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Vladimir De Wet breaks down the second half of the Week 6 matchups for the 2015 NFL football season. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well.
Below, you will find part two of our Week 6 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.
The later games this week offer decent matchups with nothing special to note. A defensive battle in Seattle, an offensive showdown in Green Bay, and a late night matchup between playoff rivals will all showcase lots of injured teams missing big time fantasy studs. This is the heart of the season where playoff seeds are won and lost because of backups and no names. The following should help you make sure you've got the right guys ready to go.
Dolphins @ Titans - Sunday 10/18 @ 1:00 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins - Tannehill basically got his head coach fired by being a below average to mediocre QB. Anybody that thought he was going to have a big season (me) also feels betrayed by Tannehill and his bad play on the field. This is the one week - after a bye and when the entire world thinks he's the worst - that Tannehill should exceed expectations. I dont think Tannehill will have a good game by overall QB standards, but he should put up decent numbers that make people remember why he got that big money contract.
Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins - The new interim coach for the Dolphins has reiterated the importance of being "tough" and that usually means running the football. The Dolphins have the fewest rushing attempts in the league thus far this season. Last season, Miller averaged 5.0 yards per carry and looked like he was ready to break out this year. The uptick in attempts and commitment to the run game might revive Miller's season. The Titans have given up over 100 yards rushing for the last three weeks. I expect Miller to put up 80+ yds and a score.
Antonio Andrews, RB, Titans - The Dolphins simply cannot stop the run. They're giving up the most yards per game and look incapable of doing anything to slow down opposing team's offensive lines. Last week, Andrews and Sankey got the same amount of carries as the Titans are trying to figure out their run game. Sankey may also be a good play, but Andrews will be the player to keep your eye on. The Dolphins run D seems like a good break out opportunity for any back who gets the carries.
Delanie Walker, TE, Titans - Walker is Marcus Mariota's second favorite receiving option on the team but he's been dealing with all kinds of injuries for the last few weeks. Despite that, he still has a decent amount of targets and has put up TE1 numbers. The Dolphins have already given up big games to both tight ends Jordan Reed and Charles Clay. Delanie Walker is as talented as both of those guys and the Titans use him a lot. He should have a good day if his body doesn't break down.
Matchups We Hate:
Jarvis Landry, WR, Dolphins - Landry has disappointed in relation to what people expected of him. The team just hasn't been good and Landry just doesn't look like a number one guy. The Titans will likely focus on him and the Dolphins should run the ball more, leaving Landry in no man's land.
Notable Players:
Rishard Matthews, WR, Dolphins - Perriman is the exact opposite of Landry as he has blown away any and all expectations. His role is pretty set as the second wideout on the team and he should contribute as a WR3 with upside.
Panthers @ Seahawks - Sunday 10/18 @ 4:05 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers - Tyler Eifert burned the Seahawks and Kam Chancellor for 8/90/2 last week. Olsen is leading the Panthers in targets and receptions. He's also having a career year and I fully expect him and the Panthers to find a way to continue that against the Seahawks.
Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks - Lockett has seen his offensive snaps increase and he's seen five balls come his way over the past two weeks. Lockett is a rookie that offers special teams return value and is slowly becoming a consistent part of the Seahawks offense. His value should go up each week and this may be the week he shows how much he can do.
Matchups We Hate:
Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks - After Rawls had a huge game last week everyone will be expecting him to repeat that this week. The Panthers have given up the fewest total rushing yards this season and are top ten in both rushing yards per game and yards per attempt. Also, the Panthers are getting back super star linebacker Luke Kuechly this week so that will only make it harder for the Hawks to run the ball. Rawls just doesn't seem start worthy this week.
Notable Players:
Cam Newton, QB, Panthers - Newton does everything for the Panthers and is fully healthy. Over the past few seasons the Panthers haven't been able to score more than 12 points against the Seahawks. Newton will be looking to rectify some of those wrongs against a not as tough Seahawks defense.
Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks - Wilson has been pressured the most out of any quarterback in the league and that should continue on Sunday. He is still a QB1 and should have a better game based solely on the fact that the Seahawks are playing at home where he's only lost two games in his career.
Chargers @ Packers - Sunday 10/18 @ 4:25 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers - After Gordon had a fumble last week the Chargers went away from the run game. I predicted that Gordon wouldn't have a good game because of the Steelers strong run D and the fact that the Chargers would stray away from the run. What I did not expect was for Philip Rivers to throw Gordon the ball nine times (Gordon was targeted seven times in the previous four games combined) and for the rookie back to catch seven for 52 yards. The Chargers are committed to getting Gordon the ball and he has shown he can do things with it when he gets it. This makes him a RB1 and every week start as the Chargers try and scrape into the playoff hunt.
Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers - The Chargers have given up 100+ rushing yards for four straight games and are currently giving up the third most fantasy points to opposing running backs. PFF has the Chargers as their third worst run defense and Lacy hasn't had a 100 yard rushing day yet this season. I expect the Packers to run all over the Chargers as they look to get their offense back on track.
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers - Gates came in and saw 43 snaps after missing the first four games of the season. As long as he is healthy he is one of the most dangerous red zone targets in the league and should put up hall of fame TE1 numbers.
Matchups We Hate:
Randall Cobb, WR, Packers - Cobb has had two bad games in a row. Obviously he won't play like that all season but this week he is going against a good set of corners. Cobb might disappoint fantasy owners again.
Notable Players:
Stevie Johnson, WR, Chargers - Johnson missed last week and might not play again this week. The Chargers miss the balance Johnson offers Keenan Allen when he's on the field. If he plays he is a WR3 with upside.
Ladarius Green, TE, Chargers - Green still saw a lot of playing time last week but had his fewest snaps of the season by far (19 less snaps than previous high). Gates was the obvious No. 1 giy and Green will be regulated to backup duties. He may be worth the cut in the next week or two.
Ravens @ 49ers - Sunday 10/18 @ 4:25 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Maxx Williams, TE, Raven/Crockett Gilmore, TE, Ravens -Tight end Crockett Gilmore is returning after missing two week with a calf injury. Maxx Williams will still get a lot of the snaps at TE (Baltimore is devastated with injuries) and should be a good start. The 49ers have given up the third most passing yards and are PFF's worst team in pass coverage. Both guys will have the ball thrown their way because the Ravens just simply don't have many other options.
Kamar Aiken, WR, Ravens - Aiken has been thrown into the fire after Breshad Perriman just wasn't able to stay healthy. Steve Smith Sr. was only able to practice once this week leaving Aiken as the No. 1 guy in practice. He should see lots of balls against a weak secondary.
Matchups We Hate:
No one. Both teams have had their fair share of trouble on defense and both are desperate for a win. Justin Forsett, Carlos Hyde, and Anquan Boldin should all have decent days.
Notable Players:
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers - Davis has been battling injuries all season and also just hasn't been featured in anyway by Colin Kaepernick. There are multiple reports indicating teams want to trade for Davis as his time in San Francisco seems to be close to an end. His fantasy value continues to deteriorate as there is just no certainy about his situation.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, 49ers - Kaepernick had a good game against the Giants last week and looked like the dynamic fantasy star of years past. If he's still on your roster you should stick with him and hope that he figures it out. The 49ers will be doing the same thing. The Ravens defense has been mediocre at best and Kaepernick should have another good game against them.
Patriots @ Colts - Sunday 10/18 @ 8:30 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
LeGarette Blount, RB, Patriots - Dion Lewis is injured and seems unlikely to play. Blount should see a lot of carries against a weak Colts run defense.
Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots - The Colts are even worse against the pass and the Patriots have been one of the hottest aerial attacks in the game. Edelman is on pace for 100+ rec and 1200+ rec yards this season. Assuming Vontae Davis spends time on Gronk and Amendola that will leave Edelman with a lot of space to do his thing.
Matchups We Hate:
T.Y. Hilton, WR, Patriots - With no Revis the Patriots have still been a top 10 coverage team according to PFF. With Matt Hasselbeck or Andrew Luck under center, the Colts just havn't been able to go deep down the field to Hilton that often.
Notable Players:
Andrew Luck, QB, Colts - Assuming he plays he is still a must start. The offense seemed to find some better rhythm and timing under Matt Hasselbeck. There's no reason to believe they shouldn't be able to duplicate that with Luck, if not improve on it.
Dion Lewis, RB, Patriots - If Lewis does play he should continue to be a PPR nightmare (23 rec for a running back) and is a must start. The Patriots gave the young back a big contract and it seems like they are committed to him being their feature back this season.
Tom Brady, QB, Patriots - Brady is getting a primetime start against the team that started the whole "deflategate" stuff. I absolutely believe in revenge games and expect Brady, and the Patriots, to run the score up against the Colts if they can.
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