Week 6 Fantasy Football Projections: Stat Predictions for Top 100 Players

With byes and injuries devastating fantasy football teams around the country, all you can do is find ways to stay above water.

Injuries have been a serious problem all season, and that did not change in Week 5 with players like Calvin Johnson, Jimmy Graham, Rashad Jennings, Montee Ball and others coming out of their games early. It will be important to monitor each situation throughout the week because a lot can change, but these rankings reflect what is known early in the week. 

The good news is there are plenty of options to replace the injured players around the league, and those backups should be picked up immediately. They make up a sizable portion of the latest rankings heading into Week 6. 

Thursday, Oct. 9	Time (ET)
Sunday, Oct. 12	Time (ET)
Monday, Oct. 13	Time (ET)
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans	8:25 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans	1 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1 p.m.
Denver Broncos at New York Jets	1 p.m.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings	1 p.m.
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills	1 p.m.
Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals	1 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns	1 p.m.
Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins	1 p.m.
San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders	4:05 p.m.
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons	4:25 p.m.
Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks	4:25 p.m.
Washington Redskins at Arizona Cardinals	4:25 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants	8:30 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams	8:30 p.m.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opp	Projections
1	Peyton Manning, DEN	NYJ	350 PASS, 4 TD
2	Andrew Luck, IND	HOU	310 PASS, 3 TD
3	Philip Rivers, SD	OAK	325 PASS, 3 TD
4	Aaron Rodgers, GB	MIA	320 PASS, 3 TD, 1 INT
5	Eli Manning, NYG	PHI	340 PASS, 3 TD, 1 INT
6	Jay Cutler, CHI	ATL	270 PASS, 3 TD, 2 INT
7	Matt Ryan, ATL	CHI	310 PASS, 2 TD, 1 INT
8	Matthew Stafford, DET	MIN	320 PASS, 2 TD
9	Nick Foles, PHI	NYG	290 PASS, 2 TD, 1 INT
10	Russell Wilson, SEA	DAL	220 PASS, 20 RUSH, 2 TD
11	Joe Flacco, BAL	TB	260 PASS, 2 TD, 1 INT
12	Brian Hoyer, CLE	PIT	290 PASS, 2 TD, 2 INT
13	Blake Bortles, JAX	TEN	285 PASS, 2 TD, 2 INT
14	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	CLE	260 PASS, 2 TD, 1 INT
15	Andy Dalton, CIN	CAR	250 PASS, 1 TD, 1 INT
16	Tom Brady, NE	BUF	205 PASS, 2 TD, 1 INT
17	Colin Kaepernick, SF	STL	190 PASS, 30 RUSH, 1 TD
18	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	GB	215 PASS, 1 TD, 1 INT
19	Cam Newton, CAR	CIN	240 PASS, 20 RUSH, 1 TD, 1 INT
20	Tony Romo, DAL	SEA	200 PASS, 2 TD, 2 INT

Sleeper: Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

Elsa/Getty Images

It might be scary to trust Eli Manning on a weekly basis, but his five-touchdown performance in Week 4 showed he can still put up big numbers. More importantly, though, he has now 15 points in standard leagues in four straight weeks.

With Manning cutting down on his turnovers, he is throwing for a lot more yards and the scores are coming. Adding a big-time playmaker like Odell Beckham could make this offense even more dangerous.

Meanwhile, the Giants will face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, who just allowed Austin Davis to throw for 375 passing yards and three touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Billy Davis was not happy about the performance in his press conference after the game, via Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com:

"

The second half of this game, the fourth quarter was awful. It was awful, and there's no other way around that. You can't say we're improving if you just look at that in and of itself. But the first three quarters weren't bad, and we were feeling good about it, but we'll get it right. We'll get it fixed.

"

Manning has a chance to really put up some big numbers against the Eagles and should be started in most leagues this week.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opp	Projections
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	SEA	95 RUSH, 10 REC, 1 TD
2	Matt Forte, CHI	ATL	80 RUSH, 60 REC, 1 TD
3	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	DAL	110 RUSH, 1 TD
4	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	CLE	90 RUSH, 1 TD
5	Arian Foster, HOU	IND	105 RUSH, 1 TD
6	Eddie Lacy, GB	MIA	80 RUSH, 1 TD
7	Giovani Bernard, CIN	CAR	75 RUSH, 55 REC
8	Andre Ellington, ARI	WAS	50 RUSH, 40 REC, 1 TD
9	LeSean McCoy, PHI	NYG	80 RUSH, 30 REC
10	Frank Gore, SF	STL	75 RUSH, 10 REC, 1 TD
11	Ben Tate, CLE	PIT	80 RUSH, 1 TD
12	Branden Oliver, SD	OAK	70 RUSH, 40 REC, 1 TD
13	Chris Ivory, NYJ	DEN	80 RUSH, 10 REC
14	Andre Williams, NYG	PHI	90 RUSH, 1 TD
15	Alfred Morris, WAS	ARI	75 RUSH, 1 TD
16	Stevan Ridley, NE	BUF	85 RUSH
17	Fred Jackson, BUF	NE	75 RUSH, 20 REC
18	Knowshon Moreno, MIA	GB	65 RUSH, 20 REC, 1 TD
19	Doug Martin, TB	BAL	60 RUSH, 30 REC
20	Justin Forsett, BAL	TB	55 RUSH, 40 REC
21	C.J. Spiller, BUF	NE	40 RUSH, 45 REC
22	Bishop Sankey, TEN	JAX	75 RUSH, 1 TD
23	Matt Asiata, MIN	DET	50 RUSH, 1 TD
24	Lamar Miller, MIA	GB	40 RUSH, 35 REC
25	Benny Cunningham, STL	SF	60 RUSH, 10 REC
26	Steven Jackson, ATL	CHI	50 RUSH, 10 REC
27	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND	HOU	30 RUSH, 40 REC, 1 TD
28	Jeremy Hill, CIN	CAR	50 RUSH, 10 REC
29	Shane Vereen, NE	BUF	30 RUSH, 65 REC
30	Ronnie Hillman, DEN	NYJ	55 RUSH, 20 REC

Sleeper: Branden Oliver, RB, San Diego Chargers

It is hard to call someone a sleeper after totaling 182 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, but the interesting thing is Branden Oliver is here to stay.

Although Oliver only totaled 16 touches in the first four weeks of the season, the Chargers needed him to step up after injuries to Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead. After Donald Brown went down Sunday with a possible concussion, the backfield was all Oliver's and he took advantage.

Brad Evans of Yahoo Sports described the action for the running back:

Meanwhile, Adam Levitan of Rotoworld notes the rookie is not a one-hit wonder:

Wide receiver Keenan Allen predicted big things from Oliver back in the preseason, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com:

Oliver should remain the go-to option in San Diego, at least until Mathews returns from his injury. With a Week 6 matchup against the Oakland Raiders, the young rusher should be ready for another big performance.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opp	Projection
1	Julio Jones, ATL	CHI	130 REC, 1 TD
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	NYJ	125 REC, 1 TD
3	Antonio Brown, PIT	CLE	115 REC, 1 TD
4	Jordy Nelson, GB	MIA	75 REC, 2 TD
5	Dez Bryant, DAL	SEA	85 REC
6	A.J. Green, CIN	CAR	95 REC, 1 TD
7	Calvin Johnson, DET	MIN	70 REC
8	Steve Smith Sr., BAL	TB	80 REC, 1 TD
9	Brandon Marshall, CHI	ATL	75 REC, 1 TD
10	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	NYG	75 REC, 1 TD
11	Vincent Jackson, TB	BAL	80 REC, 1 TD
12	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	ATL	70 REC, 20 RUSH, 1 TD
13	Randall Cobb, GB	MIA	65 REC, 1 TD
14	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	NYJ	110 REC
15	Golden Tate, DET	MIN	85 REC
16	Victor Cruz, NYG	PHI	90 REC, 1 TD
17	Michael Floyd, ARI	WAS	80 REC, 1 TD
18	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	IND	60 REC, 1 TD
19	Justin Hunter, TEN	JAX	55 REC, 1 TD
20	Andre Johnson, HOU	IND	90 REC
21	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	CIN	85 REC, 1 TD
22	Reggie Wayne, IND	HOU	105 REC
23	Mike Wallace, MIA	GB	60 REC, 1 TD
24	Keenan Allen, SD	OAK	65 REC, 1 TD
25	Kendall Wright, TEN	JAX	85 REC
26	Wes Welker, DEN	NYJ	65 REC, 1 TD
27	Allen Robinson, JAX	TEN	75 REC, 1 TD
28	Percy Harvin, SEA	DAL	75 REC, 30 RUSH
29	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	WAS	85 REC
30	Michael Crabtree, SF	STL	65 REC, 1 TD
31	Brian Quick, STL	SF	75 REC
32	T.Y. Hilton, IND	HOU	60 REC, 1 TD
33	Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN	DET	50 REC, 25 RUSH
34	Sammy Watkins, BUF	NE	80 REC
35	Odell Beckham, NYG	PHI	60 REC

Sleeper: Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars 

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Although the Jaguars do not do too much right on either side of the ball, rookie wide receiver Allen Robinson is showing he can be a productive member of the receiving corps.

With Cecil Shorts still injured, Robinson was on the field for 51 of the team's 56 offensive snaps. In that time, he had a nice little game with five catches for 51 yards. While this would not help too many fantasy teams, he has been a consistent part of the offense over the past month. Here is a look at his usage in the past four weeks:

Week	Opp	Rec.	Targets	Yards
2	WAS	4	6	75
3	IND	7	10	79
4	SD	5	7	38
5	PIT	5	11	51

Once Blake Bortles gets more comfortable, more of those targets will turn into catches and touchdowns.

Bleacher Report's Cian Fahey notes how Robinson could be used better:

"

Jaguars need to throw out the short route stuff with Allen Robinson. Let him go down the field and win at the catch point. It's working.

— Cian O'Fathaigh (@Cianaf) October 6, 2014"

If Jacksonville can keep working on improving the offense, Robinson could end up being a quality fantasy starter before too long.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opp	Projection
1	Julius Thomas, DEN	NYJ	85 REC, 1 TD
2	Rob Gronkowski, NE	BUF	80 REC, 1 TD
3	Martellus Bennett, CHI	ATL	90 REC
4	Greg Olsen, CAR	CIN	40 REC, 1 TD
5	Delanie Walker, TEN	JAX	60 REC, 1 TD
6	Antonio Gates, SD	OAK	50 REC, 1 TD
7	Vernon Davis, SF	STL	75 REC
8	Larry Donnell, NYG	PHI	30 REC, 1 TD
9	Dwayne Allen, IND	HOU	45 REC, 1 TD
10	Owen Daniels, BAL	TB	60 REC
11	Tim Wright, NE	BUF	55 REC
12	Jason Witten, DAL	SEA	45 REC
13	Heath Miller, PIT	CLE	50 REC
14	Jordan Cameron, CLE	PIT	35 REC
15	Zach Ertz, PHI	NYG	30 REC

Sleeper: Tim Wright, TE, New England Patriots

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Although Rob Gronkowski remains the go-to option on the Patriots, Tim Wright provided the team with the secondary tight end the offense hasn't had since Aaron Hernandez.

Mike Reiss of ESPN.com noted how well he played in limited opportunities:

Wright ended up catching five passes for 85 yards in the Week 5 win. Considering the lack of production from the Patriots receivers, it would not be surprising to see Wright get much more playing time in the coming weeks.

The tight end came to the team in a trade for Logan Mankins shortly before the start of the regular season, so it is understandable for him to take a few weeks before getting on the same page with Tom Brady. However, he looked good on Sunday night and should be ready for more big performances.

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