Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 6: Smart Matchup Plays, Sleepers and More
Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em decisions can oftentimes make a whole lot of sense—and sometimes none whatsoever.
Week 5 provided good lessons in both realms. For instance, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert stumbling his way to 19 points against the Arizona Cardinals while throwing a pair of interceptions is just head-scratching.
Elsewhere, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gunning his way to 29 points against the Cleveland Browns had the universe feeling right again.
Owners can avoid odd lapses and losses through careful week-long analysis of matchups. Let's compare some at each major spot before zooming in on notables.
Quarterback
| Marcus Mariota (vs. CLE) vs. Ben Roethlisberger (at MIA) | Ben Roethlisberger |
| Tom Brady (vs. CIN) vs. Philip Rivers (vs. DEN) | Tom Brady |
| Andy Dalton (at NE) vs. Andrew Luck (at HOU) | Andrew Luck |
| Derek Carr (vs. KC) vs. Matthew Stafford (vs. LA) | Matthew Stafford |
| Dak Prescott (at GB) vs. Carson Wentz (at WAS) | Dak Prescott |
Matchup to Know: Russell Wilson, SEA (vs. ATL)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looked like a scary start back in Week 4 given rumblings about an injury and the fact he hadn't scored more than 13 points in a game.
So of course, Wilson exploded with a 24-point outburst, tossing three touchdowns against the New York Jets.
Now after a bye, owners can expect another similar performance in what should be a shootout with the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons entered Week 5 allowing the most points on average to quarterbacks, allowing 13 touchdowns over four games.
Wilson seems good for a few after an extra week of healing and prep.
Sleeper to Exploit: Case Keenum, LA (at DET)
This seems like a scary proposition.
Case Keenum of the Los Angeles Rams isn't the first fantasy workhorse who comes to mind at the quarterback spot. But he's thrown for a pair of scores in two games this year and has a great matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Detroit has really been a marvel against quarterbacks, allowing 14 touchdowns over five games, in two games allowing four scores apiece. Keenum isn't a stud by any means, but even he can exploit a laughable unit.
At the least, Keenum is an intriguing streaming option for those owners in need.
Running Back
| David Johnson (vs. NYJ) vs. Ezekiel Elliott (at GB) | Ezekiel Elliott |
| Tevin Coleman (at SEA) vs. Jordan Howard (vs. JAC) | Jordan Howard |
| Carlos Hyde (at BUF) vs. LeSean McCoy (vs. SF) | Carlos Hyde |
| Le'Veon Bell (at MIA) vs. Todd Gurley (at DET) | Todd Gurley |
| DeMarco Murray (vs. CLE) vs. Melvin Gordon (vs. DEN) | DeMarco Murray |
Matchup to Know: Carlos Hyde, SF (at BUF)
Carlos Hyde is the next back fortunate enough to beat up on the Buffalo Bills.
The 49ers lead back has a touchdown in three straight games and six on the year just in time for the Bills, whose defense has allowed six rushing scores on the season.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke put it best:
Hyde doesn't get much help from those around him, yet he continues to act as one of fantasy's bigger workhorses. Buffalo, on the other hand, has morphed into one of the league's bigger defensive disappointments.
It's a perfect match and one to exploit to the fullest.
Sleeper to Exploit: Jay Ajayi, MIA (vs. PIT)
The Miami Dolphins might spar with the Browns as the most disappointing fantasy producers this year, but that doesn't mean the team is completely void of value.
But look at lead back Jay Ajayi, who broke through a bit last week with 13 carries for 42 yards and a score, good for 10 points. With Arian Foster still hobbled, the coaching staff might lean more Ajayi's way after the production.
In fact, Ajayi looks like one of the only players producing right now for the Dolphins before the Pittsburgh Steelers arrive in town. It's a juicy matchup for a running back considering Pittsburgh allowed the sixth-most points to running backs on average entering Week 5.
Wide Receiver
| Sammie Coates (at MIA) vs. Cameron Meredith (vs. JAC) | Cameron Meredith |
| T.Y. Hilton (at HOU) vs. Amari Cooper (vs. KC) | Amari Cooper |
| Larry Fitzgerald (vs. NYJ) vs. Brandon Marshall (at ARI) | Larry Fitzgerald |
| Antonio Brown (at MIA) vs. DeAndre Hopkins (vs. IND) | Antonio Brown |
| Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. BAL) vs. Demaryius Thomas (at SD) | Odell Beckham Jr. |
Matchup to Know: Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (vs. NYJ)
The AFC East is something of a place of woe when it comes to allowing fantasy production, as the New York Jets are right there alongside the Bills as major defensive disappointments leaking numbers by the gallon.
In fact, New York has coughed up 20 or more points to wide receivers in all but one game this season. Last week, Pittsburgh wideout Sammie Coates scored 25 on his own.
Now keep in mind it's Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald who gets to torch the unit next. He has outings of 13 or more points three times already, once again proving to be a workhorse target hog who will produce in any matchup.
It just so happens he's in an elite one this week and might hit a season high.
Sleeper to Exploit: Cole Beasley, DAL (at GB)
Speaking of target hogs, how about Cole Beasley of the Dallas Cowboys?
Beasley boasts 33 targets, one shy of the team lead thanks to a guy named Jason Witten. He's been all over the field for rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and he scored a touchdown on Sunday to give him 11 points.
Now for the fun part—Beasley next gets to take on the Green Bay Packers and a defense that entered Week 5 allowing the second-most points to wideouts on average thanks to four receiving scores allowed.
In what seems to have the air of a shootout, Beasley will find plenty of chances to get a score again and help owners through a bye week.
Tight End
| Martellus Bennett (vs. CIN) vs. Delanie Walker (vs. CLE) | Delanie Walker |
| Dwayne Allen (at HOU) vs. Rob Gronkowski (vs. CIN) | Rob Gronkowski |
| Jesse James (at MIA) vs. Antonio Gates (vs. DEN) | Jesse James |
| Zach Miller (vs. JAC) vs. Gary Barnidge (at TEN) | Zach Miller |
| Jordan Reed (vs. PHI) vs. Jason Witten (at GB) | Jason Witten |
Matchup to Know: Delanie Walker, TEN (vs. CLE)
The Browns had done a solid job against tight ends through the first three weeks of the season.
Then the floodgates broke.
Cleveland coughed up two touchdowns to Washington Redskins tight ends in Week 4, then followed by letting up three to Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett in Week 5.
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker now gets his shot. He has two scores on the season alongside a pair of double-digit outings, so expect a third as one of the league's more underrated players at the position goes to work.
Sleeper to Exploit: Lance Kendricks, LA (at DET)
Believe it or not, it is advisable to stick with the Rams at another position thanks to the Detroit defense.
Said position is tight end with Lance Kendricks. Third on the team in targets at 24, Kendricks has yet to score or reach double digits. This could change in a hurry against Detroit, though, as the Lions allowed a touchdown to the position in each of the first four games of the season.
Should the Los Angeles passing attack exploit the Lions like most do, Kendricks will be one of the biggest names doing the damage.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
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