Studs and Duds: Week 6

Predicting Fantasy Football performance in the Week 6 Slate

Every week, players outperform their projections, and sometimes, we are lucky enough to make the right call. Last week, I predicted in my week 4 AFC expectations piece that Chris Hogan was a must-add. Hogan blew up with Tom Brady under center catching 4 catches for over 100 yards and has clearly established himself as a downfield target for Brady. He is now a must-own.

However, there are also players that we, as fantasy owners, rely on week in and week out (Julio Jones comes to mind) that have become…well…unreliable. Julio has sandwiched a career day with two stinky games. So how do we know when this is going to happen? We don’t. Based on history, though, we can make an educated guess.

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Here are five players that I think will be Studs this week… and five players that I think will be Duds. Some of these names may be obvious… others may not be. Go with your gut, and remember…it’s just a game…albeit an extremely frustrating one.

STUDS

1. DeMarco Murray- An obvious name this week, and let’s face it you aren’t sitting him any week at this point. However, going up against Cleveland at home is sure to be a very tasty day. Cleveland ranks 27th against RB this year. If he doesn’t find paydirt and eclipse 100 yards on the ground this week, I will be dumbfounded.
2. Kelvin Benjamin- I know, I know… he’s been shaky. Carolina is in win-now mode though and they face a division rival in New Orleans that frankly, sucks on defense. With Cam Newton expected back, I expect this to be a very high scoring affair with Mr. Benjamin coming up big. The Saints have allowed 100 yd performances to Sterling Shepard, Dontrelle Inman and Amari Cooper. He’s a WR1 this week with a pretty low floor, though.
3. Will Fuller V- It’s hard to predict when Fuller will produce but history shows that he has been fantastic against sub-par defenses and shut down against elite ones. Indianapolis’ team defense is ranked 27th in AFPA. With attention on Hopkins and Miller, start Fuller with confidence this week against the poor divisional rival Colts, at home in Houston.
4. Jimmy Graham- Graham went off the two weeks prior to the bye and earned praise from Russell Wilson. Wilson said, “Jimmy Graham is a bad, bad man.He can do anything. He can make any play, any catch. He’s a special player.” I’m on board. Atlanta has been very beatable vs. the pass, and I don’t see how they can contain Jimmy. I expect another huge game from the revived Tight End.
5. Blake Bortles- If you’re a Winston owner, or simply streaming QB’s this week- Bortles is your man. Yes, he has thrown a lot of INT’s this year but a good remedy is facing the Chicago Bears, coming off of an extra week to prepare. Bortles has the weapons to do some serious damage- my only concern would be weather conditions. If its a rainy game in Chicago, so monitor that. Clear skies means he is a top 10 QB this week for me and an EXCELLENT DFS play. Stamp it.

DUDS

1. Devonta Freeman/Tevin Coleman- I’m a big fan of this backfield, like most, but this week I am avoiding it. With Atlanta playing in Seattle, Seattle having an extra week to prepare it does not sound like a fun day. I’ll skip biting my fingernails and hoping for production. A lot of people sat Coleman last week and he exploded. That’s just the nature of the beast. I just don’t want to be the guy who starts him when he doesn’t produce…and there are safer plays this week.
2. Jordan Matthews- I am actually personally frustrated as a Matthews owner. The first two weeks, Wentz peppered him with tender love and care. And has since decided that giving his best receiver the ball is a bad idea. This makes me “Wentz” (poor joke). I would love for Matthews to prove me wrong, but a potential date with Josh Norman and a baffling lack of targets, I am trying to sell this guy like a used car. Expect Philly to exploit Washington’s 29th ranked run defense. I’m making him earn a starting spot on my team, until further notice, he’s on the pine.
3. Any San Diego receiver- Playing on a short week going up against the best secondary in football, who coincidentally, is very angry. No thanks. I like to get kissed before I get f… you get the idea. Don’t put yourself through the stress. Avoid this unit.
4. Phillip Rivers- See Dud no. 3 and insert here.
5. Matt Forte- In my league, Forte has not amassed 7 points at all during the last three weeks, and has fallen off of a cliff faster than Wiley Coyote. With Bilal Powell rising, I don’t see that changing this Sunday at Arizona, who allows the 10th fewest rushing yards per carry. Pass.

Good luck this week, I hope this helps a little. In the end, play your best players, go with your instinct and enjoy the marvel that is Football Sunday (and Thursday and Monday). TGFFF (Thank God For Fantasy Football)!

Feel free to message me on sleeperbot @keezy84 for any advice, and I will reply promptly!

-Keezy