This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
Week 5 Recap:
Week 5 was highlighted by some big games by running backs, which is rare in today's National Football League. Doug Martin scored three touchdowns in a win over the Jaguars, Justin Forsett put up nearly 200 total yards against the Browns and Devonta Freeman had another monster game for the Falcons. On the other hand, there were many disappointing games from high priced quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan, while Aaron Rodgers surprisingly had another sub-par game as the Packers defeated the Rams at Lambeau Field. Antonio Gates returned from suspension, scoring two touchdowns on Monday Night Football. It was not enough, however, as the Steelers beat the Chargers on the final play of the game thanks to a Le'Veon Bell rushing touchdown.
Defenses to target:
This week we will look at defensive efficiency against the pass and against the run. A quarterback's passer rating is based on completion percentage, touchdowns and interceptions, so it is a good indicator of fantasy success for quarterbacks, while rushing yards per attempt is a good indicator of how stout a run defense is. By looking at the defenses that allow the highest passer rating and the most rushing yards per attempt, we can target quarterbacks and running backs, respectively, that face those defenses in upcoming weeks.
Highest quarterback passer rating allowed:
1. Lions 116.4
2. 49ers 108.9
3. Saints 108.2
4. Buccaneers 106.4
5. Bears 105.8
6. Chiefs 102.3
7. Browns 101.9
8. Jaguars 100.5
9. Steelers 100.2
10. Cowboys 98.5
11. Ravens 98.0
12. Seahawks 97.2
13. Dolphins 95.8
14. Bengals 94.4
15. Chargers 93.9
Highest rushing yards per attempt allowed:
1. Chargers 5.1
2. Browns 5.0
3. Packers 5.0
4. Bengals 4.8
5. Patriots 4.7
6. Vikings 4.7
7. Saints 4.5
8. Bears 4.4
9. Titans 4.4
10. Dolphins 4.4
11. Redskins 4.4
12. Lions 4.3
13. Rams 4.1
14. 49ers 4.1
15. Cardinals 4.0
Week 6 Preview: Matchups to Target:
There are three games in Week 6 (excluding the Thursday Night game) that have projected point totals of at least 50: Chargers vs. Packers, Patriots vs. Colts and Giants vs. Eagles. Additionally, no other game total is projected to be above 45. Therefore, it is a good idea to target players from those three games, as there could be some big fantasy performances from players in those games. Andrew Luck is likely to return to the Colts' lineup this week, which might turn the Patriots-Colts game into a shootout. The Eagles and Giants are fighting for the NFC East division, so their matchup on Monday Night Football could provide some offensive fireworks as well. Aaron Rodgers will look to get back on track after two sub-par weeks against the leaky Chargers defense, while Phillip Rivers will look to bounce back after Monday Night's disappointing loss with another big passing day.
Thursday Night Football preview:
The undefeated Falcons travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints in a potentially high-scoring affair. Julio Jones is nursing an injury, however, and may not be ready to go by Thursday Night. The Falcons' offense would be missing a key component if Jones were to miss the divisional matchup, but Devonta Freeman will look to continue his success on the ground (and through the air), providing balance to the offense. The Saints will look to bounce back after a disappointing road loss against the Eagles, led by quarterback Drew Brees, who has had some big passing games at home in the Superdome. This game could quickly turn into a shootout, especially if Jones plays, so don't be afraid to target players in this game for Thursday night leagues on FanDuel.
