Fantasy Football 2015: Week 6 Waiver Targets, An Exciting Opportunity, And What To Do About Slumping Stars

On Bye: Oakland Raiders; St. Louis Rams; Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Dallas Cowboys

Fantasy Football is a weird game. 

One week your team can look ready for a nice string of victories, then follow it up with confusing losses. Week 6 is crunch time and Bye weeks are going to begin spelling some stars during an important stretch so I’m here to help you navigate wisely. Before that though…

An Exciting Opportunity

Since July I’ve been communicating back and forth with one of the best (and one of my all-time favorite) sports journalists, Jim Trotter. Jim was a Senior NFL writer for Sports Illustrated for seven years before moving to ESPN this past year as a reporter and writer.

As I’ve transitioned the site’s focus, the next phase is to make this a place where you can come and read interesting opinion/commentary on current issues and hopefully get a good story. The beginning of that phase will begin later this month, and I am ecstatic because Mr. Trotter sent me an advanced copy of his upcoming book “Junior Seau: Life and Death of a Football Icon” to read and review before it’s October 27th release. I’m very excited about it, and couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. The review will be coming in two weeks so look for it and even more exciting things to come.

Have Patience or Sell Slumping Players

It’s unfair to call some players “busts,” especially when a lot of their success is predicated on the performance of (an)other position(s).

With that, there are certainly some guys we all depended on to look at least halfway capable of consistent production. Here are three notable ones and whether or not you should be patient or sell as high as you can.

Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers- This guy has personally sunk my fantasy fortunes on more than one occasion so far in 2015. He’s posted just one 100-yard game and hasn’t scored a touchdown. He’s on pace to exceed his target count from a year ago, but part of the problem is the atrocious play of Jameis Winston. Everyone thought Winston would come in and be an instant upgrade over McCown but so far that hasn’t been the case. Patience or Sell?: Patience. Evans is still getting opportunities, and the Buccaneers are terrible. Tampa Bay has a favorable stretch coming out of their Bye week so I expect better production from him.

C.J. Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos- I’ll keep it real with you: I wasn’t completely sold on Anderson from the outset. That didn’t stop owners from investing first-round capital on him across the board. The problem with Anderson goes beyond injury and offensive line. At this point Anderson isn’t showing any of the same vision he displayed in 2014 when the blocking is there for him. He’s been caught behind the line of scrimmage more times than I can count and Ronnie Hillman has taken advantage of his touches to a way more productive extent. Patience or Sell?: Sell. I’m starting to see Anderson pop up frequently on waiver wire’s. I would encourage you attempt to trade him instead of an outright drop but I understand the frustration.

Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers- I consider Lacy a victim of his own success. teams do not want Lacy to get rolling because that would mean an almost unstoppable proposition in Green Bay. They know that Rodgers is without Jordy Nelson and a proven receiver to help Randall Cobb. If there were a time to stack the box against the Packers it would be now. Patience or Sell?: Patience. This will not last. Ty Montgomery has begun to gain the trust of Rodgers and defenses won’t be able to scheme for the inexperience. Once Rodgers is comfortable, that opens up things for Lacy. I expect that to happen this week and continue after their week 7 Bye.

Waiver Targets

Charcandrick West, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Our 2015 winner for most interesting first name, it really is a shame what happened to Jamaal Charles over the weekend. West has a golden opportunity to make a name for himself in Charles’ absence, however, as he’s out-touched and outproduced Davis the last two weeks. They have an okay matchup against the Vikings this week so RB2 potential is there for those in need.

Knile Davis, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

So where does that leave Davis? Well, he will fill in if West falters. Davis still has the experience and workhorse qualities necessary so he can’t be completely overlooked. Adding Davis is worth exploring if you’re in need of depth and are in a position to gamble.

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears

Speaking of gambling the next two guys should be quite the conversation starter. Cutler has played surprisingly well the last two weeks. Prompting me to say that if Derek Carr or Jameis Winston (heaven forbid) were your QB1 then giving Cutler a roll of the dice against an 0-5 Lions team might be a savvy play.

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

I get flack for my opinion on Kaepernick and I understand it; but something you will learn real quick about me is I don’t apologize for opinions and I’m not here to play “in-the-moment” analyst. Just had to get that off my chest before telling you that Kaepernick’s opponent this week, the Baltimore Ravens, aren’t showing any signs of being able to stop any offense. Going with Kaepernick over quite a few QB1’s could net you a lot of extra points if you’re bold enough.

Shane Vereen, RB, new York Giants

Shane Vereen sighting in the Meadowlands last week put him back on the map as far as how this offense can create space and opportunities for the other players in that offense. Rueben Randle and Odell Beckham, Jr. have injury concerns so a solid PPR/FLEX day could be in Vereen’s near future.