It’s been a rough year for running backs as life without Jay Ajayi begins Thursday for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Atlanta Falcons have been all too used to life without Devonta Freeman. The Falcons back suffered another injury (foot) and is listed as doubtful to play this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That means you can dial up Tevin Coleman as a borderline RB1 this week. Leonard Fournette could reportedly sit out until Week 10, so it looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars will roll with T.J. Yeldon and newly signed Jamaal Charles until then. It’s not all negative, though, as Dalvin Cook is expected to return and he has one of the better matchups this week. Oh, and everyone in Washington is a game-time decision, but Jordan Reed. Ironically enough, he’s healthy. As usual my Week 6 rankings are below and I’ve also highlighted the injuries we need to be watching for the coming week of football.
Key Week 6 Injuries
Leonard Fournette (hamstring) – RULED OUT; chance to play WK 7
Dalvin Cook (hamstring) – RULE OUT
Devonta Freeman (foot) – RULED OUT
Lamar Miller (chest) – says he’ll play
Adrian Peterson (shoulder) – ACTIVE
Chris Thompson (ribs/knee) – RULED OUT
Matt Breida (ankle) – RULED OUT
Isaiah Crowell (ankle) – ACTIVE
Marlon Mack (hamstring) – ACTIVE
Brandin Cooks (concussion) – ACTIVE
Cooper Kupp (concussion) – ACTIVE
T.Y. Hilton (hamstring) – RULED OUT
Randall Cobb (hamstring) – questionable
Geronimo Allison (concussion) – questionable
Anthony Miller (shoulder) – ACTIVE
Paul Richardson (shoulder/knee) – ACTIVE
Jamison Crowder (ankle) – RULED OUT
Dante Pettis (knee) – RULED OUT
Rishard Higgins (knee) – considered week-to-week
Greg Olsen (foot) – ACTIVE
Evan Engram (knee) – RULED OUT
Eric Ebron (shin/quad/ankle/knee) – ACTIVE
Jack Doyle (hip) – RULED OUT
O.J. Howard (knee) – ACTIVE
Nick Vannett (back) – RULED OUT
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (core muscle) – placed on IR; could return
Jameis Winston @ ATL
Jameis Winston has had two weeks to prepare for his first start of the season and he couldn’t ask for a better matchup, unless of course he could play against his own defense. The Falcons have allowed the fifth-most yards, ninth-most passing yards and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Atlanta has given up the second-most points per game and the Buccaneers have allowed the most. Expect a shootout.
Mohamed Sanu vs. TB
Mohamed Sanu is still available in leagues despite being atop many waiver wire rankings of late. As mentioned above, Atlanta has struggled defensively which has led to a lot of passing from Matt Ryan. Sanu continues to play more snaps, run more routes and get more looks than rookie Calvin Ridley. Sanu has two touchdowns in his last three games, and he has 184 yards in his last two contests. Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most yards, the most passing yards and rhe second most fantasy points per game to wideouts.
Chester Rogers @ NYJ
This Indianapolis Colts can’t run the football and their defense has been awful. It’s resulted in the a league-high 245 passing attempts from Andrew Luck. The Colts’ QB thew the ball 59 times last week and 62 times the week before. Chester Rogers had 11 targets and eight catches for the second straight week. That includes one game with T.Y. Hilton and one game without him. That’s a lot of volume which is unlikely to change. It looks like Hilton and Jack Doyle are out again this week.
Week 6 Rankings
Check out our Week 6 Sleepers: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends
Get more Chris Meaney on his new podcast, By Any Means. Each week he’ll bring in guests from around the industry to break down all the fantasy news you need to know for your march to the championship.