Fantasy Football: Week 6 Startability Index
To start or not to start is always the core question for fantasy football purveyors. Week 6 is particularly messy with the curtain closed for the season on Julio Jones and the uncertainty of Calvin Johnson this week. Aren’t GTDs the worst?
Onto the reason you’re here – advice. As always, the players listed are mostly reader requests with a few additional tweener guys I believe should be addressed. The higher the Startability number, the more confident you can be about starting him.
Quarterbacks
Robert Griffin III at Dallas (8-): Outside of Week 4, RGIII has been a 300+ yard passer every week this season. Dallas’s defense has allowed 14 passing touchdowns. Take away Peyton Manning and Dallas has still allowed 10 touchdowns.
Colin Kaepernick vs. Arizona (4): Kap put up 412 passing yards in Week 1. His second-highest passing total since is 167 yards. Back away until he gets something going, and that includes his legs.
Cam Newton at Minnesota (6+): Comes off a terrible three-pick game. Steve Smith can’t catch he ball anymore. But Minnesota’s feeble pass defense (ranked no. 26) should help Newton’s numbers this week.
Alex Smith vs. Oakland (5): The Raiders allowed Philip Rivers to throw for 411 yards last Sunday night, but that has no impact on Smith who will continue with his usual 225-275 passing yards and perhaps a touchdown or two.
Running Backs
Le’Veon Bell at New York Jets (5): Bell’s debut was quite productive, and his legs offer one of the few paths back to respectability for Pittsburgh. The Jets front can be bruising but they did allow Jacquizz Rodgers a couple of scores on Monday Night. This one, however, has the makings of a boring, low-scoring game.
Gio Bernard at Buffalo (5+): The good news is Buffalo is allowing opposing running backs an average of 108.8 yards per game. The bad news is Bernard still splits carries with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Also, Buffalo has only allowed a single rushing touchdown.
Eddie Lacy at Baltimore (6-): Lacy had a nice return from his concussion with 99 yards on 23 carries. Baltimore will pose a bigger challenge – they are only allowing 86 yards to opposing running backs and one touchdown on the season.
Knowshon Moreno vs. Jacksonville (8+): Moreno has scored in each of his last two games and is overall playing at a high level. Oh, and Jacksonville is dead last in rushing defense, surrendering 160 yards and almost five yards a carry to opposing running backs.
Bilal Powell vs. Pittsburgh (6+) Powell didn’t exactly light the fantasy word on fire last week but he did establish himself as the featured Jets back. This week that means carrying the load against a once-mighty Steelers defensive front that ranks 26th with 6 TDs and 122 yards a game allowed to opposing rushers.
Zac Stacy at Houston (6): Stacy has little track record – one start for 78 yards. But he is a starting running back in the league and the Texans have allowed four rushing touchdowns.
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen vs. Indianapolis (6-): The Chargers boast a high flying offense and Allen is their “it” guy. His progression into the offense – 6 receptions last week – should cause you to consider a start.
Danny Amendola vs. New Orleans (4): Looked uncomfortable in his first game back from the groin injury. Would like to see improved timing and chemistry with Brady before proceeding. Also, New Orleans’ pass defense is swarming, only allowing six touchdowns on the season.
Justin Blackmon at Denver (8): If Blackmon can put up 136 yards and a TD in a game for which the Jags were marginally competitive, imagine what he can do with at least two quarters of garbage time?
Anquan Boldin vs. Arizona (6): Boldin’s former team will surely bring heavy coverage, just as every defense does considering the Niners don’t have a legitimate no. 2 receiver. Arizona boasts one of the top rushing defenses in the league so the Niners will have to get something going in the air. Their only viable options for doing so are Vernon Davis and Boldin.
Josh Gordon vs. Detroit (8): Gordon has been productive in all three games he’s played this season. Look for a reception total closer to 10 a la Week 3 versus 4 a la the past two weeks.
T.Y. Hilton at San Diego (7): Hard not be excited about a guy coming off a 2 TD, 145 yard performance. With Reggie Wayne drawing ample attention there is no reason to believe that Hilton’s involvement in the offense won’t continue to increase.
Tight Ends
Jermichael Finley at Baltimore (4+): Finley is once again a fantasy disappointment. With just 163 yards on the season, he is currently ranked #16 among tight ends. Until his numbers improve, look elsewhere.
Garrett Graham vs. St. Louis (7): Graham was already rather productive with Owen Daniels in the lineup – he’s scored three times this season With Daniels out, Graham becomes a TE1 especially since Matt Schaub will look to recalibrate through short, high-percentage passes.
Sean McGrath vs. Oakland (6): After six targets last week and a score the week before, McGrath has emerged as a viable target for Alex Smith. Plus, who doesn’t want their tight end sporting a beard of awesomeness?
