2011 NFL Schedule: Week 6

SUNDAY, OCT. 16  (All Times ET)
Carolina at Atlanta  1:00 PM
Indianapolis at Cincinnati  1:00 PM
San Francisco at Detroit  1:00 PM
St. Louis at Green Bay  1:00 PM
Philadelphia at Washington  1:00 PM
Buffalo at NY Giants  1:00 PM
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh  1:00 PM
Houston at Baltimore  4:05 PM
Cleveland at Oakland  4:05 PM
Dallas at New England  4:15 PM
New Orleans at Tampa Bay  4:15 PM
Minnesota at Chicago  8:20 PM

MONDAY, OCT. 17
Miami at NY Jets  8:30 PM

Bye: Denver, Tennessee, Kansas City, Arizona, San Diego, Seattle

Week 6: Good calls, bad calls

Now I know how Peter King feels. Nearly every prediction you make, the opposite happens. This week, I played the role of King and now I have fantasy football owners lining up to kick me in the Peter. Here are some of the good calls from week 6, and the absolutely atrocious predictions that went down harder than Jay Cutler on third down. Sports cliché alert: I’m working to get better every week.

Good Calls:

Tony Romo – QB Dallas
The Vikings had a depleted secondary filled with undersized DBs heading into Sunday’s game with Dallas. So it wasn’t a surprise to see Romo, who I had ranked QB #2, put up solid numbers. His 220 yards passing wasn’t spectacular, but his 3 TDs sure were nice for Romo owners. Romo should be considered a top 10 QB the rest of the season, with several favorable match-ups still on the schedule.

Roy Williams – WR Dallas
With three CBs under 5’9” tall, Roy Williams seemed like a good play to me against the Vikings. I thought so highly of the 6’3” WR that I put him at #15 on my weekly WR rankings list. ESPN ranked him at #40. Considering how often the Cowboys are throwing the ball this year, Williams is a very solid WR3 in most leagues, maybe even WR2.

Ryan Torain - RB Washington
After watching Torain run on Sunday night, it’s hard to believe he started the season on the Redskins practice squad. The big bodied RB ripped off 10 yard runs like it was nothing against the Indianapolis Colts. Torain showed he can break tackles and find the red zone. His 100 yards and 2 TDs were a big reward to fantasy football owners who started him. I had him listed as the #16 ranked RB this week and have repeatedly mentioned him on this blog. I’m not saying Torain is the next superstar, but he is a nice guy to have in your starting line-up right now.

Joseph Addai – RB Indianapolis
Once it was clear that Addai would play Sunday night against Washington, I told Addai owners to start him. He’s too valuable to the Colts not to be on the field and he responded with 128 yards rushing and a TD. The Colts are on bye this week, which will allow Addai to get healthy. He is the best option in the Colts backfield and they know it, you should too.

Bad Calls:

DeSean Jackson – WR Philadelphia
Putting Jackson outside of the top 20 on the week 6 WR rankings seemed like a logical thing (I had him ranked as the #22 WR in week 6). He was coming off two mediocre starts and looked like a guy who had zero chemistry with Kevin Kolb. But Jackson’s 2 TDs on Sunday reminded us that top-flight WRs should always be in play. With that said, Jackson is expected to miss this Sunday’s game against Tennessee because of lingering concussion symptoms. After that Philadelphia is on a bye, but in week 9, look for Jackson to be in the top 10 with a very good match-up against Indianapolis.

Randy Moss – WR New England
It’s the closest thing to a sure thing in pro football, Moss ripping the Cowboys (I had Moss ranked #1 WR in week 6). Well, Dallas wasn’t going to let it happen in week 6, using two defenders on Moss the entire game. I predicted 2 TDs for Moss, instead he tallied just 55 yards on 5 catches.

Greg Jennings – WR Green Bay
The Packers were very public last week about their intention to get Jennings more involved in the offense. So far this year, Jennings has been average. Before week 6, Jennings had 14 catches in five games, including a real dry spell where caught just two balls in each of the last three games. Just when fantasy football owners were ready to banish Jennings to the bench (some did), he exploded for 133 yards on 6 catches, including an 86 yard TD. Let’s make sure to keep Jennings in the lineup next time (I had Jennings ranked #19 WR in week 6).

Kevin Kolb – QB Philadelphia
I didn’t even have Kolb ranked in my top 20 for QBs. What does he do? Promptly torches the Atlanta Falcons for 326 yards and 3 TDs. Kolb looks to be in line for another start in week 7 with Michael Vick still nursing a rib/chest injury. This week’s opponent for the Eagles is the Tennessee Titians. Don’t expect Kolb to repeat his week 6 performance, but then again, that’s what I thought last week.

Week 6: Fantasy football rankings -- QB, RB, WR/TE

QB
1. Philip Rivers at St. Louis
2. Tony Romo at Minnesota
3. Eli Manning vs. Detroit
4. Peyton Manning at Washington
5. Jay Cutler vs. Seattle
6. Kyle Orton vs. NY Jets
7. Drew Brees at Tampa Bay
8. Brett Favre vs. Dallas
9. Aaron Rodgers vs. Miami
10. Ben Roelisberger vs. Cleveland
11. Matt Schaub vs. Kansas City
12. Joe Flacco at New England
13. Matt Cassell at Houston
14. Tom Brady vs. Baltimore
15. Vince Young at Jacksonville
16. Mark Sanchez at Denver
17. Matt Ryan at Philadelphia
18. Josh Freeman vs. New Orleans
19. Donovan McNabb vs. Indianapolis
20. Alex Smith vs. Oakland

RB
1. Chris Johnson at Jacksonville
2. Frank Gore vs. Oakland
3. Adrian Peterson vs. Dallas
4. Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Detroit
5. Rashard Mendenhall vs. Cleveland
6. Michael Turner at Philadelphia
7. Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Tennessee
8. LeSean McCoy vs. Atlanta
9. LaDainian Tomlinson at Denver
10. Steven Jackson vs. San Diego
11. Ray Rice at New Engalnd
12. Arian Foster vs. Kansas City
13. Jamaal Charles at Houston
14. Ryan Mathews at St. Louis
15. Matt Forte vs. Seattle
16. Ryan Torian vs. Indianapolis
17. Shonn Greene at Denver
18. Michael Bush at San Francisco
19. Ronnie Brown at Green Bay
20. Jahvid Best at NY Giants
21. Marshawn Lynch at Chicago
22. Ricky Williams at Green Bay
23. Joseph Addai at Washington
24. Felix Jones at Minnesota
25. Peyton Hillis at Pittsburgh
26. Mike Tolbert at St. Louis
27. BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. Baltimore
28. Brandon Jackson vs. Miami
29. Brandon Jacobs vs. Detroit
30. Willis McGahee at New England
31. Knowshon Moreno vs. NY Jets
32. Chris Ivory at Tampa Bay
33. Earnest Graham vs. New Orleans
34. Marion Barber at Minnesota
35. Darren Sproles at St. Louis
36. Jason Snelling at Philadelphia
37. Thomas Jones at Houston
38. John Kuhn vs. Miami
39. Ladell Betts at Tampa Bay
40. Cadillac Williams vs. New Orleans

WR/TE
1. Randy Moss vs. Dallas
2. Reggie Wayne at Washington
3. Hakeem Nicks vs. Detroit
4. Miles Austin at Minnesota
5. Roddy White at Philadelphia
6. Malcom Floyd at St. Louis
7. Brandon Lloyd vs. NY Jets
8. Antonio Gates at St. Louis
9. Andre Johnson vs. Kansas City
10. Anquan Boldin at New England
11. Percy Harvin vs. Dallas
12. Brandon Marshall at Green Bay
13. Wes Welker vs. Baltimore
14. Roy Williams at Minnesota
15. Calvin Johnson at NY Giants
16. Steve Smith (NY) vs. Detroit
17. Kenny Britt at Jacksonville
18. Dallas Clark at Washington
19. Greg Jennings vs. Miami
20. Austin Collie at Washington
21. Mike Wallace vs. Cleveland
22. DeSean Jackson vs. Atlanta
23. Hines Ward vs. Cleveland
24. Eddie Royal vs. NY Jets
25. Donald Driver vs. Miami
26. Jeremy Maclin vs. Atlanta
27. Zack Miller at San Francisco
28. Johnny Knox vs. Seattle
29. Michael Crabtree vs. Oakland
30. Santana Moss vs. Indianapolis
31. Dustin Keller at Denver
32. Marques Colston at Tampa Bay
33. Jabar Gaffney vs. NY Jets
34. Pierre Garcon at Washington
35. Braylon Edwards at Denver
36. Davone Bess at Green Bay
37. Louis Murphy at San Francisco
38. Dwayne Bowe at Houston
39. Danny Amendola vs. Dan Diego
40. Nate Washington at Jacksonville
41. Lance Moore at Tampa Bay
42. Chris Chambers at Houston
43. Brandon Tate vs. Baltimore
44. Robert Meachem at Tampa Bay
45. Vernon Davis vs. Oakland
46. Santonio Holmes at Denver
47. Mike Williams (TB) vs. New Orleans
48. Mike Sims-Walker vs. Tennessee
49. Brandon Gibson vs. San Diego
50. Aaron Hernandez vs. Baltimore

Week 6: Working the waiver wire

With bye weeks and injuries, it’s getting harder to put a consistent fantasy football roster together each week. Fortunately, there are several quality pick-ups this week that can help your team in a pinch. At this point in the season you’re not likely to find an every week starter on the waiver wire, but you can find weekly fill-ins. Here’s a list of players that should be good replacements in week 6.

Vince Young – QB Tennessee
There never seems to be an appetite for Young until you really need a QB. This week is a perfect match-up for Young, a Monday night game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags are near the bottom of the league when it comes to pass defense. With Buffalo, Cincinnati, Carolina and Arizona all on bye this week, I doubt there’s much need for a bye week fill-in. But Young could be a good replacement for Aaron Rodgers, if he’s out, or Jay Cutler, who’s returning from injury.

Mike Hart – RB Indianapolis
Anyone who plays a prominent role in the Indianapolis Colts offense should garner attention. With Joseph Addai and Donald Brown both nursing injuries, Hart could be the Colts feature RB on Sunday against the Washington Redskins. Hart is a versatile RB who works well in the Colts offense. If Addai and Brown are both out for an extended period of time, Hart should be considered an every week starter for your fantasy football team.

Kenny Britt – WR Tennessee
Three TDs in three games will land you on virtually every waiver wire list. Britt has been Vince Young’s favorite red zone target of late, and his match-up this week could yield more success. Britt has disappointed a lot of fantasy football owners during his young career, but now he appears ready to contribute. Britt is a good play this week against Jacksonville and should be considered for your starting line-up.

Brandon Gibson – WR St. Louis
With Mark Clayton done for the year, Gibson could be the guy to step into the starting WR role. With Danny Amendola working the underneath routes, Gibson could be the guy to stretch the field. Clayton was having a solid season before tearing up his knee. The young Gibson could grow-up fast in this new Rams offense. (For the record, Amendola is the better pick-up of the two WRs, but I’ve already suggested you pick him up in previous posts.)

Steve Johnson – WR Buffalo
The guy with the ordinary name has been extraordinary the past three weeks. Johnson has four TDs in his last three games including 2 TDs against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Johnson is clearly QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s favorite target in Buffalo, and should be picked up. I expect Buffalo to throw the ball a lot this year, considering how bad they are. The Bills are on a bye this week, but if you need a WR going forward the third year WR is a great option.

James Jones – WR Green Bay
With TE Jermichael Finley now likely out 8-10 weeks with a bum knee, Jones could be the guy who reaps the benefits. The Packers do not have a solid back-up TE on their roster and I expect them to use 3 and 4 WRs more often. Aaron Rodgers targeted Jones eight times on Sunday against the Washington Redskins and I expect his role to increase. Give Jones a solid look if you need a WR.