Matchups have already played a critical role in the outcome of Week 6 fantasy football contests.
Maybe it sounds outlandish, but those who ignored the red flags around San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in an encounter with the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football received all of 11 points from one of fantasy’s usually reliable stars.
Like any week, it’s not fun telling a player to have a seat on the bench and hoping a backup or crafty waiver-wire addition can perform better. But matchups necessitate such instinct and bravery in order to find success, which explains why most league winners are those unafraid to ignore a big name and do what seems most productive.
With such a theme in mind, the following is a look at comparisons between notable head-to-heads for Week 6 and a zoom on key matchups.
Quarterback
Matchup to Exploit: Marcus Mariota, TEN (vs. CLE)
Disclaimer: Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota sits with an ownership percentage of 40.1.
Run, Forrest! Run!
Mariota stunk it up through the first four weeks of the season, explaining his fantasy situation. But owners know that’s no reason to ignore an incredible scenario, especially at a streaming-friendly position like quarterback.
This is simple enough. Mariota dropped a season-high 30 points on the woeful Miami Dolphins in Week 5. If the Dolphins are woeful, there isn’t a word to describe the Cleveland Browns.
Those Browns have already let up 13 passing touchdowns over five games. Mariota’s in for a major day.
Matchup to Avoid: Eli Manning, NYG (vs. BAL)
As if to emphasize how much stock the vast majority of owners put into a name, look at this: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning sits owned in 77.7 percent of leagues.
For context, Mariota has scored 73 points on the season to Manning’s 61, never mind the above just describing the Titans signal-caller as stinking it up.
Manning simply isn’t himself anymore from a fantasy standpoint, having scored more than 14 points in a game just once this season. He heads into a dreadful matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, a defense allowing the eighth-fewest points to quarterbacks on average.
Odell Beckham Jr. and a recognizable name or not, it’s a situation to avoid.
Running Back
Matchup to Exploit: LeSean McCoy, BUF (vs. SF)
Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy started the season off on the wrong foot, with just 20 total points through two games.
Shady did what he does best, though, rebounding for outings of 23, 16 and 15 points. Call it incredible news for one of fantasy’s most consistent workhorses ahead of his encounter with the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
San Francisco head coach Chip Kelly spoke about the challenge his players face, per the team’s Twitter account:
Shady figures to eat. The 49ers have allowed five rushing touchdowns over their last three outings and a minimum of 130 yards on the ground in four consecutive games.
For a workhorse such as McCoy, 100 or more and a score seems realistic, if not more.
Matchup to Avoid: Isaiah Crowell, CLE (at TEN)
Before anyone scoffs about bringing up a member of the Browns, running back Isaiah Crowell was a stud through the first four weeks of the season, going for 20 points twice.
Then Week 5 happened.
That day, Crowell collided with the New England Patriots and mustered three points.
What does this have to do with Crowell’s Week 6 encounter with the Tennessee Titans? Well, those Titans rank one spot ahead of the Patriots, allowing the third-fewest points to running backs on average.
Crowell will see quantity, but it won’t equal production when a strong run defense can clutter the line of scrimmage and not worry about the threat of a pass.
Wide Receiver
Matchup to Exploit: Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (vs. NYJ)
Darrelle Revis or not, Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald shouldn’t have any problems in Week 6.
Fitzgerald erupted in Week 5, with 20 points via a pair of touchdowns, an apology of sorts to owners who suffered through his pair of six-point outings the weeks prior.
Expect the apology to be an extended thanks to the New York Jets, who allow the second-most points to wideouts on average. That is what happens when a defense finds a way to give up seven touchdowns to the position over five games.
Matchup to Avoid: Brandin Cooks, NO (vs. CAR)
Those who happen to hope the New Orleans Saints spent the bye figuring out how to get Brandin Cooks involved should temper expectations.
Cooks looked like a fantasy juggernaut in Week 1, scoring 27 points by way of two touchdowns. Over the next three games, he didn’t reach paydirt and totaled 10 points.
Granted, the Carolina Panthers haven’t looked great on defense lately. But Drew Brees loves to spread the ball around, and the Panthers still rank among the best 10 teams in the league when it comes to average points allowed to wideouts.
From this angle, it’s not a matchup owners should trot out unless truly desperate.
Tight End
Matchup to Exploit: Travis Kelce, KC (at OAK)
One of the most surefire ways to succeed at the tight end position over the past few years has been to target anyone playing the Oakland Raiders.
It certainly applies in Week 6, when Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs gets to go at the unit.
Kelce has a touchdown in each of his last two outings. Oakland surrendered two in Week 5 and allows the sixth-most points to the position.
It’s clear the Raiders still have their gaffes against the position, and Kelce’s role in the offense continues to expand. Coming out of a bye, you can rest assured the Oakland coaching staff knows what a great opportunity this is too.
Matchup to Avoid: Dwayne Allen, IND (at HOU)
Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen went three games between touchdowns, scoring in Week 1 and Week 5.
It wouldn’t register as much of a shock to see Allen go quiet again with how inconsistent the offense around him has looked, not to mention where the ball actually goes. He’s becoming a touchdown-reliant producer, hence his three games without a score only totaling seven points.
Call it the perfect storm, as Allen is set to deal with the Houston Texans, the defense conceding the second-fewest points on average to the position. No set of opposing tight ends has scored more than three points against the unit, painting a pretty clear picture of where Allen will end up by the time Week 6 concludes.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
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