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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

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Start or Sit: Fantasy Football week six

Carolina+Panthers+running+back+Mike+Davis+%2828%29+celebrates+his+receiving+touchdown+with+wide+receiver+Pharoh+Cooper+%2814%29+in+the+second+quarter+against+the+Atlanta+Falcons+on+Sunday%2C+Oct.+11%2C+at+Mercedes-Benz+Stadium+in+Atlanta%2C+Georgia.
Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS
Carolina Panthers running back Mike Davis (28) celebrates his receiving touchdown with wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (14) in the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 11, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

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.

Notable injuries heading into week six.

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:

Start or sit for fantasy football week six.

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.

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Michael Lolley, Staff Writer
Pronouns: he/him I am a senior, and this will be my fourth year on staff. I first decided to join the Pathfinder when I was failing yearbook, and realized maybe page design wasn’t for me. The fact that I enjoy all sports has helped me as a writer because I feel a passion for my writing when the story is about sports. Outside of school, you will most likely find me practicing baseball or in the weight room. Beyond the Pathfinder, I spend my time playing different sports, this summer I really picked up golfing and disc golf. After college, I hope to become a sports broadcaster, or any other career path in journalism.
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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High
Start or Sit: Fantasy Football week six