There are a lot of questions, and maybe a lot of surprises, when we start to look at this week’s rankings. How does the injury to Robert Griffin III impact things? How far do Michael Vick, Tony Romo and Matthew Stafford fall? Who could be the surprise play of the week? Let’s try to answer all the questions:
- Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Oakland
- Peyton Manning – Denver Broncos – at San Diego
- Tom Brady – New England Patriots – at Seattle
- Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – at Houston
- Robert Griffin – Washington Redskins – vs. Minnesota
- Eli Manning – New York Giants – at San Francisco
- Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Tennessee
- Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers – vs. Denver
- Andrew Luck – Indianapolis Colts – at New York Jets
- Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals – at Cleveland
- Michael Vick – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Detroit
- Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions – at Philadelphia
- Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Dallas
- Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys – at Baltimore
- Kevin Kolb – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Buffalo
- Christian Ponder – Minnesota Vikings – at Washington
- Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers – vs. New York Giants
- Matt Schaub – Houston Texans – vs. Green Bay
- Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buffalo Bills – at Arizona
- Carson Palmer – Oakland Raiders – at Atlanta
- Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks – vs. New England
- Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams – at Miami
- Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Kansas City
- Ryan Tannehill – Miami Dolphins – vs. St. Louis
- Mark Sanchez – New York Jets – vs. Indianapolis
Thoughts:
- We all know how good Aaron Rodgers is, but can he perform against a Texans defense that has quickly proven to be among the best in the league? He’s obviously going to remain a viable QB1, he just can’t be ranked as highly as normal due to the matchup.
- I know the Seahawks are a good defense and a tough team to play at home. I also know that they have allowed just 3 passing TD over the first five games of the season. Does anyone actually think that they can slow down Tom Brady and company, however? Brady is going to remain one of the top options regardless of the matchup.
- Peyton Manning is really starting to look like the QB of old, isn’t he? He went 31-44 with 345 yards and 3 TD and has now thrown for 330+ yards in three consecutive games. Taking on a Chargers passing defense that is in the middle of the pack, there’s a good chance he continues to roll.
- Robert Griffin III sustained a concussion in Week 4 and now has to be considered questionable heading into Week 5. Obviously, if he is on the field he is going to be a must start option. However, considering how careful the NFL is with concussions that is far from a certainty. While I have included him on the rankings, be prepared to move on to the next option very quickly.
- We all know how good the San Francisco defense is. However, it is hard to argue that Eli Manning is performing about as well as we have ever seen him. Plus, in his last two games against San Francisco he has thrown for 627 yards (both games over 300) with 4 TD and 2 INT. In other words, don’t shy away from him based on the matchup. He has proven he can perform against them and is having a career year.
- Joe Flacco is coming off a down game and now takes on a Cowboys defense that has been revamped and excels against the pass. Obviously, we don’t want to be dramatic and write him off, but this week he is more of a QB2.
- Andrew Luck just torched the Green Bay Packers for 362 yards and 2 TD and now draws the Jets swiss cheese defense. It’s impossible not to consider him a low-end, viable option, isn’t it?
- It’s hard not to like Kevin Kolb at this point, isn’t it? He has already thrown for over 1,000 yards, while adding 7 TD and just 2 INT. Throw in a favorable matchup against the Bills, who allowed Alex Smith to throw for over 300 yards and 3 TD in Week 5 (and Mark Sanchez to throw for 266 yards and 3 TD in Week 1), and he is a definite QB2 and a viable option for the desperate in shallower formats.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 6 rankings:
In a ten team league, I have Brady as my starter. Do you like Dalton or Luck as backup, ROS and week 9 especially? I believe Dalton faces Denver that week, with Luck facing Miami. Thanks!
Just got a trade offer to.receive cj spiller and steven Jackson, for h nicks and forte. My only other relevant rb is sprolls so with both backs on byes should I take the trade.or try and counter offer for mendenhall, instead of jackson
The guy I’m trading with also has rice but probably won’t part ways with him
Randy – I like Dalton better overall, and if those are the matchups I like him for that week as well. Dalton is my pick.
Kyle k – I can’t see him including Rice. I like Mendenhall more than Jackson right now, but either would work. Who are your other receivers, though? A healthy Nicks is a lot to give up…
Fitzgerald, Vincent Jackson, a Hawkins and Kendal wright, he also would include a brown or Stevie Johnson in the original offer above
I wouldn’t do it unless you were getting another receiver back in the deal.
RP – I’m hurting on RB. I have A Foster, S Jackson and C Benson (out). Was thinking of throwing up a trade for M. Vick for either D Macfadden or D Sproles.
I have A Dalton and C Ponder as QB if i get rid of M Vick. Thoughts? Thanks
I have no issue with going back and forth with your other two options, based on matchup. Plus, McFadden is a long-term solution.
Definitely worth a shot
I’m having trouble selecting my QB this week. I have Rodgers & Dalton. A lot of people are telling me to start Rodgers, but when I look at the statistics surrounding the decision, Dalton looks like the better option. Who would you start?
Rodgers is by far the superior player. I like Dalton, but Rodgers has a much higher upside (even against a tough D).
Could Dalton outproduce Rodgers this week? It wouldn’t completely surprise me, but for me at least, I have to stick with my star. Rodgers is the star.
who should i start in week 6? Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton, or Andrew luck ?!!
They are all very close this week (surprisingly), but I am going Roeth,isberger this week. The Titans defense has been poor and he has a great supporting cast around him (especially with a healthy Mendenhall). Don’t be surprised to see him post big numbers.
I have Luck and stafford. Based off your rankings, you think luck is the better option to start this week?
I never thought I’d say it, but I do. Given how well he’s played, how bad the Jets defense is (or could be without Revis) and the injury to Donald Brown, I would expect another nice day for the rookie.
Hey Professor, I’ve got three QBs and I don’t know who to start. Vick, Romo, or Flacco?
A.J.Green,C.Johnson,R.Wayne sit 1
A.Rodgers,M.Stafford,A.Luck sit 1
I like the combo Stafford/Johnson – Luck/Wayne
Rodgers against HouD and A.J against Haden… but bench Arod en Green ..pfff
Standard leage
help would be great! Thanks!
Paul – All are risky options, but I’d go Vick (though it’s close enough, and all are viable, that I’d go with your gut).
Frank:
WR – I’d sit Wayne, just impossible to sit the other two; Obviously Wayne is a viable option, but the other two are Top 5 options
QB – I’d actually sit Stafford here as it’s impossible to sit Rodgers
Sometimes, you just have to stick with your best and count on them to perform. More times than not, it will work out for you.
Thanks a bunch for the advice Professor. This is a hard choice to make!
I need advice on QB going forward…drafted Rivers but traded him for P. Harvin. Now have Alex Smith and Fitzpatrick. Andy Dalton is on my waiver this week, should I drop either of those and get him. I’m leaning toward Dalton & Smith for rest of the season? Your opinion? No other good options out there including trades.
Who do you think gets better value in the following trade
Mendenhall, Andre Johnson, Brandon Gibson, and Phillip rivers for Doug Martin, Brandon Lloyd, jacquizz Rodgers, and Michael Vick
The guy gaining Rodgers has turner so it’s a good handcuff for him
The group containing Mendenhall is loaded to me. A serviceable RB, a top WR in Johnson, a potential high-target WR in Gibson and a serviceable QB 1/2 in Rivers…on the other hand, a promising rookie RB who might be losing goal-line touches to Blount soon, a WR who is one of many targets in NE, a little-used RB in Jacquizz, who may pay dividends down the road and a QB who is having real problems competing consistently at the NFL level. He dumped on ATL, it’s time to dump him!
Mike in Georgia – I would definitely grab Dalton and I see Smith/Fitzpatrick fairly evenly (amazingly). Take your pick which to drop, but Dalton is definitely the best of the group.
Brandon – I’ll second what Mike said. The Mendenhall/Johnson/Rivers side is definitely the one I’d prefer.
I added Donnie Avery to the deal to try and sweeten it up I’m hoping the fact he’s getting a free WR and Mike Turners handcuff persuades him
.5 PPR help me set my lineup? And would u drop Starks or Blount for B Powell?
QB: Luck or Rivers (leaning towards Luck)
RB: R Bush
RB: Leshoure
WR: Jones (ATL)
WR: Cruz
TE: Rudolph
FL: Blount, Starks, Bolden, M Williams, D Moore
K: Gostkowski
D: Vikings (Miami is available)
BYE: Sproles
The two questions you have is QB and FLEX.
I may lean Bolden, though his injury needs to be monitored. The next choice is Mike Williams.
As for QB, it’s a coin flip for me. Go with your gut.
I have Romo and Flacco. Who would you play?
QB: Flacco or Stafford
RB: J Charles,D Martin, or A Morris
WR/FLX: D Jackson, P Harvin, R Cobb, R Wayne
I could also use help at WR/FLX next week because I’ll have B Marshall coming off a bye week.
Double G – I’d go Flacco, but it is an absolute toss-up.
Dante H –
QB – I’m in the same boat. Going Stafford, but it is a coin flip
RB – Definitely Charles
WR – Harvin is the must play