The fantasy weeks are beginning to fly by, as pro football arrives at its sixth weekend. Byes begin across the league, which means deciding who to start in your lineups is an even more challenging decision. Streaming options remain available on the waiver wire for managers who want to stay in the hunt for playoff spots in their leagues.
We cooled off last week after a hot start to the season. Struggling in his NFL debut in a road game against the Arizona Cardinals, Trey Lance tossed for just 192 yards and an interception. Another recommendation, Tee Higgins, hauled in just five passes for 32 yards after returning from injury. Emmanuel Sanders continued his steady play on Sunday Night Football in the lone bright spot for our selections. The veteran wideout hauled in two touchdown grabs to help the Buffalo Bills defeat the Kansas City Chiefs. Let’s get to this week’s picks.
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Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts
Wentz enjoyed his best game of the season a week ago. The former No. 2 pick completed 25 of 35 passes for 402 yards and two touchdowns. Narrowly losing to the Baltimore Ravens in overtime, he racked up 22 fantasy points while averaging more than 11 yards per attempt. Hindered by a tough schedule and a mounting injury list early on, look for Indianapolis to get back in the win column this week against the lowly Houston Texans.
One of the worst defensive units in football, Houston has allowed 257 passing yards per game, leading to over 402 total yards per contest. Along with this, they also rank 27th in the league with over 28 points surrendered each time out. This makes Wentz a low-end QB1 for owners in need at the position.
Latavius Murray, Baltimore Ravens
Murray has largely been a touchdown-dependent option as the lead man in the Ravens backfield over the last few weeks. Being factored out of the game script last Sunday, the 31-year-old carried the ball just six times for 17 yards. He averaged just 2.8 yards per carry, leading to his worst finish of the season. However, with a matchup on deck against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6, play him as a FLEX option.
Vulnerable against the run all year long, Brandon Staley’s group has allowed the most yards per game across the league on the ground. Emphasized by a 161-yard performance from Nick Chubb last Sunday, the group gives up more than 157 on average. Murray is owned in just 65 percent of Yahoo leagues and 48 percent of ESPN leagues. He offers an enticing option for owners.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
Herbert is destined to be the lead dog in the Bears backfield this weekend, with David Montgomery out (knee), and backup Darrell Williams placed on the COVID-19 list. Receiving 18 carries a week ago, the Virginia Tech alum racked up 75 rushing yards with over four yards per carry. The team has been one of the most run-heavy teams in football with rookie Justin Fields at the controls.
Chicago has rushed the ball on over 55 percent of their offensive snaps during their last three games. Still susceptible to the ground game despite their improved play defensively this season, the Green Bay Packers have allowed 17 points per game to the position. On track for a full workload on Sunday with Chicago thin at the running back position, play him as a RB2.
Kadarius Toney, New York Giants
Breaking out last Sunday after receiving just 12 targets in his prior four games this season, Toney caught 10 passes for 189 yards, nearly a 20-yard average. The 20th-overall pick is likely to remain the focal point in the Giants offense, with Kenny Golladay, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, and Sterling Shepard either out or remaining limited in practice. If Daniel Jones can clear the league’s concussion protocols, play Toney as high-end WR3.
Trending towards the middle of the pack after being one of the best defensive units in the NFL a year ago, the Rams have given up 271 passing yards per game through one quarter of the year. Along with this, they have surrendered over 15 receptions per game to the wide receiver spot. This should lead Toney to put up strong numbers (with a safe floor) in fantasy football, given all the names missing in New York.
Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
Beginning to carve out a larger role in the Colts’ offense, Alie-Cox has been targeted nine times over the last two weeks. He hauled in two touchdown passes in Week 4. Out-targeting fellow tight end Jack Doyle on Monday night, The 28-year-old followed up it up by catching three passes for 50 yards. Developing a rapport with Wentz, play him on Sunday in a game against the Texans’ defense.
The worst defensive unit against the tight end spot, Lovie Smith’s group has given up 34 receptions for 369 yards and four touchdowns to the position. Furthermore, they have allowed their opponents to score a touchdown on 52.3 percent of their red-zone trips this season. A perfect streaming option for fantasy football owners short at the position due to byes or injuries, he is a safe TE2.
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