Week 6 fantasy football buy or sell — 32 seconds for 32 teams

You don’t need a big intro. You know what you’re here for. Who are the buy low targets and where should you sell high? You are probably feeling pretty good if you went out and got yourself Jordan Howard last week or got Brady before his return, and Marshall and Cooper paid off big too.

So what should you do with your Panthers or Falcons, and what about all the bye week players? And who in the world is Cameron Meredith? Read on…

Arizona 33, San Francisco 21

I’ve said in the last few weeks that I’m not sure there was anyone I’d trade David Johnson for, and now I’m certain that is the case. As Arizona struggles through QB issues he may become more and more the focal point of this offense and he looks like the best player in fantasy. Larry Fitzgerald managed to find another great game despite just 11 completions for the Cards. It definitely feels like he’s reached peak value so it’s time to sell high. The passing game just isn’t clicking right overall and Brown and Floyd are bound to steal some looks sooner than later. Hold both of those two and Palmer if you can but temper expectations and none of them are must start.

It definitely feels like Larry Fitzgerald has reached peak value so it’s time to sell high…

Carlos Hyde continues to rumble with 6 TDs now, but be careful. He’s averaging 22 touches a game and leads the league in redzone carries, and that means he’s at his peak value right now. With a history of injury and playing on a bad team, there are some red flags here and I’d swap out for high value if you can find it. Jeremy Kerley has had 3 playable fantasy games now and is definitely worth a roster spot, especially in PPR.

Minnesota 31, Houston 13

Minnesota heads to the bye week as the last undefeated team and still the only reliable fantasy player on the team has been the defense, who yes, are a must-hold through the bye. Pick them up if someone drops them. Jerick McKinnon’s upside is being limited with Asiata the more trusted late-game back, and he’s going to be a back-end RB2 or flex most weeks. It does seem a great time to buy low on Stefon Diggs though. He led the league in receiving for two games before an injury slowed him down. The bye should help and he is a WR2 again after the break.

We’re at the point now where we can almost dismiss poor fantasy performances against this Minnesota defense. Hopkins finally had some numbers in garbage time, but Will Fuller was just garbage. I remain relatively low on both and would still sell Fuller. Lamar Miller had his worst game of the season but he’s probably my #1 buy low target, as with every other article on the internet now. This is as cheap as he gets, barring injury. He’s still a top 10 player the rest of the way.

Lamar Miller is probably my #1 buy low target…

New England 33, Cleveland 13

Did you buy Tom Brady while you could? Cuz it’s too late now after 400 yards and 3 TDs in 3 quarters (against a JV team admittedly). Is there any QB you’d trade him for now? The TDs all went to Martellus Bennett who looks like a possible weekly start but is an obvious sell if someone goes crazy. Thankfully that leaves you one more week to get Edelman and Gronk while value is relatively low. Go get Edelman especially. As for LeGarrette Blount it looks like time to shop him. A TD saved a tough week but James White was on the field a lot more in the Brady offense. He looks worth a pickup and has flex value especially in PPR leagues, and Blount will be back to RB2 status as a TD-dependent guy who only gets yards in blowouts.

The Browns are on their 5th QB now in Interception Jesus and may have to sign a 6th this week. That’s killing any possible Cleveland value. Isaiah Crowell had a brutal game but I’d still sell if I can find a taker. He’s a spot start, and certainly not a RB1. At just 16 touches a game on this offense, there’s just not enough value there. I’m still intrigued by Terrelle Pryor though. There might be a couple more vintage Kordell Stewart in him, and any time you can get QB stats from your presumed WR3 it’s amazing value.

Pittsburgh 31, NY Jets 13

In one game this season, the Steelers scored 3 points. In the other four games they’re averaging over 34 points and Big Ben has 15 TDs — which one is the outlier? This is the best offense in football and that means load up. Both Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell are top 3 fantasy players. Get them. Big Ben looks like as good a QB as anyone too, and remember he started just as well last year before injuries derailed Pittsburgh. A few of the TDs may move toward the run game but also there have been TDs left on the table too. Even Sammie Coates looks worth a wildcard play any given week as he has ramped up three straight weeks.

Brandon Marshall is locked in as a top 10 WR and still a bit of a buy low if you can snag him…

The Jets continue to struggle, though the schedule should begin to lighten up moving forward. Brandon Marshall had a monster game and is up in targets each game, which is impressive considering he had 8 the first week. He is locked in as a top 10 WR and still a bit of a buy low if you can snag him. As for Matt Forte, we can again pick the outlier and this one goes the other direction. He found the endzone in just one game and has now averaged 16 touches over his last three games. He’s slipped into the RB2s but might be heading to buy low range if an owner is getting frustrated.

Detroit 24, Philadelphia 23

It’s good to see Stafford and Jones reward our faith in them. Philly hadn’t allowed a passing TD yet this season and Detroit had 3 including 1 to Jones. Jones continues to look like a possible WR1 and Stafford a weekly QB start. Don’t get too excited yet on Theo Riddick though. The 2 TDs were an anomaly; otherwise you’re getting 50–75 combined yards and 4–6 catches. That’s playable in PPR but the ceiling is limited in standard.

Added: The Lions signed Justin Forsett who seems likely to take half the carries and probably goal line touches too. He’s a speculative add but most likely just continues to neuter both. Forsett has been a good pass catcher, so there’s some potential there if he could get the full RB role at some point.

Don’t get too worried about the Eagles, who were due for a letdown and were sloppy after an early off week. Both Ryan and Jordan Mat(t)hews still look like solid values and decent buy low targets. And Carson Wentz was solid if you played him and looks like a usable fill-in in the right matchup.

Washington 16, Baltimore 10

This entire game was a turd sandwich and I have nothing to say about it other than make sure Terrance West is owned in your league.

Indianapolis 29, Chicago 23

I’m still very worried about Andrew Luck. He’s averaging almost 300 yards and over 2 TDs a game but so much of that is garbage time or second half. He’s playing well but he just has no help at all and it’s been a cake schedule. Luck is a back-end QB1 going forward and you should sell while value is high. TY Hilton can’t keep up this pace with 170+ yards in two of the last three games but he is locked in and seems safe to hold. He’s getting some shorter TDs now and is eating up all the Indy targets, and he’s the only player in the NFL with double digit targets in 5 games.

I hope you bought Jordan Howard as I urged you. He had 163 yards and a TD with over 8 yards a touch. He’s explosive, and he’s being used in the passing game, and he played all but 2 snaps. Don’t sell high; ride the wave. Alshon Jeffery still looks like a buy low but temper expectations. He hasn’t cleared 7 targets or 5 receptions in any game and hasn’t found paydirt yet. His value won’t stay this low but he’s a WR2 now. Yes, I had heard of Cameron Meredith before Sunday. He was a stud for FCS Illinois State in every game except when he played my North Dakota State Bison, and he’s a top free agent pick-up this week. Hoyer doesn’t get to throw 43 times against the Indy defense every Sunday, but pick him up and let’s see where this goes.

Atlanta 23, Denver 16

Call me crazy, but I’m still on the seller’s market on these Falcons even after another good game against a top defense. Matt Ryan is crushing his career ypa and comp% and those numbers are due to regress, and Devonta Freeman has blessed you with strong trade value now over 100 yards a game and with a TD in three straight. And check out Julio Jones’ targets by week: 8–5–7–15–6. You tell me, which one is the outlier? Julio had 300 yards in one game and 217 in the other 4. It’s simple really: every Falcon is at peak value. I’m happy to use these guys this season but I’m still selling them all especially with a trip to Seattle next.

Call me crazy, but I’m still on the seller’s market on these Falcons…

Don’t panic on Denver who, like any normal team, is struggling a bit without their starting QB. Turns out there was a reason Lynch wasn’t starting. CJ Anderson has three straight games under 50 yards but is still getting TDs and seems like at least a good RB2 and a decent buy low. It does seem time to sell on Demaryius Thomas though, yet to clear 7 targets in a game and less than Emmanuel Sanders in all 5. Demaryius has saved value with a TD in three straight but I’m not sure he’s much more than a top 25 WR going forward.

Buffalo 30, Los Angeles 19

Two teams, two RBs, not much else. LeSean McCoy is the real Shady and a top 5 RB but do prepare yourself for the inevitable injury or occasional off game with this poor passing game. Todd Gurley finally hit 100 yards combined in a game but is still having a brutal season, just 2.7 ypc. His receptions are adding value but I’m selling hard on name value here, and there’s no question which RB I’d prefer going forward here. No one in either team’s passing game is worth owning.

Tennessee 30, Miami 17

DeMarco Murray had another big game. Lock and load him, though be aware he’s at peak value. That makes him a sell high if someone pays his top-10 price as he’s unlikely to stay this good. Delanie Walker looked healthy and is the top target again in Tennessee, so that makes him a weekly TE start. Don’t get too excited on Marcus Mariota yet who isn’t getting enough in the passing game to have fantasy value, but keep an eye on him.

Miami was terrible, just awful in this game. They couldn’t even get a single player more than 3 targets. Jarvis Landry has been in double digits every other game so he’s a buy low target. No one else here is exciting, though I’ll again urge you to get Arian Foster if you can before he’s back soon.

Dallas 28, Cincinnati 14

Ezekiel Elliott is a monster as expected, with 5 TDs now and 130+ rushing yards in three straight. Zeke is a stud but realize that his value is at his peak since he’s not used in the pass game and will probably drop in value some as Dallas does better in the air. I wouldn’t exactly be shopping him but if someone bowls you over, it’s worth listening. Dak Prescott does have multiple TDs in three straight games but isn’t really in the QB1 discussion yet, and Dallas receiving option is particularly useful.

The Bengals continue to disappoint and it’s becoming clear they miss Tyler Eifert and that Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu were actually pretty good. You can drop Andy Dalton. This is the usual for AJ Green, a down game after a big one, his usual m.o. Gio Bernard is a RB1 if Jeremy Hill misses any time so get him in your lineup.

Green Bay 23, NY Giants 16

I’m still not entirely sold on Aaron Rodgers, who had his 3rd game of 4 this season under 6 YPA and is at just 56%. I think he’s playing ok but the offense just seems off. If I could trade someone like Luck or Rivers for him I’d have to give it a shot. James Starks is at least a RB2 if Lacy misses time, so make sure to roster him. I’m still out on Randall Cobb; 9/108 is about as good as it gets for him so it’s a nice time to sell our name product. Jordy Nelson is a guy that looks like a sell high with a TD every game and lower receptions and yardage, but I’m hanging tough. At 10 targets a game he’s equal to his perceived value and could go up if Green Bay can start clicking. Remember this is a team that usually rounds into shape midseason.

Speaking of teams that round into shape late, the Giants will have to pull another rabbit out of their hat. The schedule doesn’t really ease up, and Eli Manning has been terrible, with 0 or 1 TD in four straight. He’s unplayable right now in fantasy, and so is the Giants run game. I’m still in on OBJ though. He’s over 10 targets a game and is right on his usual pace, just short on a few TDs and big plays. He’s a buy low for me, though the #3 pick looks high in hindsight. Sterling Shepherd is still a nice WR3 and still a guy you can play most weeks even coming off of two tough games.

Oakland 34, San Diego 31

Oakland is 4–1 and has us all buzzing but it might be time to sell coming off an OAK/ATL/SD stretch that can hardly get much better from a fantasy standpoint. Derek Carr won’t throw 38 passes a game all season so that makes him and Michael Crabtree sell highs. Amari Cooper has yet to pass 6 receptions. Coming off his first TD and a big game, he’s starting to settle in as a high WR2 and I’m slowly starting to sell a bit. The Raiders have a few too many weapons to make him as good as he could be. But don’t count on a Raiders RB any time soon. These Raiders may actually be good, and the schedule gets a bit harder but is still doable. Sell if someone is buying high but otherwise you might just have nice value plays all year.

Melvin Gordon’s value only goes down from here. I would shop hard the next couple days…

Now repeat pretty much all of that for the Chargers who just came off an OAK/NO/IND/JAX stretch that can’t be beat, and the Bolts play Denver twice in the next three weeks. Philip Rivers is dealing at almost 70% completions and almost 300 yards and 2 TDs a game, quietly playing as well as anyone in football, and both Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin are averaging 70+ yards a game and are usable any given week. That whole pass game is a sell high in theory but you may not get great values so it might just be a chance to play your value. You ought to be really careful with Melvin Gordon though. Around 70 yards a game but 7 TDs in 5 games, he’s extremely TD-dependent on a team that looks like it will lose a lot. Gordon’s value only goes down from here. I would shop hard the next couple days.

Tampa Bay 17, Carolina 14

Mike Evans is shaping up to be a real monster. He’s averaging 12+ targets a game and has scored a TD in 4 of 5 games and that during a pretty tough stretch of matchups. He could be a top 5 fantasy WR especially as the schedule opens up after the bye. And along those lines, go get Jameis Winston and Doug Martin. Tampa gets SF, Oakland, Atlanta, Chicago out of the bye week — and New Orleans twice during the fantasy playoffs.

Not a lot to see here on Carolina who is obviously not the same without the MVP. Don’t bother with Artis-Payne. Instead use this as a reminder to go do what you have to and get Cam Newton and Kelvin Benjamin. The schedule gets much softer soon and you’ll want to have both.

There are a ton of guys off bye to target in trades…

BYE: Jacksonville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Seattle

Early in the season, I love trading for guys on or especially coming off of bye weeks. Some owners look way too closely at rankings or point totals when ppg is what really matters. I am pushing hard to acquire Jamaal Charles in leagues, Jeremy Maclin too, with OAK/NO/IND/JAX an incredibly easy upcoming schedule for the Chiefs. I’m also looking to acquire Mark Ingram or Christine Michael if possible. That’s three RB1s with deflated value. I’m back in on Russell Wilson after a bye week to heal his injury, but I’m out on the Saints passing game so sell them when you can. The Jags guys like Bortles and Robinson especially still look like sweet buy lows too with more easy games upcoming. There are a ton of guys off bye to target in trades.