Believe it or not, but we are six weeks in on the 2020 NFL season, and for many fantasy leagues, that means we are at the halfway mark (or just about). Depth charts are being tested like never before – in both real and fantasy football season – and at this critical juncture of your season, you can’t afford to be sitting a ‘Stud’, starting a ‘Dud’, or sleeping on a ‘Sleeper.’ No worries, I am back with my weekly blood bank guarantees…also known as the ‘Studs, Duds & Sleepers’!
Studs:
Quarterbacks:
Kyler Murray, AZ:
Murray only completed nine of his 24 passes this past week, for just 188 yards, but two of those completions went for touchdowns. He also added 74 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. While that did come against a terrible Cowboys defense, he gets an even worse defense this week. This is far from the Seahawks “Legion of Boom” defense of tha past. The sea birds are surrendering a league worst 370.4 passing yards per game. Combined with the fact that this game has the making of a shootout, Murray should put up a lot of fantasy points.
Josh Allen, Buf:
Allen only had 122 yards last week against the Chiefs, but he did throw two more touchdowns, which puts him at 16 for the season, behind only Russell Wilson. This week, Allen gets the Jets, arguably the worst team in the NFL and a defense which gives up nearly 31 points and nearly 400 yards per game.
Others receiving votes:
Russell Wilson, Sea:
Speaking of Wilson, he is averaging more than 300 yards per game, completing nearly 73% of his passes and leads the league with 19 touchdown passes…six more than any quarterback who has only played five games. With a bad defense and a matchup against a high powered Cardinals defense, Wilson is set up for another big week.
Matt Ryan, Atl:
Despite the Falcons struggles, Ryan is having a huge season statistically. He has a loaded receiving corps, has 11 touchdowns to just three interceptions, and only Dak Prescott is (was) averaging more yards per game than Ryan’s 307.2. Fresh off a 371 yard, 4 touchdown performance, I like Ryan’s outlook this week against the Lions.
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Running backs:
Derrick Henry, Ten
After putting up 212 yards on just 22 caries – not to mention two touchdowns and 52 yards receiving – Henry is almost like a video game cheat code at this point. Sure, the Steelers have a good defense, but I am not sure it matters.
Kareem Hunt, Cle:
The Bengals cannot stop the run and now they are missing their best two (or three) running stopping lineman. To make matters worse (or better for Hunt) the last time the Browns played the Bengals, the Browns ran the ball for 215 yards! Hunt had 86 of those yards on just 10 carries, added 15 yards receiving and punched the ball in the end zone twice. With Chubb out, Hunt is likely to get 25+ carries and could easily approach 150+ yards.
Others receiving votes:
Aaron Jones, GB:
Going into Week 6, Jones was averaging more than 90 yards rushing and a touchdown per game. While Jones did get the Packers only touchdown, he and the entire Packers offense disappeared last week against the Bucs. I don’t see that happening against a Texans defense which ranks dead last against the run and surrendered 212 yards to Derrick Henry this past week.
Ezekiel Elliott, Dal:
Speaking of bad games, Elliott had one of the worst of his career on Monday night. I look for him and the Cowboys offense to bounce back with a big game against a Football Team defense which gives up 130 yards per game on the ground.
Pass Catchers:
Stefon Diggs, Buf:
As I mentioned above, I expect a big game from Josh Allen this week against the Jets, and that bodes well for his number one receiver. Despite a low output game this past week, Diggs still ranks in the top five in yards, targets and receptions.
Davante Adams, GB
In his first game back in nearly a month, and on a day Aaron Rodgers was very un-Rodgers like, Adams still lead the team in targests (10), receptions (6) and yards (61). I expect he, and this Packers offense to have a big game this week in Houston.
Others receiving votes:
DeAndre Hopkins, AZ
Hopkins is having a huge season and this week’s game against Seattle could see 80+ points. As such, you can see it in my rankings, that I expect a number of big fantasy outings coming out of this game.
D.K. Metcalf, Sea:
Another player in the Seattle/Arizona game who I expect to put up big numbers. Despite being tied for just 49th in receptions (22), Metcalf has five touchdowns (t-3rd), ranks eighth in yards and second in yards per game, thanks to his league leading 22.5 yards per catch.
Duds:
Daniel Jones, NYG
I know, predicting a ‘dud’ game from a guy who barely averages 200 passing yards per game and has just three passing touchdowns to six interceptions isn’t exactly ground breaking, But, with byes and injuries, you may be debating playing Jones…don’t. Not on a short week, and not against an Eagles team which all the sudden looks respectable and just held Lamar Jackson to 186 yards passing.
The Jets starting quarterback:
It sounds like it will be Joe Flacco again, regardless. if you find yourself in a position where your only option at quarterback is to start a Jets quarterback, you may be better off leaving that roster spot blank. Flacco and Darnold have combined for more interceptions than touchdowns and are averaging less than 200 yards passing per game. Against the Bills, I expect a lot more of the same.
Others receiving votes:
Nick Foles, Chi:
The Bears are 5-1, but it has nothing to do with Foles and the offense. The Bears rank in the bottom ten in passing yards per game, rushing yards per game and points per game. In three starts, Foles has averaged 41 passes per game, but has yet to throw for multiple touchdowns or surpass 250 yards in a game. He has also thrown one pick in every game.
Jimmy Gar0ppolo, SF:
Garoppolo and the 49ers have been too injured and too inconsistent to be relied upon at this point. While he had a solid game last week against the Rams, he is just a week removed from getting benched after going 7 for 17 for 77 yards, 0 touchdowns and two picks.
Running backs:
Joe Mixon, Cin:
After putting up 151 yards rushing and 3 total touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 3, Mixon has yet to break 60 yards the past two weeks and now is questionable this week against the Browns. Even if he plays this week, he only had 46 yards on 16 carries in Week 2 against the Browns, and you should have better options on your bench.
The Jets running backs:
Perhaps the whole Jets team should just be on the ‘Duds’ list! After a somewhat surprising move in cutting Le’Veon Bell, the Jets lead back is the 37 year old ageless wonder, Frank Gore. While Gore did put up 4.2 yards per carry last week, and added four receptions for 24 yards, he only got half of the team’s carries and I wouldn’t expect more than 10 or 12 carries per week from Gore.
Others receiving votes:
Jerick McKinnon, SF:
With Raheem Mostert out again, McKinnon is likely to be the 49ers lead back – or at least receive a bulk of the carries. That being said, when McKinnon has gotten touches this year, he has yet to do much. His 5.1 yards per carry are deceiving. Take away a 55 yard run in Week 1 against the woeful Jets, and he has 156 yards on 40 carries – less than 4.0 yards per carry.
Josh Jacobs, LV:
Despite being tied for fourth with five rushing touchdowns, Jacobs is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry (t-41st) and will be facing the leagues top rushing defense. The Bucs give up a league low 64.3 yards per game and are coming off a week where they held Aaron Jones to just 15 yards on 10 carries.
Pass Catchers:
Julian Edelman, NE:
Last week, Edelman had as many completed passes (2) as he did catches, and he had 30 more yards passing (38) than he did receiving yards (8). That is not ideal. In fact, ever since he exploded in Week 2 for 8 catches and 179 yards, Edelman has yet to surpass 35 yards or 3 catches. In his other four games, he is averaging just 30 yards per game.
Mike Evans, TB:
Last week was the first week Evans did not find pay dirt, but it was the second time this year he was held to 10 yards or less and third time he has been held under 50 yards.
Others receiving votes:
George Kittle, SF:
Of course he is still a starter, but I wouldn’t expect the huge numbers this week. With Garoppolo nursing an injury and Raheem Mostert out, expect Bill Belichick to focus on shutting down Kittle and forcing the ball elsewhere.
Odell Beckham, Jr., Cle:
OBJ has yet to surpass five receptions in a game this season and yet to surpass 81 yards receiving. The last time the Browns played the Bengals, he did have a decent game (4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 touchdown), but with Baker Mayfield banged up, expect the Browns to lean on the run.
Sleepers:
Carson Wentz, Phi:
Yes, Wentz has been a turnover machine, but the last two weeks, against two of the best defenses in the league – Pittsburch and Baltimore – Wentz put up 470+ yards and four touchdowns. Things should be much easier this week against the Giants.
Ryan Tannehill, Ten:
Who is this guy? Fresh off a 364 yard, four touchdown game, Tannehill has 7 touchdowns and 1 interception in his last two games and now is tied for fifth place with 13 touchdowns.
Matthew Stafford, Det:
Stafford isn’t putting up the yards we are accustomed to, but he does have nine touchdowns in five games and this week’s matchup against a bad Atlanta team could provide a high scoring affair.
Running backs:
Kenyan Drake, AZ:
Drake has been a big disappointment this year for fantasy owners, but over the past two weeks, he has 224 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including 164 yards and two touchdowns on Monday night. I expect a high scoring game this week between the Cardinals and Seahawks, so there should be plenty of opportunities for Drake.
Justin Jackson, LAC:
Jackson only has 23 carries and 84 yards on the season, but 15 of those carries and 71 of those yards came in his first game getting the bulk of the carries. He should be the lead back this week again and should have plenty of running room against the Jaguars and their bottom five rush defense.
Antonio Gibson, Was:
Gibson hasn’t amassed 50 yards since Week 1 and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 3, but he has seen five targets in each of his last three games and gets a Cowboys defense this week which ranks 31st against the run, giving up 173.3 yards per game rushing.
Pass Catchers:
Terry McLaurin, Was:
With Kyle Allen back under center, McLaurin saw 12 targets last week, hauling in 7 for 74 yards, and like Gibson, gets the chance to go up against a Cowboys defense which is just brutal.
Deebo Samuel, SF:
Samuel is finally healthy and starting to produce. Over the last two weeks, he has 14 targets and last week, pulled in all 6 of his targets, for 66 yards and a touchdown. With defenses likely to focus on Kittle, Samuel should find some space and opportunities.
Rob Gronkowski, TB:
Over the last three weeks, Gronk has seen his targets go from 3 to 6 to 8, his receptions from 1 to 3 to 5 and his yards from 29 to 52 to 78 and last week, he got his first post retirement touchdown. With O.J. Howard out, and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin battling injuries, Gronk might finally be finding a spot in this Bucs offense.
