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Keith Hernandez analyzes NFL players to consider sitting or benching for Week 6. These are his top potential fantasy football lineup busts to avoid starting.
Weeks 4 and 5 saw a combined four teams go on bye. Week 6, however, will be the first week of the season with four teams off in the same week. That will also be the case in Weeks 7, 9, 11 and 12. Meanwhile, in Week 10 there will be six different teams taking a break. We're in the stretch of the season where your fantasy team's depth will surely be tested.
Having less players to choose from on a weekly basis will make some of your lineup decisions easier, but it also means you won't be able to avoid players in poor matchups as much as you'd like to. When scouting out trades to bolster your squad, take into account bye weeks and upcoming schedules to close out the fantasy regular season as well as the fantasy playoffs. It's always a chess match.
Below are 10 potential busts for Week 6 of the 2019 fantasy football season.
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Potential Quarterback Busts for Week 6
Carson Wentz - Philadelphia Eagles @ Vikings
Wentz has a solid 10:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 60.3 completion percentage through five weeks, but that's about where the positives end. The 26-year-old has yet to throw for over 300 yards since the season opener, and it's not a coincidence that's the last time he had deep threat DeSean Jackson (abdomen) for a full game.
Since then, Wentz has thrown for under 250 yards three times, including going under 200 yards passing each of the last two games -- one of which was against the Jets. He's completed under 20 passes each of the last three games and has attempted less than 30 passes each of the last two. It'll be tough to move the ball consistently on the road in Minnesota with D-Jax out again.
Jared Goff - Los Angeles Rams Vs. 49ers
Fantasy owners have been happy with Goff the last two weeks, as he's thrown for 912 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions while taking just two sacks. Those games have been up-tempo affairs where the Rams have been playing from behind. That could be the case again against San Fran, but Goff already has seven interceptions and has remained inconsistent.
He's likely to be without Todd Gurley (quadriceps) and will be facing a much improved defense led by rookie defensive end Nick Bosa. Goff was held to 199 and 202 yards in two games against the Niners in 2018. This year, the 49ers have allowed the fifth fewest fantasy points per game (15.5) to opposing quarterbacks. They've given up just five passing TDs in four games.
Others: Aaron Rodgers (Vs. Lions), Sam Darnold (Vs. Cowboys)
Potential Running Back Busts for Week 6
Todd Gurley - Los Angeles Rams Vs. 49ers
We might as well stick with the Rams against a Niners defense that is even better at shutting down the run. They've yet to allow a rushing or receiving score to a running back and give up the fewest fantasy points per game (9.5) to the position. On top of it, Gurley has a quad injury that could keep him out entirely or force the Rams to lean more heavily on Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. Gurley ranks 21st in the NFL with 64 carries. That might drop even further if he plays at less than 100 percent.
Jordan Howard - Philadelphia Eagles @ Vikings
Both Howard and Miles Sanders could have a tough go of it against a Minnesota defensive front allowing just 13.7 fantasy points per game to running backs and only one rushing touchdown in five games. Howard has taken more of a stranglehold over the Eagles backfield the last two weeks, but the fact remains that Sanders still has one more rushing attempt than Howard through five games. If Howard doesn't find the end zone, he's likely to disappoint.
David Johnson - Arizona Cardinals Vs. Falcons
The Falcons Defense is a friendly matchup. But it's been their secondary that has been more vulnerable; Atlanta has allowed only 19 catches to running backs (third lowest in the league), which has been a specialty for Johnson. He gutted through a back injury last week and could cede a lot of backfield work to Chase Edmonds, if he even plays at all. Johnson is officially a game-time decision for Sunday afternoon.
Others: Phillip Lindsay (Vs. Titans), LeSean McCoy (Vs. Texans), Leonard Fournette (Vs. Saints)
Potential Wide Receiver Busts for Week 6
Tyler Lockett - Seattle Seahawks @ Browns
Lockett is extremely efficient. He's hauled in 30 of his 36 targets on the year and has three touchdowns. The scary thing for fantasy owners is that he's only tied for 27th in the NFL with his 36 targets. Lockett had a two-game stretch against the Steelers and Saints where he was looked to 26 times, but in his other three games he's been thrown to only 10 times combined.
That's life in a heavy run-first offense like Seattle. His stock will go down if both Browns cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams return from their injuries this week. Cleveland has been much more beatable on the ground, which is right up the Seahawks alley.
JuJu Smith-Schuster - Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chargers
Mason Rudolph made it a point to get Smith-Schuster involved in last week's overtime loss to the Ravens (seven catches, 75 yards and a TD). But Rudolph has been ruled out this weekend after a scary concussion. You can't expect rookie Devlin Hodges to connect with his No. 1 wideout consistently, and Smith-Schuster will be shadowed by cornerback Casey Hayward.
Marquise Brown - Baltimore Ravens Vs. Bengals
Brown missed a big chunk of the Week 5 game due to an ankle injury and has missed practice time this week. He'll be a game-time decision on Sunday. That is notable for a rookie deep threat that relies on speed as a big part of his game. His target share has dwindled each of the last three weeks, and his reception total of 21 ranks tied for 32nd in the NFL after five weeks.
The former Oklahoma Sooner is always a threat for a long touchdown, but the Bengals actually haven't been that bad at limiting opposing pass-catchers. They're giving up 19 fantasy points per game to the position, which is sixth best in the league. This is a game that wreaks of the Ravens building an early lead and milking the clock away with their ground game.
Others: Brandin Cooks (Vs. 49ers), Robby Anderson (Vs. Cowboys), Corey Davis (@ Broncos)
Potential Tight End Busts for Week 6
Gerald Everett - Los Angeles Rams Vs. 49ers
Everett's stock is on the rise after catching 12 passes (19 targets) for 180 yards and a touchdown the last two weeks. In the first three weeks, he had six catches on just seven targets. It's nice to see him become more involved of late, but the Rams still have plenty of other guys to feed through the air. The Niners give up the third fewest fantasy points per game (3.7) to tight ends. Did we mention their defense has been really good?
Delanie Walker - Tennessee Titans @ Broncos
Is Walker finally showing his age? Maybe, but he's just had some really tough matchups recently, and the Broncos are no different. Denver's defense is finally starting to realize their potential. Walker started the year off hot with two scores in the season opener but has really faded the last two weeks, catching two passes for 14 yards. It's really hard to trust pass-catchers in Tennessee. Expect them to feed the ball to Derrick Henry yet again against Denver. Shocker.
Others: Jason Witten (@ Jets), O.J. Howard (Vs. Panthers)
