RADIO
Welcome back RotoBallers! As we head into Week 6 of the NFL season, we are approaching the time where getting off to a slow start can cross the line and get into "I may be digging too deep of a hole to climb out of " territory. It's more critical than ever to make the right lineup decisions and start the right players to put out your optimal lineups. If you're looking at a 1-4 or 0-5 record, this is a must-win week for fantasy managers.
With that being said, it's just as important to sit the proper players who may end up having rough days, and hurt your chances of winning your Week 6 matchups. Listed below will be some players who could be in for a disappointing performance relative to their overall expectations.
No matter how bad of a matchup some of these players may have, fantasy managers likely aren't in a position to leave them on their bench. Having said that, there are a couple of guys who are by no means a must-start in Week 6.
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Who Should You Bench or Sit in Week 6
QB - Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Cousins is on the road against the Carolina Panthers defense that has given up the fewest passing yards per game (161.6) and the third-fewest yards per attempt (6.3) When considering the run-heavy playbook of the Minnesota offense, there could simply not be enough volume in the passing game to feel confident with Cousins in your starting lineup. To salvage a potentially poor performance through the air, Cousins does not possess much of an ability to get fantasy points with his legs, so fantasy managers may need to rely on a few touchdown passes in this game.
With Dalvin Cook potentially making his return in Week 6, he could be in for a significant workload. Whether or not he plays, Alexander Mattison has handled 30+ touches in both games that Cook sat out, so the offensive game plan wouldn't change much regardless of who is leading the backfield. Surprisingly, Cook and Mattison have combined for just one rushing touchdown this season, which came all the way back in Week 1. This stat is noteworthy considering how frequently the Vikings run the ball, so we could be in for some positive touchdown in this category. All things considered, the Minnesota signal-caller is an easy fade this week.
Should You Start Josh Jacobs in Week 6?
RB - Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders
Jacobs has been pretty mediocre to start the season, and that may be putting it lightly. In the three games he has been active, he has not surpassed 50 rushing yards, nor has he been particularly efficient. The only appealing factor of his game has been his usage near the goal line, as he has scored three touchdowns so far. He faces a tough matchup on the road against the Denver Broncos, who have given up the sixth-fewest rushing yards (85.4 per game) and the fourth-fewest yards per carry (3.7) The Broncos don't give up many chunk plays either, as they have given up just one 20+ yard run all season, so it is unlikely Jacobs breaks off a long run to skew his numbers in this game.
The Raiders offense as a whole is likely in for a rough game in the Mile High City, so the third-year back is an easy fade in this one. Sure, there is always the possibility he can find the end zone and make up for lackluster rushing numbers, but at some point, something has to give when it comes to his touchdown pace. The Broncos have only given up three rushing touchdowns this season, so this could be the game where he doesn't find the end zone and completely lays an egg for fantasy managers. Jacobs is by no means a must-start this week and is a FLEX option at best.
#Raiders Josh Jacobs has topped the 100-yard rushing mark ... for the season
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) October 10, 2021
Should You Start Devontae Booker in Week 6?
RB - Devontae Booker, New York Giants
Booker was one of the hottest commodities on the waiver wire this week as Saquon Barkley is set to miss some time with a low-ankle sprain. The veteran will likely be in a lot of starting lineups as bye weeks start to kick in, but the former Bronco could be in for a tough day. Fantasy managers could see a performance reminiscent of Alex Collins in Week 5, where he carried the ball 15 times for just 47 yards and didn't find the end zone. The Los Angeles Rams are right near the middle of the pack in terms of rushing yards allowed, so the matchup isn't all that concerning. Nonetheless, the game script in this one could be problematic for the usage of Booker in the run game.
When you match up the high-powered Rams offense and a weak Giants defense, whoever is under center for the Giants in Week 6 will likely have to throw the ball a ton to play catchup. Even though the Giants got blown out by the Cowboys in Week 5, Booker still saw 19 touches. However, that was without Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Darius Slayton in the lineup. Golladay will be held out in Week 6, but it is expected that Shepard and Slayton will be ready to go, meaning that Daniel Jones or Mike Glennon will likely have more of a green light to air it out. Booker seems like a solid FLEX option this week, but don't get carried away in terms of expectations as he runs behind a suspect offensive line.
Should You Start Darrel Williams in Week 6?
RB - Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs
Williams was the other popular pickup on the waiver wire this week, but he, like Booker, could be in for a disappointing game in Week 6. The Chiefs take on the Washington Football Team who are one of the worst defenses against the pass through the first five games of the season, as they have given up the sixth-most passing yards. Washington is in the middle of the pack in terms of run defense, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce get back on track and see a ton of volume. After their loss to the Chargers, Mahomes came out firing against the Eagles and threw five touchdown passes as he dominated the Philadelphia pass defense.
Expect to see much of the same in this game as Mahomes dominates through the air and attacks a weak secondary, leaving limited volume for Williams. The 26-year-old should see most of the touches out of the backfield, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Jerick McKinnon take on an increased role in the passing game. Williams will be the goal-line back, but considering how frequently the Chiefs look for Hill and Kelce close to the end zone, there is reason to not feel confident that Williams scores a touchdown in this one. He is a solid FLEX option this week, but fantasy managers shouldn't get carried away in terms of their expectations for him with Clyde Edwards-Helaire sidelined.
Is Amari Cooper A Risky Start in Week 6?
WR - Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys
Cooper once again finds himself on the potential bust list as the Cowboys travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the New England Patriots. After going nuclear in the season opener, he has caught three passes in four consecutive games since then. He has not surpassed 70 receiving yards since Week 1 and has been targeted for a total of just 18 times since seeing 17 in the season opener. Over the past four weeks, it is obvious that the Cowboys will be a run-heavy team moving forward, as Ezekiel Elliott has looked the best he has been since his rookie season. Elliott is likely in for another hefty workload, as the Patriots have been one of the better pass defenses so far this season, as they have given up the fifth-fewest yards per game.
Cooper could get the Chris Godwin treatment from the Pats defense, as Godwin was completely taken out of the game plan after catching just three passes for 55 yards. It is apparent that Dak Prescott won’t force the ball to his No. 1 receiver, as his target share the past four weeks confirms it. CeeDee Lamb and Dalton Schultz will get the fair share of looks, so it seems nothing favors Cooper for this matchup, whether that be the matchup or high-volume. He is likely a must-start option in most formats, but the last four games are likely more of a representation of the usage the 27-year-old will see the rest of the season.
Cowboys targets over the past three weeks:
Dalton Schultz (22 targets)
...
..
.
CeeDee Lamb (12)
Amari Cooper (12)
Cedrick Wilson (7)
Ezekiel Elliott (6)
Tony Pollard (5)
Blake Jarwin (5)
Noah Brown (5)Cool cool cool
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 13, 2021
Is Adam Thielen A Risky Start in Week 6?
WR - Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings
Thielen has been very disappointing to start the season, and that could easily continue into Week 6 against the Panthers. As mentioned above, Cousins is likely in for a dud performance as well, so there will likely be a trickle-down effect into one, if not both Vikings’ receivers. Thielen seems like the obvious choice if choosing to bench one of Cousins’ pass-catchers, as he has surpassed 50 receiving yards just once this season all the way back in Week 1. Yes, Thielen has had a nose for the end zone in the past couple of seasons, but still, he has the look of an untrustworthy option moving forward.
Justin Jefferson is clearly the No. 1 wide receiver now, that should be obvious at this point. The Panthers have given up the fewest receptions this season, which is not a good match with the Vikings' run-heavy scheme, especially for the clear No. 2 receiver in the offense. With just five receptions in his past two games, the 31-year-old is a low-end WR2 at best on Sunday. He will likely need to score a touchdown to have any sort of noteworthy production, as it would be surprising to see him stuff the stat sheet in the reception and yards categories. Sure, he could find the end zone in this game. But, fantasy managers should likely look elsewhere for a WR2 option if he needs to rely on a touchdown to salvage his fantasy production on a weekly basis.
31-year-old Adam Thielen yards per route run over last five years:
2017: 2.33
2018: 2.10
2019: 1.86
2020: 1.86
2021: 1.34— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) October 12, 2021
Should You Start or Sit David Njoku in Week 6?
TE - David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
Njoku is in for an extremely tough matchup with the Arizona Cardinals defense, which has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends. In an extremely thin position, fantasy managers could go out and start chasing points after his explosion in Week 5 against the Chargers. He caught all seven of his targets for 149 yards and a touchdown, so even half of this production would still be solid for the TE slot in fantasy lineups if you are in need of a streaming option.
Still, considering Austin Hooper will have a role in the passing game, Njoku is an easy fade this week, even with all the hype surrounding him from last week. Odell Beckham Jr. was almost non-existent in the offense in Week 5, which is safe to say will likely change against the Cardinals. When you combine the run-heavy Cleveland offense and a horrible matchup that allows just 5.54 fantasy points per game to the position, Njoku is an easy fade on Sunday.
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