Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 6 of the 2024 NFL Season

Bye weeks are upon us, but we have nothing to fear. Now’s the time to implement our deep benches and savvy waiver wire skills. Here’s the fallout going into Week 6…

 

 Buccaneers- 30 @ Falcons – 36

• Rachaad White(13/66) got the upper hand on Bucky Irving(11/56) on Thursday, in large part due to a 56 yard scamper. Still, this is close to an even timeshare, and Irving should be owned in all formats.

 

• Darnell Mooney(9/105/2) won’t have output like this every week, but he’s the no.2 WR at worst in an improving Falcons offense. He needs to be owned and played this week against Carolina.

 

• Ray-Ray McCloud(9/66) has at least 7 targets in 3 of 5 games this season. He’s a deep league ppr flex with limited upside but a solid floor.

 

Jets – 17 @ Vikings – 23

• Aaron Rodgers has a sprained lower left ankle but the outlook is good. His practice will be monitored this week, but he should play.

 

• Allen Lazard(4/34/1) isn’t going away. He was 2nd on the team in targets(10) behind Garrett Wilson(22) on Sunday and found the endzone again. 

 

• Tyler Conklin(6/55) is developing into one of the more consistent TE options in football. He had 9 targets on Sunday and is averaging 7.5 targets over the last 3 contests. He needs to be owned.

 

• Aaron Jones sustained a hip injury and will undergo an MRI. The injury is said to be of short term concern, but Ty Chandler(16/39) needs to be added, if you have the bench space. The Vikings have a bye this week, so it’s not a high priority move. 

 

Browns – 13 @ Commanders – 34

• David Njoku(1/14) can’t catch a break, as he injured his knee the first game back after missing 3 games with an ankle injury. It’s yet to be seen whether he’ll go this week, but Jordan Akins(3/22/1) scored a TD Sunday and would be the next man up if Njoku can’t play. 

 

• D’Onta Foreman(10/60) out gained Jerome Ford(12/49) on Sunday, carrying the ball an equal amount of times(9). It’s probably all for naught, as Nick Chubb is close to returning. 

 

• Jeremy McNichols(7/44/1) stayed heavily involved, even with Austin Ekeler(8/97) back in the mix. The Commanders offense is the epitome of efficiency right now, so he could continue to get touches moving forward. He needs to score to be viable though.

 

Dolphins – 15 @ Patriots – 10

• De’Von Achane suffered a concussion on Sunday, leaving Jaylen Wright(13/86) to see his first major action of the season. He didn’t disappoint. The Dolphins have a bye this week, so Achane will probably be back in time for WK7, but Wright is worth an add if your bench is deep. 

 

• Jonnu Smith(5/62) got 8 targets on the day, as a safety blanket for Tyler Huntley. He’s worth a streamer when the Dolphins come out of their WK6 bye. 

 

• Antonio Gibson(7/56) got the start, but Rhamondre Stevenson(16/92/1) regained his bellcow role by the game’s end. Gibson did have an impressive 8.7 YPC, but he’s still a complimentary player. 

 

• DeMario Douglas retained his no.1 WR role with Kendrick Bourne back in the fold, but the NE no.1 WR position is like the no.3 WR role on most other teams. Still, Douglas has gotten 9 targets in 2 of his last 3 games and is a deep league flex against Houston in WK6. 

 

Colts – 34 @ Jaguars – 37

• Joe Flacco(33/359/3) couldn’t miss on Sunday, posting a 121.3 passer rating on the day. He’s a better QB than Anthony Richardson at this point in their careers, but the Colts seem committed to developing AR as the QB of the future. Still, we could get another start out of Flacco this week against Tennessee. In that case, fire up your Colts pass-catchers. 

 

• Despite Alec Pierce’s(3/134/1) big day, Josh Downs(9/69) was Flacco’s favorite target, garnering 12 looks on the day. Both need to be owned going into WK6, as does Adonai Mitchell(4/38) in deep leagues. He had 7 targets on the day. 

 

• Trey Sermon(16/63/1) is no Jonathan Taylor, but he managed a respectable line on Sunday. The Titans have a better defense than the Jags, but Sermon would still be worth flexing if JT can’t make it back this week. He’s owned in only 52% of leagues. 

 

• Tank Bigsby(14/129/2) may have vaulted himself into the 1A position in the Jaguars backfield with his performance on Sunday, besting Travis Etienne(12/60) on the ground. Only 23% owned, he’s the top RB priority on waivers this week. 

 

Bills – 20 @ Texans – 23 

• Keon Coleman(1/49/1) made his single reception count on Sunday, but both Mack Hollins and Dalton Kincaid(2/34) had more targets at 6 apiece. Josh Allen only completed 9 passes in the game, so chalk it up as a bad day for him. The Bills play the Jets this week, so if Shakir misses, I think Kincaid gets the biggest bump. 

 

• Dare Ogunbowale(22/87) had a whopping 22 touches on Sunday, out gaining Cam Akers(11/47/1), but it was Akers who managed to find the endzone. This was Ogunbowale’s shot at lead back, and while he was effective in the passing game, he wasn’t useful in short yardage situations. He’s only useful PPR formats, if Joe Mixon and/or Dameon Pierce sits again this week. 

 

• Nico Collins(hamstring) is day to day, after exiting the game early. His absence this week would open things up for Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz. Xavier Hutchinson would also get some juice as the 3rd wideout potentially.

 

Ravens – 41 @ Bengals – 38

• As if Isaiah Likely(3/12/2) taking targets from Mark Andrews(4/55) wasn’t enough, we now have 3rd TE Charlie Kolar(3/64/1) siphoning looks. Your guess is as good as mine as to who of these guys you can actually use on a weekly basis. I’m hands off.

 

• Rashod Bateman(4/58/1) had his best game of the season on 8 targets. He’s unreliable, but Bateman makes for an intriguing flex play against Washington’s burnable secondary this week. 

 

• Zack Moss(12/52) avoided a serious ankle injury on Sunday, but he’s day to day. If he can’t go this week, Chase Brown(15/54/1) will be in the RB1 conversation against the Giants. 

 

Panthers – 10 @ Bears – 36

• Andy Dalton(18/136/0/1) turned back into a Pumpkin against a formidable Bears defense, playing poorly enough to be replaced by Bryce Young late in the game. Dalton will start this week versus at Atlanta, but should he falter, Young could find himself in the driver’s seat again. 

 

• Xavier Legette(⅛) suffered a shoulder injury Sunday, leaving Shrine Bowl standout Jalen Coker(4/68) to take his place. If Legette can’t go this week, Coker actually has some juice going into WK6. He’s a big body who knows how to get open, as evidenced in WK5. 

 

• As I expected, D’Andre Swift(23/120/1) was lead back, but Roschon Johnson(10/25/2) got goal line duties on Sunday. Scoring thrice in the last 2 weeks, Johnson makes for a TD dependent flex against Jacksonville this week. 

 

Cardinals – 24 @ 49ers – 23

• Michael Wilson(5/78) led all Cardinals pass-catchers on Sunday. He’s averaging 8 targets over the last 3 weeks, but Wilson’s ceiling isn’t high enough to do anything but flex him in deep PPR formats. 

 

• Jauan Jennings(1/14) took a backseat to Brandon Aiyuk(8/147) in this one. His targets have gone down incrementally since WK3, and Jennings isn’t an advised start against Seattle this week. 

 

Raiders – 18 @ Broncos- 34

• Ameer Abdullah(8/51/1) had the best day of any Raider RB, but I can’t advocate playing him against Pittsburgh’s stout run defense this week. 

 

• Lil Jordan Humphrey(2/48) led all Broncos WRs on Sunday, but it was pretty meager output across the board. Courtland Sutton(2/32) was the only WR to garner more than 2 targets on the day, so it’s still a wait and see situation outside of him. 

 

• Jaleel McLaughlin(9/25/1) found the endzone, but Javonte Williams(18/111) was the clear lead back on Sunday. Williams has had 2 straight game of 18+ touches, so it’s safe to say he’s the top dog in Denver. 

 

Giants – 29 @ Seahawks – 20

• Darius Slayton(8/122/1) led the Giants in receiving with Malik Nabers out with a concussion. Slayton is a fast, deep threat who can produce in a pinch. He’s worth a gamble if Nabers can’t go against Cincy this week.

 

• Tyrone Tracy(19/130) was splitting time with Eric Gray(7/54), until Gray fumbled on the goal line. Tracy ended the day well and would be a decent start against the Bengals this week, if Devin Singletary sits. 

 

• Tyler Lockett(4/75) led the Seahawks in receiving, and despite not scoring a TD this season, Lockett remains an asset in PPR formats. 

 

Packers  – 24 @ Rams – 19

• Dantayvion Wicks(2/20) led the Packers in targets(7) but failed to bring all but 2 in. Look for him to bounce back against Arizona this week. 

 

• Tucker Kraft(4/88/2) scored in his second straight game, leading the Packers in receiving. A favorite target of Jordan Love in the red-zone, Kraft is a TE1, still available in almost 40% of leagues.

 

• Demarcus Robinson(3/28/1) scored the only receiving TD, but both Jordan Whittington(7/89) and Tutu Atwell(6/58) had 10 targets to Robinson’s 5. The Rams have a bye, after which Cooper Kupp may return, so these guys aren’t major priorities this week. 

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Cowboys – 20 @ Steelers – 17

• Rico Dowdle(22/114/1) finally put forth a performance we can get behind. This outing should place him firmly ahead of Zeke Elliott as the lead back in Dallas. He’s still available in almost 45% of leagues. 

 

• Jalen Tolbert(7/87/1) led the team in targets(10) and receiving on Sunday night. With Brandin Cooks getting placed on IR, Tolbert needs to be owned in all formats moving forward, as the no.2 in Dallas. 

 

• Van Jefferson(3/26) led the Steelers WRs in snaps, but he did little with his playing time. This just isn’t a high yield offense at this point.