Fantasy football advice, Week 6: who to start/sit for Cleveland Browns vs. Tennessee Titans

Whether it’s injuries, bye weeks, or a hot waiver wire claim that muddles fantasy lineups, the factors which fantasy owners have to consider before hitting the submit button are always present and rarely uncomplicated. There’s only one way to combat this, and that’s parsing each game, one at a time. Here’s what needs to be considered when the Cleveland Browns take on the Tennessee Titans:

There hasn’t been much to get excited about in the Browns’ offense this season, one that has housed five different players under center in five games. Terrelle Pryor is the most intriguing of the bunch, but that is because he is actually a wide receiver, and a very good one. He will face a Titans defense that somehow allowed just five receptions to the Dolphins’ wideouts in Week 5, but Pryor remains a flex with tons of upside.

Isaiah Crowell continues to thrive in a problem-ridden offense, but his tires came to a screeching halt when Charlie Whitehurst took the helm in Week 5. He won’t have to deal with the now-unemployed Whitehurst in the huddle anymore, and even in a middling matchup, Crowell presents solid RB2 value after overcoming terrible situations throughout the season. Expect that to be a common theme going forward.

With five catches or more in each of his last three outings, Gary Barnidge is a tight end with a decent floor, despite all of the quarterback changes. The Titans have held tight ends in check throughout the season, but they allowed C.J. Fiedorowicz and Ryan Griffin to combine for a 7-102-1 line. Barnidge remains in the TE1 conversation and has upside.

With the Titans allowing the third-fewest receptions to running backs, Duke Johnson isn’t in the flex conversation this week. Cody Kessler can also safely remain on benches.

Delanie Walker, now healthy, resumed his post atop the Titans’ pecking order for targets, turning eight of them into a 5-66-1 line. He is a top-three option at tight end against a Browns defense that has allowed tight ends to have an average output of 8.6 catches, 100 yards and a touchdown over the first five weeks of the season.

Demarco Murray is also a top option at his position, as the Browns have struggled to stop running backs in addition to tight ends. They have surrendered an average of 19 fantasy points per game to opposing backs, and Murray’s 17.4 average is second in the NFL only to David Johnson. He is an RB1 in every format.

With Murray and Walker contributing in the passing game, Marcus Mariota showed in Week 5 that he can still put up numbers with an absence of reliable wide receivers. He has streaming potential, as his favorite non-receiver targets have tremendous matchups that could translate into quite a few fantasy points for Mariota in return.

Tajae Sharpe, Kendall Wright and Derrick Henry all remain off the radar until they prove capable on a regular basis.