Week 6 Stats To Know

Cam Skattebo takes Manhattan

Not to get too mushy, but without a comment section there’s no way to thank everyone for all the positive feedback on our weird stats to kick off the weekend. Mark my fantasy words, we have not yet begun to fight!

Once again, I present the football stats to know that no one else is talking about …

Fun With Correlation

  • We’ve all heard a million times how running back fantasy production Is tied less to skill than opportunity, which is true — touch volume Is still the best indicator of optimal point-per-game success. That said, one skill-based metric totally popped on the correlation scale: rush yards after contact. Hmmm … makes sense though.

  • Youngsters RJ Harvey, Kendre Miller, Cam Skattebo and Jacory Croskey-Merritt all rank in the top 24 this season—looks like the perfect list of potential second-half breakouts to me.

  • Couldn’t help but ram my WR spreadsheet through the AI multiverse next—remember you can get a free year of FantasyLife+ when you download Comet. Turns out it’s more of the usual suspect, with target-earning ruling the day. However, air yards tested out way stronger than expected—understandable when considering the league-wide downtick in passing. Deep shots now represent a higher percentage of the total.

  • The air yards per game leaderboard reads like a who’s who of fantasy wideouts with very few exceptions. Suddenly, my interest Is piqued in the handful of less-rostered players in the top 50 overall: Romeo Doubs, Elic Ayomanor, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Alec Pierce.

Once the correlation machine starts, there’s no stopping it. Two good turns deserve another, right? We can’t leave our favorite big men out of the action; that just wouldn’t be proper.

  • As most of the well-researched Fantasy Life universe could’ve already told you, literally nothing means more to tight end production than playing time. Talk about a changing of the guard. Three of the top-10 TEs in snap count over the last two weeks are rookies (Mason Taylor, Harold Fannin Jr., AJ Barner)—and make excellent marks for a midseason shot of excitement to any boring rosters lagging behind. 

Fun Stats To Know Entering Week 6

  • Just nine quarterbacks made at least four starts, finishing every game inside the QB2 range: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson (DNP), Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray (DNP), Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff … and Spencer Rattler. Huh? Respect this man.

  • It’s no coincidence all three defenses deploying the most two-high safety looks (SEA, ARI, DAL) all land in the top-5 most receptions allowed per game. Like Judo, use that negative momentum to your advantage in a bye-week pinch, especially in PPR. 

  • All three play on the road this weekend (SEA at JAX, ARI at IND, DAL at CAR) against opponents implying for a minimum 24 points at sportsbooks. Give me all the weird ancillary pieces in a pinch, like Jalen Coker, Dyami Brown and Alec Pierce (oooooooh, there’s that name again).

Good luck, everyone!

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About Last Night …

National stage (Thursday Night Football) on Broadway (NYC adjacent) … what a time to introduce a pair of rookies to the masses. Jaxson Dart (195 passing yards and a TD, 58 rushing yards and another score) and Cam Skattebo (110 scrimmage yards, 3 TDs and 31.0 fantasy points), together with a dominating defensive front beat the Super Bowl champion Eagles, 34-17. Here are the highlights:

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Editors’ Picks

OK, Week 6 is underway. The shine is off the new season. We’ve got some data to work with, as well as rankings and Xfinity Best Projections. And this great content helps, too.

Jordan Love and the Packers are primed for an offensive explosion out of their Week 5 bye, so just how high is Love’s ceiling? Ian Hartitz sets the table with some games and matchups that could see some big fantasy points.

Courtland Sutton is going to pop over the pond and do a flyover the Jets. Chris Allen uncovers the WR/CB matchups to target, and one to avoid.

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Are You Willing To Bench The King?

Bold Sit of the Week: Derrick Henry

LAGHEZZA: Getting an elite player fade correct is not nearly as satisfying when it happens for the wrong reason. Derrick Henry’s disappointed but still very much healthy … and awesome. That said, as if missing Lamar Jackson wasn’t bad enough, it’s Baltimore’s defense keeping him off the field right now.

One month in and injuries already decimated the Ravens’ D at every level. There’s simply no room for King Henry in the game plan up against +35 points allowed every week. Matthew Stafford and the Rams project to score 26 as eight-point favorites at home Sunday—and there’s still plenty of time for those lines to move coming off a tough loss to Michael McCorkle "Mac" Jones. 

I’d be shocked if John Harbaugh keeps Sean McVay under 30, honestly, instantly sinking Henry’s value. Sorry, your highness.

Bold Start of the Week: Rhamondre Stevenson

CLEMONS: I do not know why, but the Patriots love Stevenson. Every time we think they are ready to turn things over to TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield, they keep feeding it to Stevenson in critical situations. In Week 2, he was top six, and last week he finished 15th in half-PPR scoring. He has found different ways to be relevant. In Week 2, he scored as a receiver, catching five passes for 88 yards. Last week, it was two touchdowns. He just keeps finding his way back to relevancy. So instead of fighting it, let's just embrace it.

Now they play the Saints and although their defense looked formidable against the Buccaneers, they were helped by several unforced turnovers. Stevenson is still getting the goal-line carries and it could be a game script that leans into the rushing attack more. It might not be the prettiest pick, but it has a great chance to be effective.

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Drumheller’s Week 6 Smash: Marvin Harrison Jr.

There are two golden rules I try to remind myself of this time of year: Success is never linear, and breakout seasons don’t always begin in Week 1. 

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s young career has been an enigma. The former fourth overall selection has all the tools, but has struggled with drops in critical situations. After putting up a season-high 98 yards receiving in Week 5, all signs are pointing to Harrison Jr. playing an even bigger role against the Colts

On paper, the Indianapolis defense has held its own against the pass. Once we dig deeper, you will find a stark contrast between the strength of their opponents' passing attacks in recent weeks. Here are their ranks in Pass EPA (via SumerSports).  

  • Week 3: Tennessee Titans (30th) 

  • Week 4: Los Angeles Rams (8th) 

  • Week 5: Las Vegas Raiders (28th)

The Rams, the only passing offense with a pulse mentioned above, torched the Colts for 375 yards passing behind a monster game from Puka Nacua (13-170-1). Taking into account that Indy also allows the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, I see an opportunity for Arizona to get MHJ involved in a big way. Plus, there will be extra motivation considering his father’s ties to the Colts. 

I don’t know if I am all-in, but I’m Week 6 in. Smash the start button.

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Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.

👀 Your cheat code to a Week 6 payday is here. Stack the Pack and don’t look back.

🔥 Everything Fantasy Life has to offer, 100% free. Access now!

🏄🏽‍♂️ Hang 10 with Matthew … as in 10 facts you need to know for Week 6.

🚑 First draft of the Week 6 Injury Report is here. It will be updated.

😎 You’ll feel pretty cool if you can stash this WR coming back from injury.

🤯 Matthew Stafford throwing for 400 and 4? This and more bold predictions.

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