Fantasy Billboard: Giddy Up! and Whoa Down! for NFL’s Week 6
It’s my annual Myrtle Beach golf outing this weekend. Twelve friends from seven different states converge to tear up well-groomed golf courses, deplete the local watering holes of alcohol, and talk Fantasy Football. They are all big fans of this column and Fantasyguru.com. Maybe a trade or two will take place on the links. I get extra NFL reconnaissance from Michigan, Texas, Florida, Carolina, Minnesota and … Maine. To Jim, Greg, Steve, Dave, Bret, Maggio, Scottie, Joe, Gordon, Austin, Mike, and Clark I say, “May your ball lay in green pastures, and not in still waters.” As we look at our Giddy Ups! and Whoa Downs! for Week 6, make sure to check the NFL injury reports before submitting your lineups.
GIDDY UP!
Kenny Pickett, QB — I watched Pickett’s entire pro debut against the nasty Buffalo Bills defense. In the swirling winds of Highmark Stadium, Pickett was ripping the ball through the air for 327 yards. It was very impressive. Pickett should be an every-week start. Put the paper down and add him to your roster right now.
Trevor Lawrence, QB — This will be the third time Lawrence faces the Colts. He’s thrown at two TDs and 230 yards in his last two. Familiarity breeds success, and the Colts can be scored on through the air. If you rostered Lawrence to replace Derek Carr on his bye, it’s ride or die.
Melvin Gordon/Mike Boone, RB — I had Boone in here last week, and he served us well with 12 PPR points. Not bad for a dart throw pick-up. He and Gordon will run, run and run some more to keep Justin Herbert off the field on Monday night. It’s a sound strategy since the Broncos can’t throw the ball and the Chargers can’t stop the run.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB — Rhamondre the Giant gashed the Lions for 161 yards. His yardage was second only to Austin Ekeler of the Chargers, who put up 173 yards against the Browns. Rhamondre has a good chance to be No. 1 this week. Guess who he faces? It rhymes with Steveland Clowns. No more rhymes now. I mean it. Anybody want a peanut?
Gabe Davis, WR — He’s back. Week 5′s highest-scoring WR (35.1 pts) has recovered from his ankle sprain. Last time we saw Gabe at K.C., he put up 201 yards, eight catches and four TDs. The Chiefs do not have an answer for him. Giddy Up!
Amari Cooper, WR — To quote my son as we watched NFL highlights together, “Cooper is on the Browns?” Banished to the chilly shores of Lake Erie, Amari has quietly put up top ten Fantasy numbers. He’ll keep it rolling against the Pats.
Cade Otton, TE — The 6-5, 255-pound Otton is almost identical to Tom Brady’s favorite target, the retired 6-6, 260-pound Rob Gronkowski. Assuming Cameron Brate is out again, the fourth-rounder from Washington should build on last week’s game (six catches, 43 yards) on the road in Pittsburgh.
WHOA DOWN!
Russell Wilson, QB — It’s mind-boggling how bad Wilson has become. It’s not his receivers’ fault. Those guys are open. Wilson has one or zero TDs in four of his last five games. It’s “whoa down” to this Bronco.
Carson Wentz, QB — The Commanders faced the wretched Wentz twice a year for five seasons. The poor decisions. The interceptions. The fumbles. They signed him anyway. As Groucho Marx says, “Are you going to believe me, or your own eyes?”
Tyler Allgeier, RB — Facing the 49ers fifth-ranked D and Cincy’s third-ranked D in the next two weeks means Allgeier should find a nice comfy spot on your bench.
Zeke Elliott, RB — What do Dontrell Hilliard, J.D. McKissic and Raheem Mostert have in common? They all have more points than Zeke. So does his backup, Tony Pollard. Bench Zeke against Philly. You can start him next week against the Lions.
D.J. Moore, WR — Free agent signee P.J. Walker, from that well-known collegiate QB factory Temple, will be throwing to a fading Moore against San Francisco, the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL. Moore is less this week.
Allen Robinson, WR — It’s over. Stick a fork in him. Maybe Robinson was never that good to begin with. Even if he goes off, you have no business starting him.
Mike Gesicki, TE — How the mighty have fallen. There’s no one left in Miami to throw to him anyway.
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