Owners should ‘stache’ Minshew on their rosters
This is the time of year when the best fantasy owners are separated from the rest.
We’re entering the busier bye weeks with four teams off in Week 6 (Bills, Bears, Colts, Raiders). This is where you have to hit on your waiver wire adds and pay close attention to the matchups. We have five weeks of data, which is a decent amount when it comes to figuring out opposing defenses.
Quarterbacks:
In deeper leagues, you might be looking for a Josh Allen or Jacoby Brissett replacement this week as those guys are on bye. Maybe you have a QB with a tougher matchup such as Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (vs. Detroit) or the Giants’ Daniel Jones (at New England) in Week 6. So Gardner Minshew and Kirk Cousins are the two QBs to stream this upcoming week. Minshew and his mustache have developed a cult following among Jaguars fans. He has been consistent, throwing multiple touchdowns in four of five games, attempting 30plus passes in four straight. He can make plays with his legs, too, rushing for 25 yards per game. Only three quarterbacks have scored 16plus fantasy points in every game this season: Pat Mahomes, Kyler Murray and Minshew. In Week 6, the Jags will host the Saints, a defense that has allowed the secondmost fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Cousins and the Vikings are hosting the Eagles. Philadelph has allowed the fifthmost fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Outside of the Jets’ Luke Falk, opposing quarterbacks have lit up the Eagles for 331 passing yards per game. We know the Vikings want to run, but that will be a tough task against an Eagles defense that’s allowing just 2.81 yards per carry to running backs this season. As a result, Cousins and the passing game will be asked to do more.
Running backs:
It’s not often we advocate adding players from the Miami Dolphins or Washington, but they play each other and that’s a potential fantasy bonanza. Miami’s Kenyan Drake is in a committee with Kalen Ballage but the truth is he shouldn’t be. Drake is averaging 3.6 yards per carry compared to Ballage’s 1.5. Coming off the bye, expect the Dolphins to turn it over to Drake a bit more. Washington has a defense that just allowed 237 total yards, 10 receptions and two touchdowns to Patriots running backs.
On the other side of the field, we could see a heavy dose of Adrian Peterson with interim head coach Bill Callahan taking over for Jay Gruden in Washington. Callahan is known for working with offensive lines and has said he wants to “establish the run.” Given Washington’s quarterback situation, it’s not the worst idea. The Dolphins are allowing 4.77 yards per carry to running backs this season and the seventhmost fantasy points to the position.
Wide receivers:
Cincinnati’s Auden Tate had three receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown in Week 5 against the Cardinals. Over the past three weeks, Tate has had at least six targets in each, accounting for 20 percent of the Bengals’ target share in that span. With John Ross on injured reserve and A.J. Green ruled out for Week 6, Tate makes for a lowend WR3 against the Ravens.
Maybe Jacksonville’s Dede Westbrook hasn’t had the breakout season fans were hoping for, but he’s actually been consistent in PPR formats. He’s had at least five receptions in four of the Jaguars’ games and had seven catches for 82 yards in Week 5 against the stout Carolina Panthers defense. They face the Saints in Week 6, which is a plus matchup for Westbrook who will be matched up with P.J. Williams.
Tight ends:
Gerald Everett, who will face the 49ers this week, has become a key part of the Rams’ offense over the past two weeks. During that span, he’s seen 19 targets, finishing as the TE5 in Week 4 and TE1 in Week 5. He’s coming off a big game against the Seahawks, with seven catches for 136 yards on 11 targets.