RADIO
I am glad football is back, I really am. I am forever grateful that the players are risking their health for our amusement, and I am thankful for each snap I get to watch. Pretty much all of us feel this way, I would imagine. So take what I am about to say with a grain of salt… but I have to say, there have been some pretty ugly football games played so far this season. I am talking about some eye-roll-inducing, nausea causing pigskin play.
One shining example of this ugly COVID tainted play occurred this past weekend, in the matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins. Now, some watching that game may say that Ryan Fitzpatrick and company looked terrific. They could argue that it was a breakout moment for Miami’s offense, Fitz-magical even. The Dolphins Defense, some might also contend, performed beautifully. They shut down the vaunted Kyle Shanahan attack, and they did it with authority. It was a huge step forward for the hopes and dreams of all Miami fans!
Optimism wasn’t something that a lot of us took from this matchup, however. Hope is not what Trevor, our devoted and sometimes clingy IDP super fan, felt when he watched Preston Williams pick on San Francisco’s practice squad corners. Quality football wasn’t even what my creepy Instagram stalker ‘Taterguy121’ saw on Sunday, judging from the overly supportive messages he keeps sending me on the ‘gram… and the oddly graphic pictures… and that package I am afraid to open because it smells like feet covered in mustard and burnt hair. Anyways, the point is that many of us watching Sunday’s matchup in Levi’s Stadium didn’t see a breakout performance for Miami. We didn’t see the end of Kyle Shanahan’s brilliance, either. What we saw, instead, was a phenomenon that one might call “Backup Blowout.”
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Week 6 Intro
The term ‘Backup Blowout’ refers to the war of attrition that the NFL is currently fighting in 2020. This season, more than any other in recent memory, games are being decided by third-string corners, scout team blockers, and second-string quarterbacks. While injuries and depth problems have always been a part of football, COVID and a rash of likely COVID-related injuries are pushing NFL coaches and fantasy managers to their limits in just our sixth week of play. Already, multiple superstars on both sides of the ball have gone down for good. Already, a plethora of solid starters and role players have gone missing as well. It’s infecting all stages of the game, including fantasy rosters.
With COVID-related issues striking down NFL players at a record pace, one could argue that IDP managers are put in a particularly precarious position. As superstars like Darius Leonard and Jamal Adams go down in IDP leagues, fantasy managers are having to decide whether to keep these stars on their bench rather than add a guy like Travis Fulgham. Many casual IDP managers may also be struggling with who to start on unexpected COVID bye weeks, or with who to add now that the 20-30 star defenders they already know are all hurt or rostered. This dire lack of stability at the top of the defender pool is something that casual IDP managers likely haven’t had to face before, but it is very real.
The best piece of advice to give IDP managers hurt by COVID is to know focus on matchups when you are picking up tier-two or tier-three defenders off of waivers. Once your star defenders succumb to injury or on a COVID bye, don’t just look for the most famous name or the highest tackle total. Instead, you should consider the opponents of any defender you may be looking to stream or start in perpetuity.
Now more than ever, weekly matchups are nearly as relevant in IDP fantasy leagues as they are in offense only fantasy leagues. Who your defenders are playing matters each week, just like it mattered that the Dolphins were playing a depleted 49ers team in Week 5. Don't be caught off guard like San Francisco was against Miami. Be prepared, and be vigilant. That is how you can weather this sloppy and often frustrating COVID-soaked fantasy season.
Note: As always, our rankings will be split into RotoBaller’s three primary IDP positions (DL, LB, and DB), and they will typically come with some flyer/fade notes for each position as well. Also, as per usual, we will include edge rushers in both our DL and LB ranks since they have different eligibility depending on the fantasy site you are using.
*Fantasy Relevant Defenders Not in Our Week 6 Ranks Due to Bye/Injury: Jamal Adams, Chandler Jones, Nick Bosa, Derwin James, Joey Bosa, Bobby Wagner, Cameron Jordan, Christian Kirksey, Demario Davis, Cory Littleton, Johnathan Abram, Maxx Crosby, and Sam Hubbard.
Top-25 Fantasy Defensive Linemen of the Week
| Rank | Player | Opponent |
| 1 | Aaron Donald | 49ers |
| 2 | T.J. Watt | Browns |
| 3 | Myles Garrett | Steelers |
| 4 | Chase Young | Giants |
| 5 | Harold Landry III | Texans |
| 6 | Aldon Smith | Cardinals |
| 7 | Yannick Ngakoue | Falcons |
| 8 | Shaquil Barrett | Packers |
| 9 | Bud Dupree | Browns |
| 10 | Khalil Mack | Panthers |
| 11 | J.J. Watt | Titans |
| 12 | Jason Pierre-Paul | Packers |
| 13 | Deforest Buckner | Bengals |
| 14 | Chris Jones | Bills |
| 15 | Za’Darius Smith | Buccaneers |
| 16 | Leonard Williams | Washington Football Team |
| 17 | Carl Lawson | Colts |
| 18 | Frank Clark | Bills |
| 19 | Kyle Van Noy | Jets |
| 20 | Brian Burns | Bears |
| 21 | Bradley Chubb | Patriots |
| 22 | Josh Allen (Q) | Lions |
| 23 | Grady Jarrett | Vikings |
| 24 | Akiem Hicks | Panthers |
| 25 | Justin Houston | Bengals |
DL Streamer of the Week: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
Simmons was officially activated off of the COVID list this week, and the hope is he can return to form quickly. Reports are that Simmons is feeling great, and we hope he is. If the former Mississippi State standout doesn’t have any setbacks in practice this week, he should be a prime streamer candidate in Week 6.
As we have covered before in this column, the Houston Texans' offensive line is below par in a variety of ways. Their pass blocking unit is particularly bad, ranking third to last in Adjusted Sack Rate, per Football Outsiders. Thanks to that poor unit, Deshaun Watson is taking over three sacks per game. While this Texans team may continue to ride a hot streak in the wake of Bill O’Brien’s firing, the Titans Defense has several talented defenders who can help Simmons contain a mobile quarterback like Watson. Remember that Simmons was a wrecking ball when he last played against Minnesota, and Houston’s performance so far in 2020 doesn’t suggest they can contain him any better than Minnesota did. You should feel comfortable streaming Simmons in deeper leagues, as long as he practices the rest of the week.
DL Fade of the Week: All Bengals Pass Rushers
Some have speculated that the Colts’ offensive line has been disappointing this season, in part because pre-season darling Jonathan Taylor isn’t averaging six-yards-per carry. Whether this unit is as good as it should be or not, it has allowed just five sacks in five games despite having a human statute at quarterback. That sort of unit spells concerns for fantasy managers looking for sacks and big plays against Indy.
Generally speaking, Carl Lawson is one of the only Bengals defenders worth rostering in fantasy. Lawson and his teammates tend to be boom-or-bust fantasy assets, however. They are often reliant on a sack or turnover for fantasy production. To make matters worse, the Bengals will be without Sam Hubbard this week. That means that the Colts can more easily hone in on Lawson and the Bengals' few other assets. This week, it seems less than likely that any of the Bengals’ defensive linemen will get the big play they need to start for you in fantasy.
Exploding Matchup of the Week: Aaron Donald v. San Francisco 49ers
Last week we listed Donald as our Explosive Matchup of Week 5, thanks to the fact he was going against Washington's weak offensive line. Donald rewarded our prediction with a whopping four sacks in one game. Do not expect him to repeat that sort of performance this week, but there is still a good chance that he gets a second consecutive multi-sack game against a feeble San Francisco offensive line.
Unquestionably, San Francisco’s most talented blockers are its offensive tackles, Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey. However, neither of these talented linemen have been particularly impressive in pass protection in 2020. McGlinchey has allowed 14 pressures in five games, and it could be argued that he was as responsible for the 49ers' collapse against Philadelphia in Week 4 as Nick Mullens was. Meanwhile, most who watch Williams’ blocking against the Eagles and Dolphins will tell you that his PFF grade is misleadingly high. Together, these tackles have allowed 22 pressures in five games, and they are the strength of the line. The 49ers’ guards are the real weakness, allowing 27 pressures between them.
Overall, this line is allowing approximately ten pressures per game. It doesn't help that the 49ers will likely start either C.J. Beathard (a career 8.5% sack rate) or a gimpy Jimmy Garoppolo under center, either. Put one of those immobile QBs behind a porous offensive line, and you have the same sack cocktail that Washington was mixing last week against Donald.
Top-25 Fantasy Linebackers of the Week
| Rank | Player | Opponent |
| 1 | Darius Leonard (D) | Bengals |
| 2 | Blake Martinez | Washington Football Team |
| 3 | Jaylon Smith | Cardinals |
| 4 | Fred Warner | Rams |
| 5 | Zach Cunningham | Titans |
| 6 | Roquan Smith | Panthers |
| 7 | Eric Kendricks | Falcons |
| 8 | Patrick Queen | Eagles |
| 9 | Lavonte David | Packers |
| 10 | T.J. Watt | Browns |
| 11 | Micah Kiser | 49ers |
| 12 | Devin White | Packers |
| 13 | Myles Jack (Q) | Lions |
| 14 | Shaq Thompson | Bears |
| 15 | Deion Jones | Vikings |
| 16 | Jon Bostic | Giants |
| 17 | Jordan Hicks | Cowboys |
| 18 | Jerome Baker | Jets |
| 19 | Devin Bush | Browns |
| 20 | Eric Wilson | Falcons |
| 21 | Joe Schobert | Lions |
| 22 | Alexander Johnson | Patriots |
| 23 | Tremaine Edmunds | Chiefs |
| 24 | Josey Jewell | Patriots |
| 25 | Foyesade Oluokun | Vikings |
LB Streamer of the Week: Bobby Okereke, Indianapolis Colts
This former Stanford Cardinal is ascending in the absence of Darius Leonard, and he is doing it against both pass and run-heavy offenses. Two weeks ago, Okereke performed well against a Bears offense that throws the ball 62% of the time, and in Week 5, he did even better against a Browns unit that runs the ball more than any team in the NFL. Okereke has the skills to help in coverage and run support, acting almost as a poor man's Darius Leonard.
Going against the Bengals this week, look for this talented sophomore to serve as an attractive IDP streamer if Darius Leonard is out. However, if Leonard does play, be more cautious about inserting Okereke into lineups in shallow IDP leagues.
LB Fade of the Week: Joe Schobert, Jacksonville Jaguars
For two weeks in a row, Schobert has put up disappointing stats. Even with Myles Jack out last week, Schobert wasn’t able to secure anything but four tackles. In fact, the Wisconsin alum has failed to get you anything but decent tackle totals all of this season. He hasn't secured a turnover, sack, or even a PD. The matchup this week doesn’t spell a high ceiling for the former Brown, either.
The Detroit Lions run the sixth-fewest offensive plays in the NFL this season. That means fewer fantasy opportunities than usual for all Jaguars defenders in Week 6. Detroit also employs a 60/40 pass-to-run ratio, meaning that Schobert and his poor coverage skills will be at a disadvantage on approximately 60% of his plays this week.
If Jack is fully healthy, expect him to be the primary coverage 'backer for the Jaguars when players like T.J. Hockenson or D’Andre Swift are running routes. The Jags should want to keep Schobert away from the passing action as much as possible, considering he allows a 100% completion rate in coverage this season. While the Lions may want to target Schobert for that reason, nothing indicates Schobert will break up or intercept the passes thrown his way. Instead, his history and skillset tell us that he will be a tackle only prospect this week and a low-ceiling fantasy option. Bench him if you can afford to do so.
IDP Star of the Week: Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens
Queen has consistently been in our top-20 LB rankings this season. On top of that, he has made multiple appearances in our columns as a waiver target, long-term investment, and weekly streamer. Now, he has officially made his way into our overall top-ten LB ranks. That is a big deal for a rookie who some are still discounting because he is a rookie.
Queen was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5, accruing nine tackles, two FR, a FF, and a TD. That wasn’t his only big performance this season, though. In fact, Queen’s only poor fantasy showing this season came against Kansas City. Otherwise, he has been a worthy fantasy starter in even the shallowest of leagues every week. While some will be concerned about relying on a rookie defender in fantasy, and the odds are he will put up a few more stinkers before he is done, Queen is a worthy add in all leagues.
This week, in particular, Queen is a terrific IDP option. While you shouldn’t expect him to repeat his terrific Week 5 (just like with Aaron Donald), the LSU alum should be able to notch a sack or a couple of TFLs against a poor Eagles offensive line. The rookie will also have several shots at an INT or PD against Carson Wentz, who has targeted the intermediate-center of the field (where Queen will patrol) on 43% of his passes this season.
Top-25 Fantasy Defensive Backs of the Week
| Rank | Player | Opponent |
| 1 | Budda Baker | Cowboys |
| 2 | John Johnson III | 49ers |
| 3 | Jordan Poyer | Chiefs |
| 4 | Tracy Walker | Jaguars |
| 5 | Jessie Bates III | Colts |
| 6 | Marlon Humphrey | Eagles |
| 7 | Antoine Winfield Jr. | Packers |
| 8 | Landon Collins | Giants |
| 9 | Justin Simmons | Patriots |
| 10 | Jeremy Chinn | Bears |
| 11 | Chuck Clark | Eagles |
| 12 | Josh Jones | Lions |
| 13 | Marcus Maye | Dolphins |
| 14 | Jordan Whitehead | Bears |
| 15 | Carlton Davis (Q) | Packers |
| 16 | Mike Hilton | Browns |
| 17 | Vonn Bell | Colts |
| 18 | Keanu Neal | Vikings |
| 19 | Pierre Desir | Dolphins |
| 20 | Justin Reid | Titans |
| 21 | Jabrill Peppers | Washington Football Team |
| 22 | Logan Ryan | Texans |
| 23 | Adrian Phillips | Broncos |
| 24 | Trevon Diggs | Cardinals |
| 25 | Harrison Smith | Falcons |
DB Streamer of the Week: Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Davante Adams is set to come back from injury this week, and we should expect Davis to shadow him all game long. That is great news for IDP managers since Aaron Rodgers has targeted his favorite receiver on 18% of Adams' snaps this season. Think about that for a second. If Adams is on the field, there is an 18% chance the ball is thrown his way. That rate is only slightly lower than in 2019 when Rodgers targeted Adams on 15.7% of his snaps.
Adams could realistically see 15+ targets against the Bucs this week. That would give Davis ample opportunities to collect tackles and turnovers. Davis should easily be the second-overall fantasy CB this week and a DB starter in 16-team fantasy leagues.
DB Fade of the Week: Jabrill Peppers, New York Giants
While Peppers established himself as a high-floor fantasy option in 2019, thanks to his high tackle rates and ability to force fumbles, Peppers' 110-tackle pace from last year has disappeared in 2020. This year, Peppers has become a fantasy afterthought. While his draft pedigree, talent, and past production will keep him on fantasy radars for some time, Peppers should be faded in Week 6 and every subsequent week until he proves he is what he used to be.
Now, one might think that the woeful Washington offense would be an excellent spot for Peppers to get right this season. After all, Ron Rivera starts a QB who loves to get sacked and turn the ball over. So why wouldn't fantasy managers hope for Peppers to blitz in and win them glory with a strip-sack? Or maybe a pick-six?
One problem with expecting big things from Peppers in Week 6 is that he only has one sack in four NFL seasons. Even worse, he has zero sacks as a Giant. Neither the Browns nor the Giants have used the Michigan grad as a Blitzer off of the edge. So why should fantasy managers expect this to change suddenly?
A second problem with expecting big things in Week 6 is that Washington runs a low volume offense that cannot establish the run game. Rivera’s squad passes the ball on over 60% of its plays. Given that Peppers has lined up in the box or at the line on nearly 70% of his defensive snaps as a Giant, he should see a low fantasy opportunity against a Washington team that will pass more than run. That spells a meager opportunity for tackles and big plays.
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