We’re heading into Week 6 of the 2011 NFL season and even though that means the regular season is only a third of the way through, the fantasy regular season is getting close to the half-way point. Bye weeks are in full swing and injuries are piling up. As we begin to transition from the first half of the fantasy season to the second half, sleepers are going to be important as ever.
Fantasy Football Week 6: Sleepers Include Jets QB Mark Sanchez
Here’s a list of some sleepers that could help your fantasy football team in Week 6 of the 2011 NFL season.
Here are some sleepers for Week 6 of the 2011 fantasy football season.
Quarterbacks:
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is only a starter in 20 percent of ESPN leagues but if your usual quarterback is underperforming or is on a bye this week, you may want to start him. The Jets will be hosting the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football this week which means they'll be facing the second worst passing defense in the league. The Dolphins have managed only two takeaways and six sacks on opposing quarterbacks and their weakness could provide a boost to Sanchez's passing game.
He’s probably not a great candidate to start every week but if you’re in need of a quarterback this weekend, he could be your guy.
| Colt McCoy QB Cleveland Browns |
This is a pretty deep sleeper and by pretty deep, I mean 16-team league deep. He's looked decent so far this year, averaging 246 yards and two touchdowns per game. Add that to the fact that he's got some talent at wide receiver (rookie Greg Little is going to be starting from now on), he has two good pass-catching tight ends and that he's facing the third worst passing defense in the league in Oakland makes him a decent bye-week starter in a deep league.
He’s more than likely available so you may want to give him a shot.
Running Backs:
| Ryan Torain RB Washington Redskins |
Who really knows what's going to happen in the backfield of the Washington Redskins? Tim Hightower is back there, Roy Helu is back there and so is Ryan Torain. If everybody was completely healthy, you may not want to give a guy who is going to split carries a start but Tim Hightower was limited in practice all week from a shoulder injury and he's questionable for this weekend's game against the Eagles at home.
If Hightower doesn't play on Sunday, Torain could take advantage of the Eagles' soft run defense (30th in the NFL in stopping the run). Before the bye week, Torain ran for 135 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries against the Rams so we know he can do it.
| Daniel Thomas RB Miami Dolphins |
Here's another deep sleeper for ya. The Dolphins are traveling to New York to face the Jets and their No. 26 ranked run defense on Monday night. The Dolphins are in a bad situation right now. Chad Henne is out for the season and Matt Moore is the new quarterback. That means Matt Moore will be facing Darrelle Revis and Antionio Cromartie.
What's the better matchup: Moore versus the Jets secondary or Daniel Thomas versus the Jets run defense? In reality, neither are great matchups but Thomas is better. He's had two solid games so far this season and the Dolphins will likely lean on him and Reggie Bush to move the ball down the field instead of put it in the hands of their quarterback. If you're hurting for a running back, Thomas could help this week.
Wide Receiver:
| Greg Little WR Cleveland Browns |
The 2011 second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns, Greg Little, has yet to have a breakout game. A lot of that has to do with the fact that his playing time has been limited. However, the 6-2, 220-pound receiver has been named a starter coming out of the bye week and he and the Browns are going to be taking on the Raiders in Oakland. The Raiders have the 29th ranked passing defense and have allowed 10 touchdowns to opposing receivers so far this season.
There’s a decent chance that Little has his first big game on Sunday.
| Jerome Simpson WR Cincinnati Bengals |
Forget about his pending legal troubles (for now). Simpson isn't going anywhere and he's still the No. 2 receiver for the Bengals, who are going up against the Colts at home on Sunday. The Colts will be paying a ton of attention to No. 1 receiver A.J. Green and may forget to pay a ton of attention to Simpson.
Simpson is an extremely talented receiver and is easily capable of burning the Colts secondary and he’s due for a big game and to get into the end zone. Who knows what’s going to happen to him in the future but for now, he’s a safe play.
Tight Ends:
| Dustin Keller TE New York Jets |
Keller has a ton of talent but the young combination of Keller and Sanchez is inconsistant. He's a fantasy starter on about 40 percent of ESPN teams but if your tight end is on a bye, is injured or doesn't have Peyton Manning throwing to him this season you may want to go with Keller this week. The Dolphins give up a ton of yards through the air and even though the Jets will look to run the ball more often than they throw, Keller may come away with a touchdown on Monday night.
| Jermaine Gresham TE Cincinnati Bengals |
How this guy is available in 60 percent of ESPN leagues blows my mind. He's one of the most physically talented tight ends in the NFL and he's a mismatch from hell, especially in the red zone. Andy Dalton loves to get the ball to get the ball to his tight end, especially when they're close to the end zone.
This week the Bengals play the Colts, who have a combination of a bad secondary but a strong pass rush in the form of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. If Dalton feels the pressure, he could get the ball to Gresham more often than usual. Pick him up and start him this week.
Defenses:
| Washington Redskins |
The Redskins are hosting their division rival Eagles on Sunday and they'll be looking to take advantage of the Eagles the way the Bills did last week.
The Eagles have a ton of talent on offense, yes, but they also turned the ball over about a million times against the Bills and the Bills’ defense doesn’t have the No. 6 ranking that the Redskins defense does. If the Eagles are careless with the ball again, the Redskins defense will clean up.
Cam Newton has been awesome so far this year but he has turned the ball over at times. I don't know what will happen when the Falcons and the Panthers play and I wouldn't be surprised if Newton led his Panthers to a victory over Matt Ryan and the Falcons but as long as the Falcons defense gets a few points on the way it doesn't matter, right?
Newton averages over an interception per game and if the Falcons can get up by a few points on the Panthers, they could get more turnovers. I wouldn’t start the Falcons defense unless you’re hurting for a defense this week, though. This one’s a pretty deep sleeper.
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