From The Godfather: Week 6

Sat Oct 16 10:15am ET
By CHARLIE WIEGERT
Contributing Writer

The bye weeks start this week with Atlanta, New York Jets, New Orleans and San Francisco not playing. Plan accordingly!

Quarterbacks

The teams giving up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks through the first five weeks are interesting with the top two teams, Washington and Kansas City, playing each other Sunday.  So we should expect Patrick Mahomes, reeling from three losses already this year, to have one of his biggest games of the year.  And you should feel safe playing Taylor Heinicke against a Chiefs defense that has yet to stop anyone this year.  Key for success of both quarterbacks here is the health of their wide receivers, so check on their injury status! 

Indianapolis (playing Houston) Dallas (playing New England) and Miami (playing Jacksonville) are next in line, but three rookie quarterbacks are hard to recommend! Ben Roethlisberger has a home game against a very generous Seahawks defense. Joe Burrow might have trouble calling signals against Detroit, but won’t have trouble completing passes. And Buffalo’s Josh Allen should continue his MVP performance in Nashville. On the other end of that game, Ryan Tannehill will wish he was at the Grand Ole Opera rather than trying to figure out the Bills defense. 

Kirk Cousins and Vikings receivers will have their hands full at Carolina as will coach-less Las Vegas as they send Derek Carr to battle in Denver.  A couple other top quarteterbacks face tough defenses this week. Dak Prescott is at New England, and Baker Mayfield is against Arizona. Don’t expect great results!

Running Backs

The top five teams giving up fantasy points to running backs are the NY Jets (on bye), Miami (in London against Jacksonville), Seattle (against Pittsburgh), Detroit (against Cincinnati), and Baltimore (against the Chargers).  The top play of the week would be Christian McCaffery’s return against Minnesota, except it isn’t going to happen. So Chuba Hubbard owners should get another good week from him. Both Cleveland running backs, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, should top the century mark against Arizona, but Chubb is out.  So you don’t have to Hunt far for the guy to play.

It should be tough going on the ground for Josh Jacobs and the Raiders at Denver, Dalvin Cook and the Vikings at Carolina, Derrick Henry and the Titans at Buffalo, Alex Collins and Seattle at Pittsburgh, and Chase Edmonds and James Conner’s Cardinals at Cleveland.

Wide Receivers

The top five defenses giving up points to wide receivers this year are Pittsburgh (here comes Russell Wilson-less Seattle with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett hoping Geno Smith does his best Wilson impression), Washington (Chiefs hoping for a healthy Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman), Miami (Marvin Jones and the Jaguars taking the show overseas), Dallas (Jakobi Myers hoping to be Mac Jones and the Patriots top choice), and Seattle (Ben Roethlisberger to Diontae Johnson goes up a notch with JuJu Smith-Schuster out).

A tough day ahead for the Brown brothers, Marquise and Ravens against the Chargers and A.J. and the Titans play the Bills. Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick face a good but coach gone Raiders, and the Panthers will try to make it tough for the Vikings receiver Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson.

Tight Ends

The generous defenses to tight ends are Houston (Mo Alie-Cox), Baltimore (Jared Cook) , Los Angeles Chargers (Mark Andrews), Kansas City (Ricky Seals-Jones) and Indianapolis (Jordan Akins).

Teams tough against tight Ends have been New England (Dalton Schultz), Arizona (Austin Hooper and David Njoku), Tennessee (Dawson Knox), Denver (Darren Waller) and Cincinnati (T.J. Hockenson).

Streaming Kickers

Try Cincinnati’s Evan McPherson at Detroit.

Streaming D

Teams to consider streaming this week are Miami in London against Jacksonville, Washington against Kansas City, and Dallas against New England.  All three teams have giving up over seven fantasy points on average each week this season.

Looking Ahead

Six teams are on the bye next week, so plan ahead if you have players on Pittsburgh, Buffalo, LA Chargers, Jacksonville, Minnesota and Dallas.

Charlie Wiegert was the sixth person to be inducted in the Fantasy Sports Hall Of Fame in 2001. He is a founder of CDM Fantasy Sports and Fantasy Sports Trade Association. He has been playing and winning fantasy baseball leagues since 1984. If you have any questions for Charlie, email them to [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GFFantasySports.

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Player Notes
Jake Browning Apr 23 1:10pm CT
Jake Browning

The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed exclusive-rights free-agent quarterback Jake Browning to an undisclosed two-year deal on Tuesday on a contract through the 2025 season. Browning got his first real shot in the NFL last year with the Bengals when he was forced to replace Joe Burrow (wrist) after his season-ending injury. In his first nine games (seven starts) played in the NFL, he held his own and kept the Bengals competitive despite not making the playoffs, posting a league-best 70.4 completion percentage, 1,936 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 28-year-old will return to being the primary backup to Burrow in 2024, so he won't have any real fantasy appeal unless Burrow misses time with another injury.

From RotoBaller

Cole Holcomb Apr 23 7:34am CT
Cole Holcomb

There remains no timetable for the return of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb (knee) after he was injured in Week 9 when chasing down Tennessee Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins when teammate Keanu Neal collided with him. "I can tell you Cole [Holcomb's] working extremely hard to get back," general manager Omar Khan said.. "I don't really have much to add on the timeline. We've discussed this, it was a major injury but he is working hard and I'm optimistic about all the effort he's going to put into getting back on the field." The 27-year-old required season-ending surgery, and many thought it might put an end to his career. However, the former fifth-round pick of the Washington Commanders in 2019 out of North Carolina is working his way back and is hoping to play in 2024 after recording 442 tackles (270 solo) and 4.5 sacks in his first five NFL seasons over 58 games (56 starts).

Jacob Phillips Apr 22 11:10pm CT
Jacob Phillips

The Houston Texans signed former Cleveland Browns free-agent linebacker Jacob Phillips (pectoral) to an undisclosed one-year deal on Monday, according to a source. Phillips was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft out of LSU and was with the Browns for his first four NFL seasons. However, the 25-year-old spent all of last year on Injured Reserve due to a torn pectoral muscle. It was the second straight year that he ended the season on Injured Reserve due to a pectoral injury, and Phillips has a total of 88 tackles (57 solo), three sacks, five tackles for loss and five passes defended in his three years played in the league in 20 games (eight starts). Now that Phillips appears to be past his latest pectoral injury, he'll be fighting for a roster spot out of training camp in Houston this summer.

From RotoBaller

Andy Reid Apr 22 7:23pm CT
Andy Reid

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid signed contract extensions with the Chiefs Monday, April 22. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

From TheHuddle

Russell Wilson Apr 22 5:33pm CT
Russell Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields and QB Kyle Allen were added to the roster this offseason, but general manager Omar Khan is not ruling out selecting a quarterback at some point after the first round of 2024 NFL Draft since all three of the new quarterbacks are on one-year contracts.

From TheHuddle

Zach Wilson Apr 22 5:13pm CT
Zach Wilson

Dynasty | Quarterback Zach Wilson has been traded to Denver along with a seventh round pick in exchange for a sixth round pick. Dynasty Analysis: The Jets and Broncos will reportedly split the $5.5 million Wilson is due this season. The former #2 overall pick is acquired for what amounts to a 53 spot draft slot-swap in the final rounds of this year's draft. It's a precipitous fall for a player who was once thought of as the savior of the franchise in New York. Denver is an interesting landing spot on paper and reports indicate they've been trying to get Wilson for weeks. The Broncos sit at #12 overall in the draft and that likely won't be high enough for Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels or even JJ McCarthy. If they stand pat and can't secure a quarterback, the room will include Wilson, Ben DiNucci and Jarrett Stidham. Could they really go into a season like this? At this point, Wilson has a little life in his dynasty value but that's subject to change later this week.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Matt Ryan Apr 22 5:13pm CT
Matt Ryan

Dynasty | Former Falcons and Colts quarterback Matt Ryan is retiring from the NFL. Dynasty Analysis: Ryan spent 14 of his 15 seasons with the Falcons and was extremely effective in his time there, both in reality and fantasy. Ryan had ten straight years with at least 4,000 passing yards and could be penciled in for between 25 and 35 touchdown passes every season. A likely future Hall of Famer, Ryan ended his season with a forgettable year in Indianapolis but will be remembered as being a solid and consistent QB1 for more than a decade. He can be safely dropped from dynasty rosters if he somehow wasn't already.

From Dynasty League Fantasy

Ladd McConkey Apr 22 4:00pm CT
Ladd McConkey

University of Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey has seemingly been rising up draft boards since his impressive showing at the 2024 NFL Combine, and he is now favored to be a first-round pick, according to DraftKings Sportsbook's odds. DraftKings gives the 22-year-old -105 odds to be one of the first 32 players off the board. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, the speedster collected 119 receptions for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 216 yards and four scores. He also averaged 13.3 yards per punt return on 21 attempts. He's a dynamic and versatile weapon with real route-running juice, so WR-needy teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Buffalo Bills could be interested in pushing the draft button on him late in the first round on Thursday.

From RotoBaller

Brandon Aiyuk Apr 22 3:40pm CT
Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has not formally requested a trade from the organization, but he is still in the thick of trade rumors this offseason. When asked whether or not the team has received calls regarding a trade for Aiyuk, General Manager John Lynch said "Sure. We receive calls for a lot of players." That's a vague answer and does not give fantasy managers clarity on the situation, but it's worth noting teams have reached out. Aiyuk posted a career-high 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last season despite ranking 28th in total targets (125). With Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner either on or set to receive expensive contracts, it will be a tough road to locking up Aiyuk to a long-term deal. If the team does decide to trade him, a first-round pick should be coming in return. Although Lynch has stated they would like to keep the 26-year-old, it wouldn't be shocking if he's dealt on draft night.

From RotoBaller

Mitchell Wilcox Apr 22 3:40pm CT
Mitchell Wilcox

The New England Patriots signed free-agent tight end Mitchell Wilcox on Monday, the team announced on X. Originally undrafted out of the 2020 class, Wilcox has spent the last four years with the Cincinnati Bengals. In 48 career games, the South Florida product has hauled in 29 of his 35 targets for 211 yards and one touchdown. The Patriots re-signed Hunter Henry to a three-year, $27 million deal this offseason, so the TE1 role is occupied in Foxborough. Wilcox could have the chance to compete with Austin Hooper for the TE2 job, but Hooper is likely the favorite to back up Henry. That said, Wilcox can be ignored in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Dak Prescott Apr 22 3:20pm CT
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is entering the final year of his deal in 2024, and he and the organization have not begun contract negotiations. The former fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft threw for a career-high 36 touchdowns in 2023, but Dallas suffered another disappointing playoff defeat in the NFC Divisional Round. On his contract situation, Prescott said "I'm not trying to be the highest paid necessarily. We'll wait until the negotiations begin and obviously want to put this team in the best situation." If the 30-year-old is willing to take a home team discount, it could help his chances of reaching a new deal. Star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parson will be up for new deals soon, meaning the Cowboys have a lot to figure out over the next few offseasons.

From RotoBaller

Zach Wilson Apr 22 1:50pm CT
Zach Wilson

The Denver Broncos are acquiring former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson from the New York Jets on Monday, according to sources. The Broncos are expected to send a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Jets for Wilson and a 2024 seventh-round selection, with the teams dividing his guaranteed camp roster bonus. The Broncos released Russell Wilson this offseason and were heading into this week's NFL draft with Jarrett Stidham as their starter under center in 2024. Wilson now has a much better shot at playing time with a change of scenery in 2024 after being benched in his final season with the Jets, but it doesn't necessarily mean he'll beat out Stidham in training camp. The move to acquire Wilson also won't preclude the Broncos from selecting a QB in this year's draft, possibly as early as the first round.

From RotoBaller

Matt Ryan Apr 22 1:40pm CT
Matt Ryan

Quarterback Matt Ryan officially announced his retirement from professional football on Monday as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, the team that drafted him third overall in 2008 out of Boston College. Ryan spent 14 of his 15 NFL seasons in Atlanta, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 and an MVP award in 2016. In his lone trip to the Super Bowl in the same season he won his MVP award, the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead at halftime to lose to the New England Patriots. He made just 12 starts for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and threw for 3,057 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The 38-year-old four-time Pro Bowler ends his career as Atlanta's all-time leader in passing yards (59,735) and passing touchdowns (367). Ryan ranks seventh all-time in passing yards (62,792) and ninth in TD passes (381) as a future Hall of Famer.

From RotoBaller

Mac Jones Apr 22 1:30pm CT
Mac Jones

The New England Patriots are listening and taking calls from teams looking to move up to the No. 3 overall pick in the first round of Thursday's NFL draft. General manager Eliot Wolf is running point on the team's draft, but sources are saying president Jonathan Kraft is heavily involved in the decision-making process. Most people think the Patriots will ultimately stay at No. 3 and take a quarterback of the future after moving on from Mac Jones this offseason. Teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Denver Broncos would be the most likely to trade up to No. 3 to take a QB. If the Patriots stay put and select third overall, whatever rookie signal-caller they take would be competing with veteran Jacoby Brissett for the starting gig under center this fall.

From RotoBaller

Sam Hubbard Apr 22 1:30pm CT
Sam Hubbard

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard (ankle) was held out of two games in 2023 due to a right-ankle injury that required significant offseason surgery. Hubbard said that he had a complete deltoid reconstruction in his ankle and tight-rope procedure to fix his ankle. He said his ankle bothered him as early as training camp, and it became more severe later in the year. Through the first nine weeks of 2023, Hubbard ranked 28th in the NFL in pass-rush win rate as an edge rusher. But when he returned to the field in Week 12 until the end of the season, he ranked 49th out of 54 players in that category. The good news is that the 28-year-old says he'll be ready for training camp this summer. However, it's fair to wonder about how effective he'll be rushing the passer in 2024 after coming off a pretty significant surgery.

From RotoBaller

Levi Wallace Apr 22 1:30pm CT
Levi Wallace

Free-agent cornerback Levi Wallace signed an undisclosed deal with the Denver Broncos on Monday, according to a source. Wallace had six interceptions and 24 passes defended over the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He'll give the Broncos some added secondary depth this week just ahead of the start of this year's NFL draft on Thursday evening. The 28-year-old entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in 2018 with the Buffalo Bills, and he spent the first four seasons of his career in Buffalo before playing for the Steelers the last two years. In his six seasons combined, Wallace has 305 tackles (236 solo), seven tackles for loss, 12 interceptions, 54 passes defended and one fumble recovery in 83 games (70 starts).

From RotoBaller

Rashee Rice Apr 22 1:20pm CT
Rashee Rice

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is expected to be disciplined by the NFL, resulting in at least a multi-game suspension. Rice is currently facing eight charges after he and another driver of a speeding car allegedly caused a crash involving a half-dozen vehicles in Dallas last month. He turned himself into police last week before being released on bond. The looming suspension for Rice could push the Chiefs, who own the No. 32 pick in this week's NFL draft, to keep a close eye on receivers in the draft. KC would have been expected to look for receiver help even before Rice's off-field troubles. They had the most drops in the league (38) in 2023. Rice was quarterback Patrick Mahomes' favorite target outside of tight end Travis Kelce last year, but his fantasy stock is going to take a hit going into 2024 with a suspension looming.

From RotoBaller

Matt Ryan Apr 22 1:13pm CT
Matt Ryan

Free-agent QB Matt Ryan (Colts) officially retired from the NFL on Monday, April 22.

From TheHuddle

Darren Waller Apr 22 7:33am CT
Darren Waller

Dynasty | Giants tight end Darren Waller is still mulling retirement. Dynasty Analysis: Waller has dealt with a lot of injuries over his career and it seems as if he's really considering calling it quits. The Giants are reportedly giving him a lot of time to consider his options and not forcing a decision, though it's quite certain they'd like to know prior to next week's NFL Draft as his loss could actually make Brock Bowers a consideration with their pick in the top ten. Regardless, it looks like Waller is certainly towards the end of his career and dynasty managers need to start making plans to be without him in the near future, possibly as soon as this year.