Just when I was starting to give wide receivers credit, the running backs reclaimed the fantasy football glory.
There’s a logjam at the top of the highest-producing wide receivers, but the gap between running backs and wide receivers is getting bigger.
Adam Thielen leads all wide receivers in fantasy with 76.90 fantasy points. That would rank him seventh among running backs.
With quarterbacks spreading the ball around more, it’s more difficult to gauge which wide receivers will be top plays each week. Thielen has had a nice season so far and will continue to do so because his target share is monstrous. However, running backs are still the cream of the crop when drafting and this year is once again proving that statement true.
With the uncertainty surrounding each team’s passing attack, here’s the week 6 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em guide for wide receivers.
Start
Allen Robinson vs. Miami Dolphins
It’s been a slower-than-anticipated start for Robinson this season. He hasn’t generated double-digit fantasy points yet and his targets have been inconsistent.
He followed up a monster 14 target game in week 2, with seven targets in week 3 and then just four targets in week 4.
And he’s yet to find the end zone.
However, don’t get too down on Robinson just yet. He’s still the No. 1 receiver for a Bears offense that appears to be creative enough to move the ball. While Miami is not allowing many fantasy points per game to wide receivers, this is a defense giving up 7.5 yards per pass attempt, ranking 26th in the NFL.
After a bye week, Robinson should get back on track this week.
Demaryius Thomas vs. Los Angeles Rams
What are the chances this game is a defensive struggle?
Exactly my point.
The Rams are going to score. They score on every team in the NFL. And to try to keep up, the Broncos are going to have to air it out. So while Thomas has not been a WR1 and in many cases, not even a WR2, he does offer some upside in this matchup.
The Rams are allowing the 16th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers and in the last three games when injuries have hampered their secondary, they’re allowing 7.8 yards per pass attempt, ranking 24th in the NFL.
Thomas hasn’t been as productive as many would have liked this season, but he should earn the start this week.
Sammy Watkins vs. New England Patriots
I like how the Chiefs use Watkins in the offense.
He’s not the No. 1 target for Kansas City, but he’s able to generate No. 1 targets because of the offensive approach.
Nursing a hamstring injury, Watkins still saw eight targets and caught six balls against a stiff Jacksonville defense in week 5. Other than being injured in week 5 against Denver, Watkins has been a consistent WR2/3 with a high floor.
That should continue against New England, which couldn’t stop the injury-riddled Indianapolis offense from consistently moving the ball.
Sit
Larry Fitzgerald vs. Minnesota Vikings
Age may finally be creeping up on Fitzgerald.
The long-time high-producing wide receiver is finding difficulties being a top-tier fantasy option this season. He has yet to eclipse 40 yards receiving since week 1 and his targets are diminishing.
Fitzgerald has attracted less than seven targets in three of five games this season. And now he’ll square off against Xavier Rhodes, who when allowed to be aggressive, is still a shut-down corner.
The Cardinals struggle to move the ball anyway, so I don’t like them on the road against the Vikings.
Michael Crabtree vs. Tennessee Titans
The targets are there, but the production is lacking.
Crabtree accumulated the most targets of the season in week 5 against Cleveland, with 12. However, with John Brown being the big-play receiver, Crabtree is not generating enough yards to be a solid fantasy producer.
He has yet to eclipse 70 yards receiving this season and hasn’t scored since week 1.
Tennessee has progressively gotten better in the secondary this season, and is giving up the fewest yards per pass attempt in the last three games in the NFL.
The Titans are getting better on the defensive side of the ball and Crabtree’s production should be sounding warning alarms.
Robby Anderson vs. Indianapolis Colts
Anderson broke out in a big way from an early season slump with 123 yards receiving and two touchdowns in week 5.
Despite the big totals, I’d still fade Anderson’s long-term fantasy value.
He just doesn’t draw enough targets to sustain relevance. Sam Darnold has targeted Quincy Enunwa far more often, pushing Anderson to the background on most occasions.
I won’t be a prisoner of the moment to believe Anderson is turning over a new leaf in this offense.
The Colts have been decent against the pass this season, so I’m not trusting Anderson to generate the same kind of production in week 6.
