Fantasy Football Picks: Week 6

Mike’s Fantasy Football Forecast is back! For expertly picked quality starters and bench warmers, continue reading below and WIN your fantasy football league!

Starts of the Week 

Quarterback:  

Patrick Mahomes: To say the Chiefs have been disappointing this year is an understatement. After making it to the Super Bowl for the second straight year, the Chiefs are now sitting at 2-3 and last place in the AFC West. Mahomes is not to blame, as he has thrown 3.2 touchdowns per game with a 69% completion percentage.

Washington similarly is struggling this year. After being a top defense in the league last year, Washington has allowed 31 points per game and 301 passing yards per game. They have also allowed 14 total passing touchdowns, the most in the league. Against the Washington Football Team, Mahomes will take advantage of the struggling defense and have a big day. 

Running Back: 

James Robinson: Over the past three games, James Robinson and the Jaguars’ rushing attack has been on a tear. Robinson has averaged 105 rushing yards a game while the Jaguars have averaged 165 yards as a whole. Robinson has also had 4 touchdowns as a whole in that stretch. And the Jaguars plan to keep that rushing attack going. On Monday, head coach Urban Meyer said that his goal is to have 250 rushing yards a game, and Sunday against the Dolphins would be a perfect opportunity for that. Miami’s defense has allowed 133.6 rushing yards a game, and 6 running back rushing touchdowns. Expect Robinson to feast in a run-heavy offensive approach against a weak Miami run defense. 

Wide Receiver:  

Stefon Diggs: Even though Stefon Diggs is on pace for another 1000 yard season with 374 yards through 5 games, he hasn’t reached the end zone as much as he would like. Diggs only has one touchdown through 5 games. But, Monday night against the Titans would be the perfect opportunity to turn it around. The Titans pass defense has been terrible this season, allowing the most yards to wide receivers in the league, 224.4 yards per game. They have also allowed the second most touchdowns to wide receivers (8). Expect Diggs to catch a couple deep balls and grab a touchdown against the Titans. 

Tight End:  

Mark Andrews: As great as Brandon Staley has been with transforming the Chargers defense, the Chargers have not defended tight ends well. Tight ends have recorded 4 touchdowns against the Chargers, the most in the league. The Chargers have also allowed 81.6 yards to tight ends per game, second most in the NFL. Mark Andrews will be able to exceed against the Chargers. 

Defense:  

Cowboys: After Dan Quinn was hired to replace Mike Nolan as defensive coordinator, the Cowboys defense has flourished. Led by second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys have forced 12 turnovers (2nd in the league), 6 being Diggs interceptions. They have also gone from allowing nearly 30 points a game last year to allowing 23 points per game. On Sunday, they will be perfectly matched against the New England Patriots. The Patriots have had 9 giveaways this season, tied for second most in the league, and averages a measly 19.2 points per game (26th in the league). The Cowboys defense will force turnovers and keep the Patriots offense from scoring, 

Bench Warmers of the Week   

Quarterback:  

Derek Carr: Derek Carr started off the season hot, averaging 401 passing yards a game and 6 total touchdowns through 3 games. However, he has slowed down as of late, averaging 201 passing yards a game and a 1:1 touchdown-interception ratio. Now his head coach and offensive play-caller is gone, after Heach Coach Jon Gruden resigned after the discovery of emails in which he used offensive language. Now, he will be going up against a Broncos defense that has locked down quarterbacks this season, allowing only 5 total passing touchdowns through 5 games and a 55% completion percentage. With uncertainty around the offensive play calling coupled with a brutal defense to play against, Carr will struggle.

Running Back:  

Derrick Henry: King Henry has been a monster once again this season. Henry has averaged 4.5 yards a rush, with 640 total rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. However, Monday Night against the Bills will be a tall task for Henry. The Bills have allowed 49.8 rushing yards a game to running backs this season, and have allowed 0 running back touchdowns this season. 

Wide Receiver:  

Marquise Brown: Contrary to how the Chargers have defended tight ends this season, wide receivers have been under lock when playing against Los Angeles. The Chargers have allowed the second least receiving yards to wide receivers and the fifth least catches to wide receivers. While “Hollywood” Brown has had a spectacular season so far, 28 catches for 451 yards and 5 touchdowns, the Chargers secondary will shut him down. 

Tight End:  

T.J. Hockenson: After starting the season hot, recording 16 catches for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns in two games, T.J. Hockenson has slowed down. Hockenson has averaged only 2.7 catches for 24.7 yards a game, and no touchdowns over the last three games. And that slow streak will only continue against the Bengals. The Bengals have defended tight ends well this season, allowing only 3.2 catches a game for 30 yards a game. They have also allowed only one touchdown to tight ends this season. 

Defense:  

Bears Defense:  The Bears defense has been sharp this season. They have allowed 25 points per game this season, 7th least in the league, and have allowed the 8th least yards. However, their matchup against the Green Bay Packers could be troublesome. After a 38-3 week one blowout loss to the Saints, the Packers offense has been electric, averaging 29.25 points per game. All-time great quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had a 68% completion percentage and 10 touchdowns in the four game stretch. Running back Aaron Jones has had 5 touchdowns in the stretch too. With the way the Packers offense has been clicking, the Bears defense will struggle. 

Sources:

Fantasy Football Scoring Leaders. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2021, from https://fantasy.espn.com/football/leaders?leagueId=0

Pro Football Statistics and history. Pro. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2021, from https://www.pro-football-reference.com/.

Smith, M. D. (2021, October 11). Urban meyer sets unlikely goal for Jaguars: 250 yards both passing and rushing in a game. ProFootballTalk. Retrieved October 11, 2021, from https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/10/11/urban-meyer-sets-unlikely-goal-for-jaguars-250-yards-both-passing-and-rushing-in-a-game/.