NFL Predictions Week 6: Mike Thomas and 3 WRs Who Will Struggle

A number of teams are fielding strong pass defenses this year, keeping in line with the pass-heavy NFL season we've experienced over the last five weeks. This will hold any receiver, no matter how elite, to low statistical totals; here, I detail three who will struggle to gain even 50 yards in Week 6.

Mike Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Pittsburgh Steelers)

A lack of a truly capable quarterback has damaged the Jaguars passing game this season, after dumping longtime starter David Garrard just days prior to their opener.

Mike Thomas, who last week was given a three-year contract extension worth $18 million with $9 million guaranteed, has 23 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown so far this season.

While the extension is a sign that the Jaguars think he will remain valuable to them in the longer-term, in the short-term the issues as quarterback are going to keep his catches and yards low.

This week, he faces the Steelers' top-five passing defense. With rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert set to have a tough time staying upright, it's going to be difficult for Thomas to make a significant contribution this Sunday.

Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins (at New York Jets)

Another team suffering from a poor quarterback situation is the Miami Dolphins, with starter Chad Henne out for the season with a shoulder injury and backup Matt Moore taking over the offense, starting this Monday night against the New York Jets.  

In the right situation, Marshall is easily one of the league's best receivers, and even with the team's offensive struggles was on pace to have nearly 1,200 receiving yards on the year with Henne at the helm. Now that the team has to rely on Moore (or, in the worst-case scenario, the newly signed Sage Rosenfels), Marshall's impact for the remainder of the year is in doubt.

The fact that Moore gets his first test against one of the NFL's leading pass defenses doesn't bode well for either his or Marshall's chances for a big day this week. Even worse is that Marshall will be relegated to Revis Island for the majority of the contest.

Jacoby Jones, Houston Texans (at Baltimore Ravens)

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub missed practices earlier this week while dealing with a shoulder injury. He's since returned, but that doesn't mean the Texans and receiver Jacoby Jones have little to worry about this week. They take on the Ravens' top-ranked defense, one that had two weeks to rest and prepare for this game.

Jones is a starting receiver because Andre Johnson is still sidelined after undergoing surgery on an injured hamstring, but he's hardly an adequate replacement. In the seven quarters he's been filling in for Johnson, Jones has just one catch, with a total of eight for 100 yards and no scores on the season.

It will be surprising if the hobbled Schaub is able to complete enough passes to Jones for him to have much more than 30 receiving yards on the day, especially staring down the Ravens defenders at the same time. I'm sure the Texans cannot wait for Johnson's imminent return.