Throw it up and let them make plays.
I repeat my mantra and tagline for Week 6 of the NFL. Go back and watch any game from Week 5. Across the league, quarterbacks are winging the ball into traffic and throwing high-arching deep balls to give their top options opportunities downfield. You have the highlight-reel plays from Victor Cruz and Dwayne Bowe. Calvin Johnson is still running free to the end zone against the Bears.
A total of 33 wide receivers and tight ends recorded a reception of at least 25 yards in Week 5. I know you’ll miss the contributions of the aforementioned Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald and the San Diego receivers this week. We’ll all have one eye on Denver as rumors continue to swirl about Brandon Lloyd’s future.
In the interim, we’re got an interesting slate on tap with some fantastic “statement” games to enjoy. Who would have thought that 49ers-Lions in Week 6 would be must-watch football?
Exclude: Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings, Hakeem Nicks, Roddy White, Wes Welker, Steve Smith, Miles Austin, Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson
Click here for Harmon’s Week 6 QBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 6 RBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 6 TEs
Bye Weeks: San Diego, Denver, Tennessee, Arizona, Seattle, Kansas City
Week 6 Heroes
Dez Bryant, DAL at NE: I almost added Bryant to the “Exclusions” list this week, but we’ll wait for heroics against the New England secondary to elevate him. Bryant is back near full strength coming out of the Bye week and will run opposite Miles Austin for the first time since Week 1. Bryant caught three passes for 71 yards and a touchdown against the Jets.
A.J. Green, CIN vs. IND: Green is rapidly playing himself into “Exclusions” territory. He’s recorded three games with at least 90 receiving yards and made a huge splash with a 41-yard touchdown reception in the opener (his first of three touchdowns through five games). Green and fellow rookie Andy Dalton are turning heads in Cincinnati with their early success, and this smacks of another solid opportunity after watching Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe play catch in Week 5.
Santonio Holmes, NYJ vs. MIA: Holmes finally broke through for fantasy owners in Week 5 following tepid efforts against the Raiders and Ravens. He recorded only 60 receiving yards on four receptions, but you’ll take the touchdown reception and give thanks.
I’m looking for Rex Ryan’s team to rally at home this Monday night against the heretofore putrid Miami defense. In the first four weeks of the season, the Dolphins allowed 316 yards and 2.25 touchdowns per game to opposing receivers.
Look for improved pass protection in week two of Nick Mangold’s return to the offensive line and for additional shots downfield for Holmes.
Pierre Garcon, IND at CIN: Garcon has become the lone big-play option for Curtis Painter. In the past two weeks, Garcon has logged seven receptions, four of which were taken to the end zone. He caught six passes for 82 yards in Week 3 against the Steelers to start this run. Ride the hot hand.
I don’t anticipate that Painter puts up world-beating numbers against the third-ranked Cincinnati pass defense (it still feels strange to type that), but he’ll catch Garcon in a blown coverage for another big play.
Victor Cruz, NYG vs. BUF: Sure, he’s made his name on circus catches and big plays. It’s impossible to ignore the strong three-game run posted by Cruz and his place in a huge matchup for the Giants. Buffalo allows nearly 290 yards and two touchdowns per game to opposing receivers. We know Eli isn’t shy about trying to make a play. This is a huge statement game for both teams, and I anticipate a high-scoring affair.
Marques Colston, NO at TB: Colston posted a strong effort in his second week back from injury. He caught five passes for 69 yards to reestablish himself as the No. 2 option to budding superstar Jimmy Graham. Obviously, I fear Brees’ propensity to spread the ball around, but Colston’s high target count and willingness to work over the middle elevates him here.
The Buccaneers have played well on the edges but have been burned with regularity across the box. Graham clears space down the middle, thereby allowing Colston to find a lane under coverage.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, OAK vs. CLE: That’s right. I take Heyward-Bey straight past the “Ninjas” and into the “Heroes” section. Heyward-Bey has exploded for over 200 yards in the past two weeks, and his improved play has emboldened Jason Campbell. Joe Haden doesn’t look like he’ll be ready for this game, so look for Campbell to take shots deep to create space for Darren McFadden.
Anquan Boldin, BAL vs. HOU: Boldin posted solid second receiver numbers in the first quarter of the season (15 receptions for 222 yards). He needs to elevate his game coming out of the Bye, and I suspect that the extra time with Joe Flacco and Torrey Smith (see below) helps to smooth out the blips in the passing attack going forward. The loss of Mario Williams affords Flacco more time in the pocket to find holes in Wade Phillips’ secondary.
I’ll put Torrey Smith on the board here for a big hit against the Houston secondary. Flacco is going to try and stretch things early to create running room for Ray Rice. Take the speedster at your WR3 spot with Lee Evans still sidelined. Watch the highlights on Sunday. You’ll swear that they’re showing Darrius Heyward-Bey tape from Week 5.
Mike Williams, TB vs. NO: The loss of LeGarrette Blount on the ground portends to a heavier focus on the passing game. Williams has caught four or more passes in four of five weeks, but has not made an impact catch since Week 1 (50 receiving yards and his lone touchdown).
With Drew Brees and the Saints in town, the Buccaneers will need to come out firing against a porous secondary to keep pace. Williams scores in this game and needs to watch his back after doing so.
Hines Ward, PIT vs. JAC: Ward questioned his role in the Pittsburgh offense coming into Week 5. Roethlisberger’s foot injury changed the complexion of the Pittsburgh passing attack and moved things to a short and intermediate focus against the Titans. That’s where Ward made his career.
I expect to see more of the same this week against the Jaguars (215 passing yards and 1.6 passing touchdowns allowed per game).
Kevin Walter, HOU at BAL: Walter rebounded from a miserable Week 5 effort with a strong five-reception, 81-yard effort with a touchdown against the Raiders. He’s a pivotal cog in this offense alongside tight ends Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen. I don’t anticipate a huge effort against the Baltimore secondary, but he’s a solid sit-down option in the red zone.
Week 6 Ninja Alerts
James Jones, GB vs. STL: Jones has worked his way back into a sizable role in Green Bay. He’s caught 12 passes in the past three weeks for a total of 208 yards. This is a fantastic slot for the Green Bay receiving corps (when isn’t it?) against the 31st-ranked St. Louis defense (28.3 points allowed per game).
Harry Douglas, ATL vs. CAR: Julio Jones will reportedly miss Week 6 against Carolina because of a hamstring injury sustained on Sunday night against the Packers. Douglas, a former preseason “Ninja” option, steps into an advantageous slot against the Carolina secondary (231 passing yards per game and seven total touchdowns allowed). He’s hardly overwhelming, but there should be opportunities downfield opposite Roddy White. Roll the dice in deeper leagues.
Jacoby Jones, HOU at BAL: Jones barely made an appearance in the Week 5 box score against the Raiders. However, a second look at the game reveals that Jones amassed 11 targets, though he and Schaub connected only once (nine yards). I don’t anticipate a huge effort from the Houston passing game, but Jones should see a few shots downfield against man-coverage.
Deion Branch, NE vs. DAL: Which role does Branch assume in Week 6? He was held without a catch against the Bills and logged only a single reception (a touchdown) in Week 4 before posting a big game against the Jets. Branch caught seven or more passes in three of the Patriots’ first five games. Roll him into a WR3 slot in a proposed shootout.
Jason Avant, PHI at WAS: Avant’s questionable ball-handling may force him into a smaller role for Week 6, but he and Michael Vick obviously have a comfortable connection. Despite being the fourth option, Avant has already amassed 34 targets this season. `
Dane Sanzenbacher, CHI vs. MIN: Picking a receiver to endorse out of the myriad Chicago options is a tough task. Sanzenbacher stands out as a steady, sit-down option for Cutler. He’s recorded three or more receptions in three of the past four weeks with two touchdown receptions.
The Minnesota secondary can be taken for big plays, provided that Jay Cutler doesn’t get buried by Jared Allen. Cutler’s mental clock has been sped up. As a result, those short and intermediate routes by Sanzenbacher are imperative to the team’s success.
Greg Little, CLE at OAK: Little ascends to the starting lineup for Colt McCoy coming out of the Bye week. He’s an intriguing, sneaky play for owners whose lineups are decimated by the Week 6 Bye or those looking to roll the dice and cast those with early struggles to the wayside. Little caught six balls for 57 yards in Week 4.
The Raiders allow nearly 300 passing yards and two passing touchdowns per game.
Week 6 Flop Alerts
Brandon Marshall, MIA at NYJ: Marshall is talking about getting himself kicked out of Monday’s contest against the Jets. How much confidence can you place in a player who puts that forth as his M.O. for a primetime matchup? It’s possible that he pulls a Constanza move and doesn’t make his move unless he scores. Why don’t we watch events unfold on the sidelines?
Stevie Johnson, BUF at NYG: Johnson started the season with a flurry, but his production has been halted by the Bengals and Eagles in back-to-back weeks. He’s still on the board as a high-WR2 option and will see a high target count (41 through five weeks). The loss of Donald Jones does slow the passing game to some degree, and I wonder if this New York front doesn’t return with a vengeance after being embarrassed by Seattle.
Percy Harvin, MIN at CHI: Harvin was held out of Thursday’s practice with sore ribs. As such, you have another reason to slip the fantasy disappointment into a Bench slot against Chicago. Harvin has registered just 18 receptions thus far and has been more effective as a runner than as a receiver. I’m not banking on reverses to offset his low output and middling target count (26 overall).
Reggie Wayne, IND at CIN: Wayne still rates as a WR3 play for Week 6 at Cincinnati. He’s tied for sixth in targets (47), though the magical connection with Curtis Painter enjoyed by Pierre Garcon has yet to be established.
I do appreciate the early returns from the Cincinnati defense (third-ranked unit against the pass) and suspect that Marvin Lewis and his staff frustrate Painter.
