2023 Fantasy Football Week 7 Target Report Preview: Sam LaPorta Continues Top-5 Tight End Run

Published: Oct 19, 2023

Updated: Oct 19, 2023

Targets are paramount when it comes to evaluating pass-catchers for fantasy football. There are no air yards, receiving yards, receptions, or touchdowns without first earning a target. And to earn a target, you need to be deemed “open” by the quarterback. It’s one big trickle-down effect. There’s a reason the biggest and most consistent target-earners are near the top of fantasy football ADP: They can be relied on by not just their team’s offense to earn targets and produce on those targets, but that also trickles down to the fantasy managers drafting those pass-catchers and starting them in their lineups each week.

In this season’s Fantasy Football Target Report, we’ll take a weekly team-by-team look into these target earners and separate the wheat from the chaff. To properly lead into what we’ll be looking at this season, we’ll have to establish a baseline of the most important things we’re looking at with targets and other receiving metrics that paint the full picture for who we should be rostering, who we should be adding, and who we can drop. Combing the box score stats doesn’t paint a clear picture of the players we should target, roster, and start. Fantasy football rankings can only paint so much of the picture as well.

Everything we’ll be talking about here and this season in this season’s Fantasy Football Target Report will be some of the best statistics and metrics that correlate with fantasy football production. Think of targets as a page in a coloring book, just the outline yet to be colored. Coloring on that page adds context and flavor to that page. That’s what we’ll be doing with targets — adding more context than just some target totals and saying, “go add this player,” which doesn’t help anybody.

This season, we're adding a video component, so if you want to get some of the juiciest nuggets of the target report in video form, check out the Target Report Bulletpoints for the upcoming Week 7!

	LEGEND
Targets	Passes thrown in the direction of a receiver, whether intended or not
Receptions	Passes caught by a pass-catcher
Rec. Yards	Yards gained from a completed pass by the pass-catcher.
TD	Receiving touchdowns
Air Yards	The distance between where the pass is thrown from a quarterback to where the intended receiver either catches or doesn’t catch the ball. Caught or not caught, the air yards are recorded regardless. This statistic is significant for determining the quarterback and coaching staff's predictive value in an offense and their intent.
Air Yards Team Share %	A pass-catcher’s percentage share of a team's air yards in a given week.
Route %	Percentage of routes a pass-catcher runs on a pass play per dropback on their team.
Snap %	Percentage of snaps a pass-catcher plays on an offensive series on their team.
Target Share %	Percentage of targets a pass-catcher receives in a given week on their team.
Yards per Target	Receiving yards a player gets on average per target. YPT is another intent-based metric but more predictive with the more targets a player receives.
TPRR	Targets per route run (TPRR) is a metric that measures how often a receiver is targeted vs. the amount of routes they run. A higher TPRR means that the player is better at earning targets when he's on the field. A low raw route number or low route % coupled with a high TPRR means that the pass-catcher is efficient at earning targets and could be in line for more routes depending on the team situation. 25%+ TPRR = Elite 17-18% = Close to replacement level Sub 17% = Not fantasy relevant
aDOT	aDOT is "average depth of target". It’s the average depth of all targets caught or incomplete by a targeted pass-catcher. Shows how a receiver is used in his team’s offense (vertical threat, short area target, etc.)
YPRR	A metric that contextualizes the efficiency of a pass-catcher with how many receiving yards per route run. It's a much better metric than yards per reception.
WOPR	WOPR is a weighted average incorporating a player's share of team targets and air yards.
RACR	RACR is a ratio dividing receiving yards by total air yards. It measures how many receiving yards a player creates for every air yard thrown at him. The percentage of a team's air yards that a player commands based on his average depth of target and volume of targets. Most RACR numbers for running backs skew wildly by the nature of the running back position, which rarely earns air yards.

Bye Weeks:

Week 5: ~~CLE, LAC, SEA, TB~~
Week 6: GB, PIT
Week 7: CAR, CIN, DAL, HOU, NYJ, TEN
Week 9: DEN, DET, JAX, SF
Week 10: KC, LAR, MIA, PHI
Week 11: ATL, IND, NE, NO
Week 13: BAL, BUF, CHI, LV, MIN, NYG
Week 14: ARI, WAS

NOTE:

Always Start Your Studs: These are players you should be starting in all formats, regardless of matchup. Use your judgment in shallower leagues where startable players are plentiful.
Start ‘Em: Players that should be starting most weeks on your fantasy rosters.
Keep Them Rostered: Players that should be rostered in most formats but shouldn't be started unless you’re in a pinch or during bye weeks. Maybe they’re not startable due to various issues like a backup quarterback playing, a player coming back from injury, a contingent running back, or are just unproductive, consistent, or dependable at the moment. League size designations or other designations (bench stash, etc.) will be in parenthesis next to players for deeper leagues. Depending on your league, this is a general recommendation, so use your best judgment.
Example: Parris Campbell (deeper 12 & 14-team), Jerome Ford (bench stash).
Add ‘Em: Players that warrant an add due to circumstances, productivity, or metrics that show they’re being utilized heavily in their offenses. These will usually have a format that they should be added in.
Listing a player as “12-team leagues” assumes that player also be an addition in deeper 12-team and 14-team formats as well.
Dump ‘Em: Players that you should be dropping from your rosters. Use your judgment in deeper leagues where players with usefulness on waivers aren’t as plentiful.
Any player not listed in any of these categories for a particular team is assumed to not be rosterable in most fantasy formats.

All statistics below are listed in the following format:

WR/TE as:
- (10-4-100-2) Targets - Receptions - Rec. Yds. - TD
RB as:
- (18-75-1; 10-4-100-2) Rush Att. - Rush Yds. - TD; Targets - Receptions - Rec. Yds. - TD

NFL Target Report

Arizona Cardinals

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Marquise Brown	WR	11	4	34	0	183	47.8%	89.1%	89.5%	28.9%	3.1	26.8%	16.6	0.83	0.769	0.186	41	68
Rondale Moore	WR	7	4	30	0	1	0.3%	69.6%	65.8%	18.4%	4.3	21.9%	0.1	0.94	0.278	30.000	32	50
Zach Pascal	WR	1	0	0	0	19	5.0%	13.0%	14.5%	2.6%	0.0	16.7%	19.0	0.00	0.074	0.000	6	11
Michael Wilson	WR	4	3	62	0	60	15.7%	89.1%	88.2%	10.5%	15.5	9.8%	15.0	1.51	0.268	1.033	41	67
Greg Dortch	WR	1	0	0	0	37	9.7%	28.3%	21.1%	2.6%	0.0	7.7%	37.0	0.00	0.107	0.000	13	16
Zach Ertz	TE	5	2	22	0	45	11.7%	52.2%	46.1%	13.2%	4.4	20.8%	9.0	0.92	0.280	0.489	24	35
Trey McBride	TE	5	4	62	0	37	9.7%	45.7%	57.9%	13.2%	12.4	23.8%	7.4	2.95	0.265	1.676	21	44
Geoff Swaim	TE						0.0%	2.2%	19.7%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	15
Keaontay Ingram	RB	2	2	11	0	-3	-0.8%	23.9%	36.8%	5.3%	5.5	18.2%	-1.5	1.00	0.073	-3.667	11	28
Emari Demercado	RB	1	1	6	0	3	0.8%	58.7%	43.4%	2.6%	6.0	3.7%	3.0	0.22	0.045	2.000	27	33
Damien Williams	RB	1	1	8	0	1	0.3%	6.5%	17.1%	2.6%	8.0	33.3%	1.0	2.67	0.041	8.000	3	13

In a game where the Cardinals were wholly more uncompetitive than a 26-9 score looked on the surface, Marquise Brown (11-4-34) seemed to suffer with a lack of efficiency that comes with a quarterback like Joshua Dobbs playing over his skis for a bit and then coming back down to earth. Rondale Moore (7-4-30) and Michael Wilson (4-3-62) were involved but were just “shrug your shoulder” plays and don’t inspire much confidence; not that ancillary Cardinals receivers should.

Trey McBride (5-4-62) is clearly the more athletic, exciting tight end option in Arizona and it seems like he’s being given much more of a shot over noted glacier Zach Ertz (5-2-22), whose routes cratered from over 83% in the last two weeks to just 52% in Week 6. McBride saw a season-high 46% routes himself and while that’s not exactly super enticing from a fantasy perspective, he saw five targets on that and Ertz and McBride are two fantasy tight end ships passing in the night with McBride benefitting. Through all of the Michael Mayer hoopla, McBride is a great consolation prize in his own right as the top tight end coming out of Colorado St. in 2022.

For this run game, we saw noted former dustball Damien Williams (8-36; 1-1-8; 17% snaps) admittedly look like he had some gas left in the tank. Keaontay Ingram (10-40; 2-2-11; 37% snaps, 24% routes) had the most carries on the day while taking a backseat in snaps and routes to Emari Demercado (2-11; 1-1-6; 43% snaps; 59% routes), but Demercado didn’t see close to the same opportunity that Ingram and Williams saw. I’m still prioritizing Ingram here if you’re in a pinch and need some kind of running back production on the waiver wire.

Week 6 Arizona Cardinals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Marquise Brown

Keep Them Rostered: James Conner (placed on IR), Keaontay Ingram, Joshua Dobbs (deeper 12 & 14 team), Michael Wilson (14 team), Rondale Moore (14 team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Atlanta Falcons

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Drake London	WR	12	9	125	0	132	32.8%	82.7%	81.9%	29.3%	10.4	27.9%	11.0	2.91	0.669	0.947	43	68
Mack Hollins	WR	4	3	41	0	32	8.0%	25.0%	34.9%	9.8%	10.3	30.8%	8.0	3.15	0.202	1.281	13	29
KhaDarel Hodge	WR	1	0	0	0	22	5.5%	34.6%	33.7%	2.4%	0.0	5.6%	22.0	0.00	0.075	0.000	18	28
Scott Miller	WR	2	1	4	0	11	2.7%	32.7%	33.7%	4.9%	2.0	11.8%	5.5	0.24	0.092	0.364	17	28
Van Jefferson	WR	1	0	0	0	58	14.4%	28.8%	26.5%	2.4%	0.0	6.7%	58.0	0.00	0.138	0.000	15	22
Kyle Pitts	TE	6	4	43	1	57	14.2%	65.4%	55.4%	14.6%	7.2	17.6%	9.5	1.26	0.319	0.754	34	46
Jonnu Smith	TE	5	4	36	1	48	11.9%	63.5%	54.2%	12.2%	7.2	15.2%	9.6	1.09	0.267	0.750	33	45
MyCole Pruitt	TE	2	1	9	0	6	1.5%	23.1%	37.3%	4.9%	4.5	16.7%	3.0	0.75	0.084	1.500	12	31
Bijan Robinson	RB	7	5	43	0	40	10.0%	86.5%	77.1%	17.1%	6.1	15.6%	5.7	0.96	0.326	1.075	45	64
Tyler Allgeier	RB	1	0	0	0	-4	-1.0%	15.4%	27.7%	2.4%	0.0	12.5%	-4.0	0.00	0.030	0.000	8	23
Cordarrelle Patterson	RB						0.0%	17.3%	13.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	9	11
Keith Smith	FB						0.0%	7.7%	19.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	16

Desmond Ridder attempted 47 passes, so there’s hope for the Falcons yet! Unless it was some kind of Jedi mind-trick by Arthur Smith to try and appease us lowly fantasy football players with how the team used Drake London (12-9-125) and Kyle Pitts (6-4-43-1) in Week 6.

Pitts got a touchdown on the board very early and London dominated the Commanders at almost every turn. The talent is never in question with London, but it’s the environment and weird decisions to go away from their best players that have gotten in the way of success. It was for naught, as Ridder threw three interceptions including a backbreaker to seal the game for Washington and give Ridder his first home loss in college or the pros.

Giving Bijan Robinson (13-37; 8-5-43) an expanded role in the passing game is all well and good, but splitting up the rushing workload 50/50 with Tyler Allgeier (13-51; 1-0-0) should never be in the cards in Week 6. We can’t be all the way mad though; you have to figure the massive workloads and fantasy ceiling games are coming.

Week 6 Atlanta Falcons Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Bijan Robinson

Start ‘Em: Drake London, Kyle Pitts

Keep Them Rostered: Jonnu Smith (TE streamer; deeper 12 & 14-team), Tyler Allgeier (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Baltimore Ravens

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Rashod Bateman	WR	3	2	15	0	22	9.9%	51.4%	47.9%	10.3%	5.0	15.8%	7.3	0.79	0.224	0.682	19	34
Odell Beckham.	WR	4	2	34	0	27	12.1%	43.2%	40.8%	13.8%	8.5	25.0%	6.8	2.13	0.292	1.259	16	29
Zay Flowers	WR	8	6	50	1	58	26.0%	89.2%	88.7%	27.6%	6.3	24.2%	7.3	1.52	0.596	0.862	33	63
Nelson Agholor	WR	3	2	40	0	38	17.0%	62.2%	52.1%	10.3%	13.3	13.0%	12.7	1.74	0.274	1.053	23	37
Devin Duvernay	WR						0.0%	18.9%	21.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	7	15
Mark Andrews	TE	6	4	69	0	90	40.4%	89.2%	84.5%	20.7%	11.5	18.2%	15.0	2.09	0.593	0.767	33	60
Isaiah Likely	TE						0.0%	13.5%	23.9%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	17
Charlie Kolar	TE						0.0%	0.0%	8.5%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	6
Gus Edwards	RB	1	1	12	0	2	0.9%	51.4%	62.0%	3.4%	12.0	5.3%	2.0	0.63	0.058	6.000	19	44
Justice Hill	RB	3	3	0	0	-16	-7.2%	29.7%	38.0%	10.3%	0.0	27.3%	-5.3	0.00	0.105	0.000	11	27
Patrick Ricard	FB	1	1	3	0	2	0.9%	16.2%	32.4%	3.4%	3.0	16.7%	2.0	0.50	0.058	1.500	6	23

The Ravens were fully content on running the ball (57% run rate) against the Titans’ stout run defense, which made sense to nobody considering their pass defense has been something every other opponent has exploited. But that’s why I’m writing about it and not calling offensive plays.

Zay Flowers (8-6-50-1) and Mark Andrews (6-4-69) are the only players in this passing game worth your time, as those two accounted for almost 50% of the targets in Week 6. Rashod Bateman (3-2-15; 51% routes) is clearly not capable of producing at the level we expected him to right now, so he can’t be on any fantasy rosters.

Leading this backfield still is Gus Edwards (16-41; 1-1-12) but Justice Hill works in as a change of pace. The thought was that Keaton Mitchell would work his way into the running back rotation in Week 6, but he didn’t play an offensive snap despite being active.

Week 6 Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Zay Flowers

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Gus Edwards (deeper 12 & 14-team), Justice Hill (deeper 12 & 14-team), Odell Beckham (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Buffalo Bills

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Stefon Diggs	WR	16	10	100	0	153	65.1%	100.0%	93.4%	55.2%	6.3	50.0%	9.6	3.13	1.283	0.654	32	57
Gabe Davis	WR	4	3	21	0	37	15.7%	78.1%	88.5%	13.8%	5.3	16.0%	9.3	0.84	0.317	0.568	25	54
Trent Sherfield	WR						0.0%	46.9%	36.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	15	22
Deonte Harty	WR	1	1	3	1	-7	-3.0%	28.1%	16.4%	3.4%	3.0	11.1%	-7.0	0.33	0.031	-0.429	9	10
Khalil Shakir	WR	1	1	13	0	1	0.4%	15.6%	39.3%	3.4%	13.0	20.0%	1.0	2.60	0.055	13.000	5	24
Dawson Knox	TE	6	3	17	0	36	15.3%	71.9%	75.4%	20.7%	2.8	26.1%	6.0	0.74	0.418	0.472	23	46
Quintin Morris	TE	1	1	15	1	15	6.4%	21.9%	29.5%	3.4%	15.0	14.3%	15.0	2.14	0.096	1.000	7	18
James Cook	RB						0.0%	46.9%	49.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	15	30
Damien Harris	RB						0.0%	0.0%	1.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	1
Latavius Murray	RB						0.0%	40.6%	49.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	13	30
Reggie Gilliam	FB						0.0%	3.1%	8.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	5

This is a one-man show in the passing game and that’s Stefon Diggs (16-10-100). I feel bad that I didn’t get enough exposure to him in both best ball and season-long leagues as I faded him a little bit due to some of the sideline concerns from last season’s playoffs and the fact that he is a bit older. That said, that’s a flaw in my own personal game and Diggs is very much a monster producer in an elite offense. Sometimes, football doesn’t have to be difficult.

With no Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox (6-3-17) saw 70%+ routes but, didn’t do much with it in a game where Buffalo clearly had their struggles on offense putting up only 14 points.

It’s clear at this point that the Bills just don’t fully trust James Cook (14-71) to take full control of the running back workload and Latavius Murray (12-45) is going to have a pretty good role while he’s still upright. Murray has admittedly looked pretty good as the oldest running back currently employed in the NFL. Murray saw his first game above 32% snaps with 49% in Week 6 and if he’s sitting there going forward in terms of the workload split, then Cook can’t be anything more than a low-end RB2 unless his efficiency spikes off the page. That hasn’t been the case at any point this season, and that may be the rub here.

Week 6 Buffalo Bills Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs

Start ‘Em: James Cook, Gabe Davis

Keep Them Rostered: Latavius Murray (contingent play; deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Carolina Panthers

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Adam Thielen	WR	13	11	115	1	120	42.1%	90.5%	80.9%	37.1%	8.8	34.2%	9.2	3.03	0.852	0.958	38	55
DJ Chark	WR	6	3	26	0	65	22.8%	64.3%	67.6%	17.1%	4.3	22.2%	10.8	0.96	0.417	0.400	27	46
Jonathan Mingo	WR	3	2	21	0	32	11.2%	95.2%	92.6%	8.6%	7.0	7.5%	10.7	0.53	0.207	0.656	40	63
Terrace Marshall	WR	3	0	0	0	30	10.5%	35.7%	30.9%	8.6%	0.0	20.0%	10.0	0.00	0.202	0.000	15	21
Laviska Shenault	WR	3	3	15	0	-8	-2.8%	11.9%	16.2%	8.6%	5.0	60.0%	-2.7	3.00	0.109	-1.875	5	11
Ihmir Smith-Marsette	WR						0.0%	7.1%	8.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	6
Hayden Hurst	TE	3	1	16	0	38	13.3%	45.2%	54.4%	8.6%	5.3	15.8%	12.7	0.84	0.222	0.421	19	37
Tommy Tremble	TE	2	2	25	0	6	2.1%	38.1%	45.6%	5.7%	12.5	12.5%	3.0	1.56	0.100	4.167	16	31
Stephen Sullivan	TE						0.0%	11.9%	8.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	6
Chuba Hubbard	RB	1	1	2	0	2	0.7%	64.3%	77.9%	2.9%	2.0	3.7%	2.0	0.07	0.048	1.000	27	53
Raheem Blackshear	RB	1	1	4	0	0	0.0%	14.3%	16.2%	2.9%	4.0	16.7%	0.0	0.67	0.043	0.000	6	11

Yada, yada, Adam Thielen (13-11-115-1) something, something.

I more than understand the entire thesis on Thielen; the people who more or less irresponsibly drafted him more than a few times are touting Thielen as a huge win. I’m not saying Thielen can’t be a huge win for 2023; I’d say he already has been. However, the entire thesis for him CONTINUING his production is fragile. The team has already said they’re looking for a #1 receiver. Bryce Young’s aDOT has come up to 7.0 yards from 6.6 in just a week. Young has looked much improved from even a week or two ago before he missed Week 3, but there’s such a gulf between Thielen’s target share and the rest of his receivers that when Young starts to push the ball downfield, it’s not going to be to Thielen. It’s going to have to be to the other guys like D.J. Chark (6-3-26; 64% routes) and Jonathan Mingo (3-2-21; 95% routes).

You can make the case that perpetually targeting Thielen is actually detrimental to Young’s progression as an NFL quarterback. He’s going to have to make NFL-level throws with accuracy at the intermediate ranges. To make a comparison to a different sport, NBA teams cannot win with just layups and short jumpers. Every Super Bowl-winning quarterback since the 2006 season has had an aDOT above 8 yards but one — last season Patrick Mahomes had a 7.5-yard aDOT. It’s also Patrick Mahomes. If you made it through my “this is why I think there’s warts with Adam Thielen for WR1” soliloquy, I appreciate you.

With no Miles Sanders, Chuba Hubbard (19-88-1; 1-1-2) took hold of the running game to pretty solid success. I’ve been banging the drum this season for the Panthers to give Hubbard much more run and he’s looked way better from the eye test than Sanders has, but Sanders was the one that was paid in free agency.

Week 6 Carolina Panthers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Adam Thielen

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Miles Sanders (missed Week 6 - shoulder), Chuba Hubbard, Jonathan Mingo (deeper 12 & 14-team), D.J. Chark (deeper 12 & 14-team), Bryce Young (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Chicago Bears

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
DJ Moore	WR	8	5	51	0	88	62.0%	100.0%	95.5%	33.3%	6.4	25.0%	11.0	1.59	0.934	0.580	32	63
Darnell Mooney	WR	3	2	48	0	12	8.5%	90.6%	78.8%	12.5%	16.0	10.3%	4.0	1.66	0.247	4.000	29	52
Tyler Scott	WR	4	2	12	0	27	19.0%	62.5%	59.1%	16.7%	3.0	20.0%	6.8	0.60	0.383	0.444	20	39
Velus Jones	WR	1	1	5	0	5	3.5%	6.3%	10.6%	4.2%	5.0	50.0%	5.0	2.50	0.087	1.000	2	7
Trent Taylor	WR	1	0	0	0	4	2.8%	6.3%	3.0%	4.2%	0.0	50.0%	4.0	0.00	0.082	0.000	2	2
Cole Kmet	TE	3	2	9	0	2	1.4%	75.0%	95.5%	12.5%	3.0	12.5%	0.7	0.38	0.197	4.500	24	63
Robert Tonyan	TE	1	1	11	0	4	2.8%	25.0%	24.2%	4.2%	11.0	12.5%	4.0	1.38	0.082	2.750	8	16
Marcedes Lewis	TE						0.0%	3.1%	24.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	16
D'Onta Foreman	RB	1	1	2	0	1	0.7%	37.5%	60.6%	4.2%	2.0	8.3%	1.0	0.17	0.067	2.000	12	40
Darrynton Evans	RB	1	1	2	0	-2	-1.4%	28.1%	36.4%	4.2%	2.0	11.1%	-2.0	0.22	0.053	-1.000	9	24
Khari Blasingame	FB	1	1	1	0	1	0.7%	6.3%	12.1%	4.2%	1.0	50.0%	1.0	0.50	0.067	1.000	2	8

The common theme for this week — which led to by far the lowest fantasy scoring week of this season — is terribly producing passing games. Case in point? Chicago, who by no fault of their own, put up a paltry 141 passing yards with Justin Fields (who left the game with a dislocated thumb) and somebody named Tyson Bagent, who I assume won a contest to be the backup quarterback for the Week 7. Amazingly enough, Bagent (I kid, he’s an actual quarterback from Shepherd University in West Virginia) may end up getting another start if Fields’ thumb isn’t in shape for him to start.

You can imagine the pass-catchers weren’t exactly overflowing with opportunity and production, with DJ Moore (8-5-51) being the only player with more than two catches and four targets.

Not wanting to subject their understudy quarterback to more torture besides losing a fumble and throwing an interception, the Bears skewed very run heavy with the lowest pass rate over expected in Week 6 (-15.9%). With Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson both out, D’Onta Foreman (15-65; 1-1-2) led the way with Darrynton Evans (9-32; 1-1-2) mixing in. Foreman likely maintains a role for the interim as Johnson gets back into the swing of things and then when Herbert comes back, is phased out like he was in the beginning of the season.

Week 6 Chicago Bears Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: DJ Moore, Justin Fields (left Week 6 - thumb)

Keep Them Rostered: Cole Kmet, Khalil Herbert (Missed Week 6 - ankle), Roschon Johnson (Missed Week 6 - concussion), D’Onta Foreman (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cincinnati Bengals

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Ja'Marr Chase	WR	13	6	80	0	127	64.8%	97.4%	90.7%	37.1%	6.2	34.2%	9.8	2.11	1.011	0.630	38	49
Tee Higgins	WR	4	2	20	0	38	19.4%	56.4%	53.7%	11.4%	5.0	18.2%	9.5	0.91	0.307	0.526	22	29
Tyler Boyd	WR	7	7	38	1	21	10.7%	97.4%	88.9%	20.0%	5.4	18.4%	3.0	1.00	0.375	1.810	38	48
Trenton Irwin	WR						0.0%	35.9%	44.4%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	14	24
Andrei Iosivas	WR	1	1	3	1	3	1.5%	15.4%	14.8%	2.9%	3.0	16.7%	3.0	0.50	0.054	1.000	6	8
Irv Smith	TE	2	1	5	0	10	5.1%	64.1%	61.1%	5.7%	2.5	8.0%	5.0	0.20	0.121	0.500	25	33
Drew Sample	TE	1	1	4	0	4	2.0%	23.1%	35.2%	2.9%	4.0	11.1%	4.0	0.44	0.057	1.000	9	19
Mitchell Wilcox	TE						0.0%	5.1%	11.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	6
Joe Mixon	RB	4	3	24	0	-2	-1.0%	48.7%	70.4%	11.4%	6.0	21.1%	-0.5	1.26	0.164	-12.000	19	38
Trayveon Williams	RB	2	2	3	0	-5	-2.6%	20.5%	16.7%	5.7%	1.5	25.0%	-2.5	0.38	0.068	-0.600	8	9
Chase Brown	RB	1	1	8	0	0	0.0%	7.7%	7.4%	2.9%	8.0	33.3%	0.0	2.67	0.043	0.000	3	4
Chris Evans	RB						0.0%	5.1%	3.7%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	2

“Well surely the Cincinnati Bengals can put up some offense in Week 6!”

*214 total yards, 46 rushing yards, 185 passing yards*

At least the Bengals didn’t continue the Joe Mixon (12-38; 4-3-24) charade for a long time here, as the team only ran the ball 15 times all game.

Ja'Marr Chase (13-6-80) is still awesome. Tee Higgins (4-2-20) was pretty much a decoy and only ran 56% of routes as he’s still hampered by his rib injury. The other usual suspect in this Bengals’ offense, Tyler Boyd (7-7-38-1) caught a touchdown and helped carry this offense underneath with just a 3.0-yard aDOT.

It really wasn’t exciting here for the Bengals; it was more of a real-life NFL win than one where Joe Burrow throws the ball around the yard and we get fun stats and highlights.

Week 6 Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

Start ‘Em: Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon

Keep Them Rostered: Tyler Boyd

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Cleveland Browns

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Amari Cooper	WR	8	4	108	0	104	42.1%	92.1%	84.2%	26.7%	13.5	22.9%	13.0	3.09	0.695	1.038	35	64
Elijah Moore	WR	4	1	19	0	47	19.0%	86.8%	80.3%	13.3%	4.8	12.1%	11.8	0.58	0.333	0.404	33	61
Donovan Peoples-Jones	WR	1	0	0	0	21	8.5%	76.3%	80.3%	3.3%	0.0	3.4%	21.0	0.00	0.110	0.000	29	61
David Bell	WR	3	1	6	0	11	4.5%	18.4%	13.2%	10.0%	2.0	42.9%	3.7	0.86	0.181	0.545	7	10
Marquise Goodwin	WR	2	1	4	0	28	11.3%	18.4%	19.7%	6.7%	2.0	28.6%	14.0	0.57	0.179	0.143	7	15
David Njoku	TE	4	3	24	0	19	7.7%	86.8%	82.9%	13.3%	6.0	12.1%	4.8	0.73	0.254	1.263	33	63
Jordan Akins	TE	2	0	0	0	17	6.9%	7.9%	9.2%	6.7%	0.0	66.7%	8.5	0.00	0.148	0.000	3	7
Harrison Bryant	TE	1	0	0	0	6	2.4%	18.4%	35.5%	3.3%	0.0	14.3%	6.0	0.00	0.067	0.000	7	27
Jerome Ford	RB	2	2	7	0	3	1.2%	34.2%	50.0%	6.7%	3.5	15.4%	1.5	0.54	0.109	2.333	13	38
Pierre Strong	RB						0.0%	0.0%	1.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	1
Kareem Hunt	RB	3	3	24	0	-9	-3.6%	34.2%	36.8%	10.0%	8.0	23.1%	-3.0	1.85	0.124	-2.667	13	28

Good defenses pitted against each other, a backup quarterback in P.J. Walker, and not-so-great weather. Clearly, offense was not on the menu in Week 6. Even if Deshaun Watson was active and/or healthy, I doubt it would have mattered. Other than Amari Cooper (8-4-108) having a quality day, no Cleveland Brown had more than 24 yards receiving.

The offense flowed through both Jerome Ford (17-84; 2-2-7) and Kareem Hunt (12-47-1; 3-3-24) as Ford saw 19-of-35 running back opportunities with Hunt seeing the other 15.

Week 6 Cleveland Browns Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Deshaun Watson (missed Week 6 - shoulder), Amari Cooper, Jerome Ford

Keep Them Rostered: Elijah Moore, David Njoku, Kareem Hunt (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Dallas Cowboys

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
CeeDee Lamb	WR	7	7	117	0	86	32.5%	97.4%	84.4%	23.3%	16.7	18.9%	12.3	3.16	0.577	1.360	37	54
Brandin Cooks	WR	4	4	36	1	30	11.3%	86.8%	78.1%	13.3%	9.0	12.1%	7.5	1.09	0.279	1.200	33	50
Michael Gallup	WR	10	3	24	0	114	43.0%	81.6%	70.3%	33.3%	2.4	32.3%	11.4	0.77	0.801	0.211	31	45
Jalen Tolbert	WR						0.0%	18.4%	23.4%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	7	15
KaVontae Turpin	WR						0.0%	0.0%	3.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	2
Jalen Brooks	WR						0.0%	2.6%	7.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	5
Jake Ferguson	TE	1	1	15	0	9	3.4%	84.2%	85.9%	3.3%	15.0	3.1%	9.0	0.47	0.074	1.667	32	55
Luke Schoonmaker	TE						0.0%	13.2%	26.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	17
Sean McKeon	TE	1	0	0	0	5	1.9%	7.9%	12.5%	3.3%	0.0	33.3%	5.0	0.00	0.063	0.000	3	8
Tony Pollard	RB	7	6	80	0	21	7.9%	57.9%	79.7%	23.3%	11.4	31.8%	3.0	3.64	0.405	3.810	22	51
Rico Dowdle	RB						0.0%	2.6%	15.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	10
Hunter Luepke	RB						0.0%	7.9%	12.5%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	8

Somehow, in 2023, Michael Gallup (10-3-24) led the Cowboys in targets while catching just three of them. Let’s not do that again, okay? Let’s keep it to CeeDee Lamb (7-7-117) and to a lesser degree, Brandin Cooks (4-4-36-1), who both caught all of their targets and Cooks brought in the lone receiving touchdown from Dak Prescott.

Tony Pollard (15-30; 7-6-80; 80% snaps) continues to slightly underperform from his huge run last season but is still a heavily featured past of the offense even if Brian Schottenheimer has him running into the interior of the offensive line as an homage to departed former Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott.

Week 6 Dallas Cowboys Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: CeeDee Lamb, Tony Pollard

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Dak Prescott, Brandin Cooks, Jake Ferguson (deeper 12 & 14-team), Michael Gallup (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Denver Broncos

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Jerry Jeudy	WR	5	3	14	0	35	29.9%	89.7%	65.4%	23.8%	2.8	19.2%	7.0	0.54	0.567	0.400	26	34
Courtland Sutton	WR	6	4	46	1	50	42.7%	96.6%	94.2%	28.6%	7.7	21.4%	8.3	1.64	0.728	0.920	28	49
Marvin Mims	WR						0.0%	24.1%	23.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	7	12
Brandon Johnson	WR	2	0	0	0	25	21.4%	34.5%	30.8%	9.5%	0.0	20.0%	12.5	0.00	0.292	0.000	10	16
Lil'Jordan Humphrey	WR						0.0%	10.3%	28.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	15
Greg Dulcich	TE	1	1	3	0	4	3.4%	31.0%	21.2%	4.8%	3.0	11.1%	4.0	0.33	0.095	0.750	9	11
Adam Trautman	TE	2	1	4	0	19	16.2%	51.7%	69.2%	9.5%	2.0	13.3%	9.5	0.27	0.257	0.211	15	36
Chris Manhertz	TE	1	0	0	0	-6	-5.1%	24.1%	46.2%	4.8%	0.0	14.3%	-6.0	0.00	0.036	0.000	7	24
Javonte Williams	RB						0.0%	17.2%	34.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	18
Samaje Perine	RB	2	2	16	0	-5	-4.3%	17.2%	17.3%	9.5%	8.0	40.0%	-2.5	3.20	0.113	-3.200	5	9
Jaleel McLaughlin	RB	2	2	12	0	-5	-4.3%	37.9%	40.4%	9.5%	6.0	18.2%	-2.5	1.09	0.113	-2.400	11	21
Michael Burton	FB						0.0%	17.2%	23.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	12

Denver threw the ball 22 times and only gained 95 yards through the air. Only Courtland Sutton (6-4-46-1) caught more than three passes and earned more than 16 yards through the air. It was as miserable as it sounds. Jerry Jeudy (5-3-14) may not be long for the Broncos as he’s been the subject of trade rumors and his performance didn’t exactly do anything to sway the team the other way. Making his return to the Broncos was Greg Dulcich (1-1-3), but he didn’t play the whole game as he seemed to reaggravate his hamstring injury. He only saw 21% of snaps before exiting Week 6’s contest.

This backfield is a three-way mess with Jaleel McLaughlin (7-30; 2-2-12) and Javonte Williams (10-52) playing about 35-40% of snaps. Samaje Perine (no carries; 2-2-16) was more or less phased out with just nine snaps on offense. Even in a pretty good home matchup with the Packers, Williams isn’t anything more than a middling flex in an offense that’s clearly non-functional in most aspects.

Week 6 Denver Broncos Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Courtland Sutton, Javonte Williams

Keep Them Rostered: Jerry Jeudy, Jaleel McLaughlin, Samaje Perine (deeper 12 & 14-team), Russell Wilson (deeper 12 & 14-team), Marvin Mims (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Detroit Lions

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Amon-Ra St. Brown	WR	15	12	124	1	66	23.2%	91.7%	91.4%	36.6%	8.3	34.1%	4.4	2.82	0.711	1.879	44	64
Jameson Williams	WR	3	2	53	1	70	24.6%	18.8%	22.9%	7.3%	17.7	33.3%	23.3	5.89	0.282	0.757	9	16
Kalif Raymond	WR	3	3	23	0	19	6.7%	27.1%	21.4%	7.3%	7.7	23.1%	6.3	1.77	0.156	1.211	13	15
Josh Reynolds	WR	3	3	50	0	32	11.2%	85.4%	81.4%	7.3%	16.7	7.3%	10.7	1.22	0.188	1.563	41	57
Marvin Jones	WR	1	1	5	0	5	1.8%	29.2%	28.6%	2.4%	5.0	7.1%	5.0	0.36	0.049	1.000	14	20
Antoine Green	WR						0.0%	0.0%	5.7%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	4
Sam LaPorta	TE	11	4	36	0	101	35.4%	81.3%	82.9%	26.8%	3.3	28.2%	9.2	0.92	0.651	0.356	39	58
Brock Wright	TE	1	1	7	0	2	0.7%	47.9%	61.4%	2.4%	7.0	4.3%	2.0	0.30	0.041	3.500	23	43
Darrell Daniels	TE						0.0%	2.1%	2.9%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	2
David Montgomery	RB	1	1	19	0	-7	-2.5%	12.5%	25.7%	2.4%	19.0	16.7%	-7.0	3.17	0.019	-2.714	6	18
Craig Reynolds	RB	2	2	28	0	-6	-2.1%	60.4%	61.4%	4.9%	14.0	6.9%	-3.0	0.97	0.058	-4.667	29	43
Devine Ozigbo	RB	1	1	8	0	3	1.1%	4.2%	8.6%	2.4%	8.0	50.0%	3.0	4.00	0.044	2.667	2	6

The Lions didn’t have to expend much energy in this one to put their foot on the Bucs and handle them easily while only scoring 20 points. David Montgomery (6-14; 1-1-19) left early in Week 6 with a rib cartilage that is expected to have him miss Week 7. Craig Reynolds (10-15; 2-2-28) stepped in and didn’t really do much of anything himself, but the Lions skewed much more pass-heavy (13.6% pass rate over expected) than at any point in 2023 and certainly under Dan Campbell as a pivot to losing Montgomery.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (15-12-124-1) proved he is extremely #good. Sam LaPorta (11-4-36) saw a bunch of targets but it was expected he’d have a tougher day than normal with his calf injury and that was certainly the case. It was still highly encouraging to see Jared Goff try to get him involved to this degree despite his 50/50 availability leading up to inactives on Sunday morning. Jameson Williams caught his first touchdown of the season but his routes inexplicably went from 50% last week to 19% this week for “reasons”.

Week 6 Detroit Lions Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, David Montgomery (left Week 6 - rib; expected to miss Week 7)

Start ‘Em: Jahmyr Gibbs (missed Week 6 - hamstring), Jared Goff

Keep Them Rostered: Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds (14 team)

Add ‘Em: Craig Reynolds (with Montgomery out and Gibbs likely back but limited, could be a sneaky play in Week 7)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Green Bay Packers

BYE WEEK

Week 6 Green Bay Packers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Aaron Jones (missed Week 5 - hamstring), Christian Watson

Keep Them Rostered: Romeo Doubs, Luke Musgrave (borderline 12-team starter), AJ Dillon, Jordan Love (deeper 12 & 14-team), Jayden Reed (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Houston Texans

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Robert Woods	WR	3	1	6	1	34	15.4%	71.9%	63.5%	12.5%	2.0	13.0%	11.3	0.26	0.295	0.176	23	40
Nico Collins	WR	6	4	80	0	76	34.4%	78.1%	73.0%	25.0%	13.3	24.0%	12.7	3.20	0.616	1.053	25	46
Noah Brown	WR	5	2	37	0	42	19.0%	71.9%	55.6%	20.8%	7.4	21.7%	8.4	1.61	0.446	0.881	23	35
John Metchie	WR						0.0%	15.6%	23.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	15
Xavier Hutchinson	WR						0.0%	15.6%	19.0%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	12
Dalton Schultz	TE	7	4	61	1	52	23.5%	68.8%	63.5%	29.2%	8.7	31.8%	7.4	2.77	0.602	1.173	22	40
Teagan Quitoriano	TE						0.0%	18.8%	34.9%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	6	22
Brevin Jordan	TE	1	1	11	0	2	0.9%	6.3%	19.0%	4.2%	11.0	50.0%	2.0	5.50	0.069	5.500	2	12
Dameon Pierce	RB						0.0%	21.9%	33.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	7	21
Devin Singletary	RB	2	1	4	0	15	6.8%	56.3%	54.0%	8.3%	2.0	11.1%	7.5	0.22	0.173	0.267	18	34
Mike Boone	RB						0.0%	15.6%	15.9%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	10
Andrew Beck	FB						0.0%	25.0%	44.4%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	8	28

Solid days for a good portion of the main players here with Tank Dell out. Nico Collins (6-4-80) was solid, as was Dalton Schultz (7-4-61-1), who has seen his snaps spike up from 49% in Week 4 to Week 6’s 64%. They’re not where we’d like them to be in order to start him without though, but he’s viable… just not this week with the Texans’ bye.

While Stroud has given every opportunity for the run game to play off of a better-than-expected passing game through the first six games of this season, that hasn’t come to fruition. Over six games, Dameon Pierce (13-34) has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry, and among running backs with at least 100 snaps, is the second-worst running back in yards before contact with just 0.6.

Enter Devin Singletary (12-58; 2-1-4), who carved a big gash into the workload of Pierce with 12 carries to Pierce’s 13 in Week 6. He was much more efficient with his carries and work in all situations, especially with a lead like the Texans had against the Saints. Singletary took both short yardage snaps, 24-of-45 early-down snaps, and while Pierce did have four high-value touches to Singletary’s one, those are on deck if Pierce doesn’t gain some more efficiency with his opportunities. Pierce played a season-low 33% of snaps and 22% of routes, Singletary took 40% of rushing attempts to Pierce’s 43% after having over 60% in each game this season.

The Houston Texans’ run game gets murkier by the week and if you roster Pierce, you’re clearly finding it harder and harder to put him into a lineup, but at least the Texans have their bye this week. As for Singletary, he’s a player that you can slot into your deeper-league flex spot in Week 8 now that he’s seeing 7-12 carries per game and showing much more efficiency than Pierce.

Week 6 Houston Texans Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Nico Collins, Tank Dell (missed Week 6 - concussion), C.J. Stroud

Keep Them Rostered: Dameon Pierce, Robert Woods (deeper 12 & 14-team), Dalton Schultz (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: Devin Singletary (Pierce seeing his lowest usage yet to the benefit of Singletary, who has been much more efficient)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Indianapolis Colts

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Michael Pittman	WR	14	9	109	0	147	37.5%	100.0%	100.0%	26.9%	7.8	23.3%	10.5	1.82	0.666	0.741	60	78
Alec Pierce	WR	6	3	25	0	80	20.4%	68.3%	74.4%	11.5%	4.2	14.6%	13.3	0.61	0.316	0.313	41	58
Josh Downs	WR	8	5	21	1	39	9.9%	81.7%	78.2%	15.4%	2.6	16.3%	4.9	0.43	0.300	0.538	49	61
Isaiah McKenzie	WR	2	2	23	0	-6	-1.5%	5.0%	5.1%	3.8%	11.5	66.7%	-3.0	7.67	0.047	-3.833	3	4
Amari Rodgers	WR	2	0	0	0	30	7.7%	31.7%	25.6%	3.8%	0.0	10.5%	15.0	0.00	0.111	0.000	19	20
Mo Alie-Cox	TE						0.0%	10.0%	10.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	6	8
Kylen Granson	TE	4	3	67	0	50	12.8%	56.7%	57.7%	7.7%	16.8	11.8%	12.5	1.97	0.205	1.340	34	45
Andrew Ogletree	TE	1	0	0	0	17	4.3%	28.3%	35.9%	1.9%	0.0	5.9%	17.0	0.00	0.059	0.000	17	28
Will Mallory	TE	1	0	0	0	27	6.9%	15.0%	11.5%	1.9%	0.0	11.1%	27.0	0.00	0.077	0.000	9	9
Jonathan Taylor	RB	6	5	46	0	0	0.0%	36.7%	42.3%	11.5%	7.7	27.3%	0.0	2.09	0.173	0.000	22	33
Zack Moss	RB	7	6	38	0	6	1.5%	46.7%	50.0%	13.5%	5.4	25.0%	0.9	1.36	0.213	6.333	28	39
Trey Sermon	RB	1	0	0	0	2	0.5%	10.0%	9.0%	1.9%	0.0	16.7%	2.0	0.00	0.032	0.000	6	7

Look, when you’re down, you’re down. So rather than going full Atlanta Falcons and running the ball through it, you pass and see what you can do to get yardage quickly and extend the game. That’s what the Colts did with an 80% raw pass rate — the highest of Week 6 — and Gardner Minshew’s 55 pass attempts. That also resulted in three Minshew interceptions and a fourth turnover by way of a lost fumble. Win some, lose some.

Besides Michael Pittman (14-9-109; 100% routes) and his quality outing, a lot of the production came on running back dumpoffs and shorter-aDOT passes to Josh Downs (8-5-21-1) who was the recipient of Minshew’s lone touchdown on the day.

Both Zack Moss (7-21-1; 7-6-38) and Jonathan Taylor (8-19; 6-5-46) both made their fantasy days through the passing game as they compiled dumpoffs aside from Moss’s touchdown. As for the workload split, Moss still saw the majority of work, but Taylor was much closer with 42% snaps to Moss’s 50%. Week 7 could be the week where Taylor takes the slight majority from Moss, but it’s going to be against Cleveland; a tough ask for any running game.

Week 6 Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Michael Pittman

Start ‘Em: Zack Moss, Jonathan Taylor

Keep Them Rostered: Josh Downs, Gardner Minshew (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: Anthony Richardson (out for the 2023 season)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Calvin Ridley	WR	8	4	30	0	100	42.9%	91.4%	79.7%	28.6%	3.8	25.0%	12.5	0.94	0.729	0.300	32	51
Christian Kirk	WR	6	3	49	1	84	36.1%	88.6%	70.3%	21.4%	8.2	19.4%	14.0	1.58	0.574	0.583	31	45
Jamal Agnew	WR						0.0%	42.9%	31.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	15	20
Tim Jones	WR						0.0%	14.3%	20.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	13
Elijah Cooks	WR						0.0%	8.6%	15.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	10
Evan Engram	TE	7	7	41	0	23	9.9%	88.6%	75.0%	25.0%	5.9	22.6%	3.3	1.32	0.444	1.783	31	48
Luke Farrell	TE						0.0%	22.9%	45.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	8	29
Brenton Strange	TE	3	2	27	1	33	14.2%	28.6%	53.1%	10.7%	9.0	30.0%	11.0	2.70	0.260	0.818	10	34
Travis Etienne	RB	3	3	28	0	-8	-3.4%	57.1%	79.7%	10.7%	9.3	15.0%	-2.7	1.40	0.137	-3.500	20	51
Tank Bigsby	RB	1	1	6	0	1	0.4%	20.0%	26.6%	3.6%	6.0	14.3%	1.0	0.86	0.057	6.000	7	17
D'Ernest Johnson	RB						0.0%	2.9%	3.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	2

With no Zay Jones, targets consolidate heavily to Calvin Ridley (8-4-30), Christian Kirk (6-3-49-1), Evan Engram (7-7-41) , and Travis Etienne (18-55-2; 3-3-28). Between that quartet, they accounted for almost 86% of the targets. It’s a narrow target tree in Jacksonville, but that’s great for fantasy instead of having to wade through TE4’s and WR6’s working their way into steal touchdowns. Hilariously enough, that still did happen with rookie tight Brenton Strange (3-2-27-1) taking one of two Trevor Lawrence touchdowns.

Week 6 Jacksonville Jaguars Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Etienne, Trevor Lawrence, Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk

Start ‘Em: Evan Engram

Keep Them Rostered: Zay Jones (missed Week 6 - knee)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: Tank Bigsby (hold in super-deep leagues for contingency, but Etienne has a Alcatraz-like lockdown on this backfield)

Kansas City Chiefs

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Kadarius Toney	WR	6	3	9	1	8	4.6%	37.0%	43.7%	15.4%	1.5	35.3%	1.3	0.53	0.263	1.125	17	31
Skyy Moore	WR	4	2	22	0	38	22.0%	50.0%	52.1%	10.3%	5.5	17.4%	9.5	0.96	0.308	0.579	23	37
Marquez Valdes-Scantling	WR	1	0	0	0	7	4.0%	71.7%	56.3%	2.6%	0.0	3.0%	7.0	0.00	0.067	0.000	33	40
Rashee Rice	WR	4	4	72	0	17	9.8%	47.8%	47.9%	10.3%	18.0	18.2%	4.3	3.27	0.223	4.235	22	34
Justyn Ross	WR						0.0%	4.3%	14.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	10
Justin Watson	WR	1	0	0	0	30	17.3%	39.1%	39.4%	2.6%	0.0	5.6%	30.0	0.00	0.160	0.000	18	28
Travis Kelce	TE	9	9	124	0	84	48.6%	80.4%	69.0%	23.1%	13.8	24.3%	9.3	3.35	0.686	1.476	37	49
Noah Gray	TE	2	2	14	0	3	1.7%	43.5%	54.9%	5.1%	7.0	10.0%	1.5	0.70	0.089	4.667	20	39
Blake Bell	TE						0.0%	8.7%	19.7%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	14
Isiah Pacheco	RB	6	6	36	0	-14	-8.1%	39.1%	63.4%	15.4%	6.0	33.3%	-2.3	2.00	0.174	-2.571	18	45
Jerick McKinnon	RB	5	3	20	0	6	3.5%	39.1%	26.8%	12.8%	4.0	27.8%	1.2	1.11	0.217	3.333	18	19
Clyde Edwards-Helaire	RB	1	1	9	0	-6	-3.5%	13.0%	12.7%	2.6%	9.0	16.7%	-6.0	1.50	0.014	-1.500	6	9

Oh good, what we asked for: MORE ambiguity when it comes to the Chiefs’ pass-catchers. Justin Watson (1-0-0) hurt his elbow and will miss a handful of games and the team also completed a trade to bring back Mecole Hardman from the Jets.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (1-0-0; 72% routes) was the only Chiefs wide pass-catcher not named Travis Kelce (9-9-124) to run more than 50% of routes. Skyy Moore (4-2-22) was right at half of the routes but he hasn’t mattered in weeks. Rashee Rice (4-4-72) continues to run less routes but produce a bit of a spark with them comparatively speaking. Rice is somebody that’s earned much more time on the field than he’s gotten but continues to languish in the 40-50% routes range. Rice has double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four games and four of six games overall. We’re talking a season-long 32% targets per route run and 2.78 yards per route run. What are we doing here?

Isiah Pacheco (16-62; 6-6-36) continues to see heavy volume and topped it off with six targets in Week 6, so with a struggling wide receiver room, Pacheco’s receiving game has upticked slightly from last season and already has more targets in six games (19) than he did all of last season (14). Any receiving upside that we can add to a solid rushing profile is going to make the floor even higher.

Week 6 Kansas City Chiefs Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes

Start ‘Em: Isiah Pacheco

Keep Them Rostered: Jerick McKinnon (deeper 12 & 14-team leagues), Rashee Rice (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Las Vegas Raiders

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Davante Adams	WR	5	2	29	0	61	24.3%	100.0%	91.4%	16.1%	5.8	15.2%	12.2	0.88	0.412	0.475	33	64
Jakobi Meyers	WR	7	5	61	1	79	31.5%	97.0%	91.4%	22.6%	8.7	21.9%	11.3	1.91	0.559	0.772	32	64
Hunter Renfrow	WR						0.0%	12.1%	10.0%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	7
Tre Tucker	WR	2	2	57	0	46	18.3%	54.5%	31.4%	6.5%	28.5	11.1%	23.0	3.17	0.225	1.239	18	22
De Andre Carter	WR	1	0	0	0	3	1.2%	12.1%	8.6%	3.2%	0.0	25.0%	3.0	0.00	0.057	0.000	4	6
Austin Hooper	TE	2	2	19	0	6	2.4%	27.3%	34.3%	6.5%	9.5	22.2%	3.0	2.11	0.114	3.167	9	24
Michael Mayer	TE	6	5	75	0	49	19.5%	66.7%	81.4%	19.4%	12.5	27.3%	8.2	3.41	0.427	1.531	22	57
Josh Jacobs	RB	5	2	16	0	9	3.6%	60.6%	81.4%	16.1%	3.2	25.0%	1.8	0.80	0.267	1.778	20	57
Zamir White	RB	2	2	7	0	7	2.8%	6.1%	5.7%	6.5%	3.5	100.0%	3.5	3.50	0.116	1.000	2	4
Ameer Abdullah	RB	1	0	0	0	-9	-3.6%	12.1%	12.9%	3.2%	0.0	25.0%	-9.0	0.00	0.023	0.000	4	9
Jakob Johnson	FB						0.0%	0.0%	24.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	17

On the first offensive play in the Raiders/Packers game on Monday Night Football in Week 5, the Raiders threw their first pass to Michael Mayer (6-5-75) and immediately gained 20 yards. While he would only catch one more pass for 19 yards in Week 5, it at least signaled a flicker of hope for the second-round tight end that he could at least begin to get ahead of Austin Hooper (2-2-19), who had been working ahead of Mayer, especially in 3-WR sets as the lone tight end. Mayer out-snapped Hooper in Week 5, but that trend was confirmed in Week 6.

In Week 6, Mayer ran 81% of snaps and 67% of routes, played as the primary tight end in 11 personnel, and caught five of six targets and led the Raiders in receiving yards. At a tight end position where we’re looking for anybody with a pulse, Mayer has that, and then some. 27% targets per route run and an 8.2-yard aDOT for Mayer in Week 6 means he’s pushing a bit down the field with his targets instead of just getting dump-offs.

Of course, the quarterback situation in Las Vegas needs to be monitored with Jimmy Garoppolo’s back because I can’t imagine Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell supporting all of Davante Adams (5-2-29), Jakobi Meyers (7-5-61-1), and Mayer, but with a role that’s rapidly expanding for a tight end that was the consensus best tight end coming out of college by most experts before April’s NFL Draft, you want to get on board with that as a potential breakout candidate. He should be added in all leagues where with Vegas having a sneakily condensed target tree, Mayer could soon be a key component of that.

Revenge narrative was on full display with Meyers as Adams had his second quiet week in a row, but he’s been banged up with a shoulder and other various nicks. Josh Jacobs (25-77; 5-2-16) looks like West Coast Joe Mixon right now; all volume, no efficiency. The efficiency was there in his monster 2022 but not so much in 2023. Definitely concerning if you bought in at a hefty second-round price in drafts.

Week 6 Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs

Start ‘Em: Jakobi Meyers

Keep Them Rostered: N/A

Add ‘Em: Michael Mayer (flipped Austin Hooper in snaps/routes, especially in 11 personnel; he’s an immediate TE streamer with upside for top-10 ROS)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Chargers

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Keenan Allen	WR	11	7	85	1	127	50.2%	97.7%	95.8%	30.6%	7.7	26.2%	11.5	2.02	0.810	0.669	42	69
Quentin Johnston	WR	2	0	0	0	41	16.2%	48.8%	47.2%	5.6%	0.0	9.5%	20.5	0.00	0.197	0.000	21	34
Joshua Palmer	WR	7	4	60	0	67	26.5%	100.0%	97.2%	19.4%	8.6	16.3%	9.6	1.40	0.477	0.896	43	70
Derius Davis	WR						0.0%	2.3%	2.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	2
Keelan Doss	WR						0.0%	18.6%	16.7%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	8	12
Gerald Everett	TE	5	3	16	1	21	8.3%	60.5%	73.6%	13.9%	3.2	19.2%	4.2	0.62	0.266	0.762	26	53
Donald Parham	TE	3	2	19	0	14	5.5%	32.6%	41.7%	8.3%	6.3	21.4%	4.7	1.36	0.164	1.357	14	30
Tre' McKitty	TE						0.0%	2.3%	9.7%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	7
Stone Smartt	TE						0.0%	11.6%	15.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	11
Austin Ekeler	RB	6	4	35	0	-26	-10.3%	58.1%	69.4%	16.7%	5.8	24.0%	-4.3	1.40	0.178	-1.346	25	50
Joshua Kelley	RB	2	1	2	0	9	3.6%	23.3%	26.4%	5.6%	1.0	20.0%	4.5	0.20	0.108	0.222	10	19
Isaiah Spiller	RB						0.0%	2.3%	4.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	3

Keenan Allen (11-7-85-1) does Keenan Allen things. He’s awesome.

Not as awesome (in fact, the opposite of awesome) is Quentin Johnston (2-0-0), who we expected to see a sizeable usage bump coming out of their Week 5 bye and that never materialized. Actually less so, as his routes dropped pre-bye from 71% to just 49% in Week 6. The Chargers have no problem trotting out Joshua Palmer (7-4-60) for 100% route participation and obviously Allen will do his thing, but it’s really concerning to see routes drop post-bye on a first round pick that carries some of the same traits as the guy we thought he’d replace once he went down for the season, Mike Williams.

Austin Ekeler (14-27; 6-4-35) was back for the first time since Week 1 on a nice 69% of snaps, but the production was not super great. Better days are ahead here.

Week 6 Los Angeles Chargers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Keenan Allen, Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnson (14-team), Gerald Everett (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Los Angeles Rams

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Cooper Kupp	WR	9	7	148	1	113	62.4%	100.0%	100.0%	42.9%	16.4	32.1%	12.6	5.29	1.080	1.310	28	57
Tutu Atwell	WR	1	1	30	0	19	10.5%	82.1%	87.7%	4.8%	30.0	4.3%	19.0	1.30	0.145	1.579	23	50
Puka Nacua	WR	7	4	26	0	35	19.3%	100.0%	96.5%	33.3%	3.7	25.0%	5.0	0.93	0.635	0.743	28	55
Ben Skowronek	WR						0.0%	3.6%	5.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	3
Austin Trammell	WR						0.0%	14.3%	7.0%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	4
Tyler Higbee	TE	3	2	18	0	19	10.5%	89.3%	94.7%	14.3%	6.0	12.0%	6.3	0.72	0.288	0.947	25	54
Brycen Hopkins	TE						0.0%	3.6%	1.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	1
Davis Allen	TE						0.0%	0.0%	7.0%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	4
Kyren Williams	RB						0.0%	75.0%	82.5%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	21	47
Ronnie Rivers	RB	1	1	4	0	-5	-2.8%	7.1%	8.8%	4.8%	4.0	50.0%	-5.0	2.00	0.052	-0.800	2	5
Zach Evans	RB						0.0%	3.6%	8.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	5

I did watch most of the this Rams/Cardinals game for admittedly DFS reasons and the Rams in the first half looked incredibly flat and unbalanced with just a handful of carries for Kyren Williams (20-158-1) in the first half. The first drive of the second half started out with EIGHT consecutive runs, a Matthew Stafford scramble, and then a short touchdown throw to Cooper Kupp (9-7-148-1) at the pilon for a touchdown. The Rams didn’t need to get much going through the air but what was there was heavily condensed to Kupp and Puka Nacua (7-4-26), even if the full production didn’t get there from Nacua. He still ran 100% of routes, had multiple end-zone looks, and saw 33% of targets. No need to panic at all, as the two elite receivers can more than co-exist together.

Williams is likely missing time with a high ankle sprain, as is Ronnie Rivers (3-9; 1-1-4) with a PCL sprain. The Rams brought in a bunch of running backs like former Dolphin Myles Gaskin and former Ram Darrell Henderson to add to the room they already have with rookie Zach Evans (4-10) and veteran Royce Freeman. I’d be adding Gaskin and Freeman over Evans because of the baseline production they can provide vs. Evans who is a rookie, pressed into some action very late, didn’t look overly good with it, and if they were enamored with him, they wouldn’t be going out to sign multiple players in an “all hands on deck” approach.

Tutu Atwell (1-1-30) and Tyler Higbee (3-2-18) seem like the spotty week-to-week plays that could pop off in tandem with the main receiving options, not standalone players that can be started each week. Both saw 82%+ routes but should have more volatile fantasy lines going forward with so much of the work consolidating to Kupp and Nacua.

Week 6 Los Angeles Rams Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Tutu Atwell, Matthew Stafford, Tyler Higbee (deeper 12 & 14-team), Kyren Williams (out for several weeks)

Add ‘Em: Zach Evans, Myles Gaskin, Royce Freeman (there’s no way of knowing how this will shake out but all should at least be speculative adds)

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Miami Dolphins

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Tyreek Hill	WR	10	6	163	1	149	57.3%	72.7%	56.7%	33.3%	16.3	41.7%	14.9	6.79	0.901	1.094	24	38
Jaylen Waddle	WR	9	7	51	1	99	38.1%	81.8%	68.7%	30.0%	5.7	33.3%	11.0	1.89	0.717	0.515	27	46
Braxton Berrios	WR	2	2	20	0	12	4.6%	45.5%	29.9%	6.7%	10.0	13.3%	6.0	1.33	0.132	1.667	15	20
Cedrick Wilson	WR						0.0%	24.2%	37.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	8	25
Robbie Chosen	WR						0.0%	15.2%	25.4%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	17
Durham Smythe	TE	1	0	0	0	1	0.4%	72.7%	65.7%	3.3%	0.0	4.2%	1.0	0.00	0.053	0.000	24	44
Julian Hill	TE						0.0%	21.2%	46.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	7	31
Tanner Conner	TE						0.0%	0.0%	14.9%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	10
Raheem Mostert	RB	3	3	17	1	-13	-5.0%	48.5%	61.2%	10.0%	5.7	18.8%	-4.3	1.06	0.115	-1.308	16	41
Salvon Ahmed	RB	5	3	11	0	12	4.6%	48.5%	35.8%	16.7%	2.2	31.3%	2.4	0.69	0.282	0.917	16	24
Chris Brooks	RB						0.0%	6.1%	16.4%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	11
Alec Ingold	FB						0.0%	30.3%	41.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	10	28

The most explosive offense in the NFL doubled up the winless Carolina Panthers 41-21 on the back of Raheem Mostert (17-115-2; 3-3-17-1), who hasn’t skipped a beat since losing backfield-mate De’Von Achane. Jeff Wilson looms as his return from IR was pushed back a week. But this offense is condensed enough, potent enough, and doesn’t take talent off the field, so still expect heavy Mostert moving forward with Wilson being worked in.

The passing game is the same story as it is most weeks: heavy target consolidation to Tyreek Hill (10-6-163-1) and Jaylen Waddle (9-7-51-1), with a couple of targets to an ancillary guy (Braxton Berrios, Durham Smythe, Salvon Ahmed, etc.)

Week 6 Miami Dolphins Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Tua Tagovailoa, Raheem Mostert

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: DeVon Achane (on IR - knee; eligible to play in Week 10), Jeff Wilson (slated to make debut in Week 7)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Minnesota Vikings

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Jordan Addison	WR	5	3	28	1	67	34.5%	100.0%	86.0%	16.7%	5.6	15.2%	13.4	0.85	0.492	0.418	33	49
K.J. Osborn	WR	5	4	48	0	40	20.6%	100.0%	93.0%	16.7%	9.6	15.2%	8.0	1.45	0.394	1.200	33	53
Trishton Jackson	WR						0.0%	0.0%	7.0%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	4
Brandon Powell	WR	4	3	20	0	22	11.3%	75.8%	59.6%	13.3%	5.0	16.0%	5.5	0.80	0.279	0.909	25	34
N'Keal Harry	WR						0.0%	0.0%	1.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	1
T.J. Hockenson	TE	8	6	50	0	63	32.5%	87.9%	78.9%	26.7%	6.3	27.6%	7.9	1.72	0.627	0.794	29	45
Josh Oliver	TE						0.0%	6.1%	38.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	22
Johnny Mundt	TE						0.0%	0.0%	12.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	7
Alexander Mattison	RB	7	4	28	0	6	3.1%	60.6%	78.9%	23.3%	4.0	35.0%	0.9	1.40	0.372	4.667	20	45
Cam Akers	RB	1	1	7	0	-4	-2.1%	18.2%	15.8%	3.3%	7.0	16.7%	-4.0	1.17	0.036	-1.750	6	9
C.J. Ham	FB						0.0%	3.0%	28.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	16

With the Vikings minus Justin Jefferson, it was very “status-quo” with the pass-catchers moving up in the pecking order. Both Jordan Addison (5-3-28-1) and K.J. Osborn (5-4-48) ran 100% of Kirk Cousins’ dropbacks, with Brandon Powell (4-3-20) getting up to 76%. T.J. Hockenson (8-6-50) led the team in all receiving categories on 88% of routes and these four consolidated the entire target share amongst the non-running backs.

This passing game is one you can seemingly set your watch to each week. It’s going to be a bit less efficient without Jefferson, and this was a low-end week for the Vikings in terms of raw passing volume, but the Vikings will pass more than run in almost every game unless things get crazy.

Alexander Mattison (18-44; 7-4-28; 61% routes, 79% snaps) is just upper Midwest Joe Mixon, lots of volume and doesn’t do much with it. Cam Akers isn’t good enough to beat him out or even take a bigger slice of work, so Mattison keeps trudging along at his own pace.

Week 6 Minnesota Vikings Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: T.J. Hockenson

Start ‘Em: Jordan Addison, Kirk Cousins

Keep Them Rostered: Alexander Mattison, K.J. Osborn, Cam Akers, Justin Jefferson (on IR - hamstring)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New England Patriots

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
DeVante Parker	WR	3	1	7	0	53	31.5%	78.4%	75.0%	9.7%	2.3	10.3%	17.7	0.24	0.366	0.132	29	45
Kendrick Bourne	WR	11	10	89	0	22	13.1%	91.9%	93.3%	35.5%	8.1	32.4%	2.0	2.62	0.624	4.045	34	56
Tyquan Thornton	WR	2	1	6	0	51	30.4%	48.6%	41.7%	6.5%	3.0	11.1%	25.5	0.33	0.309	0.118	18	25
Jalen Reagor	WR						0.0%	21.6%	23.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	8	14
Hunter Henry	TE	3	1	7	0	17	10.1%	54.1%	61.7%	9.7%	2.3	15.0%	5.7	0.35	0.216	0.412	20	37
Mike Gesicki	TE	3	3	28	0	16	9.5%	59.5%	60.0%	9.7%	9.3	13.6%	5.3	1.27	0.212	1.750	22	36
Pharaoh Brown	TE	1	1	15	0	4	2.4%	16.2%	31.7%	3.2%	15.0	16.7%	4.0	2.50	0.065	3.750	6	19
Rhamondre Stevenson	RB	6	5	24	0	2	1.2%	62.2%	65.0%	19.4%	4.0	26.1%	0.3	1.04	0.299	12.000	23	39
Ezekiel Elliott	RB	1	1	15	0	-1	-0.6%	32.4%	38.3%	3.2%	15.0	8.3%	-1.0	1.25	0.044	-15.000	12	23
Ty Montgomery	RB	1	1	9	0	4	2.4%	8.1%	5.0%	3.2%	9.0	33.3%	4.0	3.00	0.065	2.250	3	3
Malik Cunningham	QB						0.0%	8.1%	10.0%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	6

I would like to just let you know, intrepid reader, that there are no redeeming qualities to having to devote article space to writing about the New England Patriots offense each week. All you can hope for is that Rhamondre Stevenson (10-46-1; 6-5-24) did something useful. I am happy to inform you that in a matchup against the Raiders, Stevenson did just that. The actual yardage output isn’t great, but the receiving component gets him back to RB2 levels. That said, Ezekiel Elliott (7-34-1; 1-1-15) mixing in to a degree and in the quantity he is is concerning. Elliott gets about 30-40% of the total workload every week, so is a threat to siphon off any upside Stevenson has in a given week which is why he’s been such a bust as a top-36 pick in fantasy this season.

Kendrick Bourne (11-10-89) saw a ton of targets on a day where only Stevenson (6) saw more than three targets. We did get a Tyquan Thornton (2-1-6) return as he saw just two targets but on almost 50% of routes, so that’s something we can hopefully see an increase to add some much-needed juice and athleticism to the Patriots’ receiver corps.

Week 6 New England Patriots Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Rhamondre Stevenson

Keep Them Rostered: Hunter Henry (deeper 12-team), Kendrick Bourne (deeper 12-team), Ezekiel Elliott (deeper 12 & 14-team), JuJu Smith-Schuster (deeper 12 & 14-team), Mike Gesicki (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New Orleans Saints

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Chris Olave	WR	10	7	96	0	157	32.9%	96.3%	89.0%	21.7%	9.6	19.2%	15.7	1.85	0.556	0.611	52	73
Michael Thomas	WR	8	5	45	0	93	19.5%	88.9%	82.9%	17.4%	5.6	16.7%	11.6	0.94	0.397	0.484	48	68
Rashid Shaheed	WR	6	2	85	1	142	29.8%	81.5%	75.6%	13.0%	14.2	13.6%	23.7	1.93	0.404	0.599	44	62
Keith Kirkwood	WR						0.0%	14.8%	18.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	8	15
Lynn Bowden	WR						0.0%	3.7%	9.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	8
Foster Moreau	TE	4	4	33	0	29	6.1%	27.8%	47.6%	8.7%	8.3	26.7%	7.3	2.20	0.173	1.138	15	39
Taysom Hill	TE	8	7	49	0	60	12.6%	63.0%	58.5%	17.4%	6.1	23.5%	7.5	1.44	0.349	0.817	34	48
Jimmy Graham	TE						0.0%	9.3%	17.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	14
J.P. Holtz	TE						0.0%	0.0%	1.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	1
Alvin Kamara	RB	8	7	36	0	-5	-1.0%	51.9%	80.5%	17.4%	4.5	28.6%	-0.6	1.29	0.254	-7.200	28	66
Kendre Miller	RB	2	1	13	0	1	0.2%	22.2%	22.0%	4.3%	6.5	16.7%	0.5	1.08	0.067	13.000	12	18

In a stark contrast to, well, almost every team this week apparently, the Saints threw the ball around this week like the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: a bunch of air yards (477) and not much efficiency. But bless ‘em, they tried!

Both Chris Olave (10-7-96) and chunk play maven Rashid Shaheed (6-2-85-1) had over 140 air yards each. Michael Thomas (8-5-45) was the “closer to the line of scrimmage” guy comparatively speaking than his cohorts with “just” an 11.6-yard aDOT. All three ran routes on 80%+ of Derek Carr’s dropbacks as the condensed trio this offense revolves around.

With eight targets, Taysom Hill (8-7-49; 63% routes) becomes a bit more interesting if he’s going to earn some volume instead of the gadgety, all-over-the-map utilization we’ve been accustomed to in his career.

Consolidating running back touches and work was Alvin Kamara (19-68; 8-7-36), who took 81% of snaps and is looking more and more like our generation’s Leonard Fournette with each passing week. Look, we stayed on theme with the 2022 Buccaneers!

Week 6 New Orleans Saints Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Chris Olave

Start ‘Em: Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara

Keep Them Rostered: Derek Carr, Rashid Shaheed (14-team), Jamaal Williams (on IR - but designated to return), Rashid Shaheed (14-team)

Add ‘Em: Taysom Hill (he’s running actual receiver routes now at TE)

Dump ‘Em: Juwan Johnson

New York Giants

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Darius Slayton	WR	6	4	69	0	103	44.6%	93.2%	87.0%	19.4%	11.5	14.6%	17.2	1.68	0.602	0.670	41	67
Isaiah Hodgins	WR						0.0%	20.5%	22.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	9	17
Jalin Hyatt	WR	4	3	21	0	66	28.6%	79.5%	74.0%	12.9%	5.3	11.4%	16.5	0.60	0.394	0.318	35	57
Wan'Dale Robinson	WR	8	8	62	0	38	16.5%	72.7%	59.7%	25.8%	7.8	25.0%	4.8	1.94	0.502	1.632	32	46
Sterling Shepard	WR						0.0%	0.0%	1.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	1
Darren Waller	TE	7	5	42	0	26	11.3%	81.8%	92.2%	22.6%	6.0	19.4%	3.7	1.17	0.417	1.615	36	71
Daniel Bellinger	TE						0.0%	18.2%	53.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	8	41
Lawrence Cager	TE						0.0%	2.3%	6.5%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	5
Saquon Barkley	RB	5	4	6	0	-3	-1.3%	54.5%	76.6%	16.1%	1.2	20.8%	-0.6	0.25	0.233	-2.000	24	59
Matt Breida	RB	1	0	0	0	1	0.4%	27.3%	24.7%	3.2%	0.0	8.3%	1.0	0.00	0.051	0.000	12	19
Eric Gray	RB						0.0%	0.0%	1.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	1

Saquon Barkley (24-93; 5-4-5) is alive and kicking, as he jumped right into 77% of snaps and 29 running back opportunities, so he’s good to go.

You’ve gotta give it to Tyrod Taylor at this point in his career. We talk on Lightning Round all the time about “professional wide receivers” that just go out and do their jobs with less fanfare than some of their flashy counterparts. Taylor may be the quarterback version of that, as he was able to make this passing game more functional than at any point this season with Daniel Jones.

Wan’Dale Robinson (8-8-62; 73% routes) did short aDOT things while leading the Giants in targets and receptions, Darius Slayton (6-4-69) let us know he was still hanging around, and Darren Waller (7-5-42) was alright too. The passing game was much more competent but to be fair, the first five weeks of the season weren’t exactly the highest bar to clear anyway.

Week 6 New York Giants Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Darren Waller

Keep Them Rostered: Saquon Barkley, Wan’Dale Robinson (deeper 12 & 14-team), Jalin Hyatt (deeper 12 & 14-team), Daniel Jones (placed on IR - neck)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

New York Jets

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Garrett Wilson	WR	12	8	90	0	128	49.4%	92.5%	87.7%	36.4%	7.5	32.4%	10.7	2.43	0.891	0.703	37	57
Allen Lazard	WR	3	1	8	0	24	9.3%	75.0%	76.9%	9.1%	2.7	10.0%	8.0	0.27	0.201	0.333	30	50
Mecole Hardman	WR	2	0	0	0	25	9.7%	10.0%	9.2%	6.1%	0.0	50.0%	12.5	0.00	0.158	0.000	4	6
Randall Cobb	WR	3	0	0	0	22	8.5%	65.0%	55.4%	9.1%	0.0	11.5%	7.3	0.00	0.196	0.000	26	36
Xavier Gipson	WR						0.0%	7.5%	10.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	7
Irvin Charles	WR						0.0%	7.5%	7.7%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	5
Tyler Conklin	TE	4	3	24	0	44	17.0%	75.0%	70.8%	12.1%	6.0	13.3%	11.0	0.80	0.301	0.545	30	46
C.J. Uzomah	TE	1	0	0	0	18	6.9%	27.5%	36.9%	3.0%	0.0	9.1%	18.0	0.00	0.094	0.000	11	24
Jeremy Ruckert	TE	1	1	8	0	0	0.0%	25.0%	35.4%	3.0%	8.0	10.0%	0.0	0.80	0.045	0.000	10	23
Breece Hall	RB	5	5	54	0	1	0.4%	60.0%	66.2%	15.2%	10.8	20.8%	0.2	2.25	0.230	54.000	24	43
Dalvin Cook	RB	1	1	2	0	-5	-1.9%	7.5%	13.8%	3.0%	2.0	33.3%	-5.0	0.67	0.032	-0.400	3	9
Michael Carter	RB	1	0	0	0	2	0.8%	20.0%	20.0%	3.0%	0.0	12.5%	2.0	0.00	0.051	0.000	8	13
Nick Bawden	FB						0.0%	5.0%	9.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	6

Garrett Wilson (12-8-90) saw 12 targets (36% target share) in Week 6 in a huge win for the Jets, but it wasn’t huge for fantasy purposes. Remember: Zach Wilson is still the quarterback of this team. He wasn’t great either but only Breece Hall (12-39-1; 5-5-54) saw more than three targets for the Jets in Week 6. He also saw a gift-wrapped touchdown run from the Eagles after an interception that immediately put them into the red zone.

Truly not too much to write about in what was actually an exciting end of the game, but that’s about how inspiring options like Allen Lazard (3-1-8) and Tyler Conklin (4-3-24) are. I don’t know Howard Bender roots for this team, but we trudge forward.

Also, I regret to inform you that the Dalvin Cook (3-12; 1-1-2; 14% snaps) dream (was that a thing?) is dead.

Week 6 New York Jets Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall

Keep Them Rostered: N/A

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: Dalvin Cook (it’s over)

Philadelphia Eagles

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
A.J. Brown	WR	9	7	131	0	149	41.9%	96.0%	95.7%	20.9%	14.6	18.8%	16.6	2.73	0.607	0.879	48	67
DeVonta Smith	WR	11	5	44	0	154	43.3%	100.0%	98.6%	25.6%	4.0	22.0%	14.0	0.88	0.687	0.286	50	69
Olamide Zaccheaus	WR	2	1	5	0	15	4.2%	84.0%	81.4%	4.7%	2.5	4.8%	7.5	0.12	0.099	0.333	42	57
Britain Covey	WR						0.0%	2.0%	2.9%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	2
Dallas Goedert	TE	8	5	42	0	16	4.5%	72.0%	77.1%	18.6%	5.3	22.2%	2.0	1.17	0.311	2.625	36	54
Jack Stoll	TE						0.0%	24.0%	31.4%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	12	22
Grant Calcaterra	TE						0.0%	8.0%	7.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	5
D'Andre Swift	RB	10	8	40	1	9	2.5%	54.0%	57.1%	23.3%	4.0	37.0%	0.9	1.48	0.367	4.444	27	40
Kenneth Gainwell	RB	2	1	4	0	13	3.7%	38.0%	41.4%	4.7%	2.0	10.5%	6.5	0.21	0.095	0.308	19	29
Boston Scott	RB	1	1	14	0	0	0.0%	6.0%	7.1%	2.3%	14.0	33.3%	0.0	4.67	0.035	0.000	3	5

No Sauce Gardner or D.J. Reed at corner for the Jets meant the Eagles had carte blanche to pass to their heart’s content and they did just that. They lost this game thanks to four turnovers, because the Jets defense is pretty damn good, and that effect was felt in the run game. D’Andre Swift (10-18; 10-8-40-1) couldn’t do a thing on the ground but made up for it with eight receptions and a touchdown.

A.J. Brown (8-7-131) is #good, and four Eagles saw at least eight targets here as they compiled their way to get past the Jets to no avail. Dallas Goedert (8-5-42) saw targets on a middling day. DeVonta Smith (11-5-44) dropped a potential long gain in the third quarter and was pretty inefficient on the afternoon while leading the team in targets. Smith is on the injury report for Week 7 with a hamstring injury and Julio Jones was brought in on Wednesday afternoon. Unsure if this is a corresponding move with concern to Smith, but it’s more likely Jones rotates in with Olamide Zaccheaus (2-1-5; 84% routes) than become any threat to Smith or the condensed target hierarchy in Philadelphia.

Week 6 Philadelphia Eagles Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith

Start ‘Em: D’Andre Swift, Dallas Goedert

Keep Them Rostered: N/A

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Pittsburgh Steelers

BYE WEEK

Week 6 Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Diontae Johnson (likely returning in Week 7)

Start ‘Em: George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth (missed Week 5 - hamstring)

Keep Them Rostered: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Kenny Pickett

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

San Francisco 49ers

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Brandon Aiyuk	WR	10	4	76	0	158	65.8%	100.0%	98.4%	41.7%	7.6	31.3%	15.8	2.38	1.086	0.481	32	61
Deebo Samuel	WR	1	0	0	0	4	1.7%	9.4%	14.5%	4.2%	0.0	33.3%	4.0	0.00	0.074	0.000	3	9
Jauan Jennings	WR	4	2	26	0	38	15.8%	59.4%	53.2%	16.7%	6.5	21.1%	9.5	1.37	0.361	0.684	19	33
Ronnie Bell	WR						0.0%	0.0%	1.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	0	1
Ray-Ray McCloud	WR	2	1	4	0	-3	-1.3%	81.3%	71.0%	8.3%	2.0	7.7%	-1.5	0.15	0.116	-1.333	26	44
George Kittle	TE	2	1	1	0	27	11.3%	96.9%	98.4%	8.3%	0.5	6.5%	13.5	0.03	0.204	0.037	31	61
Charlie Woerner	TE						0.0%	6.3%	8.1%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	2	5
Ross Dwelley	TE	1	0	0	0	17	7.1%	3.1%	6.5%	4.2%	0.0	100.0%	17.0	0.00	0.112	0.000	1	4
Christian McCaffrey	RB	3	3	9	1	-9	-3.8%	43.8%	58.1%	12.5%	3.0	21.4%	-3.0	0.64	0.161	-1.000	14	36
Elijah Mitchell	RB						0.0%	15.6%	11.3%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	5	7
Jordan Mason	RB						0.0%	28.1%	24.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	9	15
Kyle Juszczyk	FB	1	1	9	0	8	3.3%	46.9%	54.8%	4.2%	9.0	6.7%	8.0	0.60	0.086	1.125	15	34

The seemingly productive and efficiency 49ers offense was anything but in Week 6 as they played in a rainy muck for a good portion of the game. They also lost a couple of key offensive starters including Deebo Samuel (1-0-0; 2-11; 9% routes) to a shoulder injury and Christian McCaffrey (11-43; 3-3-9-1) to an oblique injury, as well as Trent Williams for a series before he gutted out the rest of the game on a balky ankle.

The big decision fantasy managers have had to make is to pick up either Jordan Mason (5-27-1) or Elijah Mitchell (2-(-3)) in case McCaffrey can’t play on Monday Night Football vs. Minnesota. Mason has been incredibly efficient and productive this season while Mitchell has been hurt, but Mitchell has been the clear backup for McCaffrey when he actually has been healthy. I’m leaning to Mason for the production; Mitchell’s lack of health may have pushed Mason ahead in the pecking order.

Brock Purdy probably had his worst game as a pro with 12-of-27 passing for just 125 passing yards; 76 of them to Brandon Aiyuk (10-4-76). With Samuel out for the majority of the game, Ray-Ray McCloud (2-1-4) saw 81% of routes but didn’t amount to much production. Only Jauan Jennings (4-2-26; 59% routes) saw more than nine receiving yards amongst the rest of the pass-catchers. George Kittle (2-1-1) was a non-factor.

Week 6 San Francisco 49ers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Christian McCaffrey (left Week 6 - oblique/rib), Brandon Aiyuk

Start ‘Em: Deebo Samuel (left Week 6 - shoulder), George Kittle, Brock Purdy

Keep Them Rostered: Jordan Mason (deeper 12 & 14-team), Elijah Mitchell (missed Week 4-6 - knee)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Seattle Seahawks

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
DK Metcalf	WR	10	4	69	0	143	41.0%	81.3%	78.1%	27.0%	6.9	25.6%	14.3	1.77	0.692	0.483	39	57
Tyler Lockett	WR	8	6	94	0	113	32.4%	81.3%	76.7%	21.6%	11.8	20.5%	14.1	2.41	0.551	0.832	39	56
Jaxon Smith-Njigba	WR	5	4	48	0	38	10.9%	81.3%	71.2%	13.5%	9.6	12.8%	7.6	1.23	0.279	1.263	39	52
Jake Bobo	WR	2	2	43	0	27	7.7%	31.3%	31.5%	5.4%	21.5	13.3%	13.5	2.87	0.135	1.593	15	23
Cody Thompson	WR						0.0%	2.1%	5.5%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	4
Noah Fant	TE	1	1	9	0	6	1.7%	37.5%	42.5%	2.7%	9.0	5.6%	6.0	0.50	0.053	1.500	18	31
Will Dissly	TE	1	1	4	0	0	0.0%	27.1%	43.8%	2.7%	4.0	7.7%	0.0	0.31	0.041	0.000	13	32
Colby Parkinson	TE	4	3	16	0	26	7.4%	39.6%	43.8%	10.8%	4.0	21.1%	6.5	0.84	0.214	0.615	19	32
Kenneth Walker	RB	3	3	27	0	0	0.0%	56.3%	76.7%	8.1%	9.0	11.1%	0.0	1.00	0.122	0.000	27	56
Zach Charbonnet	RB	2	2	14	0	-1	-0.3%	25.0%	23.3%	5.4%	7.0	16.7%	-0.5	1.17	0.079	-14.000	12	17
DeeJay Dallas	RB	1	1	-1	0	-3	-0.9%	6.3%	5.5%	2.7%	-1.0	33.3%	-3.0	-0.33	0.035	0.333	3	4

Much has been said about how much of a disappointment Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been over the first four weeks of the season, where he’s averaged less than five targets per game, put up just 62 receiving yards, and the targets he’s seeing on average have been incredibly close to the line of scrimmage with a 3.4 aDOT.

One thing for rookies is hoping for a usage bump coming out of the bye week for Seattle and JSN (5-4-48) saw that in Week 6. JSN saw a season-high 81% routes, which equaled DK Metcalf (10-4-69) and Tyler Lockett (8-6-94). JSN also saw a modest spike in his work farther down the field with a 7.6-aDOT - his highest of the season. JSN is too talented to be a distant third option in this offense and at least for a week so far, it looks like Seattle is doing their part to rectify that. JSN also had a missed walk-in touchdown in the fourth quarter to put Seattle ahead.

Head coach Pete Carroll talked about that play in the post-game press conference where that play in particular was a play they were waiting on all game and missed the opportunity.

It’s not a full-on trend here, but it’s a positive signal for Smith-Njigba if you’re holding him on your benches. And trust me, as one of the most bullish on JSN, we’ll take what we can get. But this post-bye usage increase could be a sign of bigger and better things going forward.

Post-bye, Kenneth Walker maintains the stranglehold and clearly has distanced himself from Zach Charbonnet, who was thought of by many (me) to be a usurper to the throne. Definitely hasn’t worked out that way as Charbonnet has seen two very low-end workloads in Week 4 and again here in Week 6.

Week 6 Seattle Seahawks Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Kenneth Walker

Start ‘Em: N/A

Keep Them Rostered: Geno Smith, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zach Charbonnet (deeper 12 & 14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Mike Evans	WR	10	4	49	0	127	28.7%	82.9%	80.4%	27.0%	4.9	29.4%	12.7	1.44	0.606	0.386	34	45
Chris Godwin	WR	7	6	77	0	90	20.3%	90.2%	83.9%	18.9%	11.0	18.9%	12.9	2.08	0.426	0.856	37	47
Trey Palmer	WR	7	2	47	0	154	34.8%	65.9%	66.1%	18.9%	6.7	25.9%	22.0	1.74	0.527	0.305	27	37
Deven Thompkins	WR	4	2	-2	0	28	6.3%	24.4%	25.0%	10.8%	-0.5	40.0%	7.0	-0.20	0.206	-0.071	10	14
Rakim Jarrett	WR						0.0%	7.3%	12.5%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	7
Cade Otton	TE	2	1	15	0	35	7.9%	90.2%	96.4%	5.4%	7.5	5.4%	17.5	0.41	0.136	0.429	37	54
Ko Kieft	TE						0.0%	9.8%	25.0%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	14
Payne Durham	TE	1	1	8	0	3	0.7%	7.3%	10.7%	2.7%	8.0	33.3%	3.0	2.67	0.045	2.667	3	6
Rachaad White	RB	4	3	12	0	11	2.5%	75.6%	78.6%	10.8%	3.0	12.9%	2.8	0.39	0.180	1.091	31	44
Ke'Shawn Vaughn	RB	2	0	0	0	-5	-1.1%	9.8%	21.4%	5.4%	0.0	50.0%	-2.5	0.00	0.073	0.000	4	12

The Buccaneers didn’t score a touchdown despite wearing their sweet retro “creamsicle” uniforms, which is crying shame. In this matchup of old NFC Central rivals, the Lions easily put it to their former 1990’s divisional doormats.

Mike Evans (10-4-49) saw the most targets for the Bucs, with Chris Godwin (7-6-77) and Trey Palmer (7-2-47) not too far behind as the trio combined for 65% of targets. Palmer saw a ton of deep looks with a whopping 154 air yards and a 22-yard aDOT.

The Buccaneers’ run game is inspiring exactly nobody right now as even with Rachaad White’s (7-26; 4-3-12) stranglehold on snaps (79%), he’s not producing anything close to what an NFL running back should. You only get so long of a leash where you’re easily replaced and it’s looking more and more by the week that White may be more suited to rotational work rather than having the top seat in an NFL backfield. He may just not be very good.

Week 6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: Mike Evans

Start ‘Em: Chris Godwin

Keep Them Rostered: Rachaad White, Trey Palmer (14-team) Baker Mayfield (14-team), Cade Otton (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Tennessee Titans

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
DeAndre Hopkins	WR	5	1	20	0	61	35.9%	96.6%	87.3%	25.0%	4.0	17.9%	12.2	0.71	0.626	0.328	28	48
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine	WR	4	3	25	0	35	20.6%	69.0%	70.9%	20.0%	6.3	20.0%	8.8	1.25	0.444	0.714	20	39
Kyle Philips	WR	2	1	6	0	16	9.4%	55.2%	49.1%	10.0%	3.0	12.5%	8.0	0.38	0.216	0.375	16	27
Chris Moore	WR	1	1	6	0	-2	-1.2%	37.9%	36.4%	5.0%	6.0	9.1%	-2.0	0.55	0.067	-3.000	11	20
Colton Dowell	WR						0.0%	3.4%	1.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	1
Chigoziem Okonkwo	TE	4	2	18	0	66	38.8%	75.9%	72.7%	20.0%	4.5	18.2%	16.5	0.82	0.572	0.273	22	40
Trevon Wesco	TE						0.0%	13.8%	43.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	24
Josh Whyle	TE	1	1	11	0	7	4.1%	3.4%	3.6%	5.0%	11.0	100.0%	7.0	11.00	0.104	1.571	1	2
Kevin Rader	TE						0.0%	13.8%	23.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	4	13
Derrick Henry	RB	2	2	16	0	-8	-4.7%	31.0%	52.7%	10.0%	8.0	22.2%	-4.0	1.78	0.117	-2.000	9	29
Tyjae Spears	RB	1	1	48	0	-5	-2.9%	55.2%	56.4%	5.0%	48.0	6.3%	-5.0	3.00	0.054	-9.600	16	31

DeAndre Hopkins (5-1-20) led the Titans in targets but this passing game is 100% toxic. Ryan Tannehill left the game with a high ankle sprain, Malik Willis came in to mop up, and somehow, this passing game got even uglier. Tyjae Spears received most of Willis’ 74 passing yards on one target with a 48-yard reception. That actually led the Titans in receiving on that lone target.

Besides a 63-yard run, Derrick Henry (12-97-1; 2-2-16) wasn’t great either; a running theme for his 2023 besides his Week 4 against the Bengals.

Week 6 Tennessee Titans Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: DeAndre Hopkins

Start ‘Em: Derrick Henry

Keep Them Rostered: Tyjae Spears, Chigoziem Okonkwo (deeper 12 & 14-team), Treylon Burks (missed Week 4-6 - knee)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Washington Commanders

Name	Pos	Targets	Rec.	Rec. Yards	TD	Air Yards	Air Yards %	Route %	Snap %	Target Share %	Yards per Target	TPRR	aDOT	YPRR	WOPR	RACR	Player Routes	Player Snaps
Terry McLaurin	WR	11	6	81	0	107	56.9%	92.9%	84.3%	52.4%	7.4	42.3%	9.7	3.12	1.184	0.757	26	43
Jahan Dotson	WR	1	0	0	0	25	13.3%	89.3%	80.4%	4.8%	0.0	4.0%	25.0	0.00	0.165	0.000	25	41
Curtis Samuel	WR	4	4	42	1	28	14.9%	67.9%	62.7%	19.0%	10.5	21.1%	7.0	2.21	0.390	1.500	19	32
Dyami Brown	WR	1	0	0	0	31	16.5%	21.4%	21.6%	4.8%	0.0	16.7%	31.0	0.00	0.187	0.000	6	11
Byron Pringle	WR						0.0%	3.6%	7.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	4
Logan Thomas	TE	1	1	2	0	2	1.1%	67.9%	76.5%	4.8%	2.0	5.3%	2.0	0.11	0.079	1.000	19	39
John Bates	TE						0.0%	10.7%	41.2%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	21
Cole Turner	TE						0.0%	10.7%	17.6%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	3	9
Brian Robinson	RB	2	2	25	1	-5	-2.7%	46.4%	52.9%	9.5%	12.5	15.4%	-2.5	1.92	0.124	-5.000	13	27
Antonio Gibson	RB	1	1	1	1	0	0.0%	42.9%	39.2%	4.8%	1.0	8.3%	0.0	0.08	0.071	0.000	12	20
Chris Rodriguez	RB						0.0%	3.6%	11.8%	0.0%	0.0	0.0%	0.0	0.00	0.000	0.000	1	6

We go from the Titans’ passing-game implosion to Sam Howell throwing three touchdowns on just 23 pass attempts and 151 yards. The Commanders have had 52 and 60 dropbacks the previous two weeks, so to go to just 28 dropbacks is a stark contrast.

The passing game options here have been pretty hit or miss all season, but Terry McLaurin (11-6-81) saw 52% of Washington’s targets by himself and besides Curtis Samuel (4-4-42-1) seeing four targets, nobody earned more than two targets. Not Logan Thomas (1-1-2), not Antonio Gibson (1-1-1-1), though he did score a touchdown. It’s hard to pinpoint this passing game besides knowing that at least McLaurin will always be involved.

Somebody who is pretty much never been involved in 2023 is Jahan Dotson (1-0-0), of whom our collective patience is wearing thin with.

Week 6 Washington Commanders Fantasy Takeaways:

Start Your Studs: N/A

Start ‘Em: Terry McLaurin

Keep Them Rostered: Brian Robinson, Logan Thomas (deeper 12 & 14-team), Antonio Gibson (deeper 12 & 14-team), Jahan Dotson (14-team), Sam Howell (14-team)

Add ‘Em: N/A

Dump ‘Em: N/A

Stat Credits:

Pro Football Focus
NFL Next Gen Stats
NFLGSIS.com
Fantasy Life (All running back short down and distance, long down and distance, and two-minute snaps data)

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