Fantasy Faceoff Recap: Week 6
Welcome to The FF Faceoff’s weekly report. A first take at the biggest fantasy football takeaways from this weekend’s action. Each week we will provide an overall gut check from the week and nominate our risers, fallers, dynasty stashes, and more. Check it all out here in Fantasy Faceoff Recap: Week 6.
Another week is in the books, and it was one that was simultaneously boring and thrilling. With eight matchups decided by at least a touchdown and three overtime matchups, two of which that seemingly never should have gone that far. The extreme disparities in most of the final scores led to disappointing fantasy performances, but what has made this portion of the season especially difficult is the combination of bye weeks with numerous injuries that seemingly increase by the day. Be sure to catch our waiver wire column this week, as fantasy managers are digging deeper and deeper to find replacements. Now let’s get into the weekly fantasy football recap.
Risers
Jaylen Waddle
(WR4, 10 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TDs, 13 targets, 29.0 PPR points) We’ve been spoiled with rookie wide receivers and this week it was Jaylen Waddle demonstrating why he was a first-round pick. Waddle had a solid opening day but has been fairly quiet since, but this week got back on track with the return of Tua Tagovailoa who has been out since Week 2. The former Alabama teammates connected for two touchdowns in the loss to their former college football rivals with what is hopefully a sign of what’s to come.
Damien Harris
(RB14, 18 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD, 1 reception, 7 yards, 17.8 PPR points) I am traditionally skeptical of Patriot running backs as I started playing fantasy when Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead rotated being a top 15 running back on any given week. The Patriots backfield is typically the archetypal running by committee and this year began with that trend continuing. However, with White out for the rest of the season, Harris has taken the helm, currently leading the Patriots backfield in carries. I still feel concerned for Harris’ fantasy potential, as he seemed to benefit from matchup and game script against the Cowboys, but if the opportunities remain, Harris is a lock as an RB2 for the rest of the season.
Courtland Sutton
(WR7, 8 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD, 14 targets, 23.4 PPR points) While the Broncos have underperformed in recent weeks, Courtland Sutton has developed an important trend. In games with at least 10 targets, Sutton has scored at least 20 fantasy points and is averaging over 100 receiving yards. While he has only received that level of volume 50% of the time, Sutton has demonstrated a clear pathway to be a weekly WR1 in PPR and standard-scoring formats. There are likely weeks where the matchup warrants a downgrade (one of his worse performances came against Baltimore) but overall, Sutton is proving he deserves to be in fantasy lineups. The touchdowns will come, and that’s really the only thing that’s holding him back. 
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Fallers
Sam Darnold
(QB15, 17-41, 207 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 fumble, 4 carries, 48 yards, 15.08 points) The Carolina Panthers were a painful team to watch on Sunday, with Sam Darnold completing only 17 passes on 41 attempts, including several dropped passes. While the Carolina receivers definitely should have made those catches, some came off of inaccurate throws from Darnold. This performance came on the heels of a 6.08-point game from Darnold, who threw three interceptions against Philadelphia in Week 5. Darnold’s fantasy performance was buoyed by some late rushes, but he nonetheless has faded from the top ten quarterback conversation since his strong start. Moving forward, Darnold fits better as a streamer during bye weeks.
Darren Waller
(TE12, 5 receptions, 59 yards, 5 targets, 10.9 PPR points) Since Week 1, Darren Waller has only two top-10 performances and zero top-eight performances. This is not to say that Waller is no longer a starting tight end, as he is still one of the best in the game. But what concerns me is his target share, which has come nowhere near his Week 1 usage and was at a season-low this past Sunday. Certainly, Waller was never going to continue getting 19 targets a game, but to only target one of your best players, five times is surprising and spells trouble for fantasy managers. The positive takeaway is that Waller still has a solid floor and a high ceiling, so he remains a consistent must-start, but managers of Waller may need to lower expectations and could consider finding value for Waller from a team with serious tight end trouble.
Chase Edmonds
(RB33, 4 carries, 46 yards, 3 receptions, 4 yards, 8.0 PPR points) Chase Edmonds entered the season as a solid RB2/Flex option in deeper leagues, with the upside to be a solid starter. Especially during bye weeks. However, over the past weeks, Edmonds has seen a decrease in production and in touches. He has now gone two consecutive weeks with under 10 carriers and has seen a slight decrease in targets, moving from 17 targets in weeks one through three, to 13 since Week 4. At the same time, James Conner has increased his touches, with double-digit carries in three consecutive weeks. More importantly, Conner is getting the goal line touches. To me, Conner is starting to look like the Arizona running back to have, and Edmonds should only be played in deep leagues and in heavy bye weeks.
What is the Consistency Score?
Consistency Score: Running Backs
Consistency Score: Wide Receivers
Consistency Score: Tight Ends
Consistency Score: DST
Dynasty Stashes
Rhamondre Stevenson
(RB19, 5 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 39 yards, 15.2 PPR points) The Patriots rookie running back was the talk of the preseason but has made little noise so far in 2021. This week reminded us why Rhamondre Stevenson was such a popular name, in a week where the Patriots seemingly ran all over the Dallas Cowboys. Stevenson is unlikely to become the number one running back in New England, but he showed his efficiency this week and is worth remaining on your dynasty lineup if he isn’t already.
Khalil Herbert
(RB10, 19 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD, 2 receptions, 15 yards, 19.2 PPR points) This may seem like an overly obvious point, but Khalil Herbert was exceptional in his starting debut for the Chicago Bears. The sixth-round draft pick stepped into the starting role after Damien Williams was sent to the Covid list, and Herbert showed up for the occasion. There’s a separate takeaway from this performance, which is the Bears offense appears to be running-back proof, as every running back who has gotten the start has been effective. Williams should return and is likely to get the starts until David Montgomery is back, but Herbert demonstrated he can carry the load when called upon.
Notable Targets
DeAndre Hopkins, 4 targets: For the second time this season, Hopkins has produced double-digit fantasy points despite getting only four targets. On the one hand, this demonstrates the obvious point, that Hopkins doesn’t need a ton of volume to be a fantasy star. Much like Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, Hopkins can make huge plays at any time. But it also makes me worry about a future downgrade for Hopkins, as Arizona has worked hard to get everyone involved. He’s still a non-negotiable lineup lock, but if the usage doesn’t increase, fantasy managers will need to pay attention to Hopkins’ ability to produce.
Mike Gesicki, 9 targets: This increased target share is much welcome news for the Miami tight end. Going into this week, Gesicki had four straight games with at least six targets, but those all came with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback, which had me nervous for the return of Tua Tagovailoa, who only targeted Gesicki twice in Week 1. Instead, Gesicki ended week sixth with his second-highest target total in what should continue to be an increased role.
Chris Godwin, 5 targets, and Mike Evans, 4 targets: This stat says less about what to do with these players moving forward and more about expectation management with the Tampa Bay wide receivers. In Week 6, Antonio Brown had 13 targets, compared to Godwin and Evans combined nine targets. However, on the season, Brown has the fewest total targets at 42, and Evans leads Godwin with 49 and 47 targets respectively. Overall, the targets are evenly split between the three players, but, as we witnessed Thursday night, those aren’t evenly split within games. Regardless, managers should stay the course with these players. They all have solid floors and high ceilings, making them all must-starts in fantasy.
Monday Night Football
Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee Titans
There isn’t much I’m looking for in this Monday night matchup, with most of the fantasy-relevant narratives sorted out for these two teams. The main thing I will be watching for is the return of A.J. Brown from injury and if he can begin to regain his 2020 form we’ve been hoping for. That said, the Buffalo Bills defense is no joke, so this is not the best gauge for Brown. Apart from that, I’m curious to see how the Bills handle Derrick Henry, who is the largest challenge the Bills will have seen in terms of running opponents this season. Perhaps the Bills get up early and it takes Henry out of the game, but even then, it will be interesting to see if anyone can slow down the current number one fantasy running back, who is coming off three easy matchups in four weeks, including Seattle, the New York Jets, and Jacksonville. Overall, I’m anticipating Buffalo running away with this one, in a Monday night matchup that includes many of the league’s stars.
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