Fantasy Football Week 6: Start or Sit

By Zachary Morgan | HoustonBias.com

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     I'll preface this article by saying that I tried to include fringe guys in the list, guys that you're maybe a tad on the fence about. If you have a top 10 guy in any position, barring the worst matchup ever, he's starting. 

   
QB:
Start:

Cam Newton | CAR @ MIN
The match-up is sexy. Minnesota has allowed no fewer than 292 passing yards thus far this year and they're averaging over two touchdowns allowed per thus far. The Vikes have also been vulnerable to the deep ball, and Mike Shula hasn't been shy tossing it deep this year with touchdowns of over 40 yards twice already in the 2013 campaign. He's somewhat mobile too some might say, and a 40-50 yard chunk on the ground doesn't hurt. Cam is coming off a poor performance, and will look to have a day against the poor Minnesota secondary.

Tony Romo | WAS @ DAL
Tony Romo won't flounder after his nearly record breaking day against the Denver Broncos in week 5. The Washington defense is very suspect, and this may become a high scoring affair considering how the Dallas secondary has been assaulted as of late. RG3 did proclaim he felt fantastic coming off his bye, and he just may return to form, forcing Romo and Co. to go airborne heavy yet again. The emergence of a serviceable slot/out guy in Terrence Williams opens spots for Witten and Dez. Washington has given up the 5th most fantasy points to QBs in relation to Yahoo fantasy scoring. At this point are you benching Romo regardless? Pair his performance with his matchup and this is a no brainer.

RGIII | WAS @ DAL
Coming off a bye, look for RGIII to torch this rough Dallas secondary. Refer back to the Romo bit, this will likely become a high scoring affair. It's up in the air whether or not he actively reincorporates his legs back into the gameplan this week, but regardless expect big things from him tossing the football. I can see major junk time here if the Redskins falter their first several drives as well. Even with a bit of rust and little to no run game, RGIII has been a very viable starting option thus far even though his numbers have come in some junk time. Slot RGIII into the starting slot and feel good about it.

Andrew Luck | IND @ SD
Granted the Colts have gone run heavy thus far, but look for the roles to reverse in this contest. The Chargers rank top 5 in run defense, but bottom 5 in pass defense. Luck may only attempt 30 passes, but he will be efficient with the throws allotted. If the Colts lets Heyward-Bey and Hilton stretch the field as they did last week, the Chargers may become vulnerable to large chunks in dump-offs, or even lanes for Andrew Luck to run. Look for Andrew Luck to justify a starting job this week with a cake match-up.

Sit:


Russell Wilson | TEN  @ SEA
I'm not completely anti-Wilson this week, but if you have another option with a friendlier matchup, go for it. I think he's a top 15 play, but the Tennessee defense has been no joke thus far, and they've been stingy regarding fantasy points surrendered to QB's. Wilson isn't a must start anyways unless you're in a deep formatted league. I don't look for this one to be a shootout with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm for the Titans, and could see Marshawn Lynch getting 25-30 touches. Naturally Wilson's at home and the 12th man advantage in Seattle is ridiculous, but if you can bench him this week, feel confident in doing so.

Carson Palmer | ARI @ SF
Don't do it. I feel for you if you're starting Palmer anyways unless you are in a very deep two quarterback league. The matchup is scary, the 49'ers have returned to form, and playing in their own confines doesn't help the Cardinals cause. Palmer has struggled to settle into the Arizona offense, and hasn't taken advantage of the weapons he has in Michael Floyd and Larry Fitzgerald, with a 67 passer rating and a 5/9, TD/INT ratio. The absence of a productive ground game does not help his value, and the matchup is a no brainer. Do not start Carson Palmer.


RB:
Start:

Reggie Bush | DET@CLE
This Sunday Reggie Bush will go up against a formidable front seven, but one that has surrendered the 10th most fantasy points to RB's this season according to Yahoo Fantasy Football. If Calvin plays at all, it will likely be in a limited role, and Reggie may be featured as the focal point of the offense yet again. The Browns may take advantage of this the same manner in which the Packers did by stuffing the box, but Bush will get his touches and all he needs is volume which he will assuredly get. I look for Reggie to be featured in Calvin's absence even more so in the passing game, and I wouldn't be surprised if he saw six or seven targets. At this point you shouldn't be benching Reggie regardless, but he should have a good one on Sunday.

Fred Jackson | CIN @ BUF
This tandem in Buffalo just may be the death of me. Cincy has been pretty stingy this year defensively, giving up the 9th fewest fantasy points to RB's according to Yahoo scoring. However, with rookie practice squad QB Thad Lewis at the helm for the Bills, it's gonna be all kinds of check down city and Jackson has been targeted heavier in the pass game thus far this year. Even without a full work load, Fred Jackson has been a top 10 fantasy option thus far this year, and he should be started until he proves otherwise. CJ Spiller still has lingering effects from his ankle sprain and is listed as questionable for the game Sunday. Expect Fred to get a similar workload as last week on the ground, and a few more targets in the air. Not to mention Jackson has served as the Bills clear favorite in the redzone thus far, and I don't see that changing moving forward given he stays healthy. As a Spiller owner it kills me to say this, but if you have both, you should be sitting CJ and slotting Fred Jackson in his place come Sunday morning.

Knowshon Moreno | DEN @ JAX
The clear cut questioning here as to whether or not he should be in your lineups this week comes down to how early he is pulled after the Broncos mount a substantial lead. There isn't anything to go by from the Broncos staff as far as when the first team will be pulled in the likely case that the Broncos are several, several scores ahead Sunday. I think the matchup is one that's too good to pass up regardless. I also believe that most people are putting to much stock into the fact that several players will be pulled early. I think regardless of the score, Moreno will likely see 15 touches, and against an abysmal Jacksonville defense each of those carries should bring some fruition. Moreno is tied for 2nd in the NFL in rushing touchdowns and is the clear favorite in the redzone as well as throughout the game at this point. Ronnie Hillman as well as Montee Ball will see garbage time, but I doubt they see enough to really eat into Knowshon's workload to a large extent. The Broncos will be in the redzone early and often, I like Knowshon's chances to punch one in. Start, start, start.

Darren Sproles | NO @ NE
Pierre Thomas will not repeat, and with Ingram again Questionable, I like Darren Sproles. The Pats have been somewhat vulnerable to RB's in the passing game, and I look for the Saints to unleash Sproles after a quiet afternoon against the Bears last week. Sproles is a frustrating commodity as he can be volatile, but in an awful year for running backs he's a pretty attractive option. In what may turn out to be a high scoring affair between two elite QB's, I think Sproles will see his share of targets. Unless you have better options on hand, Darren Sproles is starting for you in RB2/Flex range.


Sit:

Chris Johnson | TEN @ SEA
Sit, sit, sit, and sit. There is a very remote chance that the Titans stroll into Seattle against that front 7, in front of those fans, and run all over them. Now granted CJ has that ability to burst and turn one run into a productive fantasy day, but there's a very good chance he's bottled up come week 6 against an elite NFL defense in front of a crowd of rabid Seahawks fans. Don't do it. Flex a WR3 option over CJ this week, the matchup simply does not bode well.

Ryan Matthews | IND @ SD
Don't do this to yourself. Danny Woodhead is beginning to monopolize carries, and Indy boasts a top 5 run defense. Ryan Matthews has seen his fair share of carries and has simply not produced. He won't start doing so against a tough Colts run D. If you're a Ryan Matthews owner, get your hands on Danny Woodhead and be done with Matthews. Sit him and feel very confident in doing so.

C.J. Spiller | CIN @ BUF
CJ Spiller is the girl who snubbed my school dance invite in front of all my friends in middle school. I talked CJ up, and with all the faith in the world spent my 6th overall pick on him, and he's embarrassed me in front of my incredibly insensitive buddies. Me an CJ have had our rough patches and I look for this week to be no different. Spiller is coming into the contest listed as questionable, still dealing with ankle troubles from two weeks ago. Granted C.J. did post 66 yards and a touch last week, but 99 % of that production came from a 54 yard run to the house. Take that run from his statline and you're left with an abysmal 7 carries for 12 yards. Now this can be the nature of C.J., and by benching him you're running the risk of missing out on that one burst, but Jackson is such a safer play here with every bit of the upside if not more. With rookie Thad Lewis at the helm, the Bills will likely check down more than often, and FJax is leading Spiller in targets 23-11 thus far this year. If you can manage, it wouldn't be a bad idea to slot C.J. into a bench spot this week.

WR:
Start:

Reggie Wayne | IND @ SD
San Diego is boasting the 4th most points given up to WR's according to Yahoo scoring formats. T.Y. Hilton may play a larger role in the offense as he did last week, but his involvement has been very volatile thus far this season. Wayne is still clearly Luck's favorite option averaging eight targets a week. San Diego owns a top 5 run D, so the Colts may gameplan or be forced to go airborne in the redzone and in goal line situations. The matchup is there, and I look for Indy's run first minded offense to frequent the air more so this week. Feel very confident with Wayne occupying a WR2 or flex slot.

Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon | DEN @ JAX
Junk time 101. The Jacksonville duo is a very solid pair, and they've shown time and time again that the Jaguar's woes do nothing negative to their fantasy value, especially with Chad Henne behind center. With about a 28 point spread on this one, both receivers will see junk time like no other this season, and the Denver secondary hasn't been anything to hang your hat on, giving up the 3rd most points to WR's. Shorts is averaging 12 targets a game and Blackmon saw 9 in his very first game. Denver has allowed seven scores and four different 100 yard games. Start them both without any question.

Pierre Garcon | WAS @ DAL
This one will likely end up a shoutout with two inept defenses going at it. Both offenses can sling it, and RGIII has spoken highly of how he feels coming off his bye week. Garcon is RGIII's favorite target with an average of 11 targets per. Garcon, usually a deep threat, has yet to bust anything substantial as the Redskins have featured him in more of a prominent WR1 role, and I think it's only a matter of time before he takes a long one to the house. The targets will be there, and Washington may be throwing from behind often. Look for a big day from Pierre as the Dallas secondary has allowed at least 10 fantasy points to every prominent WR they've seen thus far.


Sit:

Anquan Boldin | ARI @ SF
Although Boldin has been the featured WR in this offense thus far, Vernon Davis will likely be returning to playing without hindrance this week against an Arizona defense that has allowed the 10 fewest points to wide receivers. This offense has been incredibly sporadic, and Boldin has averaged only six targets since week 2. Kaep has averaged only 140 yards passing since week 2. The 49'ers have gone back to their roots as a run first squad, and I look for no difference come this matchup.

Nate Washington | TEN @ SEA
See Johnson, Chris above. The matchup is far from appealing, and Washington will likely see some time against possibly the leagues best cover corner in Richard Sherman. Although Washington is averaging nearly 8 targets a week, the Seahawks stout D has really only surrendered solid performances to Cecil Shorts, Andre Johnson, and T.Y. Hilton. Cecil garnered his value in garbage time, and Hilton was not properly planned for. Andre was the only receiver to straight up beat them, but Andre is a full grown man damnit. Nate Washington is no Andre Johnson, and I don't look for the Titans to present Washington with any junk time opportunity as they have a pretty sound squad there. If you can sit Washington, I would recommend it.

Marques Colston | NO @ NE
Two Words,  Aqib Talib. Colston has averaged 6 targets this year as opposed to an average of 8 last year, and the matchup is not encouraging although it may end up a high scoring affair. I don't put a whole lot of stock into how Colston has under performed this year thus far, in fact I would buy low as he is historically a slow starter, but Talib is as tough as they come. The big physical corner will make like rough on the New Orleans wide-out. If you have the luxury of a deep squad or great matchups this week elsewhere, it may not be a bad idea to give Colston the week off.


TE:
Start:

Garrett Graham | STL @ HOU
With Graham the featured tight end in an offense that targets them heavily, this is a no brainer. With Schaub looking to get back on track don't be surprised to see him looking for his security blanket even more so. Owen Daniels averaged over 8 targets a week in the role that Garrett Graham will be taking over. The matchup is phenomenal against a struggling run defense at home.I look for our Texans to get back on track and make a statement in doing so. Graham will see upwards of 8-10 targets, and a couple of those just may be in the redzone. Start him and Go Texans!

Greg Olsen | CAR @ MIN
Minnesota has given up the third most points in the league to TE's according to Yahoo scoring formats. Cam is coming off a rough week, turning the ball over three times, and will look to bounce back against the Minnesota defense. Olsen averages 8 targets a week, second to only Steve Smith with 9 a week. Olsen is on pace for his highest career catch total as Cam is actively looking for him more so, and he's also on pace to double his red zone targets from the previous year. He's a top 10 TE, and you shouldn't bench him regardless of matchup. 

Brent Celek | PHI @ TB
TE's have feasted on the Eagles linebacking corps and secondary thus far this year as the Philly D has surrendered the 5th most points to TE's thus far in the 2013 campaign. Although Celek is only averaging near 4 targets on average, he should be more active in an offense manned by Nick Foles with Vick on the sidelines this week. The matchup is there, and there isn't a saturation of solid TE's this year, so go for it slot Celek in the starting lineup with optimism. 


Sit:

Jared Cook | STL @ HOU
If you have another option available, seize the opportunity. The wondrous Houston D has surrendered the fewest passing yards per game, and the volatility of production is maddening with Cook. Cook has averaged 6 targets a game over his last four contests but he is utilizing only half of those targets. Jared has caught for no more than 45 yards with no trips to the endzone since his massive week 1 performance. Look elsewhere for a starting TE this week.

Jeff Cumberland | PIT @ NYJ
The Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland is one to avoid this week as the Steelers D has been very tough against opposing TE's allowing the 3rd fewest points to the position. Although Cumberland has benefited from two touchdown receptions the last two weeks, he hasn't been targeted much over the last three weeks with an average below 3. The Jets offense as well can be suspect, and the matchup is much more conducive to the run, so if you're starting a Jet, you're starting Bilal Powell. Don't chase two touchdowns in two consecutive weeks, because he's likely to miss the endzone this week.