We win some, we lose some. It’s a natural part of the sport of fantasy football. If we were perfect, we could take our knowledge to Vegas and come out with our lifelong dream in cash. However, if we were being honest, that feat is nearly impossible. With major injuries sweeping across the league in Week 5, there is an opportunity to roll the dice on potential boom-or-bust players. Here are some of our favorites ahead of Week 6.
Brandon’s Picks:
Two players you should start this week:
Chase Claypool – Number 11 has been one of the Steelers’ biggest playmakers since his arrival to the league in 2020. Claypool has averaged 16.5 yards per touch, which ranks top-10 amongst players so far this season. While a Week 4 hamstring injury scared many owners into sitting him in his Week 5 return, Chase jumped back to work with five catches, 130 yards, and his first touchdown of the season against the Broncos. With his teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster likely out for some time with a shoulder injury, a boost in target share and a depleted Seahawks secondary brings lots of upside for Claypool to continue making big plays in Week 6.
Kareem Hunt – It’s not very often a team’s RB2 makes a start list, but Cleveland’s complementary back is certainly an exception. The combination of Hunt and Nick Chubb has been the most dominant one-two punch in the NFL this year. While Chubb has been handling the larger portion of the carries, Hunt has been able to equal his PPR value as the team’s leading receiver with 17 catches. With reports swirling that Chubb will be out for Week 6, the ceiling can be expected to double for Hunt. Although the opposing Cardinals are still undefeated, they have allowed at least five catches to runningbacks in four out of five games this season. Look for the Browns to attack the Cardinals as they did in 2019, where Hunt caught eight passes for 62 yards.
Two players you should sit this week:
Kirk Cousins – The former Michigan State star had a great start through the first three weeks of the season. Since then, he has been held in check by Great Lakes foes Cleveland and Detroit. Against the Lions, he was held to only 275 yards and was picked off by one of the most inexperienced secondaries in the league. The next matchup for Minnesota is the Panthers, so there is a level of concern for Cousins’ ceiling. Carolina has been one of the best defenses in the league against passing plays. This includes being the only team allowing less than 200 passing yards per game. Personally, I would be looking for a different starting quarterback for Week 6.
Robert Tonyan – In spite of an 11 touchdown season a year ago, Tonyan has been a mere shadow of himself so far this season. The Packers’ tight end has only caught nine passes through his first five games. With Green Bay’s offense starting out the season ranked 21st in pass attempts, opportunities for Tonyan to return to a top-tier target seem to dwindle week by week. Traveling to division-rival Chicago doesn’t make it easier, as the Bears often play significantly better in front of their home crowd. Until Tonyan finds the endzone again or records more than three receptions, pump the brakes on placing him in your Week 6 lineup.
One player you could stream this week:
Kadarius Toney – With injuries to Sterling Shepherd, Darius Slayton, and Kenny Golladay, the door is wide open for 2021’s first-round pick to take control as the Giants’ WR1. Toney performed extremely well in Week 5 with a 10-catch, 189-yard performance against the Cowboys. While many are concerned about the head injury to starter Daniel Jones, Toney was still targeted seven times by backup Mike Glennon. Being available in over 87% of ESPN leagues, Toney will likely be slated for a huge workload against the Rams. The former Florida gator’s only possible downside is if his ankle injury or punch on Damontae Kazee lands him on the inactive list. Be sure to monitor those two factors moving forward.
Austin’s Picks:
Two players you should start this week:
Leonard Fournette – After weeks of grounding and pounding, Fournette has found a solidified role in Tampa Bay’s offense. I don’t believe it will change as Ronald Jones is “on the outs” and Giovanni Benard only plays to give Fournette water breaks. Fournette has the trust of Brady and shows that he can produce like his LSU days and rookie season. Fournette plays Philadelphia this week and will pick up where he left off in Miami as he continues to prove why he is the RB1 in Tampa.
Carson Wentz – Wentz will look to throw wildly against the Houston Texans, who allow the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Now that the Colts are familiar with one another and Jonathan Taylor has become a factor, Wentz is able to throw more and find his big targets. In Houston, he will look to add another 400-yard passing game. The Colts took Baltimore to their limits last week so they can pull this one away against a much lesser opponent this week.
Two players you should sit this week:
Miles Sanders – What do I even need to say about Miles Sanders to convince you to sit him. First, he plays Tampa Bay and their ground stuffing defense. Secondly, Sanders has been outplayed by Kenneth Gainwell on multiple occasions this season. Third, Sanders has yet to find the endzone and has struggled thus far to even break 75 yards rushing in a game. Philadelphia looks like they are losing hope in Sanders and until he can have a bigger game, he will be better off on your bench.
Justin Jefferson – I chose Jefferson on a similar basis that Brandon choosing to sit Kurt Cousins. Carolina is just too good on defense for a weak Minnesota offense to do much against without Dalvin Cook. Carolina traded for Stephon Gilmore and he will make an immediate impact as a lockdown cornerback to help push this defense even further. I don’t see Jefferson or even Thielen able to get much going and that the Vikings totally begin to fall apart in Carolina.
One player you could stream this week:
Darrel Williams – Kansas City is looking for Williams to be even more productive now that “CEH” is gone for a few weeks. Williams is more trusted in the passing game, plus adding his impressive rushing ability and increased touches will allow a big game. Kansas City has a high-powered offense and when they get close, Andy Reid trusts Williams to punch it in more the “CEH.” With not having much behind Williams, he looks to have a big workload against Washington who has struggled on defense this year.