Welcome back to the NFL, Marcus Mariota.
Mariota broke out of his mini-slump during his sophomore season against Miami in week 5. I’m not sure what is more responsible for Mariota’s top total in week 5 among quarterbacks. Maybe he’s finally getting comfortable or maybe Miami is absolutely terrible.
For anyone who owns Mariota, they’re likely hoping it’s a little bit of both, because I can assure you that Miami is garbage.
Mariota is a risky pick on a weekly basis, but he’s worth a look based on his ability to run and pass depending on the matchup.
Here’s the week 6 start ’em, sit ’em for quarterbacks in fantasy football.
Start
Marcus Mariota vs. Cleveland Browns
I’m going all in on Mariota bouncing back from a difficult start to the season. Mariota wasn’t great, but he did what was asked of him. The Titans moved the ball efficiently, controlled the clock (who doesn’t against Miami?) and scored when inside the red zone.
That’s a recipe for success for the Titans. Mariota is tough on defenses when Tennessee can get inside the red zone. His ability to run and pass efficiently in that zone generates a solid ability to score touchdowns.
And from what we’ve seen so far from the Browns, scoring touchdowns shouldn’t be an issue for Mariota.
Cleveland has allowed 13 touchdown passes this season, the second-most of any team in the NFL. They’re not rushing the passer, generating only seven sacks this season, the third-lowest among NFL teams.
The Titans shouldn’t have much of a problem moving the sticks against Cleveland in week 6. And when that ball is in the red zone, I’m expecting Mariota to cash in.
Carson Wentz vs. Washington Redskins
He wasn’t unbelievable in week 5 against a porous Detroit defense, but he wasn’t bad, either.
Wentz was the top rookie story in the first quarter of the NFL season. The Eagles finally lost, but that shouldn’t deter people away from Wentz or the Eagles.
He made a rookie mistake at the end of the game, throwing into coverage when there was plenty of time left on the clock to orchestrate a late-game drive. That comes with experience so I’m not going to knock him for that. He’s been highly efficient this season and that shouldn’t stop against Washington in week 6.
The Redskins are just plain bad against the pass. Even after playing a listless Baltimore passing offense in week 5, the Redskins still rank in the bottom half of the NFL against the pass. It wasn’t Washington’s defensive scheme that thwarted the Ravens. It was Baltimore’s offensive gameplan that doomed them.
The Eagles won’t make the same mistake. They’ll look to establish the run, which will open up the passing lanes for Wentz. Wentz has gone for at least 19 points in two of four games so far this season.
He shouldn’t have any trouble going for 20 points in week 6.
Brian Hoyer vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
If I’m on the Chicago Bears coaching staff, I’m not even considering Jay Cutler as an option at this moment.
Since Hoyer has taken the helm, the Bears look like a much more cohesive unit and have actually been competitive. He’s gone for 300 yards passing in three straight games and has yet to throw an interception, while compiling two touchdowns per game in the last three contests.
We’ve seen Hoyer in the past put up big numbers, only to fall flat on his face. But I’ll give him a week or two before that happens.
The Jaguars show up nice on the stat sheet in yards allowed, but don’t look as good in fantasy points allowed. The Jaguars are allowing 16.06 points against quarterbacks this season.
Hoyer has the ability to put up big numbers and Jacksonville isn’t afraid to allow it.
Sit
Kirk Cousins vs. Philadelphia Eagles
I’m not sure what to make of the Washington Redskins. Cousins was a surgeon at times against Baltimore last week, but when he entered the red zone, he couldn’t do anything.
We’ve seen that before out of him, but so far this season, he actually hasn’t been bad in the touchdowns category.
But when those windows tightened inside the 20 against a pretty good Baltimore defense, Cousins couldn’t fit the ball into the right spot. That could be a similar fate against Philadelphia.
The Eagles are beating up on quarterbacks at a high rate in fantasy football. The Eagles allow a few points per game against opposing quarterbacks, thanks to a pass rush that has accumulated 14 sacks in four games.
The Eagles took a step back last week against Detroit, but don’t expect that to be the case against an NFC East rival.
Andy Dalton vs. New England Patriots
Don’t be fooled by Dalton’s final points total in week 5 against Dallas. He was bad, much like the rest of the team, for three quarters until garbage time became happy time for Dalton’s fantasy owners.
He threw two touchdown passes in the final quarter, making the final score a bit more respectable against the Cowboys.
The issue with Dalton is if A.J. Green doesn’t go crazy, there aren’t enough weapons on the outside anymore to make up for his lost production. Green was silenced in week 5 and Dalton was bad for three quarters. Green went off in week 4 and Dalton had a good night.
Green won’t go crazy against the Patriots. That is a bad omen for anyone backing Dalton, especially in back-to-back road games.
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Arizona Cardinals
The New York Jets are a mess. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt last week, believing they would respond with their backs against the wall.
I was wrong.
Fitzpatrick was a nice story last season. But injuries are hurting the Jets and just a lack of an ability to sustain drives is making it impossible to back many members on the Jets’ offense.
He didn’t turn over the ball in week 5, which was a nice reprieve from where he was in the past few weeks.
I don’t expect that to continue this week. The Jets just don’t have it this year and the Cardinals may be back on track after a slow start. Avoid Fitzpatrick at all costs in week 6.
