Stars of Week 6

QB: Kirk Cousins, WAS: 25-37, 330 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT (4 carries, 26 yards, 1 TD) 

RB: Melvin Gordon, LAC: 25 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD (9 catches, 67 yards, 1 TD)

WR: Antonio Brown, PIT: 8 catches, 155 yards, 1 TD

TE: Rob Gronkowski, NE: 6 catches, 83 yards, 2 TDs               

This week’s honor roll boasts names that should be familiar to all. In what was a relatively quiet day for quarterbacks, Kirk Cousins gets the nod with his three TDs, one of which came on the ground. Melvin Gordon played a key role in the passing game against the Raiders, and found the end zone both via the run and the pass. Antonio Brown had a highlight worthy long bomb against the Chiefs, and gets the mantle of top WR for the week. Last but not least, Rob Gronkowski scored two TDs in the controversial game against the Jets. There are many folks, myself included, who believe his counterpart at tight end – Austin Seferian-Jenkins – should have also had two TDs. In any event, we’ll take a closer look at Seferian-Jenkins below.

Week 6 Takeaways – A Closer Look 

Each week we take a closer look at a handful of performances and sort out what such performances mean going forward.

- Matt Ryan, QB – ATL: 24-35, 248 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT         

Analysis: Hopefully not a trend that will continue, but in several cases when we’ve looked at a QB in this space, it’s been with substantial concern. Matt Ryan, it’s your turn to put on the Dunce cap. The Falcons’ veteran QB put up career numbers in 2016, showing that he belongs in the discussion when considering the league’s top QBs. So far this year, Ryan has managed to squander some of his increased QB tier status. Through five games, Ryan has just 6 TD passes, while also having thrown 6 INTs. While still too early to write off his 2016 season as an anomaly, it’s fair to reconsider Ryan’s place among top fantasy QBs. With a new offensive coordinator in Steve Sarkisian and a banged up Julio Jones, Ryan’s numbers will likely straddle the QB1/QB2 border. So until further notice, Ryan vacates his spot as an automatic weekly starter. He should sit against top passing defenses, so adjust your expectations accordingly. 

- Jerick McKinnon, RB – MIN: 16 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD

- Latavius Murray, RB – MIN: 15 carries, 28 yards, 0 TDs 

Analysis: We don’t need to spend too much time here, but if you follow me on twitter and read my columns, you know that I’ve been banging the drum for Jerick McKinnon over Latavius Murray. The reason is quite simple – McKinnon is better. Murray has never been anything more than “just a guy”. With the Raiders, he had a mediocre YPC average while running behind a top o-line. McKinnon has better burst, and also contributes in the passing game – he had a receiving TD as well against the Packers. McKinnon is the Vikings ball carrier you want to own. He’s a clear RB2, and look for the splits to continue to move in his favor. Murray is droppable in mid to shallow leagues (10 to 12 teams).

- Adrian Peterson, RB – ARZ: 26 carries, 134 yards, 2 TDs 

Analysis: What a difference one week makes! Adrian Peterson made many fantasy analysts look foolish this past week, myself included. I thought that Adrian Peterson was done, based on his performance during the first five weeks with the Saints and the fact that the 32 year old RB hadn’t had a 100 yard performance since 2015. So of course Peterson goes off against the Bucs for 134 yards and 2 TDs. Now the Bucs are a terrible defense, so it’s important not to lose sight of his level of competition. His next three foes are all from within the division, so we’ll get a good look as to what Peterson really has left. But I can’t deny it – he looked great this past weekend. There’s a reason the Saints were willing to trade AP. And the Cardinals’ o-line, while they blocked well last week, have struggled this season. So in short, feel free to view AP as an RB2, but do so with cautious optimism. I would also support floating AP out in trade discussions to see if you can sell high. 

- Orleans Darkwa, RB – NYG: 21 carries, 117 yards, 0 TDs 

Analysis: The theme for this NFL season has been parity, with anything being possible in any given week. Case in point: the winless New York Giants go into Denver without their top four WRs, including all world pass catcher Odell Beckham Jr., and of course the Giants win! How’d they do it? Surprisingly, the upset happened because they ran the ball effectively. The Giants’ RB carousel started with Paul Perkins this year, then swung to Wayne Gallman and now Orleans Darkwa, who easily had the most successful game of the group this season. Darkwa outcarried Gallman 27 to 9, and he will get the chance to continue as the lead back going forward. Darkwa faces the Seahawks next, who have had a tough run defense the last several years, albeit one showing cracks this season. So keep expectations in check, but at least for now, Darkwa is the Giants’ RB to own.

- Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE – NYJ: 8 catches, 46 yards, 1 TD    

Analysis: Austin Seferian-Jenkins was a popular sleeper pickup for this past week – he was my rapid fire pickup at tight end last week as well. Seferian-Jenkins found the end zone once against the Patriots, and was screwed out of a second TD by incompetent NFL replay review. The former Washington Husky tight end has always had top rate talent, but off field issues have kept Seferian-Jenkins from realizing his potential. He has quickly become a favorite of quarterback Josh McCown, with 11 targets this past week and 8 the week before. Seferian-Jenkins should be owned in all leagues, and he has TE1 ability. We just need to see a few more weeks of consistent performance before he comes a weekly starter.

Rapid Fire Pickups

Each week we’ll throw out potential free agent pickups from each position for deeper leagues, in each case 1) someone who has NOT been referenced above, and 2) a player available in most leagues. 

QB: Jared Goff, LAR (nice matchup versus the Arizona Cardinals)

RB: Marlon Mack, IND (don’t wait any longer!)

RB: Matt Breida, SF

WR: John Brown, ARZ

WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT

TE: George Kittle, SF

Week 7 Rankings

Quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady, NE (vs. ATL)
2. Drew Brees, NO (at GB)
3. Dak Prescott, DAL (at SF)
4. Matt Ryan, ATL (at NE)
5. Kirk Cousins, WAS (at PHI)
6. Carson Wentz, PHI (vs. WAS)
7. Marcus Mariota, TEN (at CLE)
8. Cam Newton, CAR (at CHI)
9. Russell Wilson, SEA (at NYG)
10. Alex Smith, KC (at OAK)
11. Carson Palmer, ARZ (at LAR)
12. Tyrod Taylor, BUF (vs. TB)
13. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (vs. CIN)
14. Jameis Winston, TB (at BUF)
15. Derek Carr, OAK (vs. KC)
16. Brett Hundley, GB (vs. NO)
17. Philip Rivers, LAC (vs. DEN)
18. Jared Goff, LAR (vs. ARZ)
19. Josh McCown, NYJ (at MIA)
20. Andy Dalton, CIN (at PIT)

Running Backs:

1. Le'Veon Bell, PIT (vs. CIN)
2. Ezekiel Elliott, DAL (at SF)
3. Kareem Hunt, KC (at OAK)
4. Leonard Fournette, JAX (at IND)
5. Todd Gurley, LAR (vs. ARZ)
6. Devonta Freeman, ATL (at NE)
7. LeSean McCoy, BUF (vs. TB)
8. Melvin Gordon, LAC (vs. DEN)
9. Jordan Howard, CHI (vs. CAR)
10. Jay Ajayi, MIA (vs. NYJ)
11. Mark Ingram, NO (at GB)
12. Carlos Hyde, SF (vs. DAL)
13. Doug Martin, TB (at BUF)
14. DeMarco Murray, TEN (at CLE)
15. C.J. Anderson, DEN (at LAC)
16. Jerick McKinnon, MIN (vs. BAL)
17. Christian McCaffrey, CAR (at CHI)
18. Alvin Kamara, NO (at GB)
19. Adrian Peterson, ARZ (at LAR)
20. Tevin Coleman, ATL (at NE)
21. Chris Thompson, WAS (at PHI)
22. Marshawn Lynch, OAK (vs. KC)
23. Joe Mixon, CIN (at PIT)
24. Duke Johnson, CLE (vs. TEN)
25. Dion Lewis, NE (vs. ATL)
26. Orleans Darkwa, NYG (vs. SEA)
27. Javorius Allen, BAL (at MIN)
28. LeGarrette Blount, PHI (vs. WAS)
29. Ty Montgomery, GB (vs. NO)
30. Aaron Jones, GB (vs. NO)
31. Frank Gore, IND (vs. JAX)
32. James White, NE (vs. ATL)
33. Derrick Henry, TEN (at CLE)
34. Isaiah Crowell, CLE (vs. TEN)
35. Marlon Mack, IND (vs. JAX)
36. Matt Forte, NYJ (at MIA)
37. Mike Gillislee, NE (vs. ATL)
38. Alfred Morris, DAL (at SF)
39. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (at CHI)
40. Alex Collins, BAL (at MIN)

Wide Receivers: 

1. Antonio Brown, PIT (vs. CIN)
2. Julio Jones, ATL (at NE)
3. A.J. Green, CIN (at PIT)
4. Mike Evans, TB (at BUF)
5. Michael Thomas, NO (at GB)
6. Dez Bryant, DAL (at SF)
7. Brandin Cooks, NE (vs. ATL)
8. Chris Hogan, NE (vs. ATL)
9. Larry Fitzgerald, ARZ (at LAR)
10. Michael Crabtree, OAK (vs. KC)
11. Demaryius Thomas, DEN (at LAC)
12. Jordy Nelson, GB (vs. NO)
13. Tyreek Hill, KC (at OAK)
14. Alshon Jeffery, PHI (vs. WAS)
15. Adam Thielen, MIN (vs. BAL)
16. Doug Baldwin, SEA (at NYG)
17. Kelvin Benjamin, CAR (at CHI)
18. Jarvis Landry, MIA (vs. NYJ)
19. Pierre Garcon, SF (vs. DAL)
20. Rishard Matthews, TEN (at CLE)
21. T.Y. Hilton, IND (vs. JAX)
22. Keenan Allen, LAC (vs. DEN)
23. Davante Adams, GB (vs. NO)
24. Terrelle Pryor, WAS (at PHI)
25. Devin Funchess, CAR (at CHI)
26. DeSean Jackson, TB (at BUF)
27. Amari Cooper, OAK (vs. KC)
28. Nelson Agholor, PHI (vs. WAS)
29. Stefon Diggs, MIN (vs. BAL)
30. John Brown, ARZ             (at LAR)
31. Danny Amendola, NE (vs. ATL)
32. Jermaine Kearse, NYJ (at MIA)
33. Marqise Lee, JAX (at IND)
34. Cooper Kupp, LAR (vs. ARZ)
35. Devante Parker, MIA (vs. NYJ)
36. Sammy Watkins, LAR (vs. ARZ)
37. Taylor Gabriel, ATL (at NE)
38. Eric Decker, TEN (at CLE)
39. Willie Snead, NO (at GB)
40. Martavis Bryant, PIT (vs. CIN)

Tight End:

1. Rob Gronkowski, NE (vs. ATL)
2. Zach Ertz, PHI (vs. WAS)
3. Travis Kelce, KC (at OAK)
4. Delanie Walker, TEN (at CLE)
5. Evan Engram, NYG (vs. SEA)
6. Hunter Henry, LAC (vs. DEN)
7. Jimmy Graham, SEA (at NYG)
8. Cameron Brate, TB (at BUF)
9. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NYJ (at MIA)
10. Jordan Reed, WAS (at PHI)
11. Kyle Rudolph, MIN (vs. BAL)
12. Austin Hooper, ATL (at NE)
13. Jason Witten, DAL (at SF)
14. George Kittle, SF (vs. DAL)
15. Jared Cook, OAK (vs. KC)
16. Zach Miller, CHI (vs. CAR)
17. Benjamin Watson, BAL (at MIN)
18. Ed Dickson, CAR (at CHI)
19. Jack Doyle, IND (vs. JAX)
20. Tyler Kroft, CIN (at PIT)

Defense/Special Teams:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (at IND)
2. Minnesota Vikings (vs. BAL)
3. Seattle Seahawks (at NYG)
4. Carolina Panthers (at CHI)
5. Denver Broncos (at LAC)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CIN)
7. Buffalo Bills (vs. TB)
8. Kansas City Chiefs (at OAK)
9. Tennessee Titans (at CLE)
10. Los Angeles Rams (vs. ARZ)
11. Baltimore Ravens (at MIN)
12. Miami Dolphins (vs. NYJ)
13. New York Giants  (vs. SEA)
14. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. WAS)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. DEN)