Welcome to the Fantrax Week 6 FAAB Guide! Amidst all the drama, breakouts, and busts, Week 5 was most notably a tale of two QBs. In Washington, we witnessed the inspirational Alex Smith play football for the first time since his horrific leg injury nearly two years ago. But in Dallas, our hearts collectively broke as Dak Prescott tearfully left the stadium after suffering a season-ending ankle fracture and dislocation. Both events serve as a sobering reminder of the duality of full-contact sports.
With Week 5 now in the books, we are eager to move on to a new slate of games in the National Football League. There is a new batch of readily available players that could provide a much-needed boost to your roster. But which one(s) should you grab? Are they starters that you can rely on for the rest of season (ROS), or just another batch of one-hit wonders? This weekly Fantrax FAAB Guide will help you with these decisions and serves as a resource on how to manage your FAAB, i.e. Free Agent Acquisition Budget.
Each week, I’ll outline available players (with <70% Fantrax availability) that should be picked up and my recommendations on how much of your FAAB should be used on your bids for them. If you don’t see a popular name mentioned below, then they are likely already rostered on over 70% of Fantrax leagues (e.g. Alexander Mattison, Chase Edmonds, etc.). If your league utilizes standard waiver claims instead of the FAAB system, then you can still use these recommendations to prioritize your waiver claims. Also, make sure to catch our weekly Waiver Wire report as well.
Since each Fantasy Football league’s format is different, I will suggest bid amounts by percentage rather than dollar amount. Also, since each league is different, use this guide as general advice but apply it with your knowledge of your own leaguemates. For example, if you want to bid on Chase Claypool but your league is full of Steelers fans, then you should probably bid higher than suggested below.
Say what?! Your fantasy football league isn’t using Fantrax this season? Unthinkable! Check out all the features Fantrax has to offer, and we think you’ll be singing a different tune for the coming season.
Week 6 FAAB Guide
QUARTERBACKS
Andy Dalton, Dallas Cowboys (13% rostered in Fantrax Leagues)
QB Dak Prescott’s season has been tragically cut short due to a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle. While it’s a horrible situation for Fantasy Football’s #1 QB heading into Week 5, it does provide a golden opportunity for veteran QB Andy Dalton. The former Bengals stalwart entered the field mid-third quarter and completed 9 of 11 passes for 111 yards. He may not have scored, but he avoided any turnovers and helped secure the victory over the Giants. Let’s be clear: the entire offense is downgraded without Prescott. But in terms of Fantasy Football, Dalton has potential to thrive as a fringe QB1. The Cowboys are still loaded with offensive talent that Dalton can take full advantage of. Plus, their anemic defense will continue to encourage positive game script. He will obviously need time to build a rapport with his teammates, so don’t expect immediate results. But his 10 years of experience will certainly help accelerate the learning curve. Dalton has had moments of QB1 production in the past with worse options, so he should be fine in Dallas. I’m considering him in deeper leagues while heavily investing in 2QB or Superflex leagues. The “Red Rifle” in the Cowboys’ blue and white (and silver) uniform may just be what “America’s team” needs right now. The same could be true for your fantasy team.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 5% in regular leagues, 25-30% in 2QB or SF leagues.
Andy Dalton finds Michael Gallup down the sideline on a go route for 38 yards to set up a Cowboys game-winning field goal.
Air Distance: 48.3 yards
Receiver Separation: 0.3 yards
Sideline Distance: 0.3 yards➤ Completion Probability: 15.7%#NYGvsDAL | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/cxMMWYn5aL
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 11, 2020
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins (54% rostered)
The magic continued in San Francisco after the Dolphins embarrassed the 49ers with a 43-17 victory. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 28 times for 22 completions, 350 yards, and three TDs, plus three rushes for 16 yards. He is currently Week 5’s QB2 and the overall QB6. So why is he available in nearly half of Fantrax leagues? Probably because most savvy managers know that when you believe in magic, tragedy soon follows. But until things change, we should continue to play Fitzpatrick in appealing matchups like his upcoming one in Denver. The only reason I’m recommending Dalton over Fitzpatrick in 2QB/SF leagues is that Dalton is now the bonafide starter. Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, still has first-round rookie Tua Tagovailoa waiting in the wings. Pick up Fitzpatrick and play him, but it’s best to just assume that he won’t be on your roster for ROS.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 5-7% in regular leagues, 25% in 2QB or SF leagues.
RUNNING BACKS
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team (41% rostered)
Scatback J.D. McKissic caught six of eight targets for 48 yards, adding one rush for three yards. His eight targets surprisingly led the team, while the expected lead pass-catching back, Chris Thompson, only saw three targets. Make no mistake though, this is Antonio Gibson’s backfield. But McKissic certainly has room for fantasy relevance, especially in PPR leagues. The team’s continuing struggles should promote positive game script for a pass-catching back when they’re in catch-up mode. It’s admittedly a weak week for RBs on waivers, but McKissic could provide a safe floor as your team’s Flex.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 3%
Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons (47% rostered)
Backup RB Brian Hill saw six rushes for 39 yards and caught his two targets for 15 receiving yards in a loss to the Panthers. These are clearly pedestrian numbers and not worth starting on your lineups. But with all the injuries that have plagued the league, there is definitely value with stashing any backup, especially ones for injury-prone players like lead RB Todd Gurley. Obviously, there are better backup RB stashes out there, like Alexander Mattison, Chase Edmonds, Latavius Murray, etc. But as mentioned in the intro, these guys are already rostered in over 70% of Fantrax leagues. Hill is one of the last readily available backups that can become fantasy starters if their lead back is inactive. If you have the bench space, then why not stash Hill in case something happens?
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 2%
WIDE RECEIVERS
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers (51% rostered)
All aboard the Chase Claypool hype-train! We are going full steam ahead after the rookie WR went completely nuclear in a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He caught seven passes from a whopping 11 targets for 110 yards and three TDs. He even rushed three times for six yards and an additional score. His 39.1 half PPR points make him Week 5’s standalone leader among ALL offensive players — including QBs. He’s already the WR15 on the year, which is even crazier when you realize he’s averaged just three targets per game prior to last Sunday. Oh, and they didn’t even play in Week 4! His usage skyrocketed after receiver Diontae Johnson hurt his back and left the game in the first half. Even Claypool himself didn’t anticipate having this much involvement:
“I thought I was going have a smaller role for the game,” Claypool told PFT after Pittsburgh’s win. “But when [Diontae Johnson] went down I knew I had to step up for the time being and luckily I was able to do that.”
Surely, his target share will regress when Johnson returns, which coach Mike Tomlin expects for Week 6 against the Browns. This was also likely the best game he’ll have all year, and the jury is still out on his long-term reliability. But you cannot deny Claypool’s growing rapport with his QB Ben Roethlisberger, nor his highlight-reel talent and tremendous scoring upside. Claypool is quickly becoming a boom-or-bust dynamo who can singlehandedly win your matchup any given week. He could end up becoming what we all wanted Martavis Bryant to be, or just another one-hit wonder like Sammie Coates. But what I do know is that this is officially your last chance to roster him before he remains a fixture on your opponent’s lineup. If you have reactionary leaguemates, you may need to bid closer to 20% or more of your FAAB in order to secure him.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 15%
Watch Ben Roethlisberger seeing Chase Claypool is lined up on LB Nathan Gerry on final TD
You can see Ben change play and then he had to tell Chase that the play is coming to him
Chase Claypool 👀
“He just told me. And he kinda told the whole defense” pic.twitter.com/ghpTHPwC3K— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 12, 2020
Travis Fulgham, Philadelphia Eagles (4% rostered)
With Philadelphia’s offense in shambles, most fantasy managers expected TE Zach Ertz or even WR Greg Ward to command most of the team’s targets. However, this is 2020, the year where the unthinkable happens and nothing makes sense. So of course we’d see practice squad receiver Travis Fulgham — who was previously waived by the Lions and Packers since 2019 — lead the team in targets. In fact, he received more than twice the amount than the next highest guy, Greg Ward, who had six. Speaking of which, Ward is also worth a small FAAB bid if you don’t nab Fulgham. Against the Panthers, he caught 10 of 13 (!) passes for 152 yards and a TD. His budding connection with QB Carson Wentz is evident and has resulted in TDs in both games he’s started. These two games are also the only games he’s started in the NFL, and he’s now the overall WR5 in that timespan. Fulgham has been a pleasant surprise thus far and is currently the WR2 this week. He will continue to be a sneaky value play for those decimated with WR injuries or with unfavorable bye weeks. Keep in mind, he is likely just a temporary play as his value will plummet once receivers DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffrey, and Jalen Reagor return. But with their injury histories and Fulgham’s recent productivity, there’s always a chance that he can become a mainstay on your roster.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 5-7%
Highest-graded WRs in Wk 5 ahead of MNF:
1. Travis Fulgham – 93.0
2. Darius Slayton – 91.6
3. CeeDee Lamb – 91.0
4. DeAndre Hopkins – 90.2 pic.twitter.com/3tR2kXEHep— PFF (@PFF) October 12, 2020
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars (52% rostered)
Jacksonville WR Keelan Cole caught two of six targets for 25 yards and a score in a loss against the Texans. The TD saved his fantasy day, though he likely wasn’t started in many lineups. But he’s now scored three times in five games, despite being third in looks behind patronymic receivers DJ Chark Jr. and Laviska Shenault Jr. Speaking of Chark, he’s currently tied for 8th most red-zone targets, but is Chark nursing an ankle injury that caused an early exit last week. If he’s limited or inactive this week, then it’s possible that Cole sees more of these valuable touches. You won’t need to bid a large amount for Cole, nor should you. To tell the truth, I’d imagine that he’ll remain available after waivers pass and can be picked up for free. But if Chark is inactive, Cole could be a sneaky bye week fill-in. He also has an advantageous matchup this week against the Lions’ generous secondary.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 2%
Olamide Zaccheaus, Atlanta Falcons (17% rostered)
Second-year receiver Olamide Zaccheaus obviously disappointed fantasy GMs as he only nabbed one of four passes for 13 measly yards. However, star receiver Julio Jones remains injured, leaving room for Zaccheaus to produce. They also just fired their coach Dan Quinn (and GM Thomas Dimitroff), which could provide a much-needed boost to their faltering offense. He’s an extremely risky option for those desperate enough to start him. But as long as Jones is inactive, Zaccheaus will have an opportunity for fantasy relevance on a once-prolific offense. He also gets a wonderful matchup this Sunday against Minnesota’s charitable defense.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 2%
TIGHT ENDS
Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears (63% rostered)
Watch out world, because journeyman TE Jimmy Graham is having himself a mini-comeback season. He caught three passes for 33 yards and a TD in an upset win against the Buccaneers. He’s now scored at least once in every other game, and has four TDs in just five weeks. This is no anomaly either, as he’s seen the MOST red zone targets among all TEs. More surprisingly, he’s tied for 2nd most red zone targets among ALL offensive positions. Clearly QB Nick Foles enjoys targeting Graham in the end zone. With TEs, you’re really just banking on big plays and/or a score. This makes Graham a highly desirably candidate in a desolate position. He is already the TE3 on the year, and should be bid on by fantasy GMs who are struggling with the position.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 7-10%
JIMMY. GRAHAM. ✋
The @ChicagoBears take the lead on #TNF!
📺 : #TBvsCHI on NFLN/FOX/PRIME pic.twitter.com/e5X5uzv3OX
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 9, 2020
Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams (28% rostered)
The Rams sure do love committees. Not only are their RBs stuck in an aggravating (for fantasy managers) carousel, but it appears their TEs are as well. “Lead” TE Tyler Higbee saw 15 targets in the first four weeks, while Gerald Everett only saw five. But in a win against Washington, it was Everett who saw twice as many targets than Higbee. He reeled in all four passes for 90 yards, making him the Rams receiving yardage leader and Week 5’s TE6. Meanwhile, Higbee only caught two targets for 12 yards, good for the TE25. Although unpredictable, there is potential for Everett to succeed in such a barren TE landscape. It helps that the Rams offense has been on fire lately. They do have a tough matchup against the 49ers next. But Everett is worth stashing on your bench in the off chance that he emerges as the team’s lead TE. As Higbee demonstrated late last season, it could be worth the wait.
Recommended Week 6 FAAB Bids: 3%
For more help in identifying this week’s top pickups, check out Corbin Young’s Week 6 Waiver Wire.
Fantrax was one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites of 2019 and we’re not letting our foot off the pedal now! With multi-team trades, designated commissioner/league managers, and drag/drop easy click methods, Fantrax is sure to excite the serious fantasy sports fan – sign up now for a free year at Fantrax.com.