Your Week Six plug-and-play options
This is yet another week where only two teams are on bye (Saints and Lions). You know we are going to pay for this eventually, so it’s important to look ahead. You may not have any roster issues this week, but perhaps next week or in two weeks, you will. The reason you look ahead is because it may be cheaper to pick up players off of the waiver wire now than it will be in two weeks. Jameis Winston was a perfect example. If you needed a QB, you may have spent more on Winston than you wanted to pick him up this week, but if you had done it the week before, when he was on bye, it may have cost you very little. Here are players who may help you this week.
Quarterback
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals: While it’s true that Matt Ryan and the high-flying Falcons laid an egg against the Steelers last Sunday, does anyone really think the problems on that defense have been solved? I don’t. Dalton wouldn’t be my first choice as a streaming QB this week, but he’s not my last either.
Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: I’m not sure what you need to convince you that Winston can be a Top Fantasy QB this week. Winston was very good in training camp. The Bucs have plenty of offensive weapons for him to throw the ball to, have no run game to speak of and have a terrible defense. The Falcons should be able to score almost at will this week, meaning Winston will have to throw early and often.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns: It’s very hard to trust a rookie QB. They all have their ups and down, at least most do. Mayfield may be the long play here if your starting QB has some tough matchups down the line. The next five games for the Browns are home against the Chargers, at the Bucs, at the Steelers and then home against the Chiefs and Falcons. There’s not a top defense in the bunch.
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders: This all comes down to the simple fact that the Raiders can’t stop anyone and will be forced to throw in order to stay in games. Plus, we know coach Jon Gruden likes to put the ball in the air as he proved last week by throwing on first and goal from the 1-yard line despite having Marshawn Lynch in the backfield.
Running Back
Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This is also a speculative add and not one that may pay off this week. As mentioned above, the Bucs haven’t been able to run the ball a lick so far this season. Peyton Barber is just not a starting RB. Jones disappointed everyone in preseason, but one has to wonder if after the bye week the team decides it has nothing to lose and gives the rookie another chance.
Ito Smith, Atlanta Falcons: This one will only matter if Devonta Freeman is indeed going to miss the game Sunday with a foot injury. When Freeman was out earlier this season, Smith averaged eight touches and at times was the preferred goal-line back over Tevin Coleman. He could also be a sneaky add if you believe that Coleman could be traded by the deadline should the Falcons continue to fall out of playoff contention.
Kapri Bibbs, Washington Redskins: The Skins are beat up in the backfield right now. Adrian Peterson either has a sprained or separated shoulder depending upon who you believe, and Chris Thompson is dealing with rib and knee injuries. Although it looks like both will try to play Sunday, one or both may not be able to finish the game. Bibbs could be the beneficiary of these injuries.
Alfred Morris, San Francisco 49ers: With Matt Breida highly unlikely to play Monday due to an ankle sprain, this should lead to a big workload for Morris. The 49ers are sure to try and establish a run game in order to milk the clock and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field. Morris is the only option here and should have his best Fantasy game to date this season.
Wide Receiver
Chester Rogers, Indianapolis Colts: What was said about Rogers last week holds true again this week. T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle will once again miss this game, and Eric Ebron is no lock either, as he is on the injury report with four separate injuries. There just isn’t much for Andrew Luck to throw to here. Rogers will once again get his fair share of targets in this game. Hopefully he can hold onto them.
Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks: Say what you want about the Seahawks’ offense, they aren’t afraid to take deep shots. Lockett is far from a perfect WR, but he can run and get behind the defense. Russell Wilson will look for Lockett and the Raiders don’t possess the best of defenses. It only takes one connection to make Lockett a worthwhile start.
Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams: Reynolds would only be a play here if Brandin Cooks and/or Cooper Kupp were to miss the game due to their respective concussions. The problem is both, as of now, are expected to clear concussion protocol and play Sunday, but things can always change.
Marques Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers: Geronimo Allison has cleared concussion protocol but is now dealing with a hamstring injury. As we saw last week, MVS can be a capable replacement should Allison be forced to meet the game. The 49ers have one of the worst secondaries in the game and we already know that the Packers are a pass first team.
Tight End
Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons: This game has all the makings of a shootout, as neither team should be able to stop the other on any kind of consistent basis. Hooper is never going to be confused with Zach Ertz or Travis Kelce, but he should still give you a serviceable game, if not much upside.
Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brate looked so much better as a starter earlier this week when we didn’t expect O.J. Howard to suit up. Now, it looks like Howard may be able to play Sunday and this clouds the situation. In the past Winston has had quite the chemistry with Brate, especially in the red zone. We expect the game Sunday to be a high scoring affair and Brate would have as good a chance at scoring as anyone else should Howard be forced to miss this game.
Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers: The Packers aren’t a great defense, but they are playing a banged-up offense in the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo is gone for the season, Matt Breida is likely out with ankle injury and neither Maquise Goodwin nor Pierre Garcon is having the type of season expected of them. This game could be over before halftime.
Dallas Cowboys: The Jags must know that their defense will shut down the Cowboys’ offense. They won’t need more than 17 points to win this game. They also have to know that the only way they lose this game is if Blake Bortles is making mistakes. I expect the Jaguars to play a conservative game here, eliminate mistakes, take something like a 17-9 victory and go home.
