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Fantasy Football Week 6: 5 Biggest Takeaways

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 9, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) celebrates with quarterback Dak Prescott (4) after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 6 of the 2016 NFL season.

Did you see that coming? No? Good, because neither did I.

Week in and week out, the NFL shocks us with teams and players who do some things we never expected. That’s why is makes for great television. However, these turnouts can award fantasy football owners with a pleasant surprise or a pounding headache.

Which end of the spectrum did you find yourself on yesterday?

Here are the five biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 6.

Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Lamar Miller (26) runs with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 26-23 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

5. It was Miller Time — Finally

For the first five weeks of the season Lamar Miller owners have been frustrated, but hopeful.

Frustrated because, in five games, Miller only had one 100-yard rushing performance and zero touchdowns. Hopeful, however, because he was averaging 23 total touches per game. In today’s NFL, workhorse-like running backs are few and far between. The fact Miller was/is seeing such great volume is half of the battle in fantasy football.

Yesterday Miller rewarded owners who stuck with him during his lackluster start to the 2016 season. Either that or he made owners who decided to trade him drown in a pool full of regret.

Miller finished last night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts with 178 total yards and two total touchdowns. He set season-highs in rushing yards (149), receiving yards (29), rushing touchdowns (1), and receiving touchdowns (1).

Next week the Miller and the Texans face the Denver Broncos, which isn’t the easiest matchup. However, in six out of his next eight games he will see the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars (twice), Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, and the Colts again.

Giddy-up.

Oct 16, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) runs for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

4. Beckham Goes Bonkers

Odell Beckham Jr. must have woken up yesterday, looked at the calendar, realized it was the freaking weekend baby and decided he was going to have some fun. The overly scrutinized wide receiver finished his day with eight receptions, 222 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Yet, this breakout performance was very close to not happening at all.

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In the first half of the game Beckham landed on his hip when he attempted to catch a pass from Eli Manning. Beckham left the game, came back in, and then left again because of the injury. It appeared as if Beckham’s “questionable” status was a lot closer to “doubtful.” Many fantasy owners around the world were expecting Beckham’s day to be over with two receptions, 11 yards, and one fumble lost.

Then the second half happened.

Beckham returned to the game and proceeded to annihilate and humiliate the Ravens defense to the tune of six receptions, 211 receiving yards, and two touchdowns.

After not catching a single touchdown in the Giants first four games of the season, he now has a touchdown reception in back-to-back games and three total on the year.

Back in Week 4, some fantasy owners were “Julioed.” This week, others were “Odelled.”

Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) leaps over Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ross Cockrell (31) during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins won 30-15. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Jay Train

Jay Ajayi: 25 carries, 204 yards and 2 touchdowns. So, that happened.

I’m not even sure where to begin with this unfathomable performance. I’m having a hard time putting together complete sentences when trying to wrap my head around it. So while I’ll try to find some words, here are some facts and stats:

Coming into the 2016 season, Ajayi only had 187 career rushing yards. Entering this game, Ajayi only had 117 rushing yards on the season.

At the end of the game, Ben Roethlisberger had fewer passing yards (189) than Ajayi’s rushing total. Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Tyrod Taylor and Colin Kaepernick all had fewer passing yards than Ajayi’s rushing yards in Week 6.

Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown combined for less total yards (147) than Ajayi’s rushing total.

The last time Jay Ajayi rushed for over 200 yards was back in college in November 2014 against Utah State. Ajayi’s Miami Dolphin teammate, Zach Vigil, was playing defense (or trying to) against Ajayi that game.

The last time a player rushed for over 200 yards on fewer than 30 carries was Doug Martin on Nov. 25, 2015. Both Ajayi and Martin played football at Boise State.

Keep in mind, running back Arian Foster was activated for this game, but was a complete non-factor. Foster was supposed to be a band-aid for this Miami backfield when he signed a one-year contract back in July. It’s highly doubtful he will be back with the team next season. After this performance, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ajayi becomes the lead back in Miami for the rest of the year.

2. Prescott and Elliott are Killing it

Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott is one of the best fantasy football quarterbacks so far in 2016. Yesterday against the Green Bay Packers he finished with 247 passing yards and three touchdowns passes.

He has four straight games with multiple touchdowns and is averaging 254 total yards per game during that span. His three rushing touchdowns are tied for the most among quarterbacks in the NFL along with 2015 MVP Cam Newton. He currently has more rushing touchdowns than players like Frank Gore, Lamar Miller, and Mark Ingram.

However, he’s not the most impressive rookie in the NFL. In fact, he’s not even the most impressive rookie on his own team.

Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott finished yesterday’s game with a season and career-high 157 rushing yards. Going into the game, the Packers defense was giving up less than 43 rushing yards per game to opposing running backs.

Elliott now has four straight games with 134+ yards rushing. He leads the NFL in rushing attempts (137), rushing yards (703), and runs of 20+ yards (7).

As scary as these two players and their offense has been, they have done most of this without the Cowboys No. 1 receiver Dez Bryant. There’s a chance this offense takes another step forward once he returns from his knee injury. How scary is that?

Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) is tripped by by Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

1. Big Ben with a Big Injury

Yesterday the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Miami Dolphins in stunning fashion, 30-15. However, that wasn’t the biggest loss the Steelers experienced.

In yesterday’s game, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger briefly left with an apparent knee injury. He did return to the game, which was good. But it was clear he wasn’t 100 percent. After the game Post-Gazette sports columnist Ron Cook reported Big Ben tore the meniscus in his left knee and there is no timetable for his return.

Uh-oh.

The Steelers now have to trot out backup quarterback Landry Jones until Roethlisberger returns. Jones only has thrown three career touchdown passes during the regular season since entering the league in 2013. Roethlisberger has thrown three or more touchdown passes in four games this season.

Jones actually has more career interceptions (4) than touchdown passes (3). If you’re a fantasy owner that had any stock in any Steelers offensive player, this has a big negative impact.

Big Ben will miss Week 7’s game against the New England Patriots. The Steelers have their bye in Week 8 and then return in Week 9 (Nov. 6) to take on the Baltimore Ravens. Best-case scenario is he will return in Week 9. Until then, the Steelers offense and players like Antonio Brown and Sammie Coates get a major downgrade.

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