.

Charles Clay (WR, BUF)

Charles Clay’s season is a perfect illustration of the fickle nature of the tight end position. After putting up TE1 numbers in Weeks 3 and 4, Clay laid an egg last week, recording just one catch for seven yards. The return of Sammy Watkins and the defense on Cincinnati makes this a bad matchup. Stay away.

 

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