RADIO
This article's content may vary week-to-week, but generally, it will be answering questions fielded from either the @RotoBallerNFL twitter account or my personal one (@RotoSurgeon). This week, the focus is on start/sit questions, and there were plenty. Every week, many of us struggle with which quarterback to start, or who to flex, and I am here to help.
The questions selected will combat difficult decisions that might be specific to Week 6 starters. We have seen plenty of early risers and fallers who may not make the cut in our lineup as we stumble through the season. The hype and shine wear off some places and beginning to glisten elsewhere. However, sometimes, it is just best to not rock the boat (particularly if things are going well).
If you need any questions answered in the coming weeks, feel free to follow and ask either account and we will make sure to respond promptly.
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Week 6 Mailbag
The matchup is one that favors Breida. The Rams' run defense is far worse than the 49ers, however, the Niners are dealing with several injuries upfront. They are down both starting tackles in Mike McGlinchey and Joe Staley, without their fullback, Kyle Juzczyk, and now potentially with a limited George Kittle. Malcolm Brown is in line to take a lion's share of the touches from the Rams' backfield with Todd Gurley out and could find himself in-line to score a few times this Sunday. The Rams are more open to utilizing Brown in the red-zone than the Niners are with Breida. This disparity could be the difference that makes or breaks either this weekend.
Verdict: Malcolm Brown
Aaron Rodgers is once again without his top receiving option, Davante Adams. Unless Aaron Jones decides to go God-mode once again, someone will have to be scoring touchdowns and gaining chunk yardage against the Lions on Monday night. MVS is as safe a bet as anyone in the receiving corps to do work and could find himself a regression candidate. MVS has only accumulated 235 yards on the season but is being fed some long passes through the air. His current air yards are 450 which is top-25 in the league. He (along with the other Packers' WRs) has a good chance of eating sans Adams.
Preston Williams is not a bad option due to his target share and rapport with QB Josh Rosen, but that offense is just so bad that it is hard to start him with better options available. Diontae Johnson is a good rookie but has a third-string QB throwing to him away from home, in primetime. I'd stay away there.
Verdict: Marquez-Valdes Scantling
Defenses are dumb. You could play the most talented one there is and still find yourself with fewer points than a significantly worse option because of a few broken plays. In this case, the best option is the Titans Defense because they are above average against the pass and run, and get to face Joe Flacco. Having the game played in Denver is a bit of a downer given that unfamiliar players get tired faster, but everything else here is the right play. The Broncos are run-heavy and are not likely to break a significant amount of points to hurt the Titans too badly. Given that Ju'Wuan James is injured and Garrett Bolles is still active, there are going to be plenty of opportunities to wreak havoc off the edge.
The Cowboys are an intriguing option given the Jets' poor offensive line - but with Sam Darnold back, this game feels like a wild card situation. If Darnold is magically back to full strength, then things could be murky for the Cowboys' D given the talent around Darnold that will be properly utilized. If he's still recovering from the effects of Mono, he will be vulnerable. We really do not know right now, and that is iffy enough to stay away when there are better options available.
The Jaguars are weird. They have a ton of talent, but not a lot of depth, particularly in the secondary. If Jalen Ramsey plays, they are as good a defense as anyone. However, he is still questionable with his "back" issue and may miss yet another game. The Saints' offense is also dealing with an injury to a major piece in Alvin Kamara. Kamara is dealing with an ankle injury that forced him to miss practice Friday. If reports come out that Kamara is out and Ramsey is playing, the Jags become as appealing an option as the Titans, particularly because they are at home. For now, they are just a middling option given that the Saints' OL is very good and that Michael Thomas fella is still out there lurking.
Verdict: Titans D/ST
The New York Jets have been underrated on defense thus far. Above-average according to DVOA against both the run and pass and doing it with a mostly mediocre cornerback room. Gregg Williams is doing something right for once. The Cowboys/Jets game (fantasy-wise) is going to depend on how much the Jets offense can accomplish. If they are clicking, Prescott will be forced to air the ball out to his talented WRs, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. If the Jets are stinking as they've been thus far, it could just be an Ezekial Elliot day where Dallas runs down the clock after getting an early lead. Prescott is a fine option regardless but does not have the same upside as Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens' offense is a far cry from where it has been in years past and could be taken advantage of even by the likes of Andy Dalton. Although Dalton likely won't have a field day or anything, he just has to put enough points on the board to keep the Ravens offense electric. Jackson has one of his easiest matchups of the season this week and might run all over Cinci. The only downside for the Ravens is the fact that Hollywood Brown might be out. On the other side, Carlos Dunlap is missing his first game since 2012 which makes the Bengals even more vulnerable. There is a good chance that Mark Ingram goes off and snipes Jackson's touchdowns, but, this matchup is too juicy regardless to consider anyone else.
Verdict: Lamar Jackson
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