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Eddie Lacy and C.J. Anderson are stuck in a miserable game of who is the bigger bust in 2015. It's a close race, and Fantasy owners are the biggest losers.
Based on Average Draft Position on CBS Sports, Lacy and Anderson were Top 10 overall picks, and neither is close to delivering production equal of their value. Both have been outplayed by the likes of Chris Johnson, Karlos Williams and Charles Sims, among others, and their own backups have also performed at a higher level, including in Week 6.
In Green Bay, James Starks had 10 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 5 yards and a touchdown against San Diego, and Lacy had just four carries for 3 yards and two catches for 17 yards. And for the Broncos, Ronnie Hillman had 20 carries for 111 yards and three catches for 4 yards at Cleveland, and Anderson was held to 13 carries for 41 yards and four catches for 25 yards
It's been beyond frustrating for anyone who invested a first-round pick in Lacy or Anderson, and Fantasy owners are stuck waiting for these guys to step up. We thought this was a good week for both running backs given their matchups, but instead the backups were the bigger stars.
Lacy and Anderson are on a bye in Week 7, and hopefully the week off can fix their woes. If there's a glimmer of hope to cling to it's that Lacy got off to a slow start in 2014 and rebounded, and Anderson didn't get going until Week 10 last year.
Every Lacy owner should add Starks, but hopefully from Week 8 on Lacy starts playing like a star. As for Anderson, we're not as optimistic. Hillman looks like the better running back behind a patchwork offensive line, and it could take a Hillman injury like what happened in 2014 for Anderson to start delivering quality production. You can't cut Anderson yet, but you don't have to play him any time soon. And, hopefully, you already have Hillman on your roster.
Quarterbacks
Player on the rise
We had a feeling Philip Rivers would play well at Green Bay while chasing points, but he was better than expected with 43-of-65 passing for 503 yards and two touchdowns for 32 Fantasy points. He has now scored at least 24 Fantasy points in three games in a row, and he should again play well in Week 7 against Oakland. We hope Keenan Allen (hip) is OK, but Rivers is hot right now and should be started in all leagues against the Raiders at home.
Player on the decline
Have we reached the end with Peyton Manning yet? We keep waiting for things to click, and it's just not happening, including another miserable game in Week 6 at Cleveland. He was 26-of-48 passing for 290 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions for 11 Fantasy points, and he's now scored fewer than 15 points in four of six games, including three in a row. Drops from his receivers, poor offensive line play and the lack of a consistent running game have hurt Manning, but this might be the time to cut him in the majority of leagues. Denver is on a bye in Week 7, and you might consider moving on from him since he's hurt your Fantasy team more than helped this year. We hope he can turn things around, but Manning just might not have the skills to be a solid Fantasy quarterback any more.
Quarterback injuries: Marcus Mariota (knee) and Michael Vick (hamstring)
Quarterback waivers: Blake Bortles (58 percent ownership), Jay Cutler (57 percent), Colin Kaepernick (53 percent), Ryan Fitzpatrick (43 percent), Brian Hoyer (16 percent) and Landry Jones (0 percent)
Of note:
• Welcome back, Andrew Luck. After missing the past two games with a shoulder injury, Luck played against the Patriots and finished with 33 Fantasy points. Don't worry about him moving forward. ... Welcome back, Matthew Stafford. One week after getting benched against the Cardinals, Stafford was dominant in Week 6 against the Bears with 405 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception and 37 rushing yards for 41 Fantasy points. Stafford just came off a brutal stretch of games against Denver, Seattle and Arizona, and he was due for a big game against Chicago. His schedule remains light moving forward with games against Minnesota, Kansas City, Green Bay, Oakland, Philadelphia and Green Bay in his next six outings, and Fantasy owners should buy into him as a starter again.
• Bortles is also worth starting in the majority of leagues since he's scored at least 19 Fantasy points in five games in a row, including 28 points in Week 6 against Houston. He has seven touchdowns in his past two games, and he should have the chance for another outing with multiple touchdowns against the Bills in London. We just have to make sure Allen Robinson (leg) is OK in Week 7.
• Is it time to buy into Kaepernick or has he just taken advantage of some good matchups the past two weeks? He had 26 Fantasy points against the Ravens on Sunday after scoring 24 points against the Giants in Week 5. He now has three games of at least 24 points in his past five outings, and Week 7 brings a tough test against Seattle on Thursday night. I wouldn't start him in that matchup, but if he plays well against the Seahawks then it might be time to trust him as a potential starter in all leagues.
• As expected, Josh McCown's run of success ended against the Broncos in Week 6 with 15 Fantasy points, and he had scored at least 23 points in the previous three games. McCown did have multiple touchdowns for the fourth game in a row, but it will be hard to trust him moving forward since the Browns face St. Louis, Arizona and Cincinnati in their next three games.
• Mariota is scheduled for an MRI on Monday after being hit on the knee by Miami defensive end Olivier Vernon. He stayed in the game but was pulled for Zach Mettenberger when the Dolphins built a big lead. If healthy, Mariota should not be started in Week 7 against the Falcons.
• Vick left Sunday's game against Arizona twice after getting dirt in his eye and then hurting his hamstring. When he left for good, Jones took over and the offense showed more life against the Cardinals. Ben Roethlisberger (knee) could return in Week 7, but if he remains out then look for Jones to start at Kansas City instead of Vick.
Running backs
Player on the rise
Arian Foster doesn't look like himself yet, but Fantasy owners aren't complaining based on his workload and receiving ability. He had 18 carries for 53 yards at Jacksonville in Week 6, and he had added five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. He's played three games now following his groin injury in training camp, and he's scored in double digits in Fantasy points in consecutive games. We'd love to see him run the ball better, but consecutive games with 100 total yards are encouraging, as is his first touchdown of the season. He should keep improving heading into Week 7 against Miami.
Player on the decline
It was revealed after Sunday's game by Chargers coach Mike McCoy that rookie running back Melvin Gordon was benched at Green Bay following two first-half fumbles. He finished the game with seven carries for 29 yards and the fumbles, and this was not the return to Wisconsin he was hoping for. Gordon has been terrible so far this season with single digits in Fantasy points in every game and no touchdowns. He might not get much work in Week 7 against the Raiders if McCoy wants to send a message, which would help Danny Woodhead and possibly Branden Oliver. We hope Gordon can turn things around soon, but he's been a bust so far this year.
Running back injuries: Carlos Hyde (foot), Duke Johnson (shoulder), Zach Zenner (chest), Chris Thompson (back) and Bilal Powell (ankle)
Running back waivers: Theo Riddick (56 percent ownership), Christine Michael (52 percent), James Starks (42 percent), Branden Oliver (9 percent) and Robert Turbin (4 percent)
Of note:
• We had one great performance from LeGarrette Blount against the Colts on Sunday night and one down game from Dion Lewis as our duo for Start of the Week. Blount had 16 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 11 yards and a touchdown, but Lewis was held to four carries for 21 yards and three catches for 18 yards in his first bad game of the season. New England faces the Jets in Week 7, and Lewis should rebound in that matchup.
• Of course Jonathan Stewart had his best game at Seattle after failing to play well against much easier opponents in his first four outings. Stewart had 23 Fantasy points combined in his first four games before scoring 19 points against the Seahawks. We hope this is a sign of things to come, and he faces the Eagles in Week 7, so consider him a No. 2 running back in the majority of leagues.
• The Dolphins fired Joe Philbin, and Lamar Miller looked like he'll benefit the most from interim coach Dan Campbell. In the first four games of the season, Miller never had more than 13 carries or 15 touches in a game, but he got 19 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 5 yards at Tennessee on Sunday. We hope this is the beginning of a dominant stretch run for Miller, starting in Week 7 against the Texans.
• LeSean McCoy returned from his two-game absence with a hamstring injury against the Bengals in Week 6 and had his best performance of the season. He had 17 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 4 yards. He'll be an excellent starting option in Week 7 against Jacksonville in London.
• There was a lot of uncertainty about Justin Forsett's status for Week 6 at San Francisco because of an ankle injury, but he played and did OK with 17 carries for 62 yards and a season-high seven catches for 39 yards. We hope the reception total is a sign of things to come, and he should remain a high-end No. 2 Fantasy running back moving forward in all formats.
• Marshawn Lynch returned after a two-game absence with a hamstring injury and had 17 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown against Carolina. The touchdown was his first of the season, and we hope Lynch continues to play well from this point forward. He should have a big game in Week 7 at San Francisco on Thursday night.
• I had high expectations for Ameer Abdullah in Week 6 when it looked like Riddick would be out against Chicago with a groin injury. But Riddick played, and Abdullah again struggled while also being punished for another fumble. He finished the game with 14 carries for 48 yards and three catches for 21 yards. Keep Abdullah reserved in all leagues in Week 7 against the Vikings until he starts to play at a higher level. As for Riddick, he is a good option in PPR leagues with at least 50 receiving yards in three of his past four games.
• Hyde had a rough day against the Ravens. He finished with 21 carries for 55 yards and two catches for 5 yards, but he also injured his left foot. He was able to finish the game but was clearly limited. Hyde is expected to play Thursday night against the Seahawks.
• The Chiefs replaced Jamaal Charles (torn ACL) with, well, not much at Minnesota. Charcandrick West had more work with nine carries for 33 yards and one catch for 6 yards, and Knile Davis had five carries for 13 yards and one catch for 5 yards. West lost a fumble, which sent him to the bench, but he still looks like the better option than Davis heading into Week 7 against the Steelers. He'll be just a flex option at best, and Davis is still worth stashing.
Wide receivers
Player on the rise
Carson Palmer passed for 421 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions Sunday at Pittsburgh, and all three of his receivers were involved. John Brown had 14 targets for 10 catches, 196 yards and a lost fumble. Larry Fitzgerald had 10 targets for eight catches and 93 yards. And Michael Floyd had eight targets for five catches, 50 yards and a touchdown. Brown is the receiver to focus on here, and he's been great for the past two games against Detroit and Pittsburgh with 14 catches for 269 yards and a touchdown on 18 targets. We hope this is what Brown can deliver on a weekly basis, and he has a great matchup in Week 7 against the Ravens. He should be started in all leagues.
Player on the decline
No one wants Roethlisberger back more than Antonio Brown, who had his third bad game in a row in Week 6 against Arizona with three catches for 24 yards on eight targets. Brown has now combined for 11 catches for 111 yards and no touchdowns on 23 targets in the three games without Roethlisberger. He has a dream matchup in Week 7 at Kansas City, and Roethlisberger could return for that game. If he's out and Vick or Landry Jones starts then you have to downgrade Brown, but we hope Roethlisberger is back at the Chiefs.
Wide receiver injuries: Sammy Watkins (ankle), Keenan Allen (hip), Emmanuel Sanders (shoulder), Jeremy Maclin (concussion), Allen Robinson (leg) and Ty Montgomery (ankle)
Wide receiver waivers: Michael Floyd (57 percent ownership), Rishard Matthews (49 percent ownership), Torrey Smith (43 percent), Marvin Jones (42 percent), Brandon LaFell (42 percent), Stefon Diggs (4 percent) and Lance Moore (0 percent)
Of note:
• Welcome back, Calvin Johnson. Like his quarterback, Johnson was due for a big game, and he had it Sunday against the Bears. Johnson had six catches for 166 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and all the Lions were involved with Moore (five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown on six targets) and Golden Tate (six catches for 40 yards and a touchdown on nine targets). We hope this is the beginning of a big stretch for Johnson, and your window to buy low on him has likely closed.
• Welcome back, Martavis Bryant. Making his season debut following a four-game suspension, Bryant had six catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets. We can't wait to see what Bryant does when Roethlisberger is healthy, but consider Bryant a starter in most leagues from this point on.
• Welcome back, Alshon Jeffery. After being out the past four games with a hamstring injury, Jeffery had eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets at Detroit. It's too bad the Bears are on a bye in Week 7 because we'd love to have Jeffery at our disposal. He's back as a must-start option in all leagues.
• Welcome back, Steve Smith. After missing Week 5 with a back injury, Smith returned Sunday at San Francisco with seven catches for 137 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. He'll have a tough matchup in Week 7 at Arizona, but Smith should be considered no worse than a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues when healthy.
• Watkins returned from a two-game absence with a calf injury only to leave with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury since he was on crutches after the game with the Bengals. He did play well before getting hurt with four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown on five targets. You should plan to be without him again in Week 7 against Jacksonville in London.
• Allen was having a monster game against the Packers before suffering a hip injury with 14 catches for 157 yards on 15 targets. We hope he's OK for Week 7 against Oakland.
• Sanders has the bye week to get his shoulder right, and we hope he's fine in Week 8. He had his second solid game in a row in Week 6 at Cleveland with four catches for 109 yards and a touchdown, and he has 13 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in his past two outings. Demaryius Thomas also played well against the Browns with 10 catches for 111 yards on a season-high 17 targets. He still has just one touchdown on the season and two games with more than 100 yards.
• Robinson played well before hurting his leg against Houston, and we hope he can make the trip to London to face the Bills. It won't be an easy matchup, but Robinson has scored at least 14 Fantasy points in his past two games. And Allen Hurns scored for the fourth game in a row against the Texans, and he continues to prove he's a solid Fantasy option in all leagues.
• Diggs continues to benefit with Charles Johnson (ribs) out, and he had seven catches for 129 yards on nine targets against the Chiefs on Sunday. In his past two games, Diggs has 13 catches for 216 yards on 19 targets, and he could be a solid option in PPR leagues in Week 7 at Detroit if Johnson is out again.
• Jarvis Landry didn't have a great game in Week 6 at Tennessee with three catches for 42 yards on four targets, but he had two carries for 24 yards and a touchdown, which saved his Fantasy production. He has still not caught a touchdown this season, which is frustrating, but it was good to see him score on a reverse and help Fantasy owners who started him.
• Andre Johnson, as expected, was held in check against the Patriots with three catches for 35 yards on six targets. T.Y Hilton, as expected, was the Colts' No. 1 receiver with six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, and Donte Moncrief also chipped in with six catches for 69 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. The Colts' pecking order at receiver remains Hilton, Moncrief and Johnson, in that order.
• Danny Amendola led New England in receiving with seven catches for 105 yards on nine targets at Indianapolis. I wouldn't get too excited since LaFell (foot) could return soon.
• Randall Cobb needs the bye in Week 7 to hopefully heal his shoulder and get back to playing at a high level. In three games since he had three touchdowns against the Chiefs, Cobb has 10 catches for 105 yards and no touchdowns, including two catches for 38 yards on five targets against the Chargers in Week 6.
Tight ends
Player on the rise
My start/sit suggestions with Gary Barnidge have been all over the place this season. I had him as a sleeper before his breakout game in Week 3 against Oakland, but I said to sit him the past two weeks at Baltimore and vs. Denver. And he's proven me wrong the past two games, including his performance against the Broncos with three catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. He has another tough matchup in Week 7 at St. Louis, but Barnidge has delivered with at least 13 Fantasy points in four games in a row. Start him in all leagues until he lets you down.
Player on the decline
Martellus Bennett typically has been great to open the season in his career and then struggled when the calendar turns to October. Are we seeing that again now? Bennett had six catches for 59 yards on 11 targets at Detroit on Sunday, and he now has 10 catches for 91 yards on 20 targets in his past two games. Don't give up on Bennett just yet with the Bears on a bye in Week 7, but we hope he can close the season playing well when Chicago is back in action in Week 8 against Minnesota.
Tight end injuries: No one of significance
Tight end waivers: Delanie Walker (69 percent ownership), Jordan Cameron (57 percent), Timothy Wright (10 percent) and Benjamin Watson (6 percent)
Of note:
• The Jimmy Graham we saw in Week 6 against Carolina is the one we hope to see every week moving forward. He had eight catches for 140 yards on 12 targets, which were all season highs. He has not scored in his past three outings, but we'll take this kind of game every week. Graham has three games this season with at least eight targets, and he's reached double digits in Fantasy points every time. He should be great at San Francisco on Thursday night.
• Julius Thomas made a nice impact Sunday against Houston with seven catches for 78 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. We hope this is a sign of things to come, and he has a good matchup against Buffalo in London.
• Campbell coached Miami's tight ends before taking over for Philbin, and in his first game as the interim head coach Cameron and Dion Sims combined for seven catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns on 12 targets at the Titans. Cameron had eight targets, and we hope he starts producing at a high level from this point forward.
• Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green played well together against the Packers, as Gates had nine catches for 95 yards on 16 targets and Green had three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown on four targets. Green could remain relevant if Allen misses any time with his hip injury, and both tight ends will benefit from facing the Raiders in Week 7.
• Travis Kelce had a decent game with five catches for 88 yards on seven targets, but he's now gone five games in a row without a touchdown. We hope big games are ahead, starting in Week 7 against Pittsburgh, because Fantasy owners are getting a little frustrated with his lack of standout stat lines.
