RADIO
It was comeback weekend in the NFL as the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers all overcame late game deficits to win important games. Whether it was the flurry of scoring in the final minutes of the 1:00 games or the gutsy Le'Veon Bell touchdown from late Monday night, your fantasy matchups were swayed one way or the other by these huge swings.
Many of you are now facing an early season hole and are looking for a savior off of the scrap heap. On the other hand, there are plenty of owners sitting pretty looking for that final piece to solidify their bench and pay dividends late.
Hopefully, we can help you all with the second edition of Week 6 Risers and Fallers.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Risers
Shane Vereen (RB, NYG)
The New York Giants face a bit of a dilemma this week, and it will leave plenty of fantasy football managers pacing in front of their screens. Odell Beckham, Jr. and Rueben Randle are both nursing hamstring injuries and the team plays on Monday Night. If your flex position sits empty all week, Shane Vereen may be your answer.
After disappearing from the passing game in the last two weeks, Vereen hauled in eight passes for 86 yards and a touchdown and added 24 rushing yards in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. 54 of those yards came after Beckham and Randle left the game, and Vereen will likely be lined up as a wide receiver this week to supplement his role in the backfield. Vereen's play has been up-and-down, but he has a high ceiling week-to-week and will be a valuable asset down the stretch.
Luke McCown (QB, CLE)
The 'Manziel' chants have quieted just a bit in Cleveland. Josh McCown has shown promise in the Browns offense with three consecutive 300-yard games, including a career-best 457 passing yards in an overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens.
While Gary Barnidge, Isaiah Crowell, Duke Johnson and Travis Benjamin owners were left smiling, especially in PPR leagues, McCown managed to fly under the radar yet again. McCown has thrown six touchdowns and just one interception, all coming in just three games (McCown left the game in Week 1 after a strong start and missed all of their Week 2 matchup).
Christine Michael (RB, DAL)
It may seem odd to list a player that had just one carry in Week 5 as a riser, but the previously speculated notion that Christine Michael might take over the Dallas Cowboys starting job has gained steam.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Michael will “definitely” be used more after the Cowboys' bye week, and the running back will be in consideration to be the team's main back in Week 7. Coming into the season, the Cowboys RB1 position was thought of as a gold mine thanks to their menacing offensive line, but Joseph Randle has been mediocre, Lance Dunbar is done for the season and Darren McFadden is a part-time player at this point. If Michael takes hold of the job, he's a fantasy game-changer for the rest of the year.
Week 6 Fantasy Football Fallers
Matthew Stafford (QB, DET)
During the draft, the Detroit Lions offense looked like a buffet. They had three capable backs, two high-ceiling receivers and a quarterback that loves to throw the ball around the yard. The situation has quickly turned into a graveyard, and Matthew Stafford has been the biggest casualty.
Stafford was so bad in Week 5 that he was pulled from the game against the Arizona Cardinals in favor of Dan Orlovsky, who has started just 12 NFL games in his eight-year career. Stafford is still the starting quarterback according to head coach Jim Caldwell, but at the moment he leads the league in interceptions with eight and is 15th in the league in passing yards.
He could only survive on throwing the ball up to Megatron for so long, and that time appears to have passed.
Alfred Morris (RB, WAS)
Alfred Morris has been the best back in Washington over the last three years, but he's getting plenty of pressure from the young backs behind him on the depth chart. The Washington Redskins rushed for just 51 yards against the Atlanta Falcons and Morris earned less than a third of those yards. For a back that has excelled under a heavy workload, the situation is shaky for Morris.
Washington has suffered from several injuries to their wide receivers, which has led to additional snaps for Matt Jones and Chris Thompson. Nobody should be rallying behind DeSean Jackson more than Morris. If the Redskins can find a way to spread the field, it will open up the run game significantly. If opposing defenses continue to make Kirk Cousins beat them--which they will--Morris will be forced to slug through the middle of the line and eat up yards in small chunks.
Anthony Dixon (RB, BUF)
With LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams out in Week 5, Boobie Dixon seemed like the logical pick to step in and shoulder the load for the Buffalo Bills. But Dixon was hampered by a calf injury and was supplanted by Daniel 'Boom' Herron, who just signed with the Bills last week.
With three backs now ahead of him, Dixon will be hard-pressed to get another opportunity to shine. The big back has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry in his career to go with 24 receptions in 85 games. Dixon was already off the fantasy radar, and he's now been buried for good.
