Week 6 Matchups - Fantasy Football Game Breakdowns (Part 1)

October 13, 2018

Fantasy football lineup advice based on Week 6 matchups. Chris Mangano gives his In-depth matchups analysis, lineups start and sit recommendations, and players he loves or hates.

Welcome to our Week 6 matchups analysis and starts/sits column for fantasy football. We'll be covering every matchup from every Sunday game to help you make the best decisions for your fantasy lineups. We'll also be updating this as injury reports come in so check back often.

This article will cover the early slate of games, beginning at 1 PM ET on Sunday. Also check out our late game matchups analysis and our MNF matchups analysis (released on Saturdays).

Check back here each week to get advice for your toughest start/sit decisions and take a look at our consensus rankings each week. Find me on Twitter @ChrisMangano for more insight and help to your start/sit questions.

Matchups Analysis - 1:00 PM ET Games

The early slate has a full load of nine games this week, as there are still only two teams on a bye. Set those lineups in time by analyzing each matchup below to gain the best advantage.

Buccaneers at Falcons

Matchups We Love:

Jameis Winston (QB, TB)
Winston reclaimed starting duties for the Buccaneers, taking over starting duties from Ryan Fitzpatrick in the second half of their Week 4 loss to the Bears. Coming out of the bye, Winston will be a popular streamer as he takes on a Falcons defense allowing 287 yards and almost three touchdowns per game to quarterbacks. Winston offers a high-ceiling in this one and will be started in plenty of leagues.

Mike Evans (WR, TB)
Evans leads the team in targets and touchdowns and is in a great spot against a Falcons secondary that is allowing 14 catches and two touchdowns per game to receivers. With Winston back, Evans could see an even greater target share and is a locked-in WR1.

Matt Ryan (QB, ATL)
Ryan disappointed on the road last week against a poor Steelers defense but is in for a bounce-back at home against the league's worst defense. The Buccaneers are allowing 370 yards to passers and more than three touchdowns per game. Ryan has games of 31, 40 and 29 in his three home games this year and should have little trouble putting up huge numbers. He has a real case for the overall QB1 this week.

Tevin Coleman (RB, ATL), Ito Smith (RB, ATL)
With Devonta Freeman unable to practice with a foot injury, it seems likely Coleman will lead the backfield in an absolute smash spot. The Buccaneers are allowing a touchdown per game on the ground, and give up seven receptions to running backs. Smith could vulture goal-line work, but Coleman's volume and the matchup make him a solid RB2 play. Smith, meanwhile, is nothing more than a touchdown-dependent flex play in deeper formats.

Julio Jones (WR, ATL), Mohamed Sanu (WR, ATL)
Despite his lack of touchdowns, Jones ranks 10th in PPR scoring among receivers and is third in the league with 831 air yards. Now he gets a matchup against a Buccaneers defense allowing over 16 receptions per game (2nd most), over 200 yards and more than one touchdown. Even if Julio is kept out of the end-zone again he should put up monster receiving numbers and is an easy top-5 play. Sanu is second behind Jones in targets and has only five less over the last two games. He's found the end-zone twice and seems like a safe bet in PPR formats for a good game. Pencil him in as a WR3 with upside.

Austin Hooper (TE, ATL)
Hooper is coming off his best game of the year, a nine catch 77-yard outing on 12 targets. Now he gets a Buccaneers defense that allows the third most receptions to the position and the most yards. Hooper should be owned by now and has plenty of upside as a top-12 at the position.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Ronald Jones II (RB, TB)
Jones finally got his shot in Week 4 and while he was out-snapped by Payton Barber 31 to 20, he out-touched him 12 to nine. While it is probably too soon to trust Jones as anything more than a flex, his stock is trending up. The Falcons allow 4.3 YPC and the most receptions to running backs, over nine per game, and if Jones were guaranteed a full workload he would be in the RB2 mix. Still, he is worth a start if you're desperate in a great matchup.

DeSean Jackson (WR, TB), Chris Godwin (WR, TB)
With Jameis Winston back both Jackson and Godwin could see fewer targets, though we would trust Jackson more between the two. The matchup is good as the Falcons allow over 160 yards and two touchdowns per game to receivers, however, the volume is tough to count on. Both should be considered WR3 with upside.

Cameron Brate (TE, TB)
With O.J. Howard out, Brate will get the majority of tight end work. Over the first seven games last year before Howard began to emerge, Brate had 36 receptions, 405 yards, and four touchdowns. The Falcons are a middle-of-the-pack defense against tight ends, but with Jameis Winston under center and no Howard, Brate has top-10 upside.

Calvin Ridley (WR, ATL)
Ridley only saw five targets in Week 5 (fourth on the team) and did not score, and will remain a boom/bust WR4 in a plus matchup against the Buccaneers secondary. Opportunity will be there for Ridley, but his low target share always makes him a risk.

Panthers at Redskins

Matchups We Love:

Christian McCaffrey (RB, CAR)
McCaffrey handled 17 carries and caught five passes coming out of his team's bye, but gained very little yardage with his opportunities. Fortunately, he did find the end-zone for the first time and continues to be a workhorse for the Panthers. The Redskins are only allowing 81 yards on the ground, but are giving up almost seven receptions per game to running backs, 10th most. McCaffrey should do plenty of damage through the air and is a locked-in RB1.

Matchups We Hate:

Devin Funchess (WR, CAR)
Funchess is second on the team with 28 targets, but with Greg Olsen set to return may see less. Despite their Monday night showing against the Saints, the Redskins have been tough on receivers allowing less than 12 catches per game. Seeing a reduced volume and in a bad matchup, Funchess can't be considered more than a WR3.

Chris Thompson (RB, WAS)
Thompson has caught at least six passes in three of four games thus far but now must face a Panthers defense allowing just four receptions per game to running backs. Dealing with a rib and knee injury on top of it, Thompson is a risky start and can't be considered more than an RB3 even in PPR formats.

UPDATE: Chris Thompson is expected to miss Week 6.

Other Matchups:

Cam Newton (QB, CAR)
Newton only has one game with more than 237 yards but has thrown for two or more touchdowns in three straight and has at least 30 rushing yards in every game. The Redskins are not a matchup to fear, allowing 240 yards and two touchdowns per game. Newton may not have a massive ceiling in this one but he is a solid QB1.

Greg Olsen (TE, CAR)
Olsen is returning from his foot injury much quicker than expected and will be a risky start in Week 6. The Redskins allow less than five catches and 50 yards to tight ends, and there is always a chance the foot that will require surgery at the end of the year is not fully ready for game action. Olsen has upside, but he also has the risk of giving you a zero. Tread lightly.

Alex Smith (QB, WAS)
Smith was horrific against the Saints on Monday night but will have a chance to rebound against a Panthers defense allowing 280 yards and 1.5 touchdowns to opposing passers. Smith has thrown for at least 220 yards in each game and has alternated two-touchdown games with zero touchdown games. Smith is unlikely to put up QB1 numbers but is a safe QB2 start.

Adrian Peterson (RB, WAS)
Despite injuring his shoulder Monday night, Peterson is a go for this Sunday against a Panthers defense allowing almost 5 YPC. Peterson has looked good with the ball in his hands, averaging 4 YPC and 19 YPR. If Chris Thompson is out Peterson will see even more work. Regardless he can be considered a low-end RB2.

Jamison Crowder (WR, WAS), Paul Richardson (WR, WAS)
Crowder leads all Redskins receivers with 20 targets while Richardson is right behind with 19. Neither is commanding a large share which makes each risky to start. The matchup is good, however, as the Panthers allow over 200 yards to receivers. Richardson offers the most upside as the downfield threat while Crowder is a bit safer. Neither can be considered more than a WR4 based on the volume they are seeing.

UPDATE: Jamison Crowder is expected to miss Week 6.

Jordan Reed (TE, WAS)
Reed was strangely absent from the Redskins passing attack on Monday night despite being fully healthy. He saw just two targets and was out-targeted by fellow tight end Vernon Davis. With Davis nursing a hamstring, Reed could be set for all the tight end work. The matchup is good as well, the Panthers allow five catches and over 50 yards to tight ends. Despite his poor performance last week Reed remains a top option at the position.

Seahawks at Raiders

Matchups We Love:

Chris Carson (RB, SEA), Mike Davis (RB, SEA)
In Week 5, with both healthy, Carson out-snapped Davis 35 to 25 and out-touched him 20 to 14. Carson is the preferred option against a Raiders defense allowing over 5 YPC and 110 yards per game on the ground. Unfortunately, his ceiling is a bit limited with Davis in the mix, but Carson is still a solid RB2 in a good spot. Davis has flex value.

Matchups We Hate:

Derek Carr (QB, OAK)
Carr has at least 268 yards in every game but has only thrown more than one touchdown once. Now he'll contend with a Seahawks defense allowing just 240 yards and under two touchdowns per game to quarterbacks. Carr is a risky QB2 start in a tough matchup and should not be relied upon in one quarterback leagues.

Jared Cook (TE, OAK)
Cook has been one of the most consistent tight ends with four or more catches in every game. He'll have to work hard to keep that streak going against a Seahawks team that allows less than four catches and barely 40 yards per game to the position. Cook is barely on the TE1 radar in Week 6.

Other Matchups:

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
Despite Wilson's "struggles", he has 15 or more fantasy points in four of his five games and has key weapon Doug Baldwin back and healthy. The Raiders give up over 275 yards and two touchdowns to passers, so Wilson should find success through the air. His lack of running has limited his ceiling, however, and with Chris Carson and Mike Davis playing so well that could continue. Still, Wilson is a solid QB1 for Week 6.

Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA), Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)
Since returning from injury, Baldwin has caught only six passes for 42 yards on just eight targets. The Raiders do not give up a lot of receptions but allow almost 200 yards per game to receivers. In his third game back Baldwin should be full-go and is a solid WR2. Lockett has eight catches for 151 yards and a score over the last two games with Baldwin and could rack up plenty of yards against this Raiders secondary. He is a high-upside WR3.

Marshawn Lynch (RB, OAK)
Lynch's nine carries in Week 5 were the fewest of the season as he was a product of negative game script. This game should be closer and Lynch should easily handle double-digit carries again. He does have at least two receptions in each game, and the Seahawks are allowing over 4 YPC and 93 yards per game on the ground. Lynch is always a threat to score and is a solid RB2.

Amari Cooper (WR, OAK), Jordy Nelson (WR, OAK)
Cooper has alternated terrible games with great games thus far. In Weeks one, three, and five he has combined for four catches and 36 yards on just nine targets. In Weeks two and four, he has 18 catches, 244 yards, and one touchdown on 21 targets. This is an even week so...just kidding. But the matchup is not daunting as the Seahawks allow the 13th-most receptions to receivers and more than one touchdown per game. Still, Cooper can't be considered more than a WR3. Nelson has caught 20 of his 27 targets for 317 yards and three scores, though a lot of that came in one game. He'll be involved but is more of a WR4 type.

Colts at Jets

Matchups We Love:

None

Matchups We Hate:

Marlon Mack (RB, IND), Jordan Wilkins (RB, IND)
In the only game Mack played in, Week 2 against the Redskins, he played 18 snaps and Wilkins played 23. Each had 10 carries and two receptions in the game as well. With Mack ready to return neither offer much value against a Jets team allowing just 3.8 YPC and 80 yards on the ground. They are desperation starts only.

Sam Darnold (QB, NYJ)
Darnold has only thrown for more than 200 yards once on the season, and while he is coming off a three-touchdown game that cannot be counted on week-to-week. The Colts do allow over 300 yards to quarterbacks but give up less than two touchdowns per game. Darnold offers little in the way of a floor and will need a multi-touchdown game to be start-worthy.

Other Matchups:

Andrew Luck (QB, IND)
Luck has thrown 50 or more passes in three of five games and has 71 combined attempts in the other two. The Jets are allowing close to 300 yards per game, but only one touchdown to opposing quarterbacks. Still, Luck should once again see tons of volume and is a weekly QB1.

Nyheim Hines (RB, IND)
With the return of Marlon Mack, Hines value will take a big hit as he only played 41% of the snaps when Mack played compared to 63% in all other games. The Jets are weak to receiving backs, however, allowing the eighth most receptions to the position. If Mack was out Hines would be in the RB2 discussion, but with Mack back he has to be considered more of a PPR flex.

Chester Rogers (WR, IND), Ryan Grant (WR, IND), Zach Pascal (WR, IND)
With T.Y. Hilton out in Week 5, Rogers led the Colts receivers with 11 targets while Grant had nine and Pascal seven. Rogers and Grant had eight and six catches respectively, but Pascal could only muster one catch. Still, things should be better against a Jets defense that allows the third most receptions and over 200 yards to receivers. Rogers and Grant are in the WR3 discussion, and Pascal is a sneaky flex play in deeper leagues.

Eric Ebron (TE, IND)
With T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle out in Week 5, Ebron saw a massive 12 targets and turned them into nine catches for 105 yards and two scores. The Jets are a tough spot for the position allowing just three catches and 33 yards. Ebron has yet to practice this week, but if he plays he will be a TE1 on volume alone despite the tough matchup.

Bilal Powell (RB, NYJ)
Isaiah Crowell is looking doubtful to suit up Sunday which would leave Powell as the team's primary back. The Colts are only allowing 3.8 YPC and 84 yards on the ground, but give up the third most receptions to backs. In PPR formats especially Powell will be an RB2 play if Crowell does indeed miss.

Robby Anderson (WR, NYJ), Quincy Enunwa (WR, NYJ)
With Enunwa nursing a hand injury, Anderson had a breakout game catching three passes for 123 yards and two scores. Still, he and Enunwa only saw five targets. The Colts are allowing the 13th most receptions to receivers, and are allowing more than a touchdown per game, so opportunity will be there. Still neither can be considered more than a WR3.

Cardinals at Vikings

Matchups We Love:

Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN)
Cook looks set to return from the hamstring injury that has hampered him, and he couldn't get a better spot. The Cardinals are allowing 132 yards on the ground and the 11th most receptions to the position. Cook has been terribly inefficient with his touches this year, but this is a great spot for him and he can be viewed as an upside RB2.

Matchups We Hate:

Chad Williams (WR, ARI), Christian Kirk (WR, ARI), Larry Fitzgerald (WR, ARI)
The Vikings are not as tough as a secondary as we've seen in years past, but they are still very good allowing less than 13 receptions per game to receivers. None of the Cardinals receivers are seeing a big enough target share to warrant a start and all are left on benches or waiver wires.

Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN)
Since his two-target Week 1, Rudolph has seen 25 targets and caught 22 passes. While he's been quite consistent, he will be in for a tough test against a Cardinals team that allows only 3.6 receptions and 45 yards to the position. Rudolph is always a threat to score and must still be considered a TE1, though he comes with risk this week.

Other Matchups:

Josh Rosen (QB, ARI)
Rosen has yet to throw for more than 180 yards in either of his two starts but does have a touchdown in both. The Vikings are giving up over 300 yards and two touchdowns to quarterbacks, but Rosen is still a risk. He is barely startable even in two-quarterback formats, though this is a plus matchup.

David Johnson (RB, ARI)
Johnson has 40 carries and five receptions in the last two games but will be hard pressed to keep his momentum going against a Vikings unit that gives up just 80 yards on the ground and less than four catches per game to backs. Johnson's volume keeps him in the RB2 discussion, but in a tough matchup, he will likely be touchdown dependent.

Ricky Seals-Jones (TE, ARI)
Seals-Jones is tied with Larry Fitzgerald for the team lead in targets during Josh Rosen's two starts, though that only amounts to 10 targets. Still, he's in a good spot against a Vikings defense that allows the sixth most receptions to tight ends and almost 75 yards per game. If you're desperate you could do worse than Seals-Jones this week.

Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN)
Cousins has thrown for at least 296 yards and one touchdown in four straight games but will be tested against a Cardinals unit that allows only 270 yards and one score to quarterbacks. Still, Cousins is playing great and is a weekly must-start, though he may not offer a massive ceiling in this one.

Adam Thielen (WR, MIN), Stefon Diggs (WR, MIN)
Thielen leads the league in targets with 65, but Diggs is not far behind with 55. Both are weekly must-starts though the matchup against the Cardinals is not soft. While they give up the eighth most receptions to receivers, they are only allowing 157 yards and have given up just one touchdown all year. Thielen is a weekly WR1 while Diggs is a high-end WR2 this week.

Steelers at Bengals

Matchups We Love:

Ben Roethlisberger (QB, PIT)
After throwing for over 330 yards in each of his first three games, Roethlisberger doesn't have more than 274 in either of his last two. He should bounce back this week against a Bengals defense allowing 290 yards and two touchdowns to quarterbacks, however. Roethlisberger is a solid QB1 start.

James Conner (RB, PIT)
Unsurprisingly, Conner had a massive game against a putrid Falcons run defense, and should so once again facing a Bengals unit allowing over 100 yards on the ground and the eighth most receptions to running backs. Entering the team's bye, and with the return of Le'Veon Bell looming, this may be the last good week to roll Conner out. Enjoy him if you got him.

Vance McDonald (TE, PIT)
Over the last four games, McDonald has 13 catches for 206 yards and a score on 17 targets. Facing a Bengals defense that is allowing the sixth most catches to tight ends, and almost one touchdown per game, McDonald makes for a solid start this week.

Andy Dalton (QB, CIN)
Dalton had his first non-multi-touchdown game in Week 5 and had his second-lowest yardage total of the season, but is set to rebound against a Steelers defense allowing 320 yards and over two touchdowns per game to quarterbacks. Dalton has been one of 2018's biggest surprises and is set for another big game.

A.J. Green (WR, CIN), Tyler Boyd (WR, CIN)
Green and Boyd are tied with 43 targets and both are in a great spot against a Steelers secondary giving up over 200 yards per game to receivers and almost two touchdowns per game. Green is a solid WR1 while Boyd is an upside WR2.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Antonio Brown (WR, PIT), Juju Smith-Schuster (WR, PIT)
Brown is averaging over 12 targets a game, and it's somewhat disappointing he doesn't have even bigger numbers than he does. Smith-Schuster, for his own part, is averaging 10 per game and actually has more catches and yards than Brown. Both are in a great spot against a Bengals defense allowing the eighth most receptions, 176 yards and one touchdown per game to receivers. Both are must-starts.

Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)
In Week 5 without Giovani Bernard, Mixon played 78% of the snaps and now has 22, 22 and 25 touches in his three starts, elite workhorse numbers. He does draw a tough test against a Steelers team allowing just 3.4 YPC and just over three receptions per game. Still, Mixon is getting too much volume to be benched and is a must-start even in a tough spot.

C.J. Uzomah (TE, CIN), Tyler Kroft (TE, CIN)
In the first game without Tyler Eifert, Uzomah saw just two targets and Kroft one. The only thing keeping either relevant is the fact that the Steelers allow the most receptions to tight ends and are giving up 84 yards per game. Still, with the lack of volume neither can be trusted as more than a deep-league desperation play.

Chargers at Browns

Matchups We Love:

Keenan Allen (WR, LAC)
Allen has at least seven targets in each game, and while he only has one touchdown he offers a safe weekly floor. That should continue in Week 6 against a Browns secondary giving up the fifth most catches to receivers and almost 200 yards per game. Allen has upside even if he doesn't score, and could have a huge game if he does.

Matchups We Hate:

None

Other Matchups:

Philip Rivers (QB, LAC)
Rivers has thrown at least two touchdowns in every game and has two games with over 300 yards, but will get tested against a tough Browns unit. While they do allow close to 300 yards, they are only giving up one touchdown per game to quarterbacks. Still, Rivers has been balling out this year and has to be considered a QB1.

Melvin Gordon (RB, LAC), Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC)
Gordon has been a monster thus far, with 595 scrimmage yards, 28 receptions, and six touchdowns through his teams first five games. He should face little resistance against a Browns defense allowing over 100 yards on the ground and more than six receptions to backs. He is a locked-in RB1. Ekeler has been good too, with at least 50 yards in every game and three touchdowns. His reception totals are a bit alarming, however, as he has 5, 3, 3, 3, 2, 1. Still, against a Browns team giving up almost six receptions to running backs per game he makes for a fine PPR flex play.

Mike Williams (WR, LAC)
Williams is second on the Chargers in targets, though he's a full 25 targets behind Keenan Allen. Still, in a matchup with a Browns team allowing the fifth most receptions and nearly 200 yards, Williams should have plenty of opportunities. He is an upside WR4 play.

Baker Mayfield (QB, CLE)
Mayfield has 295 and 342 yards in his two starts but also has three touchdowns and three interceptions. His schedule gets much easier going forward and that starts this week with a Chargers defense missing Joey Bosa. Without Bosa, the Chargers are giving up over 280 yards and two touchdowns to quarterbacks. Mayfield will likely continue to struggle with turnovers, but he offers plenty of upside in this one and is a solid streamer or QB2.

Carlos Hyde (RB, CLE)
Hyde is averaging 21.2 touches per game, and leads all players with carries inside the five-yard line, giving him tons of weekly value. The Chargers are holding opposing runners to just 74 yards per game, and have only allowed two touchdowns on the ground all year. Still, with the volume, Hyde is getting he is a weekly RB2 at worst.

Jarvis Landry (WR, CLE), Antonio Callaway (WR, CLE)
In Baker Mayfield's two starts, Landry leads the team with 19 targets while Callaway is second with 14. Unfortunately neither has done much with them, as Landry has eight catches, 76 yards, and a score while Callaway has six catches and 76 yards. The Chargers don't allow a ton of receptions to receivers, but they do allow 180 yards and almost two touchdowns per game, so there will be chances. Landry must be considered a high-end WR2 at this point while Callaway is a boom/bust WR3.

David Njoku (TE, CLE)
Njoku saw a massive 11 targets in Week 5 and now has seven and 11 in Baker Mayfield's two starts. The matchup with the Chargers is less than ideal, however, as they allow less than four catches and 50 yards to the position. Still, with Njoku so involved he is a weekly must-start.

Bills at Texans

Matchups We Love:

None

Matchups We Hate:

Josh Allen (QB, BUF)
Allen has yet to complete more than 18 passes in a game, has thrown for less than 100 yards twice, and has two touchdowns versus five interceptions. All told, not good. The matchup against the Texans is not overly tough as they allow 270 yards and two touchdowns to passers. Still, Allen is impossible to trust and cannot be started in any format.

Kelvin Benjamin (WR, BUF), Zay Jones (WR, BUF)
It sucks that I even have to write about these guys but here we go. In Josh Allen's four starts Benjamin has seven catches, 93 yards, and a score. Jones has 10 catches, 133 yards, and no scores. Yuck! The Texans are middle-of-the-pack against receivers, but no way in hell you can start either of these guys.

Charles Clay (TE, BUF)
Speaking of bad, in Josh Allen's four starts Clay has nine catches for 99 yards. That's an average of 2.25 catches and less than 25 yards. Hard pass.

Other Matchups:

LeSean McCoy (RB, BUF)
McCoy finally got the volume everyone expected all year in Week 5, handling 24 carries and two receptions while totaling 108 yards. The Texans are an OK matchup, giving up 84 yards on the ground and over six catches per game to backs. Still, it's hard to trust that McCoy will see this volume every week and he can't be considered more than a low-end RB2.

Deshaun Watson (QB, HOU)
Watson has thrown for over 300 yards in four straight games and has two touchdowns in all but one of them. He has thrown an interception in every game, however. Still, he is offering high-end QB1 upside every week but faces a Bills defense that has looked better over the last two games. Despite that, Watson should have little trouble and is a top-5 QB play.

Lamar Miller (RB, HOU), Alfred Blue (RB, HOU)
Blue filled in for an injured Miller in Week 5 and saw 28 scoreless touches. He did manage to amass 119 yards. With Miller returning one has to think Blue will take a backseat, though he should still have a role. The Bills are a good matchup, allowing 80 yards and almost seven catches a game to backs. Regardless, neither Miller or Blue can be considered more than a low-upside flex start.

DeAndre Hopkins (WR, HOU), Will Fuller (WR, HOU), Keke Coutee (WR, HOU)
Hopkins has picked up right where he left off in 2017, with 40 catches and a league-leading 611 yards to go along with two touchdowns. The Bills are allowing the 12th most receptions to receivers, but only 150 yards and less than a touchdown a game. Still, Hopkins is a locked-in every week WR1. Coutee broke out in Week 5 with six catches for 51 yards and a score, while Fuller was left with just two catches for 15 yards. It's likely this will be a weekly see-saw between the two as Coutee has carved out a role for himself. Both can be considered boom/bust WR3.

Bears at Dolphins

Matchups We Love:

None

Matchups We Hate:

Mitch Trubisky (QB, CHI)
Trubisky is coming off a monster 354 yard, six touchdown game against the Buccaneers, but hadn't thrown for more than 220 yards in any game prior to that and only had two total touchdowns. The Dolphins are one of the toughest quarterback matchups, allowing only 280 yards and one touchdown per game. If you're expecting Trubisky to continue where he left off before the bye you will be sorely disappointed.

Ryan Tannehill (QB, MIA)
Tannehill has just 285 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions over the last two games and will now contend with a Bears defense that ranks 10th in points allowed to quarterbacks. Even in two-quarterback leagues Tannehill is a tough start and should be benched.

Kenyan Drake (RB, MIA), Frank Gore (RB, MIA)
Drake finally had a good game, on most people's bench, but was still out-carried by Gore 12 to six. He hauled in seven passes, however. The Bears are a brutal matchup for backs, giving up just 50 yards on the ground and three receptions per game. Don't buy into Drake continuing his play from last week, both he and Gore should be left on benches.

Other Matchups:

Jordan Howard (RB, CHI), Tarik Cohen (RB, CHI)
In a strange Week 4 game, Howard saw fewer carries than Cohen and did not catch a single pass. Howard still has a massive 64 to 27 carry advantage on the season and only has four fewer catches than Cohen. We're gonna chalk that game up to an outlier and go by what the Bears did for three weeks prior. That being said, the Dolphins are allowing over 100 yards on the ground and over seven catches through the air to backs, so both Howard and Cohen have value this week. Howard may be outside the RB2 discussion at this point, while Cohen remains a PPR flex play.

Taylor Gabriel (WR, CHI), Allen Robinson (WR, CHI)
Gabriel and Robinson are neck and neck in targets, 29 to 31, but Gabriel has more receptions and touchdowns. Still, both hold similar value against a Dolphins team that allows just 12 receptions per game to receivers and a little over 170 yards. In such a low volume attack it's hard to consider either more than an upside WR3.

Trey Burton (TE, CHI)
Burton is third on the Bears with 20 targets and has caught 12 for 184 yards and two scores. The Dolphins are a bit stingy to tight ends, allowing less than five catches and just over 50 yards. Still, Burton is involved enough that he is a weekly TE1.

Kenny Stills (WR, MIA), Albert Wilson (WR, MIA)
Stills and Wilson have 24 and 25 targets respectively and have been living off the big play. The Bears are actually a good matchup, allowing the sixth-most receptions to receivers and close to 200 yards. The problem is they are in such a low volume attack that they come with considerable risk. Stills has the most upside due to his big play ability. Stills should be viewed as a high upside WR3 while Wilson is a WR4.

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