5 Players With Tough Week 6 Matchups
We all have those superstars on our rosters who should be automatic starters week after week, right? Not so fast. I don’t believe in the old adage “always start your studs”, as it’s sort of lazy and not entirely accurate if you want the most out of your fantasy squad.
In this new column at 4for4, each week I take a look at individual matchups and point out the players who I think could struggle, even if they’re elite. I’m not saying to sit them without question, but as the title goes, these are players with tough matchups, meaning you'll have tough lineup decisions to make.
Week 5 Wrap-Up
Baker Mayfield made me look pretty good in Week 5, as he posted negative-two fantasy points against the 49ers. Dak Prescott and Josh Jacobs outperformed my expectations, with Austin Hooper and JuJu Smith-Schuster having decent weeks, just not spectacular.
Week 6 Risky Plays
Todd Gurley (Rams) vs. 49ers
The Rams running back is up against a brick wall this week, as San Francisco has yet to give up a rushing touchdown this season and have only surrendered 13.8 PPR aFPA (schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed) to opposing backfields per contest. Gurley has been up and down so far this season, but I think this week could present a lull in his production. It may be tough to straight-up bench him but start Gurley at your own risk in Week 6.
Matthew Stafford (Lions) @ Packers
Stafford is enjoying a rebirth as the fantasy QB8 in fantasy points per game after falling off the map in 2018 due to his staff going all-in on run-establishing. However, this week could be a difficult one for the quarterback and his assortment of weapons. The Packers rank seventh and ninth in quarterback and receiver aFPA, respectively, yielding just 13.2 points to opposing quarterbacks each week. John Paulsen has Stafford ranked as his QB21 on the week, and he’s looking more like a QB2 in this Monday Night matchup in Green Bay.
Jimmy Graham (Packers) vs. Lions
There is certainly no touting Graham as a stud this season, as he’s currently the TE16 in total PPR points with two weeks of legit goose eggs. However, it’s slim pickings in the tight end department so you’re probably thinking he’s a good bet to do something this week. Not so fast. Detroit has yet to surrender a touchdown to a tight end in 2019, and that includes Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz. As end-zone dependent as Graham is, you may want to park him on the bench if possible and roll with a tight end in a better spot in Week 6.
Jameis Winston (Buccaneers) vs. Panthers
Reliability is not Winston’s middle name. (well, maybe it is but that would be pretty nuts). His weekly performances have been all over the place as he’s had a single-digit fantasy output, scored 29.3 fantasy points in a game and everything in between so far this season. The Bucs quarterback has been sacked 18 times while his opposing defense has tallied 20 themselves on the season. It could be an ugly day for Winston and his receiving corps as they face Carolina’s third-ranked defense in QB aFPA, yielding a measly 10.7 fantasy points to signal-callers weekly. Plus, they’re flying across the pond which is always a crapshoot.
LeVeon Bell (Jets) vs. Cowboys
Bell’s 94% snap usage this season is certainly that of a bell cow, but his lack of RB1 production is somewhat troubling. He has just one score through four games played and is averaging just 51.5 rushing yards per contest. With Sam Darnold back under center, things should improve for Bell, but this week may not be it. Dallas has been inconsistent in their run defense so far as they limited Alvin Kamara to just 11.9 PPR points in Week 4, yet got torched by Aaron Jones for 49.2 the very next week. I’m not saying to definitively sit Bell this week, but I’m here to provide a cautionary tale.
