Week 6 Visionary Plays: Bold Fantasy and DFS Predictions
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback
Jared Goff, Rams
After watching San Francisco’s defense totally stifle Baker Mayfield on Monday night, it might seem strange that I am recommending Goff this week. The 49ers are coming off a short week where they could not have played any better on defense. But it’s hard to dial up that type of intensity two weeks in a row, especially against an opponent who has struggled the previous two weeks. The 49ers have been lights out against opposing running backs (best in the league) and Todd Gurley is not close to 100% healthy. My best guess is that Malcolm Brown splits time with Rookie Darrell Henderson which means that the ball will be in Goff’s hands more than usual. Look for him to have a big game at home with at least 275 yards and two or three TDs.
Matt Ryan, Falcons
The Falcons offense has looked good in the first five weeks. However, their defense has been abysmal and hasn’t been able to stop anyone. Enter the Cardinals, who like to play fast and run a ton of plays. This should be perfect for Ryan, who will air it out against the worst secondary in the league. I cannot envision a game script where Ryan doesn’t throw for 300+ passing yards and at least two TDs in this contest. The only thing that worries me is that I am so confident in how well he will play.
Running Backs
Mark Ingram, Ravens
Outside of Miami, there is no team more generous to opposing running backs than the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens are going to give the ball to Mark Ingram early and often this week, and I can easily see Ingram scoring multiple touchdowns. The Bengals are statistically the second-worst team in the NFL in stopping the run and it seems like all starting running back (and even backups) have a huge game against them. I can see Lamar Jackson running amok this week, but I think Ingram does as well. Feel free to start both liberally on all rosters.
Le’Veon Bell, Jets
Had Luke Falk still been the Jets’ starting QB, there would be no way that I would go with Bell this week. However, Sam Darnold is back as the team’s starter and I think this only can help Bell. Bell will see about 15 carries and catch another four-to-five passes out of the backfield. Aaron Jones showed last week that the Cowboys can be beaten with the rush. Bell is even more elusive than Jones and could have a big under-the-radar game.
Derrick Henry, Titans
Just two weeks ago the Jaguars hammered the Broncos for close to 270 rushing yards. Last week the Chargers seemed to forget their running attack and the Broncos were barely tested. That certainly won’t happen this week, as the Titans love to get Henry involved as much as possible. Assuming the Titans are leading, I can see Henry getting 25 carries for 100 yards and a TD.
Wide Receivers
Julio Jones, Falcons
It seems like once every season Jones has the mammoth 200-plus yard receiving game. This could be that game. The Cardinals play at a fast pace and run more plays than most other teams. Additionally, it just seems like Jones has been too quiet thus far. The Falcons know that he is their star player and they need to get him going if they want to have any chance to save their season. Even better is the fact that the Cardinals have no one in their secondary who can cover Jones. Put him down for at least 150 yards receiving, but I think it will be more.
Odell Beckham Jr, Browns
Football is a funny sport, in that one week a team will look great and then the next week they can look awful. This can also happen in reverse as in the case with the Browns this coming week. The Browns couldn’t have played any worse than they did last Monday and now they fly back home to take on Seattle. The Seahawks’ best cover corner Tre Flowers is no match for Beckham’s speed. The Browns need Baker Mayfield to have a breakout game and there is nobody better to help him out than Beckham. I see Beckham catching seven passes for 150 yards and a TD.
Terry McLaurin, Redskins
The best thing that happened to McLaurin this week was that new head coach Bill Callahan named Case Keenum the team’s starting QB. Keenum is not great, but he is good enough to throw the deep ball to his best player, McLaurin. The Dolphins’ pass defense has given up huge plays all season long and I fully expect McLaurin to put up big numbers this week, especially on play-action passes.
Michael Gallup, Cowboys
I am throwing this visionary play in here for three main reasons: 1) I love Gallup and think that he and Chris Godwin are the two best WR2s in the NFL. 2) The Jets’ secondary is abysmal and gives up tremendous yardage to everyone. 3) Amari Cooper seems to perform significantly better at home than on the road. If Cooper should have an off game, then Gallup will absolutely be the beneficiary.
Tight End
Austin Hooper, Falcons
By now you know that to be a true visionary means that you must look at the player, recency bias, the revenge narrative and the points against statistics. All signs point to Hooper having a huge game against the hapless Cardinals. Falcons QB Matt Ryan is precise with his passing and won’t miss Hooper at all in Week 6. The Cardinals are the worst team against opposing tight ends in the league and Hooper is Matt Ryan’s closest friend and teammate. This start looks too good to be true and Hooper is etched into all my lineups.
Will Dissly, Seahawks
For a guy who is 6'4" and 260 lbs., Dissly often slides under the fantasy radar. Russell Wilson obviously likes throwing to him (he has 19 targets in the past three weeks) and he has four TDs in five games this season. The Browns have struggled covering almost everyone, but they really have had problems with opposing tight ends (they are the fifth-worst in the league). I anticipate this game being higher scoring than most people expect, and I also anticipate Dissly finding the end zone at least once.
