NFL Player News

Rams quarterback Sam Bradford enters Week 6 against the Texans riding high on his best game of the season. Unfortunately, he could come crashing back down to earth against one of the league's best passing defenses.

Bradford is off to one of the best starts of his career, passing for 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions through the first five games of the season. Unfortunately, the Texans have come roaring back from a slow start against the pass, especially over the last three games.

The Texans have allowed just one passing touchdown over the past three games, while holding their opponents to just 135.7 yards per game. As a result, opposing quarterbacks are averaging just 15.6 Fantasy points per game against the Texans.

Bradford can be a useful Fantasy option at this point, but it is best to leave him sidelined for better choices in Week 6. 

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has produced a mix bag of results through the season's first five weeks -- he has two games with 25 or more Fantasy points and three with 16 or fewer. 

His Week 6 opponent, the Titans, have allowed the seventh-fewest Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, with only one (Matt Schaub) scoring more than 13 points against them. Additionally, the Titans have allowed just 17 rushing yards by quarterbacks all year; Wilson is coming off a career-best 102 rushing yards in Week 5.

Something will have to break here, and it may end up being Wilson -- who has been erratic in 2013. If there's a better option available, it might be wise to bench Wilson for Week 6 and avoid what could be a down day. 

Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko did not express fear over facing Bills temporary starting quarterback Thad Lewis on Sunday, at least in regard to his passing.

"They selected this dude Thad to run because he's more of a running quarterback," Peko told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Lewis actually passed the ball well in his lone NFL start in Week 17 of the 2012 season. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown in a loss at Pittsburgh.

The 49ers claimed quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson off waivers from the Vikings and cut quarterback John Skelton, reports USA Today.

With EJ Manuel sidelined due a knee injury, Bills quarterback Thad Lewis has been promoted off the practice squad to make his second career start Week 6 vs. Cincinnati. Lewis' only other start came for the Browns last year in a 24-10 loss at Pittsburgh, as he completed 22 of 32 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Bengals will be a tough challenge for Lewis. Cincinnati held future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to 197 passing yards and no touchdowns Week 5. Through five games against the Bengals, quarterbacks are averaging 240.6 passing yards and 15.2 Fantasy points per week, which is the 13th-lowest average in the NFL. Only Jay Cutler and Brian Hoyer have thrown multiple touchdowns against Cincinnati.

Bills coach Doug Marrone said he chose Lewis to start Sunday because he feels Lewis "can extend plays" and "run the read option." Well, Lewis will have to be on top of his game Sunday if he wants to upset the Bengals. Cincinnati will likely load the box to stop the run game, giving Lewis the opportunity to beat them through the air. However, unless you need a desperation bye-week Fantasy replacement in deeper formats, Lewis is not a recommended Fantasy option Week 6.

After failing to throw a touchdown pass Week 5, it was the first time in Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton's career he failed to record a touchdown in two straight games. He will look to end his touchdown slump Week 6 at Buffalo.

Dalton has struggled on the road this season. The Bengals are 0-2 in road games, with Dalton throwing for just 488 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Quarterbacks have had mixed results against Buffalo this season. Quarterbacks are averaging 283.4 passing yards and 19 Fantasy points per week, but they have thrown as many touchdowns (nine) as interceptions. Though, it's probably encouraging for Dalton that four quarterbacks -- Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Geno Smith and Joe Flacco -- have thrown multiple touchdowns against Buffalo.

There's no denying Dalton has been a pretty disappointing Fantasy option in 2013. He is completing a career-high 65.1 percent of his passes through five games, but he has as many interceptions (five) as touchdowns and is averaging a career-low 10.7 yards per completion.

Fantasy owners in need of a bye-week replacement could look to Dalton as a potential option Week 6, but he's hardly a must-start player.

Matthew Stafford is normally an automatic Fantasy play. But there is nothing normal about the health of his receiving corps these days. And for that reason, owners should monitor that situation before sticking him in their Week 6 lineups.

Stafford played his first game this season without Calvin Johnson (knee) on Sunday and it showed. He passed for just 242 yards and one touchdown. The availability of Johnson must determine whether Stafford should be included in Fantasy lineups when the Lions play in Cleveland. After all, second receiver Nate Burleson (broken arm) is also out.

The blossoming Browns defense is emerging as a force. They rank first in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed with two and ninth in points surrendered with 94. They boast a strong pass rush, though Stafford is fairly mobile. He might be forced to run if Johnson is out because his other receivers have not proven they can get open.

Stafford is having a decent start to his season. He ranks fifth in the NFL with 1,524 yards passing and his 63.8 percent accuracy is a career-best. But the possible absence of Johnson again is huge. It's one reason Stafford is ranked between ninth and 17th by the three CBSSports.com senior Fantasy writers this week.

If Johnson plays, play Stafford. If not, it's likely best to find another viable option.

As expected, the Vikings waived quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson so they could sign former Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman. Freeman will not start Week 6 against Carolina. 

In Week 5, Jets quarterback Geno Smith showed just how productive he can be when he protects the football, throwing three touchdown passes and leading his team to a game-winning field goal in the final seconds. It was the first time all year that he didn't commit a turnover.

In Week 6, he'll be facing a defense that has struggled to create turnovers. The Steelers haven't had an interception or fumble recovery all season. Every other team has had at least one of each.

Statistically, the Steelers rank fifth against the pass, allowing 199.0 yards per game, but they haven't exactly presented a challenge for opposing quarterbacks, ranking dead last with four sacks. The truth is teams just haven't needed to pass against them. They rank 25th against the run, allowing 122.8 yards per game.

If running back Bilal Powell gets off to a quick start and the Jets defense holds up its end of the bargain, Smith may not be asked to do much in Week 6, which is why he's not an advisable option in standard one-quarterback leagues. But if you play in a two-quarterback league, this looks like one of those matchups he could potentially exploit, depending on how the game unfolds.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in need of a multi-touchdown game after being held the last two games to one passing touchdown. He will aim to end his multi-touchdown slump during a Week 6 matchup at Baltimore.

The Packers have lost both of their road games this season, with Rodgers completing 58.8 percent of his passes (47 of 80) for 577 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He's been much better at Lambeau Field this season, completing 75 percent of his passes (54 of 72) for 754 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

The bad news for Rodgers is that only one quarterback -- Peyton Manning -- has thrown multiple touchdowns against Baltimore and that came back in Week 1. Since Manning's seven-touchdown performance, quarterbacks have totaled two passing touchdowns and three interceptions in the last four games against Baltimore. They are also averaging 225.3 passing yards per game in that span.

Rodgers has certainly had easier matchups than the one he's facing Week 6. However, you didn't draft Rodgers to sit him, so this is one of those situations that despite a less-than-stellar matchup, keep Rodgers active in all Fantasy formats.