The main window of Week 6 was not the prettiest selection of football. We dealt with injuries and underperformance, not to mention four pesky bye weeks. But at least we have Caleb Williams back in our fantasy lives. And that means the Chicago offense is back in business.
Williams was much better in real life than fantasy for Sunday's 31-23 win over Atlanta. He completed 30-of-36 passes for 305 yards, getting 8.5 YPA. He didn't run much (three yards) and he was limited to one touchdown pass, which means Williams came in under projection in any league. But he passed the eye test, and he got his playmakers back into the swing.
We can finally take Colston Loveland off the milk carton. Loveland returned a 6-65-1 line on seven targets, and the lone incompletion was on a wide-open opportunity at the left pylon. Loveland won on schemed plays and his touchdown came on a broken play, made possible by a Williams scramble and a confident throw into coverage. Welcome to the season, No. 84.
Luther Burden III also had a perfect day, catching all of his targets en route to an 8-95-0 log. Rome Odunze was limited to four targets, so his 3-39-0 was less than expected. But it was reassuring to see Ben Johnson clicking with the play sheet, dialing up play action and designed QB movement at the right times. So many of the Williams completions came to wide-open receivers; Johnson wins as much as anything.
The running backs scored the other touchdowns and thus returned their fantasy freight: D'Andre Swift (70 total yards) punched in two rushing scores and Roschon Johnson came through as a Hail Mary (15 touches, 85 total yards, TD). Bottom line, this offense can support a bunch of winning fantasy plays almost every week, so long as Williams stays healthy and Johnson keeps his mojo.
The Chicago defense can be a boost as well. Although the Falcons only managed 257 total yards and were never really in Sunday's game, they did collect 16 fourth-quarter points and made the final score respectable, pushing the game over the total. Kyle Pitts Sr. (the prequel to Colston Loveland) had two of the scores on a 5-60-2 day. Drake London (4-62-0) was muted on 10 targets, and Bijan Robinson had the rare quiet day (53 total yards). But most of the time, the Falcons are an easy fantasy handicap.
Both teams get challenged next week — Chicago hosts the Patriots while the Falcons welcome the 49ers. Get your popcorn ready for both.
Speaking of the Patriots, they finally had their offensive skill sheet where they wanted it on Sunday. A.J. Brown (ankle) made his first start since Week 1, and TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) completed his miracle week of rehab by playing as well. Alas, both players turned into fantasy traps. Brown managed just 3-27-0 despite 10 targets, dropping multiple passes, a shockingly messy day. And Henderson was held to 40 yards on eight touches, in addition to a lost fumble.
Drake Maye's distribution this year reminds you of early Tom Brady — where the favorite receiver is the guy with the good matchup. DeMario Douglas (7-86-1), Hunter Henry (4-48-1) and Romeo Doubs (1-42-1) caught Maye's three touchdown passes; sadly, Doubs hurt his shoulder on the scoring play. Brown surely will keep target-hog status on this offense, but good luck deciphering patterns in the rest of this passing game moving forward.
As for Rhamondre Stevenson, he also underwhelmed despite a primo spot. He was limited to 36 yards on 14 carries, and Corey Kiner (11-57-0) helped drain the clock.
Forget what you thought about the Texans two months ago. It turns out the defense isn't so hot, and C.J. Stroud is probably better than you think. Stroud chucked for 312 yards and three scores as the Texans held off the Jaguars in London — never an easy thing to do — and he thrived with a wide distribution, targeting 10 different teammates. It's interesting that despite the presence of Nico Collins and the trades for Kayshon Boutte and Marvin Harrison Jr., it's Jaylin Noel having a breakout year. He caught all of his targets en route to 4-107-1, his third straight game of fantasy relevance.
Stroud's efficiency was needed, because Woody Marks was underwhelming — 15 carries, 56 yards. The Texans get the Giants next week, then step into a Week 8 bye.
An extra overtime drive helped Jaylen Warren take a sad song and make it better. Sharing work with Rico Dowdle all day, Warren had a couple of second-level plays in OT and eventually made 78 total yards on his 16 touches. Dowdle had 10 touches for 49 yards and managed a better YPC. This rough 60-40 type of split can be assumed moving forward.
Germie Bernard (11-87-1) was the star of the passing game, winning on a bunch of quickly-defined routes and scoring the final touchdown. This was the rare day where Aaron Rodgers focused on his two main wideouts — Bernard and DK Metcalf (11-93-0) saw 27 of his 44 pass attempts. I don't know the Metcalf matrix — he's been inconsistent all year — but the Steelers should move the ball against New Orleans next week, so we'll keep an open mind. Bernard is quickly pushing into the Rookie of the Year mix.
Other Week 6 Booms
— Whatever you paid for Chuba Hubbard in August, it was worth it. Hubbard handled a lovely 28 rushes at Philly, rolling up 120 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers only used one other carry on a running back. Carolina's line is getting healthier, and Hubbard often gets more than what's blocked. Hubbard faces a strong challenge against Tampa Bay's front next week, then it's a bunch of fruitful draws — Packers, Broncos, Saints. He's looking like a possible league winner.
— Jameis Winston is the type of quarterback who can get benched on any start, and it happened again in Week 6 against the Saints. And miracle of miracles, J.J. McCarthy (243 yards, 11.6 YPA) actually moved the Giants in catch-up mode. Call it garbage time if you will, but we're just happy the ball kept arriving to Malik Nabers (12-165-0, 15 targets) and Isaiah Likely (6-99-1, 11 targets). The Ravens have to be kicking themselves for their tight end decisions, as they opted to keep Mark Andrews on an extension and let Likely walk out the door.
John Harbaugh has an interesting QB choice for next week against Houston. The Giants rest in Week 8.
Other Week 6 Busts
— The Ravens and Browns had a rock-fight type of game, with a meager 23 points and 472 total yards of offense. Tyler Huntley is obviously a backup quarterback, and Deshaun Watson should be one, too. At least Zay Flowers (66 yards, 11 targets) can look forward to the eventual return of Lamar Jackson. The Browns have assembled a lovely receiver room, but there's no one to deliver the ball.
— I wanted to keep an open mind with Tanner McKee, but 4.8 YPA against an ordinary Carolina defense doesn't feed the cat. At least McKee kept pumping the ball to the returning DeVonta Smith (7-75-1), who got home on 14 targets. Dallas Goedert was also a reasonable play (6-61-0, eight targets), and at least Dameon Pierce (50 yards) applied some touchdown deodorant. Dallas is a great draw next week, but is McKee ready for the moment?
— Maybe the Rams aren't the Super Team they're made out to be. An 18-16 loss at home to Arizona is embarrassing, and there's nothing fluky about it — the Rams were outgunned and outplayed for three hours. A late rally bumped Puka Nacua up to 6-80-0, but Davante Adams was quiet (3-39-0) and Tyler Higbee didn't see a target (the Rams opted for a different tight end, as Colby Parkinson had five short catches and a late touchdown).
The Rams' backfield was closer to a 50-50 split, with Kyren Williams handling 13 touches (67 yards) while Blake Corum had 11 (60 yards), including a touchdown catch. The Rams have to ask themselves some difficult questions before next week's game against the Raiders.
— While the Giants were able to support their two primary pass catchers, the running back room was the ultimate false promise. Najee Harris was announced as the pre-game starter, but he did nothing — four carries, two yards. Cam Skattebo didn’t play at all. Tyrone Tracy Jr. vultured a couple of touchdowns (one a nifty catch-and-run), part of eight touches and 45 yards. Devin Singletary also showed up, five touches and 33 yards.
It’s a mess. The Giants clearly aren’t in love with Skattebo, but no one else here has major upside. Tracy came out with the touchdowns, but he’s always been something of a journeyman. I hope your running back desperation doesn’t push you to the Meadowlands this month.