The NFL is starting to get shaken up. Due to COVID-19, teams like the Tennessee Titans had to postpone games, starting to create an out of whack schedule. There is no Thursday night game this week, instead we have two Monday night games- for the second week in a row.
In week five, we learned a few new things. First, Raiders’ running back Josh Jacobs has established himself as a premiere offensive threat. Second, the Panthers’ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater proved he’s still got it and can be elite once he gets Christian McCaffrey back. And finally, we learned that Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is not the same player he used to be.
On top of all that, we witnessed the brutal and devastating injury of Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott.
Whether you need to replace Prescott, find a new tight end or know if you should start or sit someone, I’m here to help you for week six in the NFL.
Quarterbacks:
With Prescott’s season ending with an injury, you probably need a new quarterback to start on your team. One guy that I really like and hope to see on more rosters is Bridgewater. After putting up 20.8 points this week, Bridgwater has proved himself to be a lethal weapon for Carolina, and only being rostered in 42.5 percent of leagues makes him a great pickup for your team.
On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons travel north into Minnesota. This matchup will be an interesting one. Every week I’ve said I want Matt Ryan to start, and he’s never disappointed, averaging 16.6 points each week, but he also has yet to win a game. With the Falcons being 0-5 so far, I fear that team morale will be an issue for him. Ryan should sit this week. On the Vikings, Kirk Cousins has just eight touchdowns, and he’s thrown almost as many interceptions, with seven so far this year. He should be sitting this week as well.
On Monday night, the Arizona Cardinals take on the Dallas Cowboys. For Arizona, Kyler Murray has really shown out this year, posting 25.9 points per game and booming three out of five weeks, he has made himself into a big name quarterback. I think Murray should be starting this week. On the other side of the ball, Andy Dalton looked like Andy Dalton always has: bad. He only gained 111 yards and didn’t score at all in his near two quarters of play last week. Dalton should stay on waivers.
Running backs:
One man that went off last week was Las Vegas’ running back Josh Jacobs, with two touchdowns on 77 yards. The Raiders have a bye this week, but he is still worth mentioning as he proved how elite he really is for this offense.
Sunday, we have Indianapolis hosting Cincinnati. Joe Mixon for the Bengals has looked good all year, averaging 16.9 fantasy points each week, but the Colts have one of the best defenses in the league. Mixon will probably be held below 100 yards with no touchdowns. Meanwhile, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor hasn’t gotten a lot of touches this year, only 77 carries. However, against the Bengals, who give up an average of 5.2 yards per carry and have allowed 13 touchdowns already this year, I can see him getting more rushes than usual. Taylor should start; Mixon should sit.
Monday night, the Chiefs take on the Bills in Buffalo. Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire will try to run all over the Bills’ defense. Coming off of their first loss of the year, the Chiefs have something to prove, and I can see Edwards-Helaire going off for 150 or more rushing yards and at least one touchdown. He should be starting this week. For Buffalo, Devin Singletary has only gotten 50 carries through five weeks, and averaging ten carries a week isn’t enough to be known as a great fantasy running back. Assuming the Bills continue this same offensive scheme, Singletary should sit this week.
Wide receivers and tight ends:
On Sunday, the Browns move into Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t had a stellar year, but it is also nothing to scoff at. Twenty-one catches, 294 yards and three touchdowns through five weeks is impressive, but I still don’t think it will be enough to get past the Steelers. The Steelers’ defense is ranked fourth by ESPN Fantasy and is averaging 10 points per game. Beckham Jr. should be sitting this week. However, wide receiver Chase Claypool leads the Steelers in receiving this year with 261 yards and four touchdowns. Claypool marked himself as an elite threat after posting 110 yards and three touchdowns in his 35-point effort in week five. Claypool is only rostered in 8.8 percent of ESPN leagues and would be a great waiver wire pickup to start on your team this week.
Philadelphia Eagles’ tight end Zach Ertz has really disappointed this year. With a bismal 145 yards all season and just one touchdown to his name, I think it’s time to let go of Ertz. He simply isn’t the same player he was two years ago, and he should be dropped. A good waiver wire pickup however would be Detroit Lions’ tight end, T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson isn’t a pro bowl tight end by any means but against a defense like Jacksonville this week, he will be more effective than Ertz would be.
In week five, the Cowboys proved to have the best receiver core in the NFL. Among the top receivers was rookie CeeDee Lamb. After his 12.4 point performance, I believe Lamb is one of the best 2020 draft picks. Despite having Dalton throwing the football instead of Prescott, he has become a huge aspect of the Cowboys’ offense and should definitely be starting for your team.
![Holding the disc, senior Nathan Thompson waits for an opportunity to pass to senior Timmy Fry. Parkway United’s ultimate frisbee team is made up of students from each of the four Parkway schools. “The one thing I really like about ultimate [frisbee] is the community because it’s so different from any other sport I've been a part of. [My] national teammates are people who we play against in the regular season, so we see each other all the time. It's always fun hanging out with [them],” Thompson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/C96A6823-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Josie Grunzinger watches the football game intently from the sidelines on Oct. 18. Grunzinger stood out to the crowd as the only girl on the football team, encouraging other girls who want to play football to take a chance and go for a sport outside of their comfort zone. “If you think you could [play football] and you want to do it, just try it, because all it takes is to actually try it out,” Grunzinger said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Untitled-design-1200x675.png)
![With her arms held high, junior Jenna Rickelman throws the ball across the pool during a girls water polo practice. With hours of practice after school and over the summer, Rickelman saw many improvements in her water polo skills. “When I look at [my] stats, I'm so much better than I was last year,” Rickelman said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-2-.png)
![Putting on his helmet, catcher and senior Tommy Eschbach prepares to get in his primary stance. Despite losing 6-1 against Eureka on April 16, Eschbach didn’t let the tough loss affect his playing or mental health. “It's [so] easy to get caught up in the sport and what you're doing that [after] one bad game or a stretch of games it is hard to remind yourself that your worth as a person isn't directly related to your performance on the field,” Eschbach said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0415-1-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Sports organizations have changed lives on and off the field, improving athletes’ muscle strength, reducing their risk of diseases and building energetic work capacity worldwide. However, many student-athletes struggle to balance schoolwork and athletic commitments, hoping to seek more understanding and support from their teachers and coaches. “To lessen mental strain student-athletes [face] and create a healthier, more comfortable lifestyle, there shouldn’t be any homework. I'm already [at school] for eight hours and [homework] creates a bigger load for student-athletes in AP or honors classes,” track and field sprinter and sophomore Lucy Penton said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0095-1-e1713883278514-1200x847.jpg)
![At the Spring Pep Rally on March 8, boys varsity water poloist and junior Jack Brau stands with the boys water polo team. The group, hoping to include everyone — whether boy or girl, varsity or JV — cheered on the girls water polo team during the sports team runouts. “Even though we all play separate games and have different practices, we like to see ourselves as one big group who represent one water polo [team],” Brau said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_8810-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Looking for an open teammate, freshman Patrick May passes the ball across the court at the Nov. 28 game against Parkway Central. May started in the game against the Colts. ”Growing up, [my parents] always gave me a basketball, [and] we had a basketball hoop outside. I grew up playing [all the time], playing on the [driveway] and shooting hoops with my dad.” May said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image2-1-1200x801.jpg)
