Fantasy Football Week 6 Preview (and Picks!)

Somehow, Josh McCown and the Jets are currently tied for first in the AFC East
Photo via NFL Spin Zone

It was an interesting week in the NFL. Big Ben threw five interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns) against the Jaguars. Rookie Deshaun Watson threw five touchdown passes... and the Texans still lost to the unbeaten Chiefs. And after a win over Cleveland, the New York Jets sat in first place in the AFC East (they're currently in a three-way tie for first). Meanwhile, I lost in all three of my fantasy leagues last week, falling to 1-4 in two of those leagues and 2-3 in the other. Why are you reading this again? Well, thanks for the support, even though it might cost you your fantasy league.

Top Performers of Week 5
QB: Deshaun Watson, Texans (vs. KC)
16-31, 261 yards passing, 5 TD;  3 carries, 31 yards rushing

Photo via Houston Chronicle

RB: Melvin Gordon, Chargers (@ NYG)
20 carries, 105 yards rushing;  6 catches, 58 yards receiving, 2 TD

Photo via the LA Chargers

WR: A.J. Green, Bengals (vs. BUF)
7 catches, 189 yards receiving, 1 TD

Photo via Getty Images

TE: Ed Dickson, Panthers (@ DET)
5 catches, 175 yards receiving

Photo via USA Today

D/ST: Jaguars Defense (@ PIT)
9 points allowed, 5 INT, 2 TD

Photo via Jacksonville.com

Picks

Record
Last Week: 7-6   vs. Spread: 6-7   O/U: 9-4
Season: 40-31   vs. Spread: 32-39-1   O/U: 34-35-1

(Home Teams Listed Last)  (All Times Eastern)

Sunday
Browns 20, Texans 32 (1:00 PM, CBS)  Line: HOU -9.5  O/U: 47
Dolphins 13, Falcons 28 (1:00 PM, CBS)  Line: ATL -12.5  O/U: 45.5
Packers 38, Vikings 24 (1:00 PM, FOX)  Line: GB -3  O/U: 45
Lions 32, Saints 37 (1:00 PM, FOX)  Line: NO -4  O/U: 50
Patriots 42, Jets 21 (1:00 PM, CBS)  Line: NE -9.5  O/U: 47.5
49ers 10, Washington 23 (1:00 PM, FOX)  Line: WAS -10.5  O/U: 46.5
Bears 17, Ravens 23 (1:00 PM, FOX)  Line: BAL -6.5  O/U: 39.5
Buccaneers 27, Cardinals 30 (4:05 PM, FOX)  Line: TB -1.5  O/U: 45.5
Rams 16, Jaguars 9 (4:05 PM, FOX)  Line: JAC -2.5  O/U: 42.5
Steelers 21, Chiefs 32 (4:25 PM, CBS)  Line: KC -4  O/U: 47
Chargers 24, Raiders 23 (4:25 PM, CBS)
Giants 13, Broncos 27 (8:30 PM, NBC)  Line: DEN -11.5  O/U: 39.5
Monday
Colts 14, Titans 28 (8:30 PM, ESPN)


Players I Like This Week

Quarterback
Matthew Stafford, Lions (@ NO)
Detroit and New Orleans rank 27th and 28th in the NFL (respectively) in pass defense, so this should be a shootout between Stafford and Drew Brees. Stafford is questionable with an ankle injury, but he's expected to play. The injury, along with the fact that the Saint defense has actually played well the last two games, could lead to some people sleeping on him Sunday. Don't.

Deshaun Watson, Texans (vs. Browns)
The rookie has been outstanding the last three games, and a meeting with Cleveland probably won't signal the end to his successful run. The last time the Browns faced a mobile quarterback, they gave up two rushing touchdowns (and a passing touchdown) to Jacoby Brissett. Watson is better than Brissett, and he gets the chance to punish Cleveland for not drafting him.

Josh McCown, Jets (vs. NE)
The 38-year-old veteran has actually not been horrible (he 1,020 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions this season), and this week he gets to face the worst pass defense in the NFL. New England has given up at least 300 yards and a touchdown to each quarterback it has played, making McCown a solid streaming option for those who have a quarterback on a bye.

Running Back
Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. DET)
The Kamara Era (at least as a third-down back) has begun in New Orleans, and it looks good so far. Kamara has a touchdown in each of the last two games, and last week he led the team with 10 catches. Now that Adrian Peterson is gone, Kamara might also get more carries behind Mark Ingram. He should be able to do damage against Detroit. 

Javorius Allen, Ravens (vs. CHI)
After Terrance West went down last week, Allen, who had mainly been the pass-catching back, carried the ball 21 times for 71 yards and a touchdown (while also catching four passes for 12 yards). West has already been ruled out this week, and Chicago's defense is coming off a short week after playing Monday night, so Allen is in a good spot Sunday.

Andre Ellington, Cardinals (vs. TB)
Ellington exemplifies the term "pass-catching back". Although he hasn't been a major part of the Arizona ground game (with the acquisition of Adrian Peterson, he'll continue to get very few carries), he is second on the team in targets and catches so far this season (trailing only Larry Fitzgerald). He faces a Tampa team that has had the second-worst pass defense in the NFL so far this year.

Wide Receiver
Jarvis Landry, Dolphins (@ ATL)
Landry is the clear number one receiver in Miami with Devante Parker doubtful for Sunday. Last week, Jarvis had five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee. Atlanta's defense is tough, but the Falcons actually rank in the bottom half of the league (17th, to be exact) in pass defense so far this season. Landry will see the brunt of the workload sans Parker.

Jermaine Kearse, Jets (vs. NE)
Kearse has been the most productive pass-catcher for the Jets so far this season. That may not be saying a whole lot, considering New York doesn't have the most prolific offense, but it might be saying something against New England, which has the worst defense in the NFL.

Rishard Matthews, Titans (vs. IND)

Matthews, like Landry and Kearse, is currently his team's number one receiver. Although he has only totaled six catches for 83 yards the last two games combined, the Tennessee offense should be more proficient due to Marcus Mariota's return and a matchup against the Indianapolis pass defense, which ranks 30th in the NFL.

Tight End

Ryan Griffin, Texans (vs. CLE)

Death, taxes and tight ends playing well against the Browns. Cleveland has given up seven touchdowns to opposing tight ends through the first five games. Griffin isn't a highly-productive tight end, but he's the clear number one in Houston, and, as players like Jesse James and Tyler Kroft have shown, all you really need is opportunity when playing the Browns. 

Evan Engram, Giants (@ DEN)

Speaking of opportunity, Engram is now New York's top pass-catcher after injuries to Odell Beckham Jr. (who's out for the season), Brandon Marshall (who's on Injured Reserve) and Sterling Shepard (who's questionable for Sunday) last week. Denver's defense is tough, but somebody is going to catch passes for the Giants, and Engram's the best bet to do so.

George Kittle, 49ers (@ WAS)

Kittle broke out last week with seven catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. He has drawn more attention from Brian Hoyer, going from a combined 14 targets the first four games to nine targets last week. Washington's pass defense has it's share of deficiencies, and San Francisco will probably be throwing the ball quite a bit on Sunday.  

Defense

Tennessee Titans (vs. IND)

Jacoby Brissett has not performed terribly for the Colts, but he has two touchdowns and three interceptions in his four starts, so he's been far from a world-beater. Without Andrew Luck, Indianapolis ranks 25th in the league in total offense. A Monday night trip to Tennessee probably won't help.

Atlanta Falcons (vs. MIA)

Atlanta is well-rested coming off a bye week. Plus, the Falcons will get free safety Ricardo Allen (who was out with a concussion) back Sunday, and might get pass-rusher Vic Beasley Jr. (who's been out with a hamstring injury) back. ATL gets Jay Cutler and a Miami offense that ranks last in the NFL, and that's before taking into account the fact that Devante Parker probably won't play.

Los Angeles Rams (@ JAX)The Rams defense hasn't been quite as dominant as I expected coming into the season, but they still have nine turnovers (tied for sixth in the league), and they face off against a Jacksonville team that has leaned heavily on its defense. Although the Jags are top five in points per game, their Blake Bortles-led offense ranks in the bottom half of the league.

Stats and information via ESPN.com

Lines and Over/Unders via SportsLine.com

Lines and Over/Unders as of Friday Night


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