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Mark McWhirter lists his top 10 fantasy football lineup busts and NFL players to avoid for Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season, based on bad matchups.
Week 6 is here! The weirdness from last week has continued, as we have now had a Tuesday Night Football game but then had Thursday Night Football taken away from us.
Assuming and hoping that there are no cancellations this weekend, fantasy managers can count on not having any Saints, Seahawks, Chargers, or Raiders this week due to the ever-changing bye week schedule. Those four teams happen to roster several star fantasy players and GMs will have to navigate their absence.
Fortunately, our RotoBaller team is committed to providing top-notch advice each week to aid you with waiver wire pickups and provide insight on every fantasy football matchup. I'm here to help you set winning lineups by highlighting players who are poised to let you down. Below are my top ten fantasy football busts for Week 6. Good luck, Rotoballers!
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Joe Mixon vs. Indianapolis Colts
Joe Mixon is the RB11 yet has only finished inside the top 23 running backs on one occasion. In fact, 52% of Mixon’s fantasy points this season came in only one game. Otherwise, you have performances of RB46, RB27, RB33, and RB23. Managers of Mixon last year should be unsurprised by this development, as he was the RB32 after five weeks a season ago. He ultimately finished as the RB13 for the season, meaning GMs should keep the faith long-term. Short-term, however, is an unappetizing date with a stingy Colts’ defense.
The Colts rank third against rushers in fantasy points allowed per contest and only Kareem Hunt has posted a finish better than RB17 against them. Game script is unlikely to favor Mixon in this matchup and Joe Burrow could have trouble moving the offense coming off a rough showing versus Baltimore. Looking at the current running back landscape, it is impossible to bench Mixon. Nonetheless, managers should keep expectations in check for the workhorse back this week.
Deebo Samuel vs. Los Angeles Rams
It has been a slow return to action for Deebo Samuel, as he has posted fantasy finishes of WR61 and WR78 in his limited work thus far. Awaiting him in Week 6 is a matchup with the top-ranked defense against fantasy wide receivers. Terry McLaurin made an appearance in my bust column last week and was appropriately shut down versus Jalen Ramsey and company. The Rams have employed a run-heavy approach that limits the opportunity for opposing offenses and the 49ers’ offense looked shockingly terrible against the Dolphins last week. Jimmy Garoppolo was forced to exit that tilt due to aggravating his ankle injury and it is unclear whether he will be at full health against Los Angeles.
Brandon Aiyuk has been used in a similar fashion to Deebo and George Kittle remains the clear number one target for this squad. We need to see the 49ers’ passing attack get back on track before inserting Deebo into fantasy lineups, especially in matchups as daunting as this one.
Teddy Bridgewater vs. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears rank second against fantasy quarterbacks through five weeks. Here are the quarterbacks who have faced the Bears: Matthew Stafford, Daniel Jones, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, and Tom Brady. Here are their weekly fantasy finishes versus the Bears: QB21, QB31, QB27, QB27, and QB19. This is not a team you want to throw on and Bridgewater is not a matchup-proof starter.
Teddy is off to a nice start in his new home and checks in as the QB15 to this point in the season. Coming off a predictably nice stat line versus the Atlanta Falcons “defense”, Bridgewater is in for a rude awakening as the competition level ramps up significantly this week. While he did come through versus the Cardinals, Bridgewater struggled in his two previous games when he took on the Buccaneers and Chargers. Although he does have a couple of excellent receiving options in Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore, Chicago also happens to be the second-toughest opponent for fantasy receivers, making this a matchup to avoid.
Rob Gronkowski vs. Green Bay Packers
Rob Gronkowski is the most highly rostered TE30 in recent memory. His top finish has been TE16 and he has given managers performances of TE36 and TE33 while adding a goose egg for good measure. It is promising that he is coming off a season-high 52 receiving yards, but unfortunately for Gronk he gets a matchup with the Green Bay Packers this week.
Green Bay ranks second against tight ends. T.J. Hockenson, Jared Cook, and Hayden Hurst posted finishes of TE19, TE40, and TE14 against the Packers and they have allowed only 6.6 points per game to the position. Chris Godwin has a legitimate shot to take the field this week and his presence would take even more targets away from Gronk. While O.J. Howard is lost for the season, Cameron Brate was resurrected to tie Gronk in targets last week, showing that Howard’s injury hasn’t actually opened up the level of additional opportunity that was expected. Managers are better off streaming the position in hopes of finding the end zone, a destination Gronk has yet to reach in 2020.
Mark Ingram II vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have been sturdy versus fantasy runners this season, rating 13th as we approach Week 6. Mark Ingram has been an immense disappointment as the volume that was there a year ago is nowhere to be found, leaving Ingram at RB37 on the season. Ingram has handled only nine carries per outing and has only three total receptions.
To make matters worse, a player who seemed a sure bet for touchdowns has scored only twice thus far. Finding himself in a true three-back committee, Ingram has topped 37 scrimmage yards only twice all season. The floor and ceiling are extremely low, as Ingram has devolved into a touchdown-dependent RB3. Ingram has out-carried Gus Edwards only 19 to 16 the past two weeks and the snap count has actually favored Edwards, with J.K. Dobbins also mixing in almost evenly with Ingram. The last three weeks have featured running backs such as Joe Mixon and James Conner fail to impress against the Eagles and those players do not come with the volume concerns of Ingram. Starting Ingram is banking on a touchdown, which is something we have not witnessed with regularity to this point.
Darius Slayton vs. Washington Football Team
Darius Slayton, the WR21 on the year, has been the definition of boom-or-bust this year. Finishes of WR4 and WR15 bookend performances of WR82, WR69, and WR55. Last week’s performance snapped a three-game funk for Slayton, but keep in mind that it came against the barely-there Cowboys’ secondary.
Washington has completely shut down opposing wide receivers this season, ranking third against the position. Robert Woods managed a WR21 performance against the Football Team last week, but Cooper Kupp finished as the WR39 after watching Marquise Brown do the same a week prior. Continuing the trend, Odell Beckham posted a WR47 finish against Washington in Week 3. Daniel Jones has really struggled in his sophomore campaign and hasn’t topped 222 passing yards since Week 2. Slayton is always one big play away from saving an outing from a fantasy perspective but is best left on benches in this matchup.
Joe Burrow vs. Indianapolis Colts
Joe Burrow appeared in my busts list last week and responded with a QB29 finish. Unfortunately, things do not get any easier this week for the much-hyped and likable rookie sensation. Burrow has only finished above QB20 twice this season and has only one QB1 finish. The Colts rank first against fantasy quarterbacks and have yet to allow a QB1 finish. Granted, the Colts have yet to face any elite signal-callers, but they appear to be quite formidable in every defensive area, as evident by their rankings of ninth against receivers, third against rushers, and first against tight ends.
With the obvious ability to shut down all positions, there will be slim pickings for Burrow as he attempts to evade the Colts’ pass rush behind a troublesome offensive line. A.J. Green is unlikely to play this week, and although he has not been producing for fantasy, he still commands attention from opposing defenses and therefore opens up space for other pass catchers. Leave the rookie on the bench during his first road trip to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jimmy Graham vs. Carolina Panthers
Jimmy Graham is enjoying a surprising resurgence to fantasy relevance in his first season with the Bears, checking in as the current TE6. The Panthers also happen to be enjoying a surprising run of success, but on the defensive side of the ball. The young Panthers were expected to be dreadful defensively but have actually been solid against both tight ends and quarterbacks, limiting Graham’s upside this week. The Panthers rank ninth against tight ends and third against quarterbacks, respectively.
The Panthers are the friendliest team in the NFL to fantasy running backs and this recipe should allow the Bears to lean on the running game. Graham’s season-long numbers are inflated by his TE1 performance in Week 3, as he has only one other top-12 fantasy finish through five games. The touchdowns have been there for Graham, as he has four on the season. However, his floor is still extremely low, as evident by the fact that he has only topped 33 receiving yards in one game. Darren Waller, Hunter Henry, and Hayden Hurst have all failed to deliver against the Panthers, and Graham is likely to do the same.
Damien Harris vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos have been the toughest matchup for opposing rushers in fantasyland in 2020, even after facing the likes of Derrick Henry and James Conner. Damien Harris took over early-down duties for the Patriots versus the Chiefs after Sony Michel was placed on IR and managed to hit the century mark on seventeen totes. Unfortunately, there are a few concerns with putting your trust in Harris this week, and possibly moving forward.
Both James White and Rex Burkhead operated ahead of Harris in the passing game, and this remains a true committee. Further muddying the waters is the fact that Harris’s breakout came with Cam Newton residing on the reserve/COVID-19 list. With Cam now activated and ready for game action, he takes away significant opportunity on the goal-line and in the running game in general. Harris essentially stepped into Sony Michel’s exact role as the early-down bruiser, and while he did look both better and faster than Michel, his fantasy success will be limited unless Cam concedes more goal-line looks than he did early this season. It is advisable that fantasy managers give this situation a week to play itself out before anointing Harris a starting running back, especially due to this week’s unfavorable matchup.
Travis Fulgham vs. Baltimore Ravens
Travis Fulgham broke out in a big way last week and stepped forward as the number one receiver for the Eagles. There are positives with Fulgham, such as his 6’2, 215 lb frame, but there are also notable red flags to pay attention to this week and in general.
Fulgham was a 6th-round pick of the Lions in 2019 and has a total of twelve NFL receptions to his name. Ten of those receptions came last week. Greg Ward has established himself as a reliable target for Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz is still a threat to command significant looks. Although Ertz has had a slow start to the season, the Ravens are more vulnerable to the tight end position than perhaps any other. The Ravens rank 19th against tight ends but seventh against wide receivers. DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery are both practicing this week and if either were to be active it would further limit the targets available for Fulgham.
Tyler Boyd was the WR54 last week versus Baltimore. Will Fuller was blanked versus Baltimore. Odell Beckham was the WR77 versus Baltimore. Although there is room for success, as Terry McLaurin and Tyreek Hill were able to prove, Fulgham is not someone to force into lineups the way managers should with players of their ilk. Sit Fulgham this week.
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