Fantasy Football Corner – Week 6

By ZACH MORETTI

Start Em:

QB- Carson Palmer (Bengals): Palmer was once a top-tier fantasy QB, but injuries derailed him the past few years. He has yet to be stellar this year, but he has been a good fantasy QB option. However, we could see a stellar Palmer performance this week against a Houston defense that is bad against both the run and pass. 

RB- Cedric Benson (Bengals): Benson has come a long way from his dreadful days in Chicago. He currently leads the NFL in rushing and has produced against some of the league’s most formidable defenses. That means Benson owners should expect a lot out of him this week against a Texans defense that is giving up a league worst 5.2 YPC.

WR- T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Seahawks): Seattle signed the big name WR as a free agent to help give QB Matt Hasselbeck a real #1 WR. After a slow start to the year, Houshmandzadeh has really produced the past two weeks posting 180 receiving yards and 2 TDs. With Hasselbeck healthy and back in the lineup and a matchup against a terrible Arizona pass defense, Housh should put up big numbers once again.

TE- Chris Cooley (Redskins): Cooley didn’t record a catch in Week 5, but don’t let that scare you away from the two-time Pro Bowler. Washington faces a weak Kansas City defense this week and look for the Redskins to make a concerted effort to get Cooley the ball.

K- Mason Crosby (Packers): Crosby and Green Bay have a great matchup this week against a bad Detroit defense. That should mean plenty of points for the Packers offense and plenty of opportunities for Crosby.

DEF- New York Jets: The Jets defense was stellar to start the season, but has struggled in recent weeks. They are coming off a performance where they gave up 31 points and failed to record a sack or force a turnover. But don’t be scared, head coach Rex Ryan will continue his crazy blitzes and this team will get sacks and force turnovers, especially against a Bills offense that could only muster 3 points against a terrible Browns defense.

Sit Em:

QB- Brett Favre (Vikings): There is no disputing that Favre has been fantastic thus far. But this week he will face a Baltimore defense that is going to blitz him non-stop and put pressure on him that he has yet to face this year. If you take away the one huge game that Phillip Rivers had against the Ravens pass defense, they have been very strong. There are better fantasy options out there this week then the future Hall of Famer.

RB- Steve Slaton (Texans): Slaton has been a massive disappointment this season, rushing for just 231 yards in five games and averaging a measly 3.2 YPC. He has also seen his red zone and goal line work greatly diminished and has only posted one rushing TD this season. Going up against a solid Cincinnati Bengals defense which ranks 11th in run defense, it seems unlikely that he turns it around and produces this week.

RB- Ray Rice and Willis McGahee (Ravens): Both backs have produced very well, but they have to face a staunch Minnesota rush defense that is giving up just 3.8 YPC on the year. If you have to play one, go for Rice because his threat as a receiver out of the backfield makes him a better play, but avoid them both if you can.

WR- Terrell Owens (Bills): Those who invested a high pick in the controversial WR are disgusted with themselves. Owens has all of 12 catches this year and goes against arguably the league’s best CB this week in the Jets Darrelle Revis. You’ve been warned about Revis before and week after week he shuts down top receivers, so avoid Owens at all costs.

TE- Jeremy Shockey (Saints): After a stellar first week in which he had two TD grabs, Shockey has done almost nothing. He faces a strong Giants defense this week so go another direction if you can.

K- Rian Lindell (Bills): Lindell has struggled mightily this season and the Bills offense has not given him many chances to put up points. Going up against a Jets defense that is looking to rebound from a season worst effort, this doesn’t look to be the week that Lindell turns it around.

DEF- Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals have been a top 10 fantasy defense this year, but they face an explosive Texans offense that can put up points in a hurry. Look at the waiver wire for a better option.

Add Em:

QB- Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks): Hasselbeck returned from injury last week to torch Jacksonville for 241 passing yards, 23 rushing yards, and 4 TDs. I know, it was the Jaguars and they’re pass defense is terrible, but Seattle faces an Arizona defense that gives up a league worst 303 passing yards a game. Look for Hasselbeck to make it two great weeks in a row.

RB- Ricky Williams (Dolphins): Williams may be on bye this week, but pick him up as a long term add. The Dolphins second RB ranks 13th in the NFL in rushing yards and has posted 448 total yards and 3 TDs on the year. If he is available in your league, go snag him.

RB- Jonathon Stewart (Panthers): DeAngelo Williams may be the main horse in Carolina, but Stewart is a very talented back who has a great matchup. Tampa Bay gives up 152.6 rushing yards per game, so there is plenty of opportunity for both Carolina backs to produce and Stewart has been seeing more goal line carries in recent weeks.

WR- Mike Wallace (Steelers): Wallace has been very good two out of the past three weeks (52 yards and 1 TD in Week 5 and 107 yards in Week 3) and this week Pittsburgh faces a terrible Cleveland team so he has an opportunity to produce once again.

TE- Benjamin Watson (Patriots): Watson has been a very good red zone target for QB Tom Brady and he faces a terrible Tennessee pass defense in Week 6, which should result in multiple red zone opportunities.

K- John Carney (Saints): Carney faces a tough Giants defense this week, but the New Orleans offense is rested coming off a bye week and they are playing at home where they play extremely well.

DEF- New England Patriots: Outside of RB Chris Johnson, the Tennessee offense has been dreadful and when this game turns into a blowout, QB Vince Young should get into the act. The Patriots defense has star MLB Jerod Mayo back and that makes their defense much stronger.

Trade Em:

Clinton Portis (RB- Redskins): The Washington offensive line has been dreadful and injuries have crippled that bunch. That doesn’t bode well for a RB who depends on that line to give him holes. Portis has not put up his usual stellar numbers this season and the schedule doesn’t get any easier. If you can ship him out now following his 74 total yards and a two touchdown effort, do it.

Tom Brady (Patriots): Brady has looked like a shell of his former self this season. Many people expected Brady to immediately return to his 2007 form, and those were just too lofty of expectations. As has been evident in past players coming off Brady’s injury (Donovan McNabb, Carson Palmer) it takes two years to get back to full strength. Brady probably won’t revert back to his top-notch form this year, so if you find someone who will give you top value for him, take it.

Last Week’s Results: 6-12

Overall Record: 30-25

NFL Games of the Week:

New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. on FOX)

Baltimore Ravens vs. Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. on CBS)

Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons (8:20 p.m. on NBC)