Week 6 Rankings

Updated 10/12 at 12:10 PM ET. Based on Jay Glazer's report that Carson Palmer is still not a sure thing, he's slotted in at No. 21. "In order for Carson to start, he has to show Bruce Arians he can make all the throws," were the words of Glazer. Removed Jonathan Stewart and Terrance West. Moved Vernon Davis down.

When the Chargers gave Donald Brown a three-year, $10.5 million contract in March, the overwhelming response was “why?” Not because Brown was a late bloomer with essentially one good season to his name — though that was true — but because the Bolts already had one of the league’s better running back duos in Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead.

It didn’t take long for the Chargers to prove their point. Mathews was knocked out for 6-8 weeks after spraining his MCL in Week 2, while Woodhead was lost for the year one week later with a broken leg. Brown was the next man up. But here’s where football really hammered home its point that it’s No Country For Running Backs of Any Age. Brown struggled mightily for two games before landing on the injury report with an ailment of his own, a Week 5 concussion. The Chargers’ reward for making sure they didn’t get caught short at running back was … getting caught short at running back.

And Branden Oliver.

A 5-foot-8, 208-pound undrafted rookie out of Buffalo, Oliver was the next next man up. And up he was in Week 5 against the Jets’ league-best run defense. Oliver simply carved up a unit that’s grown accustomed to stopping runners in their tracks, taking the rock 19 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, and tacking on four grabs for 68 yards and an additional score.

Everyone compares Oliver to Darren Sproles — including his own teammates — but it looked warranted and then some on Sunday. Like Antonio Gates said, Oliver has looked like Sproles with more power. The first thing that sticks out about Oliver’s game is how low he gets, and it’s not just because he’s short. Oliver, after all, is not the only NFL back in the 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 range. Oliver’s center of gravity is somewhere between Eddie Gaedel and Ann Veal. Like Gaedel, he’s too short for it to be a fair fight with hulking linebackers and safeties. Like Veal, he Does. Not. Go. Down.

Oliver weaved through the Jets’ No. 1 run defense like a pinball come to life, displaying quick feet and cuts so fluid that he looked like a shark in water. Like any good running back, Oliver was always moving forward, treating the line of scrimmage like a launching pad instead of a think tank. When he did get bogged down in the pile, he moved it.

In the open field, Oliver might as well have been Allen Iverson, using his quicks and devastating shoulder fakes to literally make Jets defenders fall over. His 182 yards from scrimmage were the most by any Chargers back since LaDainian Tomlinson in December 2007. Again, this was against the league’s best run defense, one that had allowed only one 100-yard rushing performance since the start of last season. There was nothing cheap about Oliver’s breakout, and now he has a chance to prove it wasn’t a fluke against a team allowing 4.56 yards per carry to running backs, and 158.3 rushing yards per game.

Oliver’s moment in the sun may be short lived, as Mathews could return as early as Week 8. But in the sun he is, and he’ll be shining like an RB1 in Week 6.

Week 6 Quarterbacks

QB Notes: Peyton Manning has played 244 career games. That’s over four and a half years of Sundays. On Sunday 1, he threw for 302 yards. On Sunday 244, he threw for 479, the most of his 16-year career. Manning’s reward is a date with the Jets, a team allowing the fourth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Keep Rex Ryan in your thoughts. … Aaron Rodgers since imploring Packers fans to relax: 34-of-45 (75.5 percent) for 458 yards (10.2 YPA) and a 7:0 TD:INT ratio. Maybe the man was on to something. … Andrew Luck is averaging 3.1 more fantasy points per game than Peyton Manning. He’s putting up a weekly 323 yards and 2.8 touchdowns. Don’t count on a Thursday night game slowing him down. … Matt Ryan is home for Week 6, but it remains to be seen how he’ll fare behind Atlanta’s ramshackle offensive line. Sunday’s loss was a not a promising start, as Ryan was relentlessly pressured. Thankfully, the Bears are not an imposing matchup on the Georgia Dome’s fast track. Chicago has generated 11 sacks, but gotten smoked by the pass. There are legitimate concerns about Ryan’s long-term outlook, but Sunday isn’t a worry.

Averaging 2.75 scores over his past four starts, Philip Rivers will face little resistance from an Oakland defense that’s tallied only four sacks, and is allowing a league-worst 72.4 completion percentage. Rivers leads the league in both completion percentage (70.3) and YPA (8.75). … The bad news? Jay Cutler has already had three multi-interception games. The good news? He’s had five multi-TD games, and finally has Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery both back to full health. Only the Jaguars are allowing more yards per attempt to opposing passers than Atlanta (8.2). Cutler will keep rolling Sunday. … Would you guess Russell Wilson is a top-five fantasy quarterback through the season’s first five weeks? He is, averaging 25.4 points, putting him behind only Luck, Manning, Cutler and Ryan. He should continue the slow, but steady, exposure of Dallas’ defense. … If you’re still not convinced Eli Manning is “back,” Sunday might finally do the trick. No team has allowed more passing touchdowns (13) than the Eagles, while only two — Jacksonville and Tampa Bay — have coughed up more yards. Working on four straight multi-score games, Eli should easily make it five in Philly.

The word is slowly getting out about Nick Foles’ struggles, but it’s been hard for owners to care as he’s averaged 276 passing yards and 21.2 fantasy points. But even coach Chip Kelly has acknowledged Foles’ 2014 deficiencies, specifically his footwork. As former Rotoworlder Chris Wesseling points out, it’s fair to argue that Foles has been outplayed by his quarterback counterpart in all five games this season. Something may soon have to give. For now, Foles remains an every-week QB1, but owners would be wise to have a back-up plan in case his play continues to spiral. … The Browns’ defense was supposed to be a strength, but it’s been reeling ever since Ben Roethlisberger rolled up 365 yards in Week 1. Big Ben should have a nice Week 6 encore. … As Calvin Johnson’s health has gone downhill, so has Matthew Stafford’s play. With Megatron (ankle) looking extremely questionable for Week 6, even No. 11 may prove generous for a quarterback who had been making major strides.

Carson Palmer is third in average quarterback fantasy points. The problem? He’s played one game. Palmer is tentatively on track to return for Week 6 after getting in a limited practice on Wednesday, but coach Bruce Arians wants to see him go “full” at least once before declaring him back. The matchup, a home date with the Redskins, could scarcely be more inviting for Palmer’s return. … Cam Newton will return to the land of the every-week QB1 once he re-establishes a running threat. He managed just nine yards on six rushes in Sunday’s win over the Bears. … Joe Flacco is currently fantasy’s No. 18 quarterback after finishing No. 22 in average points a season ago. Few teams have been as bad against the pass as Tampa Bay. … Tony Romo doesn’t seem like a likely survivor of a trip to Seattle, does he? … Andy Dalton is a Week 6 no go with A.J. Green (toe) on the shelf. … Keep Kyle Orton benched against the Patriots’ impressive pass defense. … Teddy Bridgewater isn’t an option against a Lions defense playing as well as any in the league.

Tom Brady subverted his Week 5 expectations in a big way, but this is still a quarterback averaging just 15.8 points per game. Brady’s “outburst” against the Bengals was his first multi-touchdown effort of the season, while his YPA is still an anemic 6.30. In other words, Week 5 was a huge step in the right direction, but it would be absurd to declare Brady out of the woods after only one game. … Carving up the Raiders in London is one thing. Doing it to literally anyone else in any other location is another. Like Brady, Ryan Tannehill remains on probation despite a strong effort his last time out. … Kirk Cousins showed impressive mettle in bouncing back against the Seahawks at home, but it’s been well established that he’s capable of strong one-off performances. Consistency remains his Achilles’ heel. … Things finally get real for Austin Davis this week. Davis finds himself near the top of the leaderboard in an impressive amount of categories, but he’s gotten fat on plum matchups. If he can keep rolling against the 49ers, who are allowing the fifth fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, then we might really be on to something.

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Week 6 Running Backs

RB Notes: One of the league’s worst run defenses any way you look at it, the Falcons are also getting smoked by runners through the air, coughing up 31 RB receptions for 298 yards. They don’t make worse matchups for Atlanta than Matt Forte. … The facade is slowly crumbling in Dallas, as the Cowboys are allowing 5.2 yards per carry, second to only the Panthers. Marshawn Lynch should have a field day at home, and is perhaps the best bet in all of football to score a touchdown this weekend. … Le'Veon Bell is third in running back fantasy points. The Browns have allowed the third most fantasy points to enemy runners. Math is fun. … DeMarco Murray is the clear No. 1 runner this season, but the Seahawks are the clear No. 1 run defense. That gives us a mouthwatering irresistible force/immovable object scenario for Week 6. The Seahawks are allowing 2.6 yards per carry — exactly half of what Murray is averaging. Get your popcorn ready.

The short week was a concern for Arian Foster (hamstring) after he touched the ball 25 times in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, but he’s listed as probable. That means the Texans think he’s ready to carry the mail again. Foster is fourth in total running back fantasy points despite being healthy for essentially three games. He’s still a force to be reckoned with … when he plays. … LeSean McCoy has yet to average four yards per carry in any game this season, and is managing a pathetic 2.26 over his past three. The Giants are an intriguing matchup, but less so if Jon Beason (toe) returns. McCoy’s workload keeps him in the RB1 mix, but fireworks shouldn’t be expected. … Eddie Lacy finally broke out of the sub-50 yard doldrums in Week 5, but has a tough matchup in a Dolphins run defense permitting just 3.8 yards per carry. With three scores over his past two games, however, Lacy has re-established his high-end floor. … Frank Gore is fantasy’s No. 11 runner through the season’s first five weeks. Old dudes don’t fade like they used to.

That’s why Andre Ellington has been ranked so high every week. Volume and big-play ability are a tasty combination. Ellington is going to stress the Redskins’ defense. … With three-down workhorse Rashad Jennings (MCL) likely sidelined through the Giants’ Week 8 bye, rookie Andre Williams is the next man up. A 2013 Heisman finalist for Boston College, Williams is a violent downhill runner, one who has found the end zone in each of his past two games. Typically leery of rookies, coach Tom Coughlin is “very confident” in Williams’ ability to take on a bigger role in the absence of Jennings. Williams will not lack for volume and scoring opportunities in what could be a shootout with the Eagles. … With rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West running well in his absence, Ben Tate (knee) appeared unlikely to parachute back into a workhorse role upon his return. But that’s exactly what he did in Week 5, taking the rock 22 times for 123 yards. The lead dog for an offense that wants to run the ball down other teams’ throats, Tate will be an RB2 for however long he can remain healthy.

It isn’t entirely clear how Knowshon Moreno (elbow) will be utilized upon his return from a monthlong absence — his ranking could change with new information — but there’s been little to suggest the Dolphins will deviate from the formula that worked so well in Week 1. That’s slamming Moreno between the tackles, and using Lamar Miller to change the pace. Miller is averaging an eye-popping 5.7 yards per tote, but has surpassed 12 carries just once this season. That suggests Miami still believes he’s a complimentary piece, and not a lead dog. Treat Miller as an upside RB2, and Moreno as a high-floor RB2. … Being utilized similarly to Ahmad Bradshaw, Justin Forsett is racking up receptions and red-zone snaps. He’s an unlikely RB2, but an RB2 nonetheless. … Fred Jackson has outgained C.J. Spiller 429-321 despite logging seven fewer touches (Spiller has 75 to F-Jax’s 68). The Patriots are far-more vulnerable on the ground than in the air, and Jackson is more likely than Spiller to take advantage. Frustratingly, both players remain stuck on one offensive touchdown.

Despite the Bucs’ apparent faith in him, Doug Martin is running his way out of RB2 status. … The opportunity is great for Ronnie Hillman, but the matchup is forbidding in the Jets. Also working against Hillman is the prospect of C.J. Anderson or Juwan Thompson vulturing goal-line carries. Working for Hillman is the fact that similarly-sized jitterbug Branden Oliver ran all over New York in Week 5, while Peyton Manning guarantees his running back will be put in position to succeed. Hillman is a boom-or-bust RB2 as he gets his first close up in place of Montee Ball (groin). … Joique Bell (concussion) appears on track to return. Reggie Bush (ankle) does not. … Zac Stacy (calf) will play, but his grip on lead duties is becoming increasingly tenuous. He’s a high-risk RB2 with RB4 downside. … Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will be hard pressed to repeat their Week 5 success against the Bills’ impressive front. Buffalo had graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 run defense. … Believe Bishop Sankey when you see it. … Don’t count on Atlanta following through on its word to increase Antone Smith’s role. … Storm Johnson is the favorite to lead Jacksonville in carries this weekend.

Week 6 Receivers

WR Notes: Julio Jones is on pace for 128/1,767/10. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff has done a lot of things wrong. Trading up for one of the best players in the NFL wasn’t one of them. … Catching eight passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns? That’s one way to break a slump. Demaryius Thomas is now on pace for 84/1,468/12, and a legit threat to match last year’s top-three finish. The Jets’ undermanned secondary doesn’t have a prayer of stopping Peyton Manning’s No. 1 receiver. … Antonio Brown has been Joe Haden’s tormentor, including in Week 1 where he stung him for 5/116/1. Brown has eclipsed 5/50 in an NFL record 21 consecutive games. … Jordy Nelson’s 15.44 yards per catch leads all wideouts with at least 30 grabs. … DeMarco Murray and the Seahawks’ run defense won’t be the only matchup to watch in Sunday’s game. There will also be Dez Bryant and the Legion of Boom. The sides haven’t squared off since Week 2 2012, where Bryant was held to three grabs for 17 yards.

Speaking Monday, Bears coach Marc Trestman said he had to get Brandon Marshall more touches. Translation: He’s going to get Marshall more touches, forcing the issue against the Falcons. No longer listed on the injury report, Marshall is primed to explode following his quiet Weeks 3-5. … Only Julio Jones has drawn as many targets as Jeremy Maclin, though an inefficient Nick Foles has limited Maclin to catches on just 25 of his 57 looks. Either way, that kind of usage — combined with Maclin’s 25/429/4 line — has him locked into WR1 value for the time being. … On the one hand, Randall Cobb has been unusually touchdown dependent this season. On the other, he keeps scoring touchdowns. Cobb’s six scores through five games are second only to Julius Thomas’ seven. It remains to be seen if the pint-sized Cobb can keep up at that scoring rate, but he’s earning the benefit of the doubt. … 18 of Emmanuel Sanders’ 32 catches have come since Wes Welker’s return. Currently fantasy’s No. 11 receiver by average points, it’s looking like Sanders might be able to maintain his torrid rate.

Demaryius Thomas, unsurprisingly, is No. 2 in the NFL in yards after the catch. No. 1? Golden Tate, with 233 of his 451 yards coming after he first touches the ball. What you might not realize is that, like Thomas, that’s also par for the course for Tate, who was No. 8 in YAC last season with 506. Tate could flirt with WR1 numbers for as long as Calvin Johnson (ankle) is sidelined. … Percy Harvin had three touchdowns called back by penalty against the Redskins. Here’s guessing coach Pete Carroll tries to make things right against the Cowboys. … Steve Smith Sr. finally had a slow week. That’s one out of five. Sr. has earned some leeway with fantasy owners, but he’s still not a bad sell high. … Victor Cruz has been a rollercoaster ride through the season’s first five weeks, but the matchup against the Eagles is impossible to ignore. No team is allowing more fantasy points to rival wideouts than Philadelphia. Although it’s true that Rueben Randle, and perhaps even Odell Beckham, are better bets for touchdowns, Cruz should soak up looks, yards and catches.

On the flipside of Steve Smith Sr. is Vincent Jackson, who’s had one good game out of five. He’s drawn 22 targets over his past two contests, however, and looked undeniably better with Mike Glennon at the controls. V-Jax remains a talent worth betting on. … It was the best of times for Kelvin Benjamin, it was the worst of times for Kelvin Benjamin. So is life for a 6-foot-5, 240 rookie receiver with breathtaking football ability, but hands of … if not stone, plaster. Benjamin will remain hit or miss, but has more than established mammoth upside. He’s a high-risk, high-reward WR2 you shouldn’t ever consider benching. … T.Y. Hilton has yet to find the end zone. That’s a shame, because he’s tied for 11th in catches (31), ninth in yards (381) and fifth in targets (50). A blow-up game shouldn’t be far away. … Michael Floyd is tied with Malcom Floyd for the league lead in yards per catch (21.6), but pretty clearly needs Carson Palmer back at the controls. … Are Roddy White and Andre Johnson fading from WR2 relevance? Not quite yet, but it’s a topic we’ll debate in this week’s Roundtable.

Keenan Allen has been one of 2014’s most-frustrating players, but has another cake matchup for Week 6. One of these days, Eddie Royal and Malcom Floyd are going to stop stealing his touchdowns. Allen is one of only 14 pass catchers to have a 10-catch game this season. … DeAndre Hopkins’ targets still haven’t caught up to his touchdowns. Beware. … Rueben Randle has drawn 10 targets in three-straight contests. Yes, Odell Beckham could start cutting into that, but if Randle is a strong bet to score his third touchdown this week. … Brian Quick is ninth in average fantasy receiver points. He could keep it up against a 49ers secondary still missing LCB Tramaine Brock (toe). … Make Eric Decker (hamstring) prove his health on the field. … Justin Hunter has finally supplanted Nate Washington in the starting lineup. We know you’re probably getting sick of the Hunter rumor, but if he’s been dropped, it’s not a bad week to take another flier. … Speaking of rumors, Cordarrelle Patterson has devolved to WR4/5 bench stash, albeit one who’s still a weekly threat to blow up.

Week 6 Tight Ends

TE Notes: Julius Thomas leads all pass catchers with seven touchdowns. That puts him on pace for 28. He won’t get there, but Peyton Manning has a clear leader atop his red-zone totem pole. … Rob Gronkowski isn’t just coming off his best game of the season (6/100/1), but his highest snap count (69-of-87), as well. Now he’s absent from the Week 6 injury report. Gronk could still have it in him to make a run at Jimmy Graham and Thomas. … No. 3 in average tight end points, Greg Olsen is third in tight-end targets (40). He has a strong chance at a top-five finish. … Fourth in tight-end targets? Delanie Walker, who’s squaring off with a Jaguars team that’s been entirely unable to contain rival tight ends. Walker is on pace for 104/1,165/10 one season after posting 60/571/6.

Jordan Cameron secured just 3-of-7 targets for 33 yards in his Week 5 return, but avoided setbacks with his troublesome shoulder. A player the Browns have to get going, Cameron could have a nice day against a Steelers defense allowing the 11th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. … Coming off his Week 5 goose egg, Larry Donnell said he drew extra defensive attention. Coach Tom Coughlin disputed that fact, but there’s no denying that Donnell has gone from obscure to bonafide TE1. Donnell has caught fewer than six passes only twice, and fewer than five just once. He should bounce back against the Eagles. … Antonio Gates has five touchdowns, but he’s scored in just 2-of-5 games. He’s also totaled only eight catches over the past three weeks. Gates remains Philip Rivers’ favorite red-zone target, but he’s got stiff competition from Eddie Royal, Malcom Floyd and Keenan Allen.

Although Jordan Reed (hamstring) hasn’t played since Week 1, he’s worth getting aggressive with against a Cardinals defense that still struggles to stop tight ends. … Vernon Davis (back) is day to day, but will be a top-12 option if he’s active for Monday Night Football. … Dwayne Allen has only 15 catches, but four of them have gone for six. That’s enough to make him a top-15 option in a thin year at tight end. … With Calvin Johnson (ankle) likely to be ruled out ahead of time instead of being limited or a game-time decision, don’t be surprised if the Lions install some extra plays for Eric Ebron. … With a mere 14 catches through four games, Charles Clay simply isn’t on the radar, even with the Dolphins coming off bye. That could change if he proves his knee got healthy during Miami’s week off. … Luke Willson is a compelling dart throw against a Cowboys team allowing the most fantasy points to rival tight ends.

Week 6 Kickers

Week 6 Defense/Special Teams

Oliver to Darren Sproles — including his own teammates — but it looked warranted and then some on Sunday. Like Antonio Gates said, Oliver has looked like Sproles with more power. The first thing that sticks out about Oliver’s game is how low he gets, and it’s not just because he’s short. Oliver, after all, is not the only NFL back in the 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 range. Oliver’s center of gravity is somewhere between Eddie Gaedel and Ann Veal. Like Gaedel, he’s too short for it to be a fair fight with hulking linebackers and safeties. Like Veal, he Does. Not. Go. Down.

Oliver weaved through the Jets’ No. 1 run defense like a pinball come to life, displaying quick feet and cuts so fluid that he looked like a shark in water. Like any good running back, Oliver was always moving forward, treating the line of scrimmage like a launching pad instead of a think tank. When he did get bogged down in the pile, he moved it.

In the open field, Oliver might as well have been Allen Iverson, using his quicks and devastating shoulder fakes to literally make Jets defenders fall over. His 182 yards from scrimmage were the most by any Chargers back since LaDainian Tomlinson in December 2007. Again, this was against the league’s best run defense, one that had allowed only one 100-yard rushing performance since the start of last season. There was nothing cheap about Oliver’s breakout, and now he has a chance to prove it wasn’t a fluke against a team allowing 4.56 yards per carry to running backs, and 158.3 rushing yards per game.

Oliver’s moment in the sun may be short lived, as Mathews could return as early as Week 8. But in the sun he is, and he’ll be shining like an RB1 in Week 6.

Week 6 Quarterbacks

QB Notes: Peyton Manning has played 244 career games. That’s over four and a half years of Sundays. On Sunday 1, he threw for 302 yards. On Sunday 244, he threw for 479, the most of his 16-year career. Manning’s reward is a date with the Jets, a team allowing the fourth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Keep Rex Ryan in your thoughts. … Aaron Rodgers since imploring Packers fans to relax: 34-of-45 (75.5 percent) for 458 yards (10.2 YPA) and a 7:0 TD:INT ratio. Maybe the man was on to something. … Andrew Luck is averaging 3.1 more fantasy points per game than Peyton Manning. He’s putting up a weekly 323 yards and 2.8 touchdowns. Don’t count on a Thursday night game slowing him down. … Matt Ryan is home for Week 6, but it remains to be seen how he’ll fare behind Atlanta’s ramshackle offensive line. Sunday’s loss was a not a promising start, as Ryan was relentlessly pressured. Thankfully, the Bears are not an imposing matchup on the Georgia Dome’s fast track. Chicago has generated 11 sacks, but gotten smoked by the pass. There are legitimate concerns about Ryan’s long-term outlook, but Sunday isn’t a worry.

Averaging 2.75 scores over his past four starts, Philip Rivers will face little resistance from an Oakland defense that’s tallied only four sacks, and is allowing a league-worst 72.4 completion percentage. Rivers leads the league in both completion percentage (70.3) and YPA (8.75). … The bad news? Jay Cutler has already had three multi-interception games. The good news? He’s had five multi-TD games, and finally has Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery both back to full health. Only the Jaguars are allowing more yards per attempt to opposing passers than Atlanta (8.2). Cutler will keep rolling Sunday. … Would you guess Russell Wilson is a top-five fantasy quarterback through the season’s first five weeks? He is, averaging 25.4 points, putting him behind only Luck, Manning, Cutler and Ryan. He should continue the slow, but steady, exposure of Dallas’ defense. … If you’re still not convinced Eli Manning is “back,” Sunday might finally do the trick. No team has allowed more passing touchdowns (13) than the Eagles, while only two — Jacksonville and Tampa Bay — have coughed up more yards. Working on four straight multi-score games, Eli should easily make it five in Philly.

The word is slowly getting out about Nick Foles’ struggles, but it’s been hard for owners to care as he’s averaged 276 passing yards and 21.2 fantasy points. But even coach Chip Kelly has acknowledged Foles’ 2014 deficiencies, specifically his footwork. As former Rotoworlder Chris Wesseling points out, it’s fair to argue that Foles has been outplayed by his quarterback counterpart in all five games this season. Something may soon have to give. For now, Foles remains an every-week QB1, but owners would be wise to have a back-up plan in case his play continues to spiral. … The Browns’ defense was supposed to be a strength, but it’s been reeling ever since Ben Roethlisberger rolled up 365 yards in Week 1. Big Ben should have a nice Week 6 encore. … As Calvin Johnson’s health has gone downhill, so has Matthew Stafford’s play. With Megatron (ankle) looking extremely questionable for Week 6, even No. 11 may prove generous for a quarterback who had been making major strides.

Carson Palmer is third in average quarterback fantasy points. The problem? He’s played one game. Palmer is tentatively on track to return for Week 6 after getting in a limited practice on Wednesday, but coach Bruce Arians wants to see him go “full” at least once before declaring him back. The matchup, a home date with the Redskins, could scarcely be more inviting for Palmer’s return. … Cam Newton will return to the land of the every-week QB1 once he re-establishes a running threat. He managed just nine yards on six rushes in Sunday’s win over the Bears. … Joe Flacco is currently fantasy’s No. 18 quarterback after finishing No. 22 in average points a season ago. Few teams have been as bad against the pass as Tampa Bay. … Tony Romo doesn’t seem like a likely survivor of a trip to Seattle, does he? … Andy Dalton is a Week 6 no go with A.J. Green (toe) on the shelf. … Keep Kyle Orton benched against the Patriots’ impressive pass defense. … Teddy Bridgewater isn’t an option against a Lions defense playing as well as any in the league.

Tom Brady subverted his Week 5 expectations in a big way, but this is still a quarterback averaging just 15.8 points per game. Brady’s “outburst” against the Bengals was his first multi-touchdown effort of the season, while his YPA is still an anemic 6.30. In other words, Week 5 was a huge step in the right direction, but it would be absurd to declare Brady out of the woods after only one game. … Carving up the Raiders in London is one thing. Doing it to literally anyone else in any other location is another. Like Brady, Ryan Tannehill remains on probation despite a strong effort his last time out. … Kirk Cousins showed impressive mettle in bouncing back against the Seahawks at home, but it’s been well established that he’s capable of strong one-off performances. Consistency remains his Achilles’ heel. … Things finally get real for Austin Davis this week. Davis finds himself near the top of the leaderboard in an impressive amount of categories, but he’s gotten fat on plum matchups. If he can keep rolling against the 49ers, who are allowing the fifth fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, then we might really be on to something.

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Week 6 Running Backs

RB Notes: One of the league’s worst run defenses any way you look at it, the Falcons are also getting smoked by runners through the air, coughing up 31 RB receptions for 298 yards. They don’t make worse matchups for Atlanta than Matt Forte. … The facade is slowly crumbling in Dallas, as the Cowboys are allowing 5.2 yards per carry, second to only the Panthers. Marshawn Lynch should have a field day at home, and is perhaps the best bet in all of football to score a touchdown this weekend. … Le'Veon Bell is third in running back fantasy points. The Browns have allowed the third most fantasy points to enemy runners. Math is fun. … DeMarco Murray is the clear No. 1 runner this season, but the Seahawks are the clear No. 1 run defense. That gives us a mouthwatering irresistible force/immovable object scenario for Week 6. The Seahawks are allowing 2.6 yards per carry — exactly half of what Murray is averaging. Get your popcorn ready.

The short week was a concern for Arian Foster (hamstring) after he touched the ball 25 times in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, but he’s listed as probable. That means the Texans think he’s ready to carry the mail again. Foster is fourth in total running back fantasy points despite being healthy for essentially three games. He’s still a force to be reckoned with … when he plays. … LeSean McCoy has yet to average four yards per carry in any game this season, and is managing a pathetic 2.26 over his past three. The Giants are an intriguing matchup, but less so if Jon Beason (toe) returns. McCoy’s workload keeps him in the RB1 mix, but fireworks shouldn’t be expected. … Eddie Lacy finally broke out of the sub-50 yard doldrums in Week 5, but has a tough matchup in a Dolphins run defense permitting just 3.8 yards per carry. With three scores over his past two games, however, Lacy has re-established his high-end floor. … Frank Gore is fantasy’s No. 11 runner through the season’s first five weeks. Old dudes don’t fade like they used to.

That’s why Andre Ellington has been ranked so high every week. Volume and big-play ability are a tasty combination. Ellington is going to stress the Redskins’ defense. … With three-down workhorse Rashad Jennings (MCL) likely sidelined through the Giants’ Week 8 bye, rookie Andre Williams is the next man up. A 2013 Heisman finalist for Boston College, Williams is a violent downhill runner, one who has found the end zone in each of his past two games. Typically leery of rookies, coach Tom Coughlin is “very confident” in Williams’ ability to take on a bigger role in the absence of Jennings. Williams will not lack for volume and scoring opportunities in what could be a shootout with the Eagles. … With rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West running well in his absence, Ben Tate (knee) appeared unlikely to parachute back into a workhorse role upon his return. But that’s exactly what he did in Week 5, taking the rock 22 times for 123 yards. The lead dog for an offense that wants to run the ball down other teams’ throats, Tate will be an RB2 for however long he can remain healthy.

It isn’t entirely clear how Knowshon Moreno (elbow) will be utilized upon his return from a monthlong absence — his ranking could change with new information — but there’s been little to suggest the Dolphins will deviate from the formula that worked so well in Week 1. That’s slamming Moreno between the tackles, and using Lamar Miller to change the pace. Miller is averaging an eye-popping 5.7 yards per tote, but has surpassed 12 carries just once this season. That suggests Miami still believes he’s a complimentary piece, and not a lead dog. Treat Miller as an upside RB2, and Moreno as a high-floor RB2. … Being utilized similarly to Ahmad Bradshaw, Justin Forsett is racking up receptions and red-zone snaps. He’s an unlikely RB2, but an RB2 nonetheless. … Fred Jackson has outgained C.J. Spiller 429-321 despite logging seven fewer touches (Spiller has 75 to F-Jax’s 68). The Patriots are far-more vulnerable on the ground than in the air, and Jackson is more likely than Spiller to take advantage. Frustratingly, both players remain stuck on one offensive touchdown.

Despite the Bucs’ apparent faith in him, Doug Martin is running his way out of RB2 status. … The opportunity is great for Ronnie Hillman, but the matchup is forbidding in the Jets. Also working against Hillman is the prospect of C.J. Anderson or Juwan Thompson vulturing goal-line carries. Working for Hillman is the fact that similarly-sized jitterbug Branden Oliver ran all over New York in Week 5, while Peyton Manning guarantees his running back will be put in position to succeed. Hillman is a boom-or-bust RB2 as he gets his first close up in place of Montee Ball (groin). … Joique Bell (concussion) appears on track to return. Reggie Bush (ankle) does not. … Zac Stacy (calf) will play, but his grip on lead duties is becoming increasingly tenuous. He’s a high-risk RB2 with RB4 downside. … Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will be hard pressed to repeat their Week 5 success against the Bills’ impressive front. Buffalo had graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 run defense. … Believe Bishop Sankey when you see it. … Don’t count on Atlanta following through on its word to increase Antone Smith’s role. … Storm Johnson is the favorite to lead Jacksonville in carries this weekend.

Week 6 Receivers

WR Notes: Julio Jones is on pace for 128/1,767/10. Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff has done a lot of things wrong. Trading up for one of the best players in the NFL wasn’t one of them. … Catching eight passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns? That’s one way to break a slump. Demaryius Thomas is now on pace for 84/1,468/12, and a legit threat to match last year’s top-three finish. The Jets’ undermanned secondary doesn’t have a prayer of stopping Peyton Manning’s No. 1 receiver. … Antonio Brown has been Joe Haden’s tormentor, including in Week 1 where he stung him for 5/116/1. Brown has eclipsed 5/50 in an NFL record 21 consecutive games. … Jordy Nelson’s 15.44 yards per catch leads all wideouts with at least 30 grabs. … DeMarco Murray and the Seahawks’ run defense won’t be the only matchup to watch in Sunday’s game. There will also be Dez Bryant and the Legion of Boom. The sides haven’t squared off since Week 2 2012, where Bryant was held to three grabs for 17 yards.

Speaking Monday, Bears coach Marc Trestman said he had to get Brandon Marshall more touches. Translation: He’s going to get Marshall more touches, forcing the issue against the Falcons. No longer listed on the injury report, Marshall is primed to explode following his quiet Weeks 3-5. … Only Julio Jones has drawn as many targets as Jeremy Maclin, though an inefficient Nick Foles has limited Maclin to catches on just 25 of his 57 looks. Either way, that kind of usage — combined with Maclin’s 25/429/4 line — has him locked into WR1 value for the time being. … On the one hand, Randall Cobb has been unusually touchdown dependent this season. On the other, he keeps scoring touchdowns. Cobb’s six scores through five games are second only to Julius Thomas’ seven. It remains to be seen if the pint-sized Cobb can keep up at that scoring rate, but he’s earning the benefit of the doubt. … 18 of Emmanuel Sanders’ 32 catches have come since Wes Welker’s return. Currently fantasy’s No. 11 receiver by average points, it’s looking like Sanders might be able to maintain his torrid rate.

Demaryius Thomas, unsurprisingly, is No. 2 in the NFL in yards after the catch. No. 1? Golden Tate, with 233 of his 451 yards coming after he first touches the ball. What you might not realize is that, like Thomas, that’s also par for the course for Tate, who was No. 8 in YAC last season with 506. Tate could flirt with WR1 numbers for as long as Calvin Johnson (ankle) is sidelined. … Percy Harvin had three touchdowns called back by penalty against the Redskins. Here’s guessing coach Pete Carroll tries to make things right against the Cowboys. … Steve Smith Sr. finally had a slow week. That’s one out of five. Sr. has earned some leeway with fantasy owners, but he’s still not a bad sell high. … Victor Cruz has been a rollercoaster ride through the season’s first five weeks, but the matchup against the Eagles is impossible to ignore. No team is allowing more fantasy points to rival wideouts than Philadelphia. Although it’s true that Rueben Randle, and perhaps even Odell Beckham, are better bets for touchdowns, Cruz should soak up looks, yards and catches.

On the flipside of Steve Smith Sr. is Vincent Jackson, who’s had one good game out of five. He’s drawn 22 targets over his past two contests, however, and looked undeniably better with Mike Glennon at the controls. V-Jax remains a talent worth betting on. … It was the best of times for Kelvin Benjamin, it was the worst of times for Kelvin Benjamin. So is life for a 6-foot-5, 240 rookie receiver with breathtaking football ability, but hands of … if not stone, plaster. Benjamin will remain hit or miss, but has more than established mammoth upside. He’s a high-risk, high-reward WR2 you shouldn’t ever consider benching. … T.Y. Hilton has yet to find the end zone. That’s a shame, because he’s tied for 11th in catches (31), ninth in yards (381) and fifth in targets (50). A blow-up game shouldn’t be far away. … Michael Floyd is tied with Malcom Floyd for the league lead in yards per catch (21.6), but pretty clearly needs Carson Palmer back at the controls. … Are Roddy White and Andre Johnson fading from WR2 relevance? Not quite yet, but it’s a topic we’ll debate in this week’s Roundtable.

Keenan Allen has been one of 2014’s most-frustrating players, but has another cake matchup for Week 6. One of these days, Eddie Royal and Malcom Floyd are going to stop stealing his touchdowns. Allen is one of only 14 pass catchers to have a 10-catch game this season. … DeAndre Hopkins’ targets still haven’t caught up to his touchdowns. Beware. … Rueben Randle has drawn 10 targets in three-straight contests. Yes, Odell Beckham could start cutting into that, but if Randle is a strong bet to score his third touchdown this week. … Brian Quick is ninth in average fantasy receiver points. He could keep it up against a 49ers secondary still missing LCB Tramaine Brock (toe). … Make Eric Decker (hamstring) prove his health on the field. … Justin Hunter has finally supplanted Nate Washington in the starting lineup. We know you’re probably getting sick of the Hunter rumor, but if he’s been dropped, it’s not a bad week to take another flier. … Speaking of rumors, Cordarrelle Patterson has devolved to WR4/5 bench stash, albeit one who’s still a weekly threat to blow up.

Week 6 Tight Ends

TE Notes: Julius Thomas leads all pass catchers with seven touchdowns. That puts him on pace for 28. He won’t get there, but Peyton Manning has a clear leader atop his red-zone totem pole. … Rob Gronkowski isn’t just coming off his best game of the season (6/100/1), but his highest snap count (69-of-87), as well. Now he’s absent from the Week 6 injury report. Gronk could still have it in him to make a run at Jimmy Graham and Thomas. … No. 3 in average tight end points, Greg Olsen is third in tight-end targets (40). He has a strong chance at a top-five finish. … Fourth in tight-end targets? Delanie Walker, who’s squaring off with a Jaguars team that’s been entirely unable to contain rival tight ends. Walker is on pace for 104/1,165/10 one season after posting 60/571/6.

Jordan Cameron secured just 3-of-7 targets for 33 yards in his Week 5 return, but avoided setbacks with his troublesome shoulder. A player the Browns have to get going, Cameron could have a nice day against a Steelers defense allowing the 11th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. … Coming off his Week 5 goose egg, Larry Donnell said he drew extra defensive attention. Coach Tom Coughlin disputed that fact, but there’s no denying that Donnell has gone from obscure to bonafide TE1. Donnell has caught fewer than six passes only twice, and fewer than five just once. He should bounce back against the Eagles. … Antonio Gates has five touchdowns, but he’s scored in just 2-of-5 games. He’s also totaled only eight catches over the past three weeks. Gates remains Philip Rivers’ favorite red-zone target, but he’s got stiff competition from Eddie Royal, Malcom Floyd and Keenan Allen.

Although Jordan Reed (hamstring) hasn’t played since Week 1, he’s worth getting aggressive with against a Cardinals defense that still struggles to stop tight ends. … Vernon Davis (back) is day to day, but will be a top-12 option if he’s active for Monday Night Football. … Dwayne Allen has only 15 catches, but four of them have gone for six. That’s enough to make him a top-15 option in a thin year at tight end. … With Calvin Johnson (ankle) likely to be ruled out ahead of time instead of being limited or a game-time decision, don’t be surprised if the Lions install some extra plays for Eric Ebron. … With a mere 14 catches through four games, Charles Clay simply isn’t on the radar, even with the Dolphins coming off bye. That could change if he proves his knee got healthy during Miami’s week off. … Luke Willson is a compelling dart throw against a Cowboys team allowing the most fantasy points to rival tight ends.

Week 6 Kickers

Week 6 Defense/Special Teams