Quarterbacks put up some big numbers in week 6, a nice reprieve from what we’ve seen in the early going of the NFL season.
Eleven quarterbacks tallied 20 or more points in week 6, led by Drew Brees’ big day with 32.60 points. That’s the highest total of quarterbacks with more than 20 points in a single week this season.
Some of that production was thanks to teams getting down early and then reverting to only passes — I’m looking at you Cam Newton and Cody Kessler. But the other quarterbacks were legitimate in their fantasy points, giving me hope that those kinds of weeks will continue, with some players you wouldn’t expect either, like Case Keenum and Marcus Mariota.
Also, if you’re still not sure about Matt Ryan, then you need to reconsider that stance. He went on the road to two of the best defenses in the NFL in consecutive weeks and went for a combined 36 points. He’s a sure-fire bet each week this season.
For the rest of the question marks, here’s the week 7 start ’em, sit ’em guide for fantasy football quarterbacks.
Start
Eli Manning vs. Los Angeles Rams
Remember when Los Angeles used its defense to try to win games? That’s definitely not the case in 2016.
In three of six weeks, the Rams have looked lost on defense. And two of those three weeks have been the last two games. Now I get the Rams in London after already traveling to Detroit in week 6.
That will make for an extra groggy defense.
Part of the issue is the pass rush for the Rams. That was their calling card in recent years, but this season, it’s been almost non-existent. Los Angeles ranks in the bottom-10 in sacks at 10 this season.
And if you’re going to disrupt Manning, you have to get to him with pressure. Manning has been…well very Eli Manning this season. There is plenty of volume, with at least 35 pass attempts in five of six games. But the production just isn’t there often.
However, in week 6, he did go for 403 yards and three touchdowns, making me optimistic for his fortunes in week 7.
The Giants are going to throw against the Rams, and so far this season, Los Angeles hasn’t done a great job of turning over quarterbacks with four interceptions through six weeks.
Take the volume and hope for some production.
Marcus Mariota vs. Indianapolis Colts
Don’t look now but it appears Mariota is on his way to breaking out of that sophomore slump.
He has more than 20 fantasy points in two consecutive weeks and is finding the end zone at a regular clip, with seven touchdowns compared to one interception in the last two weeks.
Those results came against bad defenses, but that’s no problem against the Colts. Indianapolis owns the fifth-worst defense against the pass, and has only registered two interceptions all season.
Mariota is doing it with his arm and feet in the last two weeks, also churning out more than 100 yards rushing combined in the past two games.
What’s helping Mariota is the strategy from defenses looking to stop DeMarco Murray. Murray has been a surprise fantasy stalwart in the early going, which is now paying dividends for Mariota.
This is a big game for the Titans, which are looking to compete for an AFC South title. Even without many weapons, Mariota will keep up his recent string of solid outings.
Blake Bortles vs. Oakland Raiders
Everyone has a field day against Oakland. The Raiders are better this season than in previous years, but that defense better start making adjustments.
Kansas City did its damage on the ground against Oakland in week 6. Jacksonville’s rushing offense isn’t close to Kansas City’s, so the Jaguars will have to move the ball through the air, which shouldn’t be a problem.
Oakland is allowing 312.7 yards per game through the air and quarterbacks are tallying a 104 QBR against them.
The pass rush was supposed to be much improved, but it has been stagnant, recording only eight sacks for the season.
And while Bortles has been a disappointment this season, he started to find his groove in the fourth quarter against Chicago in week 6.
He’s having a tough time with turnovers, but that shouldn’t be an issue against Oakland. This game could easily turn into a shootout, so I’d hold tight onto Bortles.
Sit
Carson Palmer vs. Seattle Seahawks
I know you drafted Palmer high in the fantasy football draft, but the consistency isn’t there for the All-Pro.
I didn’t like the Cardinals entering this season, based on my belief that the offense wouldn’t be as dynamic. David Johnson is as good as advertised, but Palmer’s long balls aren’t a weekly winner in fantasy football this season.
His completion percentage is down and his turnovers are up. It’s not all his fault, since his receivers just aren’t doing enough to get open.
But he’s not matchup-proof anymore. And against Seattle, despite what we saw from Ryan in the second half in week 6, that defense can still shut down opposing quarterbacks.
They’re going to harass Palmer and force him into uncomfortable situations. There are several plus-matchups with somewhat fringe quarterbacks this week. I’d take my chances with a fantasy back-up in week 7.
Brian Hoyer vs. Green Bay Packers
Road teams on Thursday nights sometimes look abysmal. That’s what I’m banking on this week with the Bears.
Hoyer has been a pleasant surprise this season, filling in for the injured Jay Cutler. He’s gone for more than 300 yards in each game he’s started and has six touchdowns compared to no interceptions.
He’s not really owned in that many leagues, but eventually he’ll start seeing more faith among fantasy football owners.
But that faith shouldn’t come this week. Hoyer has a career worth of examples of looking great one week and completely falling off the cliff the next.
That is definitely plausible on a short week on the road against a division rival. Oh, and that division rival just got embarrassed at home.
The pass defense isn’t great for the Packers, but they’ve shown this season the ability to limit the opposition’s quarterback in certain situations. The Bears don’t have a running game, so Green Bay can pull back a little and focus more on Hoyer.
That’s a recipe for disaster for anyone putting faith in Hoyer this week.
Joe Flacco vs. New York Jets
Flacco is a lot like Manning in that the volume is there, but the production is non-existent. However, unlike Manning, Flacco’s ceiling seems to only be in that mid-teen range.
He throws more than 40 times per game, but only has one game of more than 20 points. In fact, four of his six games have featured 13 or fewer points.
That’s insane for a guy who has 40 or more pass attempts in five of six games.
Normally, picking a quarterback against the New York Jets would be a wise move, but Flacco just doesn’t do enough to warrant your starting spot. The Jets allow more than 300 yards per game through the air, but still rank in the top-half of the NFL in sacks.
That’s been Baltimore’s Achilles heel. The offensive line isn’t capable of protecting Flacco, meaning the Jets should be able to get to him.
He’ll throw more than 40 times, but those dinks and dunks won’t add up to quality fantasy points.
