Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 6

Steeler’s QB might now be the most dangerous profession behind deep sea fisherman. I touch on that and more in this week’s fallout. Here goes…

 

Rams – 29 @ Seahawks – 30

 

• It may sound crazy, but now might be a good time to trade Todd Gurley. He scored twice on Thursday night, but was held to 55 yards on the ground and has had a sub 4.0 YPC average in all but one game this season. Schedule may have something to do with it, but he doesn’t look like the Gurley of old on the field. You can still get a lot in return on his name alone. 

 

• TE Gerald Everett started the season slowly, but he’s working up to fever pitch right now going 12/180/1 over his last two games. It’s hard to tell if it will stick, but he’s well worth an add as the preferred TE on one of the most prolific offenses in the league. 

 

• I don’t know what’s gotten into Chris Carson(28/123/1), but he’s made Rashaad Penny(8/48) an afterthought in Seattle. Penny is a deep league flex at best, and probably more of a high end handcuff right now. 

 

Cardinals – 26 @ Bengals – 23

 

• KeeSean Johnson was the 2nd most targeted player for the Cardinals on Sunday with 7, but he only came away with 3 rec for 22 yards. He’ll get a Falcons team this week that was just roasted by the Texans’ no.2 though, so he’s an intriguing play if Christian Kirk can’t go this week. 

 

• Chase Edmonds…

 

• Auden Tate was 2nd in targets for the Bengals with 6, and barely came away with a 3/26/1 line in a last ditch scoring drive. You can flex him again this week against the Ravens, but you might be biting your nails again hoping he gets some garbage time action. This team stinks. 

 

• So much for Tyler Eifert going off on the Cardinals, who can’t otherwise defend against TEs. He did tie for 3rd on the team with 4 targets with Damion Willis, but if you can’t depend on him in a matchup like this, you can’t depend on him at all really. The Bengals are just abysmal and could go into tank mode soon.

 

Jaguars – 27 @ Panthers – 34

 

• If D.J. Chark(8/164/2) isn’t a WR1, he’s knocking on the door. He’s the real deal and seems almost matchup proof from what we’ve seen so far this season. He’s still unowned in 25% of leagues and that’s absurd. 

 

• Dede Westbrook(7/82) is quietly putting up solid PPR numbers on an almost weekly basis. He should be owned in most PPR formats, though TDs seem to elude him. 

 

• Gardner Minshew seems to put up serviceable numbers despite difficult matchups. He’s a fine streamer most weeks. 

 

• No Greg Olsen isn’t injured, he just didn’t get involved in Christian McCaffrey‘s best day of his short career. I know it hurts to think about playing him after a goose egg like this, but this week he gets a Bucs team that he went 6/110 on earlier this season.

 

• Reggie Bonnafon(5/80/1) broke off a monster 59 yard TD run late in the game in relief of a cramping(phew) Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey got run into the ground on this one and it started to show. It might be smart for McCaffrey owners to add Bonnafon where they can. He could feast if something happens to CMC. 

 

Falcons – 32 @ Texans 53

 

• Devonta Freeman and Ito Smith had close to an even split with Freeman only  out-snapping Smith 41 to 33 on Sunday. Neither could get much going on the ground, but they were both fairly active in the passing game. If you haven’t already traded Freeman, he has a favorable matchup this week with Arizona, but so does Smith. Smith can be flexed this week for that reason. 

 

• Julio Jones had his 2nd middling game in a row on Sunday, barely gaining more than 40 yards on the day. It’s cute that Matt Ryan realizes he has other options, but the Falcons aren’t going to win games without getting their stud involved. Jones should get right against Arizona this week in a major way. 

 

• Mohamed Sanu(5/42/1) didn’t go over 50 yards, as he has in 3 of 4 previous games this season, but he did score his first TD. He needs to be owned in 12 or more team leagues. 

 

• Will Fuller(14/217/3) cashed out against the Falcons, and hopefully he was in your lineups. This will probably go down as his best game, but he’ll stay heavily involved moving forward, as the Texans offense was firing on all cylinders for what seemed like the first time this season. The Texans get KC this week, so get your popcorn ready. 

 

• Keke Coutee(3/72) makes for a solid pickup this week if Kenny Stills can’t make it. Coutee would be an upside play against the Chiefs. So would Duke Johnson.

 

Buccanneers – 24 @ Saints – 31

 

• Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber had a near even timeshare on Sunday, with Barber coming away with the TD. I still think Jones is the better back, but Barber’s usage is going to keep him from being anything more than a flex on many weeks.  

 

• Mike Evans gave us a goose egg this week, and has famined more than feasted so far this season. If his owner is lean on wins, he might be willing to part with him for someone less explosive but more stable like Allen Robinson. 

 

• Can you drop O.J. Howard yet? Well, if you’ve been winning with him on your team, then it makes some sense to hold onto him, but I’m not wincing at letting him go for a hot pickup right now. 

 

• Jared Cook(6/42) has has 6 targets in back to back games. He might be the kind of guy you could drop Howard for…

 

• Tedd Ginn(2/35/1) came down with a TD in this one, but he only had 2 targets on the day. He can be left on waivers, but maybe he’s worth a DFS tournament play. 

 

• If Jalen Ramsey is still sitting this week, Teddy Bridgewater(314/4/1) might actually be a decent streamer versus Jacksonville. He’s starting to take some chances in this offense. 

 

Vikings – 28 @ Giants – 10

 

• I said that Kirk Cousins(306/2) doesn’t show up until about Week 6, and he’s right on time. I still don’t trust him, especially since his performance came against the lowly Giants, but it at least seems that the cries from his disgruntled WRs are finally reaching his ears. 

 

• Cousins tried to get Stefon Diggs involved early, but it just didn’t pan out. The Vikings got to an early lead and proceeded to run the game away. His owners are probably close to being fed up, so maybe a few trade offers should be sent their way.

 

• Alexander Mattison would become an instant RB1 should Dalvin Cook go down. If you’ve got an extra bench spot, he should be in it. 

 

• Wayne Gallman‘s days as the man in NYC are likely over. He was concussed on Sunday, ceding his duties to Jonathan Hilliman. Even if Gallman is cleared for this week, Saquon Barkley is probably going to return. It’s a precarious situation all around. Hilliman should be added, but Gallman should probably be owned in case Barkley re-injures himself from coming back too soon. 

 

• Golden Tate returned this week with a whimper(3/13). He was 3rd in targets(6) behind Shepard and Engram, but hs chemistry with Jones was definitely amiss. I was more excited about Darius Slayton(4/62/1) who is shaping up as the Giants’ no.1 deep threat. With Sterling Shepard(concussion) and Evan Engram(knee) questionable before a Thursday night game, both Tate and Slayton should be owned and perhaps flexed, even against the Pats. 

 

Bears – 21 @ Raiders – 24

 

• Favorite son Anthony Miller(4/52) blipped on the radar in London against the Bears, making a 32 yard circus catch in the process that reminded us why we love him. He’s not worth picking up yet, but he needs to be on our watch lists again. 

 

• Tarik Cohen still isn’t showing up much on the fantasy radar, but Chase Daniel does seem to like him. Cohen had 6 catches on the day for 39 yards, in addition to 10 on the ground. 

 

• Josh Jacobs had his best game of the season against the Bears no less, and hopefully the Raiders see their win as an indicator that feeding their rookie RB 20+ times is the way to victory. He has a bye this week, so owners with losing records might be willing to field offers. 

 

• TE Foster Moreau(4/46) made some flashy catches playing behind Darren Waller, and I’d be scared for Waller’s opportunities going forward, but he was in on over 75% of snaps so he’s still good to go. 

 

Jets – 6 @ Eagles – 31

 

• Demaryius Thomas(4/47) had 9 targets Sunday, tying Le’Veon Bell for the team lead. Even though his targets came at the hands of Luke Falk, who may not be the QB come their next game – hopefully, he’s worth a speculative add in most formats. 

 

• The Eagles didn’t do much offensively in this one, but they didn’t really have to with the way their defense was playing. Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard continue to eat into each others’ carries, but Howard gets the goal line snaps so he wins. 

 

• DeSean Jackson is reportedly 50/50 to play next week. Snatch him up if he’s out n waivers in your league. 

 

Ravens – 26 @ Steelers – 23 

 

• Marquise Brown injured his ankle in the 1st quarter Sunday, and Willie Snead(5/51) picked up where he left off. If Brown can’t go this week, Snead would be the immediate beneficiary.

 

• Steelers QBs keep falling, this time Mason Rudolph who took a scary sandwich hit that rendered him unconscious. He’s not necessarily out this week, but it looks like UDFA Devlin Hodges is likely to make the start. Hodges filled in admirably for Rudolph Sunday going 7 for 9 for 68 yards in a close game, so all is not lost for Steelers WRs this week, though the Chargers do have a decent secondary. 

 

• Diontae Johnson(5/27) didn’t show up in fantasy, but he did lead the Steelers in targets(8). He’s a hold.

 

• Jaylen Samuels(6 tou, 12 yards) virtually disappeared this week after his breakout in Week 4. I wouldn’t drop him just yet, as he may be implemented as some sort of safety blanket for Hodges, but his inconsistency is untenable in fantasy right now. 

 

Bills – 14 @ Titans – 7

 

• Not much notable happened on offense for either team in this one, but WR Duke Johnson(4/29/1), who led the CFL in receiving last year, did score. More importantly, he only played two fewer snaps than John Brown. He’s worth a look in dynasty and deeper formats. 

 

Patriots – 33 Redskins – 7

 

• Phillip Dorsett injured his hamstring early in Sunday’s game, and he never returned. His injury is supposedly not serious, but he may miss a game. Jakobi Meyers would fill in in 3-wide sets in that case. 

 

•  Brandon Bolden(6 tou/42/1) made a rare appearance on fantasy radars Sunday. Should Rex Burkhead sit again, he could get considerable garbage time action against the Giants this week.

 

• The Redskins dumped Jay Gruden Monday morning, so the offense is up in the air. The only certainty, as far as I’m concerned, is Terry McLaurin(3/51). I’m not touching anyone else in fantasy right now. 

 

Broncos – 20 @ Chargers – 13

 

• Don’t get spooked by Emmanuel Sanders‘ 1 rec for 9 yard game. He’s notoriously stymied by the Chargers, and the Broncos ran the ball with a lead. 

 

• Courtland Sutton(4/92/1) is still unowned in 25% of leagues. That shouldn’t be the case. He’s averaging 8 targets a game.

 

• Melvin Gordon had 12 carries to Austin Ekeler‘s 3, but Ekeler had 16 targets to Gordon’s 6. This offense can sustain both RBs. 

 

Packers – 34 @ Cowboys – 24

 

• It was the Aaron Jones show in the one for the Pack. They found a working formula and literally ran with it. Marquez Valdes-Scantling shrunk on Sunday afternoon, receiving extra attention from the Cowboys secondary. He faces the Lions this week in what should be an easier matchup, but if he’s being treated like the no.1 again by the defense, it could be another long day. 

 

• Geronimo(2/28) was 2nd in targets behind Jones with 6. He makes for a reasonable flex this week. 

 

• Michael Gallup(7/113/1) had 14 targets, the same number as Amari Cooper(11/226/1). He dropped to sub 70% ownership levels in his time away, so go get him if you can. 

 

Colts – 19 @ Chiefs – 13

 

• The Colts played keep-away with the Chiefs most of the night as they nursed an early lead, so nobody got much action outside of Marlon Mack(32/148). 

 

• Sammy Watkins(6/103/1) went down with a hamstring injury Sunday night, and Byron Pringle did his best impression in his place. I loved Pringle as a prospect coming into the league, so I hope this gets him more playing time. Unfortunately for him, Tyreek Hill is soon to return, so Pringle may be out of luck even if Watkins misses time. He’s worht adding this week, just in case though. 

 

• Darrel Williams was nowhere to be seen Sunday and Shady McCoy(2/23) didn’t fare much better. Shady won’t be this bad most days, but Damien looks like the lead back now that he’s healthy – it also didn’t help that McCoy fumbled early. Darrel looks like he can be dropped.