Week 6 of the NFL season is already upon us, friends! While fantasy football managers get set for the regular season, tweaking their final lineups and looking at the waiver wire for sleepers, individual players and further trends develop that have potential to strongly influence each week’s output. With a focus on various teams and individual players, this article highlights crucial insights for the upcoming games, including running strategies, player performances, and defensive challenges.
The Detroit Lions are 30th in dropback rate. That means they want to use the run—25 or more carries to take over the game. The Denver Broncos have one of the best defensive fronts in the game, giving up only 1.9 YBC per run. In this environment, some players quickly turn into must-have targets for any manager looking to gain an advantage on their competition’s fantasy lineups.
Key Player Performances
Sam Darnold He’s been the talk of the town ever since his stupendous performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two Thursdays ago in Week 5. He ended up with 27.6 fantasy points, a season-high and proof that he can be a great QB streamer going forward. His breakout performance sent his confidence through the roof. It turned heads for fantasy managers who were in pursuit of reliable quarterback production.
Darnold’s newfound success has gone hand-in-hand with the spike in targets he has seen during the last two weeks. He’s recorded 16 total targets and racked up 31.9 fantasy points in this time period. This trend is a testament to his developing connection with his receivers and should be a promising sign of more continued success in future matchups.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have found themselves at the bottom of the league defensively this year, surrendering the fifth-most passing yards per game. This creates big opportunities for quarterbacks like Darnold to take advantage of their weaknesses. Trevor Lawrence’s recent 44-yard completion to a leaping receiver was so impressive it was named one of the best plays. This only further emphasizes how offensive explosive plays can occur from each side.
Running Back Strategies
The Detroit Lions are building their offense around a strong running game. No doubt they are preparing for their next opponent with this idea in mind. The goal is to pound the ball 30 times. More importantly, past and especially future managers will want to pay attention to which running backs are being used and deployed that way most often. This strategic approach further seeks to limit the opponents’ offensive opportunities by controlling time of possession.
Denver’s D has been very tough against the run. It has held opponents to a ridiculous 1.9 yards before contact per rush. This shocking stat sums up what the tough 2020 campaign any RB will have running into the teeth of the Broncos’ D awaits them. Fantasy managers will need to get tailored on matchups if adding Lions RBs to fantasy lineups.
Even more so with Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson who specializes in play-action plays. These strategies more than accomplish the goal of keeping defenses off balance. Strategically, managers need to be aware of the impact this strategy could have on both running back productivity and overall offensive achievement.
Notable Sleepers and Emerging Players
One of the best of those emerging talents, Jake Tonges, is a solid add for managers facing tight end woes. His weekly performance would represent a safe floor that’s a tempting alternative for drafters looking for dependable output at such a daunting position.
Another player to shout out here is Elic Ayomanor, who is second on the Tennessee Titans with 29 targets this year. He’s been a key part of the Titans offense, catching both of the team’s receiving touchdowns on the year. It’s his impact on the passing game, though, that would make him a true three-down option. He’s an intriguing option for fantasy managers looking for WR depth.
To say Dillion Gabriel impressed in his debut would be an understatement. He was able to overcome a tough Minnesota Vikings defense to still score 16.1 fantasy points. He excels when his back is against the wall so it opens up even more opportunities for him. Watch out for this up-and-coming player!
Defensive Matchups and Challenges
As teams look ahead to Week 6, defensive matchups will undoubtedly be a deciding factor in how the players on your fantasy squad perform. With Orlando Brown Jr. likely causing tremendous problems for Joe Flacco this week, it might be hard for the Ravens to pass successfully. Flacco has six interceptions already on the season. One of those was McKinney’s in the Browns’ Week 3 win over the Packers. While all of these factors are certainly important to keep in mind for managers looking to add Flacco to their lineups,
Considering defensive abilities as much, if not more than, offensive potential is critical when evaluating talent. The Chiefs have the second-highest play-action success rate allowed this season at 65.8 percent. This low statistic shows just how well teams are able to beat their weaknesses by using killer play-action concepts.
AFC teams going up against the Jaguars better prepare for battle. They need to take advantage of the Jaguars’ defensive issues in the passing game. The opportunity for shootouts between offenses hitting their stride and flawed defenses tends to give fantasy managers a way to make big plays.
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