Last week, I said that if Marquise Brown hadn't dropped those three potential touchdowns in Week 3, we'd be talking a lot more about the leap Lamar Jackson had made in the early going of the season. Well, I hope you're ready to talk about it now.
Jackson had arguably his best game as a pro Monday against the Colts, passing for 442 yards on 43 attempts with four passing touchdowns and no interceptions while adding 62 yards on the ground. Pace stats are subject to a lot of noise early in the season, but I want to just take a second to admire what Jackson's 16-game numbers look like right now:
- 4,860 passing yards on 534 pass attempts (9.1 yards per attempt) with 26 passing touchdowns, plus 1,091 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Jackson is QB5 right now despite his lowest touchdown rate as both a rusher and passer. The Ravens have morphed into a pass-first team and, given how well Jackson is throwing the ball and how little talent they have at running back, this should probably be the goal moving forward. Mark Andrews had one of the best games in NFL history by a tight end Monday, catching 11 passes for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Brown made up for a slow start and then some with nine catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns of his own. Oh, and Jackson gets his first-round wide receiver back for the first time in Week 6.
He's back in the QB1 overall discussion, don't let anyone tell you differently.
You can check out where Jackson ranks for Week 6 with my first run of rankings for the week lower in today's newsletter along with the rest of the positions and my flex top 150, and we've also got Jamey Eisenberg's top waiver-wire picks for the week. This will be a pretty interesting week on the wire, and don't forget, the Falcons, Saints, Jets, and 49ers are on bye this week, so you'll have some extra spots to fill in your lineups.
For more on what will be another busy week on the injury front, make sure you tune in to Fantasy Football Today on CBS Sports HQ at noon ET, and for help locking in your waiver-wire claims join Jamey, Adam Aizer, and me on the FFT YouTube stream tonight at 8 p.m., where we'll be taking your questions live for an hour. If you've got any questions before then, as always, you can email me at Chris.Towers@CBSi.com with the subject line "#AskFFT" to be included this week -- including in tomorrow's trade mailbag.
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And here's what we've got on tap in today's newsletter:
- ➕Top Week 6 Waiver Wire Targets
- 📈Week 6 Rankings📉
➕Top Week 6 Waiver Wire Targets
Injuries have created another couple of opportunities for waiver-wire targets to make a big impact. Here are Jamey Eisenberg's top targets plus one more for each position -- and you can read Jamey's breakdown of the top targets at every position here:
Jamey Eisenberg's top targets
- Darrel Williams (38% rostered) -- With Clyde Edwards-Helaire likely looking at a multi-week absence due to a sprained MCL, Williams jumps to the top of the priority list for waivers. He has never had more than 13 carries in an NFL game, so it'll be interesting to see how much the Chiefs use him, but you can't pass on someone with the chance of being the lead back for the best offense in football.
- Kadarius Toney (19%) -- We'll have to see if Toney's ankle injury ended up being the kind of thing that could cost him time, however, if you're adding him, it's not just with Week 6 in mind. He has the potential to be much more than just a one-week player, something I honestly did not see coming before his impressive Week 5. You can't ignore the kind of potential 10 catches for 189 yards represents.
- Devontae Booker (10%) -- I wish Booker had a better matchup in Week 6 because I actually like his situation more for Fantasy than Williams'. However, between a matchup against the Rams and the possibility of Mike Glennon starting for the injury-depleted Giants, it may be asking too much for him to be immediately useful if Saquon Barkley is out.
- Khalil Herbert (25%) -- In one of the big surprises of Week 5, Herbert actually led the Bears in carries and yards while out-snapping Damien Williams. Williams was still the better Fantasy play and should remain so moving forward, but Herbert should be rostered after that kind of usage.
- Hunter Henry (61%) -- Henry is coming off his best game of the season and has scored in two straight games, so if you're looking for a starter, he's worth considering. Though it is worth noting, he did play a season-low 62% snap share in Week 5.
One (more) target for each position
- QB: Taylor Heinicke (36%) -- Heinicke is my No. 12 QB for Week 6, and no I don't feel good about it. However, he's a good runner and gets a great matchup against the Chiefs this week, so he's the top streamer in my eyes.
- RB: Jerick McKinnon (2%) -- While I certainly agree that Williams is likely to be the Chiefs lead back without Edwards-Helaire, there's a non-zero chance McKinnon could end up filling that role, or at least playing more than we expect. McKinnon has more experience in that kind of role than Williams, after all. If you want exposure to the Chiefs offense, McKinnon is going to come much cheaper.
- WR: Rashod Bateman (25%) -- We thought Bateman was going to make his return Monday, but the Ravens ultimately opted to give him another week to get ready. There was no sign that he suffered a setback, so Bateman should be active for the first time in Week 6, and while I'm not expecting him to be Fantasy relevant right away, he's a solid upside stash for your bench. Especially with Jackson throwing it like he is.
- TE: David Njoku (7%) -- If I'm taking a shot on someone at tight end on waivers, I think Njoku might be my top choice. Njoku is clearly healthy coming off his 149-yard effort in Week 5, and while he has more games with fewer than 20 yards than with more than 70, his downfield role in the Browns offense is too enticing for me to ignore. I'm a sucker for this kind of profile, and I think Njoku is worth chasing.
So who should you start and sit this week? And which surprising quarterback could lead you to victory? Visit SportsLine now to get Week 6 rankings for every position, plus see which QB is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that has out-performed experts big-time.
📈Week 6 Rankings📉
Here's where things stand for me in my first run through of the Week 6 rankings for PPR leagues. You can find Jamey, Dave, and Heath's rankings right here:
Quarterbacks
- Lamar Jackson vs. LAC
- Patrick Mahomes @ WAS
- Josh Allen @ TEN
- Jalen Hurts vs. TB
- Kyler Murray @ CLE
- Tom Brady @ PHI
- Justin Herbert @ BAL
- Matthew Stafford @ NYG
- Dak Prescott @ NE
- Aaron Rodgers @ CHI
- Taylor Heinicke vs. KC
- Joe Burrow @ DET
- Sam Darnold vs. MIN
- Kirk Cousins @ CAR
- Teddy Bridgewater vs. LV
- Baker Mayfield vs. ARI
- Ryan Tannehill vs. BUF
- Derek Carr @ DEN
- Jared Goff vs. CIN
- Ben Roethlisberger vs. SEA
- Geno Smith @ PIT
- Trevor Lawrence vs. MIA
- Carson Wentz vs. HOU
- Jacoby Brissett @ JAX
- Justin Fields vs. GB
- Mac Jones vs. DAL
- Mike Glennon vs. LAR
- Davis Mills @ IND
Running backs
- Christian McCaffrey vs. MIN
- Najee Harris vs. SEA
- Derrick Henry vs. BUF
- Austin Ekeler @ BAL
- Alexander Mattison @ CAR
- D'Andre Swift vs. CIN
- Aaron Jones @ CHI
- James Robinson vs. MIA
- Joe Mixon @ DET
- Darrell Henderson @ NYG
- Ezekiel Elliott @ NE
- Josh Jacobs @ DEN
- Kareem Hunt vs. ARI
- Nick Chubb vs. ARI
- Chase Edmonds @ CLE
- Damien Williams vs. GB
- Antonio Gibson vs. KC
- Jonathan Taylor vs. HOU
- Devontae Booker vs. LAR
- Leonard Fournette @ PHI
- Myles Gaskin @ JAX
- Chris Carson @ PIT
- Darrel Williams @ WAS
- Melvin Gordon vs. LV
- Jamaal Williams vs. CIN
- Miles Sanders vs. TB
- Tony Pollard @ NE
- Javonte Williams vs. LV
- Damien Harris vs. DAL
- Zack Moss @ TEN
- James Conner @ CLE
- J.D. McKissic vs. KC
- Devin Singletary @ TEN
- Nyheim Hines vs. HOU
- Brandon Bolden vs. DAL
- Giovani Bernard @ PHI
- Kenneth Gainwell vs. TB
- Kenyan Drake @ DEN
- AJ Dillon @ CHI
- Jeremy McNichols vs. BUF
- David Johnson @ IND
- Mark Ingram @ IND
- Jerick McKinnon @ WAS
- Sony Michel @ NYG
- Alex Collins @ PIT
- Latavius Murray vs. LAC
- Ty'Son Williams vs. LAC
- Ronald Jones @ PHI
- Phillip Lindsay @ IND
- Malcolm Brown @ JAX
- Carlos Hyde vs. MIA
- Salvon Ahmed @ JAX
- Larry Rountree @ BAL
- Marlon Mack vs. HOU
- Chuba Hubbard vs. MIN
- Justin Jackson @ BAL
- Deejay Dallas @ PIT
- Rhamondre Stevenson vs. DAL
- Benny Snell vs. SEA
- J.J. Taylor vs. DAL
Wide receivers
- Davante Adams @ CHI
- Tyreek Hill @ WAS
- Cooper Kupp @ NYG
- Terry McLaurin vs. KC
- Stefon Diggs @ TEN
- D.J. Moore vs. MIN
- Justin Jefferson @ CAR
- Mike Williams @ BAL
- Keenan Allen @ BAL
- Marquise Brown vs. LAC
- Chris Godwin @ PHI
- Diontae Johnson vs. SEA
- Robert Woods @ NYG
- A.J. Brown vs. BUF
- Ja'Marr Chase @ DET
- CeeDee Lamb @ NE
- Mike Evans @ PHI
- DeAndre Hopkins @ CLE
- Brandin Cooks @ IND
- DeVonta Smith vs. TB
- Amari Cooper @ NE
- D.K. Metcalf @ PIT
- Antonio Brown @ PHI
- Michael Pittman vs. HOU
- Chase Claypool vs. SEA
- Courtland Sutton vs. LV
- Sammy Watkins vs. LAC
- Tyler Lockett @ PIT
- Tee Higgins @ DET
- Jaylen Waddle @ JAX
- Emmanuel Sanders @ TEN
- Jakobi Meyers vs. DAL
- Adam Thielen @ CAR
- Marvin Jones vs. MIA
- Allen Robinson vs. GB
- Odell Beckham Jr. vs. ARI
- Hunter Renfrow @ DEN
- Darnell Mooney vs. GB
- Cole Beasley @ TEN
- Kadarius Toney vs. LAR
- Rondale Moore @ CLE
- Tim Patrick vs. LV
- Tyler Boyd @ DET
- Laviska Shenault vs. MIA
- Henry Ruggs @ DEN
- A.J. Green @ CLE
- Robby Anderson vs. MIN
- Jalen Reagor vs. TB
- Mecole Hardman @ WAS
- Christian Kirk @ CLE
- Collin Johnson vs. LAR
- Nelson Agholor vs. DAL
- Zach Pascal vs. HOU
- K.J. Osborn @ CAR
- Adam Humphries vs. KC
- Josh Gordon @ WAS
- John Ross vs. LAR
- Randall Cobb @ CHI
- Kendrick Bourne vs. DAL
- Van Jefferson @ NYG
Tight ends
- Travis Kelce @ WAS
- Mark Andrews vs. LAC
- Darren Waller @ DEN
- T.J. Hockenson vs. CIN
- Mike Gesicki @ JAX
- Dalton Schultz @ NE
- Noah Fant vs. LV
- Dawson Knox @ TEN
- Dallas Goedert vs. TB
- Hunter Henry vs. DAL
- Dan Arnold vs. MIA
- Evan Engram vs. LAR
- Tyler Higbee @ NYG
- Zach Ertz vs. TB
- David Njoku vs. ARI
- Jared Cook @ BAL
- Austin Hooper vs. ARI
- Tyler Conklin @ CAR
- Anthony Firkser vs. BUF
- Cole Kmet vs. GB
- Robert Tonyan @ CHI
- Jonnu Smith vs. DAL
- C.J. Uzomah @ DET
- Tommy Tremble vs. MIN
- Cameron Brate @ PHI
- Blake Jarwin @ NE
- Mo Alie-Cox vs. HOU
- Ricky Seals-Jones vs. KC
- Eric Ebron vs. SEA
- Jack Doyle vs. HOU
Top-150 Flex Rankings
- Christian McCaffrey vs. MIN
- Davante Adams @ CHI
- Najee Harris vs. SEA
- Derrick Henry vs. BUF
- Austin Ekeler @ BAL
- Alexander Mattison @ CAR
- Tyreek Hill @ WAS
- Travis Kelce @ WAS
- D'Andre Swift vs. CIN
- Cooper Kupp @ NYG
- Aaron Jones @ CHI
- Terry McLaurin vs. KC
- James Robinson vs. MIA
- Stefon Diggs @ TEN
- D.J. Moore vs. MIN
- Joe Mixon @ DET
- Darrell Henderson @ NYG
- Justin Jefferson @ CAR
- Mike Williams @ BAL
- Keenan Allen @ BAL
- Ezekiel Elliott @ NE
- Josh Jacobs @ DEN
- Marquise Brown vs. LAC
- Kareem Hunt vs. ARI
- Mark Andrews vs. LAC
- Darren Waller @ DEN
- Chris Godwin @ PHI
- Diontae Johnson vs. SEA
- Nick Chubb vs. ARI
- Chase Edmonds @ CLE
- Damien Williams vs. GB
- Antonio Gibson vs. KC
- Robert Woods @ NYG
- A.J. Brown vs. BUF
- Ja'Marr Chase @ DET
- Jonathan Taylor vs. HOU
- CeeDee Lamb @ NE
- Mike Evans @ PHI
- DeAndre Hopkins @ CLE
- Brandin Cooks @ IND
- DeVonta Smith vs. TB
- Amari Cooper @ NE
- Devontae Booker vs. LAR
- D.K. Metcalf @ PIT
- Antonio Brown @ PHI
- Michael Pittman vs. HOU
- Chase Claypool vs. SEA
- Leonard Fournette @ PHI
- Courtland Sutton vs. LV
- Myles Gaskin @ JAX
- Sammy Watkins vs. LAC
- Tyler Lockett @ PIT
- Tee Higgins @ DET
- Chris Carson @ PIT
- Jaylen Waddle @ JAX
- Emmanuel Sanders @ TEN
- T.J. Hockenson vs. CIN
- Jakobi Meyers vs. DAL
- Darrel Williams @ WAS
- Melvin Gordon vs. LV
- Adam Thielen @ CAR
- Jamaal Williams vs. CIN
- Miles Sanders vs. TB
- Marvin Jones vs. MIA
- Allen Robinson vs. GB
- Odell Beckham Jr. vs. ARI
- Hunter Renfrow @ DEN
- Darnell Mooney vs. GB
- Mike Gesicki @ JAX
- Cole Beasley @ TEN
- Kadarius Toney vs. LAR
- Nyheim Hines vs. HOU
- Rondale Moore @ CLE
- Tony Pollard @ NE
- Tim Patrick vs. LV
- Dalton Schultz @ NE
- Javonte Williams vs. LV
- Noah Fant vs. LV
- Devin Singletary @ TEN
- Tyler Boyd @ DET
- Damien Harris vs. DAL
- Zack Moss @ TEN
- Laviska Shenault vs. MIA
- Henry Ruggs @ DEN
- A.J. Green @ CLE
- Robby Anderson vs. MIN
- Dawson Knox @ TEN
- J.D. McKissic vs. KC
- Jalen Reagor vs. TB
- Mecole Hardman @ WAS
- Dallas Goedert vs. TB
- Brandon Bolden vs. DAL
- Giovani Bernard @ PHI
- James Conner @ CLE
- Kenneth Gainwell vs. TB
- Christian Kirk @ CLE
- Kenyan Drake @ DEN
- Hunter Henry vs. DAL
- AJ Dillon @ CHI
- Dan Arnold vs. MIA
- Evan Engram vs. LAR
- Tyler Higbee @ NYG
- Jeremy McNichols vs. BUF
- Zach Ertz vs. TB
- Collin Johnson vs. LAR
- David Johnson @ IND
- Mark Ingram @ IND
- Nelson Agholor vs. DAL
- David Njoku vs. ARI
- Jared Cook @ BAL
- Jerick McKinnon @ WAS
- Zach Pascal vs. HOU
- Austin Hooper vs. ARI
- K.J. Osborn @ CAR
- Tyler Conklin @ CAR
- Adam Humphries vs. KC
- Sony Michel @ NYG
- Alex Collins @ PIT
- Latavius Murray vs. LAC
- Ty'Son Williams vs. LAC
- Anthony Firkser vs. BUF
- Josh Gordon @ WAS
- John Ross vs. LAR
- Randall Cobb @ CHI
- Cole Kmet vs. GB
- Kendrick Bourne vs. DAL
- Robert Tonyan @ CHI
- Jonnu Smith vs. DAL
- Van Jefferson @ NYG
- C.J. Uzomah @ DET
- Quez Watkins vs. TB
- Dyami Brown vs. KC
- Tommy Tremble vs. MIN
- Cameron Brate @ PHI
- Blake Jarwin @ NE
- Preston Williams @ JAX
- Byron Pringle @ WAS
- Terrace Marshall Jr. vs. MIN
- Tyron Johnson vs. MIA
- Bryan Edwards @ DEN
- Ronald Jones @ PHI
- Chester Rogers vs. BUF
- Mo Alie-Cox vs. HOU
- Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. BUF
- Allen Lazard @ CHI
- Phillip Lindsay @ IND
- Ricky Seals-Jones vs. KC
- Eric Ebron vs. SEA
- Jack Doyle vs. HOU
- Kyle Rudolph vs. LAR