Fantasy Football Week 6: Eli Manning Leads Risers and Fallers

QB

Eli Manning, NYG

As I expected, Manning had a big game in Week 5 against the Houston Texans, throwing three TDs and finishing just three yards shy of 300 passing yards.

He would have exceeded 300 yards if Hakeem Nicks hadn’t dropped an easy deep pass, and if Nicks hadn't calmly stepped out at the one-yard line instead of making a play for the end zone, Manning would have had four TD passes as well.

Although Manning threw two more interceptions, bringing his total to eight—he threw 14 all last year—he looked a lot more comfortable than in previous weeks, picking apart the Houston secondary with ease.

The Giants host Detroit Week 6. Manning could once again put up top-five numbers this week; although the Lions’ front seven is much improved, there is no way their secondary can compete with Nicks, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham.

Expect Manning to get comfortable early and throw often.   

Last Week’s Rising QBs in Week 5

David Garrard, JAX: 16 for 20 (80.0 completion percentage), 178 yards, 3 TD, INT, fumble

Kevin Kolb, PHI: 21 for 31 (67.7 completion percentage), 253 yards, TD, fumble

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Alex Smith, SF: 25 for 39 (64.1 completion percentage), 309 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT, fumble

Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF: 20 for 30 (66.7 completion percentage), 220 yards, 3 TD

Josh Freeman, TB: 20 for 33 (60.6 completion percentage), 280 yards, TD, INT

Shaun Hill, DET: 21 for 32 (65.6 completion percentage), 227 yards, 3 TD

Vince Young, TEN: 12 for 25 (48.0 completion percentage), 173 yards, 2 TD

Colt McCoy, CLE: Expected to start Week 6

RB

Felix Jones, DAL

Jones finally had the breakout game fantasy owners have been expecting for over a year now.

Against a stingy Titans defense, Jones rushed 15 times for 109 yards. He also caught four passes for 17 yards.

Jones looked explosive this week, while Marion Barber was highly ineffective.

Jones displayed good power and vision, but also excellent speed on the edge. He will face a similar defensive front against Minnesota in Week 6. Jones made his case to carry the rock more often, so expect the Cowboys to get him involved more starting this week in a must-win game.

Michael Bush, OAK

A popular preseason sleeper pick, Bush finally got his chance to succeed with breakout star Darren McFadden sidelined by a hamstring injury.

In Week 5, Bush carried the ball 26 times for 104 yards and one touchdown. He also caught three passes for 31 yards.

Hamstring injuries are tough to judge, so Bush could get the start once again against San Francisco in Week 6, which isn’t a bad matchup by any means.

If McFadden is out, expect Bush to carry the ball around 25 times again and top the century mark for the second straight game. I would also expect him to catch a few more passes regardless whether Bruce Gradkowski or Jason Campbell is behind center.

The running back is the focal point of the Raiders offense, so expect Bush to be involved heavily. He would be a top Week 6 running back option.

Last Week’s Rising RBs in Week 5

Ryan Torain, WAS: 16 carries, 40 yards, 4 carries, 27 yards

LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ: 20 carries, 94 yards, 5 receptions, 13 yards

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Brandon Jackson, GB: 10 carries, 115 yards, 5 receptions, 25 yards

Willis McGahee, BAL: 10 carries, 67 yards, TD

Mike Hart, IND: 11 carries, 50 yards, TD, 1 reception, 5 yards

Shonn Greene, NYJ: 10 carries, 57 yards, TD

WR

Malcolm Floyd, SD

Floyd finally had the Vincent Jackson-esque game everyone hoped they would see when they drafted him.

Floyd exploited the Raiders’ secondary for eight catches, 213 yards and one touchdown.

He now has two games this season with at least six receptions. He has also caught a touchdown in three of the past four games.

Antonio Gates dominates the attention of opposing defenses, allowing Floyd to get behind the defense.

Floyd has an excellent matchup against the St. Louis Rams in Week 6: It would be very surprising if he does not score a touchdown.

Steve Johnson, BUF

Who knew that all Steve Johnson needed in his third season was a strong dose of Ryan Fitzpatrick?

Johnson has been very good in the past three weeks, catching at least one touchdown in each game.

Week 5 was Johnson’s breakout game.

He caught a season-high five passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns.

Johnson has already eclipsed his career total for touchdowns. With Lee Evans and C.J. Spiller commanding attention from opposing defenses, Johnson is left all by himself to roam the field.

As the Buffalo Bills continuously play from behind, expect Johnson to receive a lot of targets and turn himself into a very good flex option and potential WR3.

Last Week’s Rising WRs in Week 5

Terrell Owens, CIN: 7 receptions, 102 yards, TD

Santonio Holmes, NYJ: 3 receptions, 41 yards

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Brandon Lloyd, DEN: 5 receptions, 135 yards, 2 TD

Lee Evans, BUF: 5 receptions, 87 yards, TD

Kenny Britt, TEN: 4 receptions, 86 yards, TD

Danny Amendola, STL: 12 receptions, 95 yards, fumble

Mike Williams, TB: 7 receptions, 99 yards, TD

Percy Harvin, MIN: 5 receptions, 97 yards, 2 TD

Deion Branch, NE: Traded from Seattle to New England October 11

TE

Brandon Pettigrew, DET

Pettigrew has been fantastic in his sophomore season despite coming back from knee surgery last season.

Playing alongside Calvin Johnson allows Pettigrew to get open over the middle of the field and the end zone, and he has done just that.

He is currently one of the better fantasy tight ends in the league, with 26 receptions for 275 yards and a touchdown.

Week 5 snapped a three-game streak of at least six receptions: He caught only four passes, but he did score his first touchdown of the season.

Matthew Stafford is expected back after the Week 7 bye, which will only benefit Pettigrew.

For those with tight ends on byes or suffering from injuries, Pettigrew has been a reliable option the past four weeks.

Last Week’s Rising TE in Week 5

Zach Miller, OAK: 6 receptions, 62 yards, TD

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Chris Cooley, WAS: 7 receptions, 69 yards

Marcedes Lewis, JAX: 4 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD

Jason Witten, DAL: 5 receptions, 84 yards, TD

Andrew Quarless, GB: 4 receptions, 51 yards

Kellen Winslow, TB: 6 receptions, 75 yards

FALLERS

QB

Carson Palmer, CIN

When Palmer first came in to the league, I believed he would eventually become the best pure passer in the league.

I was wrong.

Palmer has suffered several injuries and setbacks throughout his career. At this point, he is a shell of his former self and does not look like he will ever meet his full potential.

When the Bengals signed Terrell Owens, I though Palmer would finally vault himself into a top fantasy QB this season.

Again, I was wrong.

Palmer has looked terrible this season. He is making poor decisions and does not have the same velocity or accuracy he once had. I can only hope the bye week is just what Palmer needs to settle down and finish strong.

Although I predicted it would be a rather mediocre day for Palmer in Week 5, I didn’t think he would make the poor decisions and throws he made, which concerns me going forward.

He had a fantastic fantasy day Week 4 against Cleveland, but fumbled twice.

Palmer was mediocre in Week 5, though. He did throw two touchdowns and 207 yards, but he also threw three costly interceptions. He has at least two turnovers in each of the past three games.

Cincinnati returns Week 7 against Atlanta, a better matchup for Palme than Tampa Bay. Hopefully Palmer can work out the kinks and develop better chemistry with his receivers.

Last Week’s Falling QB in Week 5 

Jay Cutler, CHI: Did not play (concussion)

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Matt Cassel, KC: 16 for 29 (55.2 completion percentage), 156 yards

Matt Schaub, HOU: 16 for 34 (47.1 completion percentage), 196 yards, INT, Fumble

Peyton Manning, IND: 26 for 44 (59.1 completion percentage), 244 yards, INT

Sam Bradford, STL: 23 for 45 (51.1 completion percentage), 215 yards, 2 INT

Jimmy Clausen, CAR: 9 for 22 (40.9 completion percentage), 61 yards, INT

Mark Sanchez, NYJ: 21 for 44 (47.7 completion percentage), 191 yards

Aaron Rodgers, GB: Questionable Week 6 (concussion)

RB

Jonathan Stewart, CAR

Plain and simple, Stewart owners need DeAngelo Williams to be traded this season.

Stewart has been one of the biggest disappointments as the Carolina offense has been abysmal to open the season.

Steve Smith is hurt.

Rookie Jimmy Clausen is starting at quarterback.

The offensive line has failed to generate any type of push for its star running backs.

In Week 5, Stewart received just eight carries as the team was down big. He only rushed for 30 yards and caught just one pass for four yards.

Again, it would appear the only way Stewart could meet expectations is for DeAngelo to be traded so that Stewart could at least get all of the carries.

Carolina has a bye week to try and get things together, but that is highly unlikely. They return Week 7 against San Francisco, which isn’t the most favorable matchup due to the lack of receiving threats in Carolina.

Next year is when Stewart will finally break out. 

Chris "Beanie" Wells, ARZ

Wells is easily one of the biggest disappointments to open the season.

Fantasy owners knew that he suffered a knee injury in the preseason finale. What they didn’t know was that Wells would proceed to have surgery on his knee and miss the first two weeks of the season.

Wells has been rusty to open the season. Against the New Orleans Saints, though, Wells finally got what he wanted. He received 20 carries and rushed for just 35 yards, an appalling 1.8 yard per carry average.

Luckily, Wells has a bye to get healthy and ready for Week 7. I would not expect one of my breakout running backs to play this poorly. I actually expect him to excel the rest of the way and provide major help to rookie quarterback Max Hall and Larry Fitzgerald.

Still, Wells is near rock bottom and needs to show me something before I put him back in my fantasy lineup.

Last Week’s Falling RBs in Week 5

Ray Rice, BAL: 27 carries, 133 yards, TD, 4 receptions, 26 yards

Matt Forte, CHI: 22 carries, 166 yards, 2 TD, 2 receptions, 22 yards

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Cadillac Williams, TB: 11 carries, 33 yards

Arian Foster, HOU: 11 carries, 25 yards, 2 receptions, 2 yards

C.J. Spiller, BUF: 5 carries, 31 yards, 1 reception, 3 yards

Marion Barber, DAL: 6 carries, 19 yards

Thomas Jones, KC: 8 carries, 19 yards

Joseph Addai, IND: Questionable Week 6 (neck/shoulder)

WR

Chad Ochocinco, CIN

I did not predict that Ochocinco and Carson Palmer would open the season this poorly.

Ochocinco appeared to be on the fast track Week 1 against the New England Patriots, when he had 12 receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown.

Since then, it has been the T.O. Show in Cincinnati, while Ochocinco is still searching for his "ultimate catch."

In the past four games, Ochocinco has 14 receptions for 157 yards and zero touchdowns.

The chemistry between Palmer and Ochocinco has shifted to Owens.

In the past two games, Owens has totaled 17 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns.

Defenses have shifted Chad’s way, leaving Owens to work one-on-one most of the year, something he has rarely seen in his career.

While Owens has thrived, Ochocinco has been a fantasy liability despite being healthy. Owners have to hope the bye week will be just what Ochocinco needs to begin to meet fantasy expectations.

Greg Jennings, GB

I had Jennings penciled in as a top-five fantasy receiver this season. I believed he would be the key target for my No. 1 fantasy QB, Aaron Rodgers.

But Jennings has been squeaking by and has yet to have a breakout game.

In Week 5, I thought he had a beatable matchup against the Washington Redskins.

Instead, Jennings failed miserably. He caught just two passes for 22 yards.

Jenning has touchdowns in three of five games; however, he has topped 80 yards only once this season and has caught five passes in only one game. He has caught just two passes in each of the past three games.

Now, the news out of Green Bay is that Rodgers is questionable to play Week 6.

With Jermichael Finley out at least three weeks, Jennings will see even more defensive attention. He could be double-teamed often, meaning his fantasy production should continue to disappoint.

Last Week’s Falling WRs in Week 5

Marques Colston, NO: 7 receptions, 97 yards

Jeremy Maclin, PHI: 6 receptions, 95 yards

DeSean Jackson, PHI: 2 receptions, 24 yards, 1 carry, 8 yards

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Anquan Boldin, BAL: 1 reception, 8 yards

Johnny Knox, CHI: 1 receptions, 14 yards

Dez Bryant, DAL: 3 receptions, 22 yards

Dwayne Bowe, KC: 2 receptions, 33 yards

Lance Moore, NO: 1 reception, 8 yards

Mark Clayton, STL: Placed on Injured Reserve (knee)

Calvin Johnson, DET: Questionable Week 6 (shoulder)

Demaryius Thomas, DEN: Questionable Week 6 (head/neck)

TE

Jermichael Finley, GB

My No. 3 tight end entering the season, Finley is expected to miss at least three weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

Finley left Week 5 early with the knee injury and never returned, stalling his season at 21 receptions, 301 yards, and one touchdown. I wouldn’t expect him back until after the Packers’ Week 10 bye.

Although this is a huge loss to their fantasy teams, owners need to hang on to this mammoth tight end: Finley was a monster late last season after returning from injury.

Donald Lee also suffered a shoulder injury Week 5 and is expected to miss at least two weeks.

If you're looking for the next Green Bay tight end to pick up, Andrew Quarless was serviceable filling in for Lee and Finley in Week 5.

If available in your league, Marcedes Lewis, Brandon Pettigrew, and Tony Moeaki are solid replacements. 

Last Week’s Falling TE in Week 5

John Carlson, SEA: BYE

Other Notable Performances and Notes

Dallas Clark, IND: 3 receptions, 20 yards

Owen Daniels, HOU: 3 receptions, 45 yards

Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN: 2 receptions, 28 yards

Dustin Keller, NYJ: 2 receptions, 14 yards

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