Happy Thursday!

I think I felt a limp in my own leg after all these injuries in the NFL.

Let’s talk some fantasy football.

In this week’s newsletter:

• 🤷 What the heck happened this week?

• 💭 Week 5 takeaways

• 📊 Week 6 ranking highlights

• 🏅 Survivor pool NFL picks

• 💥 Week 6 Booms and Busts

📰 What the heck happened this week?

• Justin Jefferson hits the IR with a hamstring injury

  • Jefferson was the WR1 heading into week 5 and unfortunately had to exit the game early with an injury. We now know that it’s a hamstring issue that lands him on the IR. Dammit.

• De’Von Achane also hits the IR with a knee injury

  • As if losing a WR1 was bad enough, Achane (who is currently the RB3) has ALSO been added to the IR with a knee injury.

  • Jeff Wilson has thankfully been designated to return from the PUP and should be rostered

• James Conner ALSO hits the IR with a knee injury

  • Conner is currently the RB18 on the season, so not as big of a blow to your teams as the previous two but still painful

👀 Week Five Takeaways

🐂 I can’t trust anyone on the Patriots offense in fantasy
Part of me wants to blame a tough schedule, but to be blown out in back-to-back weeks with little signs of change has me concerned. The player I’m particularly worried about is Rhamondre Stevenson, who has been on a streak of three-straight single digit weeks.

📝 The Cincinnati Bengals offense is… back?
For fantasy purposes, I LOVED what I saw in this Cincy offense this past week. Joe Burrow finally had three passing TDs, Ja’Marr Chase scored 50+ fantasy points (finally!) and Joe Mixon was fine.

🐦 Travis Etienne proves he’s a top-5 fantasy back
Currently the RB4 on the season following a week in which he was the RB1, Etienne has proved to me that he could be a top-5 back rest-of-season. If you have him, you’re happy. If you don’t have him, buy now.

Other things to check out:

• Trade Value Charts are updated and live on our site!

• Sign up for Rival Fantasy using this link, you'll get a first deposit match up to $200 and a FREE $25 Voucher

• Underdog Fantasy currently has a $100 deposit bonus offer if you use code FIRSTSEED at signup!

📊 Week Six Rankings Highlights

Every week here I’ll highlight a few players I may be ranking higher than other experts, or some players I’m just excited to see play this upcoming week.

Feel free to check out my full weekly rankings at the link below!

⚜️ Josh Jacobs - RB6
Is the Josh Jacobs takeover upon us? Last week he was the RB6 and the week before he was the RB3. I believe he can keep up this trend and he could be a great fantasy asset moving forward.

🎥 Brandon Aiyuk - WR10
I truly believe Brandon Aiyuk is a top-12 WR rest-of-season. The 49ers have the second-easiest WR schedule moving forward and I love it. Looking forward to see how he continues to get open in this game against the Browns.

💸 Survivor Pool Picks

Philadelphia Eagles 5-0 (vs. New York Jets 2-3)

Buffalo Bills 3-2 (vs. New York Giants 1-4)

Kansas City Chiefs 4-1 (vs. Carolina Panthers 0-5)

❓ Advice Requests ❓

Need some start/sit help? Looking to fill a bench spot with with someone from waivers? Need a DST streamer?

Feel free to reply to this email with any questions and I’ll answer whatever you have for me. Let’s get some wins.

💥 Week Six Booms and Busts 👎

Start your studs.

That being said, let’s highlight some players I’m expecting some big weeks from and a few I’m pretty low on. This isn’t necessarily a start/sit column, but more so some players I expect a bigger week from and some players I’m not excited about.

💥 RB Alexander Mattison, Vikings (vs. Bears)
Prior to holding Brian Robinson to just 8.3 PPR points, the Bears gave up an average of 20.2 points to Aaron Jones, Rachaad White, Jerick McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco and Jaleel McLaughlin. Not to mention this Vikings team may shift to a heavier run approach with Jefferson now on IR.

👎 RB Dameon Pierce, Texans (vs. Saints)
The Saints are one of the tougher run defenses in the league this season and Dameon Pierce isn’t putting many fantasy points on the board even against easier opponents. I’m not excited for his upcoming week.

💥 WR Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. Titans)
This is the week. Zay Flowers has been a very solid flex play this season, but I believe this is the week he makes the jump. The Titans are allowing the 9th-most fantasy points to WRs in PPR and Flowers just had 11 targets this past week. Here’s to hoping he can snag a few more of those targets in.

👎 WR Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. Falcons)
There were 51(!) pass attempts in the Commanders game against the Bears last week and only 5(!!) of those went to Terry McLaurin. Wow. The Falcons pass defense has also been pretty shut down, allowing the third-least WR fantasy points this season.