Fantasy Football Week 6: Award Roundup for Busts and MVPs

With only Monday's battle between bitter NFC East rivals (the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants) left to play, we're here to survey the fantasy football landscape for Week 6, with MVPs and busts recognized at each position.

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman continued on his epic run of prolific production, matching fantasy legend Priest Holmes in the process. Meanwhile, Houston wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is simply setting NFL records with yet another big box score. 

Each week is defined by some peerless performances and some deflating disappointments, all of which we seek to capture in this series. Please join us in discussing the biggest performances and busts from Week 6.

As always, feel free to share your picks for fantasy MVP and bust at each position. 

Fantasy QB MVP: Matthew Stafford Shines in a Divisional Battle with the Bears

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

We might have been a bit conservative in Saturday's bold predictions piece, as we only projected 300 yards and three scores from Detroit's Matthew Stafford. The big-armed Georgia product tallied the most fantasy points among signal-callers in Week 6 by tossing for 405 yards and four scores. With such lofty production after several suspect showings, we're confident in calling Stafford the fantasy football MVP among signal-callers this week. 

Stafford faces a strong challenge in Week 7 with the Minnesota Vikings' sound secondary up next. Minnesota has allowed the 14th-fewest passing yards per game to opponents and is tied for the seventh-fewest yards per attempt. While Stafford is likely in the streaming tier at the position, best deployed in a matchup platoon, he should be started in all formats come Week 8, as the hapless Kansas City Chiefs defense is affording opposing arms 276.7 yards, good for 24th in the league in pass defense. 

In almost any other week, San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers' 503-yard performance at Lambeau Field would earn top honors at the position, but Stafford's big box score edged him in fantasy production. Rivers' investors don't mind, especially as the NC State product faces three suspect secondaries in the coming weeks in Oakland, Baltimore and Chicago, respectively. The Raiders rank 15th in fantasy points allowed per game to quarterbacks, while the Bears (28th) and Ravens (32nd) are even more generous. 

Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck regained some lost luster in the fantasy sense with a big box score that has him third among signal-callers in fantasy production for the week. Even as his team lost to the New England Patriots, Luck's owners should feel victorious that their prized investment was able to toss 50 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. His counterpart, Tom Brady, had another stellar statistical showing, finishing with an identical 312 yards and three touchdowns (to go with one interception). 

It was an undoubtedly rich week at the position, with 10 quarterbacks posting at least 20 fantasy points in ESPN standard scoring. That's the most since Week 2, and given the presences of bye weeks at this stage of the season, it's an impressive batch. 

Did Houston's Brian Hoyer save your season? Or did Cincinnati's Andy Dalton keep things moving with another strong Sunday? Share which signal-caller you would like to nominate for MVP at the position. 

Peyton Manning's Poor Production Makes Him the QB Bust of Week 6

David Richard/Associated Press

Denver Broncos signal-caller Peyton Manning was taken as the third quarterback on average in ESPN drafts this summer, and yet he is now 32nd in fantasy points per game at the position with a mere 11-point average, just shy of Washington's Kirk Cousins. With yet another lackluster fantasy showing that included three interceptions, Manning is the top bust at the position for Week 6.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' Michael Vick has limited the entire output of the team's passing game, proving that he's the only NFL player capable of shutting down superstar wideout Antonio Brown. Ben Roethlisberger can't come back soon enough. 

Tennessee's Marcus Mariota had just four more fantasy points than Vince Young this Sunday, but we're willing to forgive this outing given the fact he suffered a knee injury in the loss to a revived Miami defense, according to a report ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed. 

Did you lose out by trusting Cleveland's Josh McCown? Did Miami's Ryan Tannehill leave you wanting more after a so-so statistical Sunday? Let us know which QB let you down in Week 6.

Top Tailback: Devonta Freeman Continues His Historic Fantasy Football Run

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

The Atlanta Falcons' Devonta Freeman is just the second running back since the merger to have tallied at least 10 total touchdowns, 500 rushing yards and 30 receptions through his team's first six games, according to Pro Football Reference. With 156 combined scrimmage yards and two total touchdowns against the New Orleans Pelicans, he joined former Kansas City Chiefs ball-carrier Priest Holmes, who met those amazing qualifiers in 2002.

Already the clear top fantasy back this season with an amazing 22.5 fantasy points per game in ESPN standard scoring, Freeman is only being outscored by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in per-game fantasy output.

Think about that; only the league's most productive passer is ahead of Freeman, a player who went 38th among backs and 107th overall on average in ESPN drafts this offseason. Thanks to another monstrous fantasy outing this past Thursday in New Orleans, Freeman is again the MVP among backs for the week. 

If a fantasy draft were to be held this week, where would you take Freeman? No. 1 overall doesn't seem crazy at all, especially after lackluster Week 6 outings from Adrian Peterson and Le'Veon Bell. 

New York Jets ball-carrier Chris Ivory is second only to Freeman in fantasy points per game in ESPN standard leagues, averaging a robust 18.25 fantasy points per game so far. With 312 rushing yards over his past two games and the team's clear commitment to him as a volume workhorse, Ivory is firmly in the RB1 tier now. 

This past weekend we offered some bold predictions for Week 6, including a projection for the Patriots' LeGarrette Blount to post a top-five fantasy outing at the position. Blount is currently fourth on the leaderboard. Forgive us while we prepare the horn for tooting, barring a Monday night miracle from DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and/or Rashad Jennings. 

With Green Bay's Eddie Lacy languishing behind James Starks in usage and production once again, Starks might be the premier waiver addition of the week in leagues where he's still a free agent. Starks posted the third-most fantasy points at the position this week, although it's worth noting the Packers have a Week 7 bye, perhaps limiting his waiver-wire appeal. 

Carolina's Jonathan Stewart, not Marshawn Lynch, was the most feared and physical back on the field in Seattle. While many had left Stewart for dead in the fantasy sense, a two-touchdown rushing performance could inspire a midseason revival for The Daily Show. 

Eddie Lacy Struggles Again on His Way to Top Tailback Bust of the Week

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

Last week, Green Bay's Eddie Lacy was deemed the top bust at tailback after finishing 55th among running backs in fantasy points on ESPN's Week 5 leaderboard. This week, Lacy is 54th among running backs in fantasy production, making the Alabama product once again the top bust among backs. 

ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky noted incumbent backup James Starks surprisingly started in place of Lacy on Sunday. Demovsky detailed Lacy's struggles: "The Packers’ top running back touched the ball only six times. He had four carries for three yards and two catches for 17 yards. He said his sprained ankle is fine, and coach Mike McCarthy didn’t offer an explanation for why Lacy got so little work."

Scary stuff for Lacy's investors, especially given that he was drafted second overall on average in ESPN leagues this summer. There really isn't much we can offer in the way of a solution for this scenario other than rostering both Lacy and Starks with an eye on any intel the coaching staff might offer in the coming days. 

Patriots rusher Dion Lewis produced just three fantasy points in a game that was expected to offer big production given such a lofty projected point total and his previously potent production this year. Game flow didn't agree with usage for Lewis, but he still remains a top-15 fantasy back going forward. Put your trade offers in for Lewis now as his value takes a momentary dip. 

Feel free to share your bad beats at the tailback position this week in the comment section below. 

Wideout MVP DeAndre Hopkins' Historic Season Continues

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Houston's DeAndre Hopkins is the only player in NFL history with at least nine catches and 145 receiving yards in three straight games, according to NFL Director of AFC Football Communications Jon Zimmer. Hopkins led all wideouts on the fantasy market in Week 6 with another brilliant outing, proving that no matter who is behind center, he can produce historic statistics. As the top receiver in fantasy football overall as well as for Week 6, it's clear Nuk is worthy of the MVP award at the position this week. 

The Steelers' Martavis Bryant didn't need Ben Roethlisberger back to enjoy an awesome season debut, as he thrived in producing big plays from third-stringer Landry Jones. With the second-most points at the position in such challenging settings, Bryant's arrow is pointing directly up as the Steelers hope to get their star signal-caller back soon. 

Underwhelming performance and lingering injuries have felled the fantasy output of Detroit's Calvin Johnson and the Chicago Bears' Alshon Jeffery. Both big targets returned to top form in Sunday's division battle, with top-five fantasy production finally fitting their proven pedigrees. The time to buy low on either has ended. 

Keenan Allen of the San Diego Chargers hauled in 14 of his 15 targets before exiting with a hip injury in the second half. To put his amazing points-per-reception season in context, 15 is just the third-highest target rate he's enjoyed this season. Allen is on pace for 141 receptions this season, just two shy of the single-season record set by Marvin Harrison in 2002.

The ageless and amazingly tough Steve Smith Jr. of the Ravens wasn't even supposed to suit up this week given his serious back ailments, but the gamer produced another big box score in the Bay this week. Not only is Smith once again a borderline WR1 in PPR formats and a solid WR2 in standard setups, but he might just be one of the toughest players to ever line up out wide in this league. 

As reader Auston Schneider mentioned below, "Honorable mention. John Brown. Had 200 receiving yards." The Arizona Cardinals speedster had 196 yards in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. While Larry Fitzgerald has rightfully earned steady praise for his revival campaign, Brown is quietly on pace for 88 receptions and 1,325 yards on the season. 

Please nominate your favorite fantasy hands for this week of NFL action. 

Green Bay's Randall Cobb Continues to Struggle Despite the Team's Success

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

We feel for the fantasy managers out there who stacked the Green Bay offense this season with the likes of Randall Cobb and Eddie Lacy, tying their fortunes to the formidable fantasy force that is Aaron Rodgers. Sadly, Cobb is 24th at the position in fantasy points per game in ESPN standard scoring over the course of the full season.

If we remove Cobb's massive multi-touchdown Week 3 against the Chiefs' porous secondary, we find him outside of the top 40 in fantasy points per game among receivers. With another down week in the books, ranking just 60th at the position in fantasy points in Week 6, Cobb joins Lacy as the top bust at his respective position. 

The Steelers' Antonio Brown was expected to take a hit in production without Ben Roethlisberger, but he's barely been a WR3 over the past few weeks. Brown has been an undeniable bust of late, but I'm chasing shares of Brown in all formats before Big Ben gets back and restores him to top-five form.

Though Cincinnati Bengals pass-catcher A.J. Green doesn't have the inherent excuse Brown brings, we'd also suggest chasing any deflated shares of the vertical maven during this short-lived buy-low window. 

Would you want to get shares of Cobb, Brown or Green? Which wideouts left you wanting more in Week 6?

A Clutch Cam Newton Helps Greg Olsen Earn Fantasy MVP at Tight End in Week 6

Ryan Kang/Associated Press

Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer offers an awesome anecdote from the Panthers' thrilling comeback win in Seattle to keep the team undefeated: 

"

After Cam Newton threw a 26-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Greg Olsen, the tight end expected his quarterback to congratulate him.

The Panthers had just scored with 30 seconds to play, giving them a 27-23 against the Seattle Seahawks, and the team was celebrating. "I thought he was going to say awesome job but he said, ‘Man you should have had three touchdowns!" Olsen said. 

"

While Olsen might have left some production on the field in the opinion to his hilarious signal-caller, it's clear the rapport between these two is amazingly valuable for both real-life and fantasy results. Olsen netted the most fantasy points at the position this week on the way to earning MVP honors. 

We all knew the New Orleans Saints' Ben Watson was going to have a huge fantasy outing last Thursday, because blocking tight ends about to turn 35 often break out with their best fantasy numbers at this time of year. But really, I'm not putting much stock in Watson's big game, as the Saints' leading receiver is often the open receiver each week. 

Cleveland Browns tight end Gary Barnidge has petitioned the league for a jersey change, requesting his name be changed to "Barnkowski" in honor of his Rob Gronkowski impersonation over the past several weeks. While he's clearly not in the same class as the Patriots' elite option, Barnidge continues to consume coveted red-zone attention from Josh McCown. It might not last, and his numbers will almost assuredly regress to the more normal production pace, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying this career season from the veteran tight end. 

The Seattle Seahawks' Jimmy Graham made a welcome return to the upper crust of the leaderboard at the position, suggesting his languid production pace can be corrected if Russell Wilson leans on him as he did in Week 6. Fellow fantasy legend Antonio Gates of the Chargers is proving once again he's a must-start asset at the position each week. 

There really weren't many big busts at tight end this week. Only the Bears' Martellus Bennett comes to mind among expected studs at the position. With Bennett banged up heading into the game, it's tough to deem him a true bust.

At such a shallow and fickle fantasy position, Week 6 was quite kind to tight end. Which player at the position helped you this week?

The Miami Dolphins Defense Finally Shines for Fantasy Fans in Week 6

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The Dolphins entered Week 6 last in the league with just a single sack on the season—this after investing heavily in interior defensive force Ndamukong Suh. With a new coach at the helm and a reeling rookie signal-caller on the opposite side, the Dolphins defense finally produced a big game, posting the most fantasy points at the position thanks in large part to constant pocket pressure and six sacks on the day. 

The Broncos, of course, continue to dominate as both a real-life and fantasy group. They are by far the most valuable commodity at the position, with peerless consistency and a coveted combination of floor and ceiling for fantasy fans to enjoy. 

As for major busts among fantasy D/ST units, the Buffalo Bills' vaunted group posted a negative fantasy outing in hosting the Bengals. For the season, the Bills are now 20th in fantasy points per game in ESPN standard scoring with just five per game, proving they are no longer a weekly option and merely another streaming asset at the position. 

The Packers' impressive pass rush and stout defense gave up over 500 passing yards to Philip Rivers in Week 6, offering some evidence they can be gashed when facing formidable passing foes. 

Which defense saved your week? Or conversely, did a specific D/ST group fell your fantasy fun in Week 6?