Fantasy football stats: The worst of Week 6
It’s one of the unfortunate parts of the game, that we have to point out when guys stink. But they occasionally do, so here we are.
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This is the week’s “We gotta be a little mean” column. We’ve all seen the stories about angry fantasy owners tweeting at their players angry, hateful things when the players struggle, as though the player planned it that way, and it’s ridiculous, and if you do it you should stop right now, you big jerk.
But as fantasy owners, knowledge of the worst performances each week is still important. Either you had the guys, and you need to know if things are going to improve, or you don’t have the guys, and maybe they’re a buy-low. That’s why we’re here. Read it, learn from it, and whatever you do, do not tweet the players about it.
Worst quarterbacks in Week 6
Teddy Bridgewater, MIN (188 passing yards, 3 interceptions, 11 rushing yards, 2 fantasy points)
Well, this didn't go according to plan. After a strong debut as a starter, Bridgewater missed Week 5 to injury, and Christian Ponder was pretty terrible. Everyone looked forward to Bridgewater's return to the starting job this week, assuming he'd help to at least right the Vikings' ship a bit. Unfortunately, it went the other way, as Bridgewater was completely shut down by the strong Detroit defense, to the tune of a 41.3 passer rating and a 2.5 (!!!) QBR.
Next game: The Vikings travel to Buffalo next Sunday. That is really not a get-right game for the young quarterback, as the Bills also have a strong defense. Tread very lightly.
Eli Manning, NYG (151 passing yards, 3 receiving yards, 6 fantasy points)
See, in like 20 years, we're going to find out Eli Manning has been this long-running piece of performance art, like when Joaquin Phoenix went fake-crazy or whatever that was. He's the most fascinating, occasionally good football player we've ever seen, and I have no idea what to do with him. Sunday's numbers weren't terrible in the traditional terrible-Eli sense -- no turnovers -- but the Giants' offense just couldn't get anything going.
Next game: The Giants travel to Dallas to play the maybe-they're-actually-good(?) Cowboys next week, and I have no idea what to tell you about Manning. Maybe?
Charlie Whitehurst, TEN (233 passing yards, 1 rushing yards, 9 fantasy points)
Whitehurst's performance wasn't nearly as bad as most "worst of the week" numbers, but it was a decent week for quarterbacks. Still, Charlie, buddy, if you can't throw for even one touchdown against the Jaguars of all teams, this game might not be for you, pal. I mean, we all knew that already, but still.
Next game: The Titans travel to Washington for Week 7. Jake Locker might be back. Zach Mettenberger might take over for Whitehurst. Lots of things might happen. What might not happen? Whitehurst being in any fantasy lineups.
Russell Wilson, SEA (126 passing yards, 1 interception, 12 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 10 fantasy points)
This has got to be the first time a quarterback ran for a touchdown and still had one of the week’s worst fantasy totals. After Wilson’s 34 fantasy points in Week 5, this performance was a huge letdown, and the fact that it came at home against a we-thought-it-would-be-awful Dallas defense is just icing on the awfulness cake. Wilson just couldn’t get things started Sunday, with only 4.5 yards per pass attempt and a 47.6 passer rating.
Worst running backs in Week 6
C.J. Spiller, BUF (19 rushing yards, 1 fumble lost, -1 fantasy point)
I’m sure there were some hangers-on for Spiller in fantasy, sure that he would right the ship this week, or on this carry. It’s just not happening, though -- since back-to-back 12-point fantasy days in Weeks 1 and 2, he has 14 combined fantasy points in four games since. Sunday, he had only six carries, and was targeted with only one pass. A player like Spiller isn’t anywhere near droppable, but he’s miles and miles away from startable until he shows something again.
Next game: The Bills host the Vikings next week. Minnesota’s run defense is decidedly not special, so it’s possible Spiller could get back to the good, but he needs to be on your bench for it.
Shane Vereen, NE (4 rushing yards, 3 receiving yards, 0 fantasy points)
As good as the New England offense at-large looked Sunday, the running game was an outright disaster. Stevan Ridley led the way with 23 yards before leaving with a knee injury. Julian Edelman, a wide receiver if you weren't aware, tied for the second-most rushing yards on the team, and that was on one carry. Vereen continued his utterly unpredictable season -- after 108 total yards in Week 5, he had 7 yards Sunday, for no real reason. If you know what to expect out of Vereen, you're better at this than me.
Next game: Against the Jets Thursday night, I would normally say to stay away from Vereen. And I still probably say that, but with Ridley likely out for some time, Vereen might have to be the Patriots' bell cow. I'm not very interested in Vereen, but the likely change in usage is interesting -- unless of course the Patriots go with Brandon Bolden or James White. Very confusing.
Knowshon Moreno, MIA (10 rushing yards, 8 receiving yards, 1 fantasy point)
In retrospect, we probably should have really tempered our enthusiasm about Moreno upon his return. This is an oft-injured running back coming back earlier than many expected, and on a team that, in Lamar Miller, already had a running back they could basically trust. Moreno wasn't much of a part of the team's offense Sunday, though he at least stayed healthy for the game. He's another one of those players where you want to just sit him on your bench and probably miss his first big game before reinvesting.
Worst wide receivers in Week 6
Percy Harvin, SEA (0 yards, 0 fantasy points)
Harvin did catch three passes Sunday, but they totaled 0 yards. So it wasn’t that the Seahawks didn’t or couldn’t use him, it was just that nothing happened when they did. After Harvin had those three touchdowns called back due to penalties in Week 5, hopes were high for the Seattle receiver, but instead of continued his downward trend -- his fantasy numbers have gotten worse every game so far, following a progression of 9-8-4-2-0. The good news is that it can’t reasonably get worse.
Next game: The Seahawks travel to St. Louis for Week 7. Harvin won’t be this nonproductive, but he needs to be out of lineups unless the situation is desperate.
Kendall Wright, TEN (6 receiving yards, 0 fantasy points)
After a huge Week 5, with 20 fantasy points, Wright fell right back to -- and actually below -- his previously disappointing stat lines. Wright has yet to go for more than 55 receiving yards in a game this season, averaging barely 38 a start. Sure, the two touchdowns in Week 5 were great. It was also the first two-score game of his career. Maybe don’t count on that?
Next game: The Titans travel to Washington next week. Even against a week Washington defense, Wright is a stay-away.
Wes Welker, DEN (8 receiving yards, 0 fantasy points)
Hey, you know that little Peyton Manning aphorism that says he will make a point to get the ball to each of his weapons so no one feels left out? At this point, Welker's got to be feeling left out. Through three games on the season, Welker has 126 total yards, bottoming out with only one catch on one target Sunday. He's another one of those "Gotta own him, can't possibly start him" guys that are so prolific right now.
Worst tight ends in Week 6
Larry Donnell, NYG (6 receiving yards, 0 fantasy points)
Did we dream that Donnell had played himself into dominant-tight-end status? Because in his last four games, he has two fantasy points, 23 FANTASY POINTS, zero fantasy points, zero fantasy points. I don’t know how you keep running a player like that out there if you have other options. Donnell is still a roster stash, but until he rebounds, he’s tough to do anything with.
Next game: Against the Cowboys next week, hold on to Donnell, and for the love of God don’t use him.
Heath Miller, PIT (19 receiving yards, 1 fantasy points)
A game-by-game chart of (a) Miller’s targets, and (b) his fantasy numbers:
| W1 | W2 | W3 | W4 | W5 | W6 | |
| Targets | 4 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 4 |
| Fantasy points | 2 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 1 |
I mean, you tell me which one is the aberration. Miller is still widely owned in fantasy, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. He’s as replacement-level as a tight end comes, and you can’t possibly predict when his good games will come.
Eric Ebron, DET (23 receiving yards, 2 fantasy points)
Most weeks, Ebron wouldn't have made this list with that production, as he really hasn't been considered a fantasy-relevant player. But with Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush both sidelined for the Lions, there was some movement on the Ebron front for Sunday's game, and he responded with disappointment. The rookie now has three or fewer fantasy points in five of six games.
Next game: The Lions host the Saints next week. Johnson and Bush might be back. They might not. And it is irrelevant, because Ebron can't possibly be trusted.
Owen Daniels, BAL (34 receiving yards, 3 fantasy points)
I had Travis Kelce on a bye this week, and my buddy Brad advised me to pick up Ebron as a weekly fill-in. But I went with Daniels, so eat it, Brad, I was right! ... By one point. Whatever, I'm claiming it. Anyway, the thinking went that Daniels would offer nice production after No. 1 tight end Dennis Pitta was lost for the year, but he hasn't done a lot in the three games since Pitta went out, totaling 14 fantasy points in that time. He's safely droppable.
Next game: The Ravens host the Falcons Sunday. Sure, if Jimmy Graham misses another game, or you were relying on the on-a-bye Zach Ertz, Daniels is a potential fill-in, but he's not someone you want to count on for more than that.
Worst defense/special teams in Week 6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (48 points allowed, 1 fumble recovered, -6 fantasy points)
Unlike Week 3, when the Tampa Bay defense allowed 56 points, but still had reasonable fantasy scoring thanks to some turnovers and a touchdown, the unit was worthless Sunday, letting the Ravens score almost at will and only forcing one turnover. The Buccaneers were in the top half of D/ST units in preseason drafts. They are decidedly not that now.
