Fantasy Football 2021: Week 6, He’s HOT…He’s Not
As we go into Week 6 of the season, we try to avoid getting hoodwinked by the injuries and now the Bye Week. Fortunately for us, there will always be the Hot prospect to roster, and the not-so-hot one to ghost for a week.
HOT QUARTERBACK = TAYLOR HEINICKE, WFT
It really doesn’t matter how one derives his hotness. It could be in the regular game flow, or it could come in garbage time. Hot is hot.
Heinicke will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. The over/under for this game is 54.5, the highest of the Week 6 games. The WFT is also a 6.5-point underdog.
And better yet, Kansas City is giving up the most fantasy points to the quarterback position.
Heinicke tossed a dud last week against the New Orleans Saints, passing for 248 yards and two interceptions on zero touchdowns. This game should help him regain his hotness.
NOT HOT = RYAN TANNEHILL, TENNESSEE TITANS
Did you know that Tannehill has not eclipsed 17 fantasy points all season? He currently sits as QB20 in fantasy football, and this week he plays the red smoking hot Buffalo Bills.
The Bills defense ranks first in fewest points allowed (12.8), first in fewest total yards allowed (266.6), second in passing yards allowed (173.4), and first in fewest fantasy points allowed to the quarterback position (10.42).
HOT WIDE RECEIVER = CHASE CLAYPOOL, PITTSBURGH STEELERS
This is definitely a case of chasing fantasy points…run. Last week Claypool led the Steelers in targets (6), receptions (5), receiving yards (130), and he had one touchdown.
This week the Steelers will be without JuJu Smith-Schuster and his 6.8 targets per game.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks are giving up the third-most passing yards per game (305.6) and the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the wide receiver position (35.8).
NOT HOT = JUSTIN JEFFERSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Jefferson is a stud. He is sixth in the league in receptions (33) and receiving yards (462), but even studs experience a chill now and then.
The Vikings will play the Carolina Panthers in Week 6. Pro Football Focus has the Panthers ranked fifth in pass coverage. They are giving up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the wide receiver position (24).
Jefferson is elite. So you are going to play him through this lukewarm match-up. Just beware. Also, check injury reports as he did not practice Thursday.
HOT RUNNING BACK = LATAVIUS MURRAY, BALTIMORE RAVENS
The Ravens play the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6, and although this game is expected to be a shoot-out (51.5 o/u), look for the Ravens to get back to their running game.
The Chargers are giving up 157.6 rushing yards a game. Last week, Nick Chubb rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown against them.
NOT HOT RUNNING BACK = JOSH JACOBS, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
There is no predicting what the on-field fallout will be after the resignation of their head coach. But this much is clear, Jacobs has not rushed for more than 50 yards in his last three games. He has two touchdowns in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens and one touchdown last week against the Chicago Bears.
Now he will go against the Denver Broncos, who not only give up the third-fewest fantasy points to the running back position, but they are also the sixth-ranked rushing defense giving up an average of 85.4 rushing yards per game.
HOT TIGHT END = NOAH FANT, DENVER BRONCOS
The Raiders have given up the sixth-most fantasy points to the tight end position in their past two games.
Fant is on the field for 88.2% snap share (last week, it was 97%). He has 31 targets and commands an 18.8% target share. But the best part is that six of those targets are red-zone targets.
NOT HOT TIGHT END = TYLER CONKLIN, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
I think we can all just agree, this game will be a test for the Vikings offense. And oh yeah, the Panthers are giving up the fewest fantasy points to the tight end position.
CONCLUSION
It is going to be rough picking out there with injuries and bye weeks. Don’t be afraid to dump your cold player for someone hotter…at least for one week.