RADIO
In Week 5, Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller was the best wide receiver play of the week. Even if you didn't play Fuller and missed out on his big day, you still had a chance to win your DFS contests if you played other receiver options that were recommended in this column, such as Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin or Adam Thielen. Here is a complete statistical recap of the Week 5 recommendations:
- Julio Jones - 7 targets, 3 catches, 42 yards
- Michael Thomas - 13 targets, 11 catches, 182 yards, 2 TD
- Chris Godwin - 9 targets, 7 catches, 125 yards, 2 TD
- Adam Thielen - 8 targets, 7 catches, 130 yards, 2 TD
- Robby Anderson - 3 targets, 1 catch, 16 yards
- Pivot: Auden Tate - 6 targets, 3 catches, 26 yards, 1 TD
- Tyler Boyd - 14 targets, 10 catches, 123 yards, 1 TD
- Josh Gordon - 8 targets, 5 catches, 59 yards
- Larry Fitzgerald - 8 targets, 6 catches, 58 yards
- Golden Tate - 6 targets, 3 catches, 13 yards
- Pivot: Keesean Johnson - 7 targets, 3 catches, 22 yards
Although Golden Tate didn't have the greatest matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5, he was so inexpensive on the DFS sites that he was an appealing play, but it simply didn't work out. It was well known heading into Week 5 that all of the NY Jets passing options were downgraded as long as Sam Darnold remained out of the lineup. However, as referenced in the Week 5 column, Falk was terrible against the Patriots but was able to keep Robby Anderson fantasy relevant against a weaker defense when he played the Browns. Poor secondary play from the Eagles gave Anderson a chance to come through in Week 5, but that call didn't play out according to plan.
Auden Tate did score a touchdown in Week 5, but for the most part, he played very poorly, dropping several passes, at times getting replaced in the lineup by Damion Willis. Julio Jones had one of the best matchups from Week 5, but ultimately, the Texans decided to make an effort to roll coverage his way and slow him down, giving way to Calvin Ridley who re-emerged on the fantasy scene. Matt Ryan threw for 330 yards and three touchdowns last week, so the matchup was beatable, but the Texans simply decided that Julio Jones wasn't going to be the one to beat them. Let's move onto the current week and find the best matchups to exploit for DFS tournaments and cash games.
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Week 6 WR/CB Matchups to Exploit
Julio Jones ($8,500 FanDuel / $8,000 DraftKings)
vs Byron Murphy
Julio Jones should be in all season-long lineups, and given his matchup, he should be the high end wide receiver you pay up for in DFS in Week 6. Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy only has 4.55 wheels, compared to Jones who runs a 4.34 forty. Murphy also gives up about four inches of height to the Falcons No. 1 receiving option. Murphy has been the most targeted Cardinals cornerback so far this season (31), and has been responsible for giving up 20 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns. Even if Julio Jones finds himself covered by Tramaine Brock on the other side, it's still a beatable matchup. This game has the makings of a shootout, featuring two very poor defenses with an over/under of 51.5. Bottom line, it's going to be a good week for Falcons and Cardinals receivers.
Larry Fitzgerald ($5,600 FanDuel / $6,100 DraftKings)
vs Damontae Kazee
Over the last few years we have grown accustomed to the Falcons Defense surrendering catches to opposing running backs at a high rate. In 2019, however, the Falcons have been gashed by opposing wide receivers, surrendering an average of two touchdowns and 197 yards per game to the position. There's going to be some serious points scored in this one, and with starting running back David Johnson and second-year wide receiver Christian Kirk both iffy to play in Week 6, the ageless Larry Fitzgerald should have his way against a shaky Falcons secondary that will be without Desmond Trufant.
Dede Westbrook ($5,400 FanDuel / $5,100 DraftKings)
vs PJ Williams
DJ Chark has been the No. 1 receiving option for the Jacksonville Jaguars through the first five weeks of the season, scoring 105.5 PPR-points, while also leading the team with 485 yards receiving. Although Chark has been the most productive Jaguars wide receiver for fantasy football purposes, he's tied with Dede Westbrook for the team lead in targets with 37. Westbrook plays in the slot, meaning he will see PJ Williams who just surrendered 125 yards and two touchdowns to Chris Godwin in Week 5. Chark will likely line up against Marshon Lattimore or Eli Apple for a majority of his routes in Week 6, so this may be a Dede Westbrook day.
Pivot: Preston Williams ($5,600 FanDuel / $4,100 DraftKings)
vs Quinton Dunbar
The Washington Redskins secondary is one of the worst in the league, giving up 171 yards and 1.8 touchdowns per game to wide receivers which sets up extremely well for Preston Williams to have a big day. Although Williams only has 15 catches on the season, he's currently leading the Dolphins in passing targets with 30, followed by Devante Parker who has 24 targets. None of the Redskins cornerbacks can really lock a receiver down, but Parker figures to see their top cover man, Josh Norman, for most of the day, leaving Williams with the easier matchup. There is a low over/under total in this game (41) but that doesn't prohibit Williams from racking up big yardage on the day as the Dolphins will likely be playing from behind.
Terry McLaurin ($6,400 FanDuel / $6,000 DraftKings)
vs Ken Webster
Even after missing the Redskins Week 4 game against the Giants, Terry McLaurin still leads the Redskins in passing targets on the season (31). In a tough Week 5 matchup against arguably the best cornerback in the league, Stephon Gilmore, McLaurin was able to haul in three passes for 51 yards, which is impressive. The rookie wide receiver out of Ohio State has a much easier matchup in Week 6 against a Miami Dolphins secondary that's giving up 172.3 yards and 1.8 receiving touchdowns per game to wide receivers. The only thing that could potentially hold McLaurin back in this one is if the Redskins get out to a big lead early in the game and they decide to pound the rock with Adrian Peterson 30 times.
Pivot: Brandin Cooks ($6,500 FanDuel / $5,400 DraftKings)
vs Emmanuel Moseley
In two combined games against the 49ers in 2018, Cooks had nine catches, 126 yards and three touchdowns. With Todd Gurley potentially out of the lineup, the Rams may look to put the ball in the air more in this one and feed their most explosive play-maker.
Courtland Sutton ($5,900 FanDuel / $5,000 DraftKings)
vs Malcolm Butler
Malcolm Butler has surrendered more yards in coverage than any other Titans cornerback so far this season. Based on pre-snap data from PFF, Courtland Sutton should line up against Malcolm Butler on about 59% of his snaps. Butler has been the Titans cornerback to pick on so far this season, giving up 25 catches and 334 yards to opposing receivers, compared to Logan Ryan and Adoree Jackson who have combined to surrender 35 catches and 333 yards to opposing receivers. Sutton has at least seven targets in every game this season, scoring in each of the Broncos last two games and has more than 80 yards in three of five games, so it makes sense to get him into your Week 6 lineups.
Michael Gallup ($6,100 FanDuel / $5,600 DraftKings)
vs Darryl Roberts
The New Yorks Jets have given up an average of 37.38 fantasy points per game to wide receivers so far this season. Keep in mind, that number includes the Week 5 game where the Jets barely gave up any production to Eagles wide receivers because the Eagles Defense absolutely dominated the Jets, scoring defensive touchdowns. The fluky Week 5 game flow resulted in Eagles wide receivers getting just 12 targets as a unit, yielding just 72 yards and no scores. Sam Darnold is back at quarterback for the Jets this week, which means a repeat of the Week 5 blunder is not likely and these Cowboys wide receivers will likely have big days against this brutal secondary.
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