RADIO
I'll start by repeating something profound I said in my podcast yesterday: Deshaun Watson is good. I'd put him at the top of this column once again, but it's too obvious in a matchup with Cleveland and you should be starting him anyway. Now that we got that out of the way, I'll continue by admitting that while my QB Hero from last week paid off handsomely, the receiver picks didn't go over quite so well. Stefon Diggs didn't make it very far through the season before getting injured again, so we can chalk that one up to bad luck. Randall Cobb, however, no longer seems to be the apple of Aaron Rodgers' eye and didn't get anything going against the Cowboys in a game where A-Rod tossed three TD. I must confess that I wasn't too disappointed since I sold my only share of Cobb just before Week 5.
I knew Kizer was a bad play, but I can't claim knowing he would lose his starting job in the middle of the game. I can say that of the 15 players listed as potential Zeroes, only two dared to defy me by actually producing good numbers. I am really glad Cam Newton is back, because I own him in literally half my leagues. Yes, I realize I used the word "literally" when it wasn't necessary, but my 10-year-old daughter says it so often, it's literally ingrained in my everyday vocabulary so I apologize. Sorry if you benched Cam on my watch too, even though I didn't!
Now, let's get to my fantasy "heroes" and "zeroes" at each position for Week 6 of the NFL season. For my full opinion on all fantasy-relevant players, you can check out how my rankings stack up against the other experts this week, or simply consult our RotoBaller consensus rankings.
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Week 6 Lineup Heroes
QUARTERBACK
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans - Good to see you make it to the other side finally, Marcus! He's appeared in this series twice in the first five weeks, both on the Zeroes side. FWIW, one was a hit and the other leaned toward a miss. After missing Week 5 with a bum hammy, Mariota should be good to go for Monday Night Football. Both teams have "funnel defenses," which is a good thing for quarterbacks. They each hold opponents to less than four yards per carry and are at least middle of the pack against the run, while their pass defense is fairly atrocious. The Titans have allowed a league-high 12 passing TD, while the Colts allow 294 pass yards per game, making them 29th in yards allowed. This is why I'm double dipping and recommending Mariota and Brissett as starting options for owners that stream QBs.
Notables Worth Mentioning: Jacoby Brissett, Kirk Cousins
RUNNING BACKS
C.J. Anderson, Denver Broncos - For the first time in... ever, I wish I owned C.J. Anderson somewhere. Much like another RB named C.J., I think Anderson goes HAM this week (get it? Not that I'm saying C.J. Ham is going to have a good game. It's just... never mind.) Anderson faces the path of least resistance this week, which is the New York Giants. They've already given up the fourth-most rushing yards this season and now they'll be without Olivier Vernon. Or an offense. The Broncos really might wipe the floor with this self-defeated and depleted team, so it could be run-run-run all through the second half in Mile High Stadium. If you have Jamaal Charles and need a flex play, go ahead and start him too.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers - Here's the moment of truth. Jones was tremendous in his first real taste of NFL action in Week 5, but he was also the only healthy running back in Green Bay. Ty Montgomery has been practicing and looks like he will play Sunday, although it might be with a flak jacket on. Jamaal Williams also has been taken off the injury report, so now Jones will have to put up another big game to steal snaps from the incumbent Montgomery. Call me crazy, but I think he might just do it. He's graded out as the seventh-most efficient running back this season and should see plenty of carries against a Vikings team that will be without their starting QB, RB, or WR1. The Vikes have a tough defensive front, but the longer they stay on the field facing off against Aaron Rodgers, the more likely Jones is to make plays in the second half. I like his chances enough to keep him in my starting lineup regardless of whether Montgomery is deemed ready.
Notables Worth Mentioning: Mark Ingram, Chris Thompson, Tevin Coleman, Shane Vereen
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jamison Crowder, Washington Redskins - There's nothing wrong with Jamison Crowder, you know. He's suddenly being dropped left and right because last year is being seen as a fluke. Well, it wasn't until Week 6 of last season that he started to become a fantasy factor. I've already documented how Kirk Cousins is a slow starter, but things should kick right into gear now that they're coming off a bye. It doesn't hurt that the 49ers are in town too. Throw in a Rob Kelley injury and the team should be passing early and often, while having its way with the Niners' young (and bad) secondary. Crowder gets the best matchup of the group, going against slot corner K'Waun Williams. This is a good time to buy low, since you can get him for almost nothing, or to add him in shallower leagues.
DaVante Adams, Green Bay Packers - At risk of repeating what I already said about this matchup, let me add that Adams will avoid the shadowy figure of Xavier Rhodes and instead face the still-improving-but-not-quite-there-yet first-round talent of Trae Waynes. Adams caught two TD last week in an amazing comeback from his suspected concussion and is doing all the things Randall Cobb used to do. Keep him plugged in as a high-end WR2.
Notables Worth Mentioning: JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeSean Jackson, Will Fuller, Pierre Garcon
TIGHT END
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, New York Jets - It's not a new coaching staff, but there seems to be a new game plan when it comes to tight end for the Jets. ASJ has caught five, four, and six passes in three games; the Jets totaled 28 receptions to tight ends the entire 2016 season. If he is truly a reformed man, he could keep emerging as a weapon. The Patriots are a mere four yards and/or one touchdown allowed from being the worst defense against TE this year. ASJ could not only make a nice tournament play, he could be a full-time replacement for disgruntled Martellus Bennett and Jack Doyle owners.
Notables Worth Mentioning: A.J. Derby, Austin Hooper
Week 6 Lineup Zeroes
QUARTERBACKS
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions - Remember when playing the Saints used to be a mouth-watering experience for opposing QBs? The tide may slowly be turning in the favor of Dennis Allen's crew on defense. Second-year man Ken Crawley is suddenly the top-rated CB in the league and first-rounder Marshon Lattimore appears to be the real deal. While we can't glean too much from their matchups against the punchless Dolphins in London, or their bye week for that matter, they were impressive in Week 3 against the Panthers too. Stafford is gimpy as it is, so even though he'll play, don't be fooled into thinking he's got an automatic 300 yards or multiple scores in him this week.
Notables Worth Mentioning: Jameis Winston, Jared Goff
RUNNING BACKS
Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers - Sorry, not a fan. Hyde has never been able to hang onto a starting job for very long, whether it's due to injury or ineffectiveness. When UDFA out of Georgia Southern, Matt Breida, starts to take away carries, it's time to cut bait. The Redskins have only given up one rushing touchdown and an average of 66 rushing yards per game to running backs this year. I fully expect them to be playing from ahead and squashing the San Fran rushing attack no matter who's in the backfield. That means don't get cute and start Breida either.
Adrian Peterson, Arizona Cardinals - As if there weren't enough being written about him already... You've probably figured out that they won't be giving him the ball 20+ times this week, seeing as how he's been with the team for about five days. You should also know that Arizona's offensive line is not a good run-blocking unit whatsoever. Even if All-Day eventually finds his footing in the desert, this game will be a classic battle of gunslingers shooting it out in the saloon. Feel free to add any more Western cliches you'd like to complete the scene.
Notables Worth Mentioning: Latavius Murray, Samaje Perine
WIDE RECEIVERS
Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos - He gets Janoris Jenkins this week and the Broncos won't be passing the ball much as they beat the stuffing out of the hapless Giants. There, now can we talk about how Thomas has suddenly gone from a high-floor, every-week WR2 to a non-factor in the red zone? He's getting targeted over seven times again, so he's not been completely forgotten. But he only has two red zone targets in four games. Same as Virgil Green, half as much as Bennie Fowler, whose two TD are two more than Thomas. That should change eventually, but I don't see it happening this week.
Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars - You may have realized by now that nobody will be taking the place of Allen Robinson in terms of production. In fact, there is nobody on Jacksonville's offense worth starting other than Leonard Fournette. It will likely remain that way the rest of the season, as the coaching staff has wisely turn the team into a ground-first attack. While Hurns might be the most likely to score a short touchdown, you don't want to use your flex spot on him if you can help it. The Rams are a reverse-funnel defense to some extent, as they've been terrible against the run, but decent against the pass. I'd rather take a shot on someone like Robby Anderson scoring a garbage time TD than Hurns.
Notables Worth Mentioning: Marvin Jones, Robert Woods, Danny Amendola
TIGHT END
Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins - They haven't done a lot right, but for some reason the 49ers have defended the tight end better than anyone. Jordan Reed is seen as a big-play threat, but he's been the polar opposite in 2017. Reed is dead last in Average Targeted Air Yards at 4.9 and has barely amassed over 100 yards in the three games he has played. He's questionable already with a chest injury, so do yourself the favor and count him out before getting your hopes up just to be deflated again.
Notables Worth Mentioning: Benjamin Watson, Jack Doyle
