Each Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention who are available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues. Things change quickly for player valuation and roles each week in the NFL, and free agency is a critical way to acquire players. We are here to help!
Top pickup options at every position
Looking for the top recommendation at each skill position? Look no further! Here are the players to target heading into Week 6, along with their current roster percentages and a recommendation of how much of your free agent budget (FAB) you should consider using for your bid.
Jordan LoveQB, Packers (47.9% rostered, 5% of your FAB)
Love entered Week 5 with precisely two touchdown passes in each of the first four games, but he surpassed 13 fantasy points in only two of those contests. On Sunday, Love torched the Chicago Bears for 367 passing yards — and the requisite two TD passes, again — without a turnover, scoring 25.28 points. Love tends to be inconsistent, which is partly why he remains available in so many leagues, but a Week 6 Sunday night matchup with the awful defense of the Dallas Cowboys looks like an obvious winner. The Cincinnati Bengals (Joe Burrow), Detroit Lions (Jared Goff), Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings are on bye in Week 6.
MarShawn LloydRB, Packers (48.7%, 2% FAB)
While the Packers wait for resolution on NFL’s internal review on Josh Jacobs (commissioner exempt list), the team has struggled to run the ball during the season’s first month. Lloyd failed to score double-digit fantasy points in any of the first four games, but he (and those who activated him for Sunday’s Bears contest) enjoyed 16.7 points — the bulk of which came on two TD runs. In fact, Lloyd rushed for only 31 yards on 10 carries, and he caught only one pass. It remains difficult to recommend Lloyd — or any Packers RB — but then again, the Packers play the woeful Cowboys’ defense this week, so the matchup could not be much better.
Bernard entered Week 5 with seven receptions and 60 receiving yards, but injuries to others forced QB Aaron Rodgers to look his way more often in the team’s win over the Indianapolis Colts. Bernard saw nine targets, catching six for 80 receiving yards. Plus, he added a short rushing attempt. The Steelers lack WR options with Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) on IR and Roman Wilson (finger) forced to leave Sunday’s game early and likely to miss games. Rookies can be dangerous to trust in fantasy, but Bernard might see enough chances to thrive this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Strange caught only seven passes on 10 targets during the first three games of the season, although one was for a touchdown. Fantasy managers had reason to be disinterested. They have little reason now, as Strange has since scored 30.3 points over the past two games, with 14 receptions on 16 targets and 163 receiving yards. He is a key cog in the Jacksonville offense.
Other quarterbacks
Aaron RodgersSteelers (19.3%, 2% FAB): Rodgers wasn’t supposed to be much of a fantasy option this season because he really wasn’t last year. However, things clearly have changed. Rodgers has surpassed 20 fantasy points in three consecutive outings, throwing three TD passes in each. He should be able to produce numbers this week against the Buccaneers, with the New Orleans Saints up after that.
C.J. StroudTexans (42.1%, 2% FAB): This week, Stroud reached 20 fantasy points for the second consecutive game, buoying his outing with his first rushing score of the season. Stroud rushed for only one touchdown last season (and none the year before), so don’t expect this to become a trend. However, he is among the leaders in passing yards. Though he might find things difficult this coming week against the tough Jacksonville Jaguarsthe trade acquisition of Marvin Harrison Jr. gives him another talent to target. Harrison, for those wondering, is rostered in 75.3% of leagues.
Deep-league options/streamers
Jameis WinstonGiants (4%, 1% FAB): Winston threw 54 times in Sunday’s tie with the Washington Commanderswhich harks back to his slinger days with the Buccaneers. Winston tossed three TD passes for the second straight game, and he should find it comfortable to throw on the Saints this coming week.
Kirk CousinsRaiders (36.4%, 1% FAB): Cousins saw his streak of 20-point fantasy efforts end Sunday against the New England Patriotsbut he might have more success this coming week against the Buffalo Bills. Cousins passed for only 243 yards against the Patriots, albeit with no turnovers. The Bills entered Week 5 (and their Monday night game with the Los Angeles Rams) permitting the fourth-most QB fantasy points.
Michael Penix Jr., Falcons (8.7%): Penix has fallen short of 15 fantasy points in each of his starts, but Week 6 brings the Bears — and we saw what Love did to that defense. Penix (ribs) left Sunday night’s game before it was over. If he has to miss any games, Tua Tagovailoa (0.6%) will be next up. We prefer Penix.
Other running backs
Woody MarksTexans (48.1%, 2% FAB): Marks saw his streak of games with touchdown runs end Sunday, but he also saw his highest volume of the season, as he turned 19 touches into 85 total yards. It helped that David Montgomery (groin) left early and did not return. The Texans entered Week 5 as one of the worst rushing teams in the league, but Marks becomes more interesting if Montgomery (who hasn’t played well since Week 1 anyway) misses time. Sunday’s matchup in London against the Jaguars is not a positive one, but Marks — who averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game as a rookie — might see enough volume to overcome it.
Deep-league options/streamers
Know MillerSaints (11.8%, 1% FAB): Miller scored only nine points in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, but it was easily the most among Saints running backs. Alvin Kamara struggled while losing 6 yards on his two receptions. Miller scored on a short TD run. He isn’t having a great season, but with Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) still out, someone must run the football for this pass-first offense.
Kimani VidalChargers (2%, 1% FAB): Vidal isn’t seeing much volume, but he has been more effective than starter Omarion Hampton over the past two games, scoring in double-digits twice despite single-digit touches. It’s a dangerous strategy for fantasy managers to rely on, especially since Hampton and Keaton Mitchell remain involved. Perhaps Vidal will see more volume in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefsbut don’t assume so.
Other wide receivers
DeMario DouglasPatriots (2.3%, 1% FAB): Douglas was supposed to be one of the top options for QB Drake Maye this season, but he entered Week 5 with only nine receptions on 17 targets and nary a touchdown. Then he scored two touchdowns (on five targets) in Sunday’s blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Does that mean we can suddenly trust Douglas? Probably not, especially against a New York Jets defense that has been stingy against the pass.
Deep-league options/streamers
Dontayvion WicksEagles (44.6%, 1% FAB): Some will say fantasy managers should fade Wicks for Darius Cooper (8.9%) after the latter scored on a 62-yard touchdown in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars. Cooper now has four touchdowns over the past four games. The problem is that Cooper has totaled just seven receptions on 13 targets in those games. We all love touchdowns, of course, but we cannot depend on them to continue with low volume.
Wicks has reached 60 receiving yards in three out of five games and he has seen 28 targets this season. Rookie Police Lemon (49.7%) is also interesting, but he is averaging only 4.9 yards per target. If you covet any Eagles WR for Sunday against the Carolina Panthers — and note that DeVonta Smith (hamstring) might play — go with Wicks over Lemon and especially Cooper.
Other tight ends
Hunter HenryPatriots (40.2%, 1% FAB): Henry has been more productive during his past two games (perhaps coinciding with QB Drake Maye turning his season around), totaling 106 receiving yards on eight receptions over that span. Remember, Henry scored seven touchdowns last season. He scored his first touchdown of the season Sunday against the Raiders. There will likely be more coming.
Pat FreiermuthSteelers (20.3%, 1% FAB): Freiermuth scored two touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Colts, giving him four scoring grabs this season. Freiermuth still hasn’t reached 50 receiving yards in any game, but Rodgers clearly looks in his direction in the red zone. That might continue.
D/ST options
Chiefs D/ST (33.7%): This has been an inconsistent unit all season, scoring more than a single fantasy point just two times in four games. Still, things look positive for Week 6 — coming off the bye — against the struggling Los Angeles Chargers. Only the Dolphins and Tennessee Titans have scored fewer points than the Chargers.
Browns D/ST (40.6%): The Browns continue to mildly surprise as a D/ST, scoring a combined 19 fantasy points over the past two weeks and holding opponents to fewer than 20 points three times in four games. The Browns host the Baltimore Ravens and will be an even more attractive option if QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) misses another game.
Source: www.espn.com
