Fantasy Football Rankings: 5 most polarizing players for Week 6

We have five Yahoo rankers every week, and this column will look at five of the buzziest names of the week. I'm looking for players where there is real disagreement, and I'm using a little something called "coefficient of variation" to help me find just that. These rankings will be tinkered all the way until kickoff, so please check back in on our weekly rankings pages and Sunday AM sit/start show for the absolute latest.

These blurbs are also in The Blueprint, which is my weekly rankings and analysis column. The RB version is out on Wednesdays, while the WR version and the QB/TE/K/DEF version are each out on Thursdays before Thursday Night Football.

Texans RB Woody Marks (at JAX)

Marks set season highs in just about all categories last week after David Montgomery (groin) left. He was the RB23 on RB11 expected half PPR points (16.9), playing 56 of 57 snaps without Monty. If he plays nearly 100% of the snaps in the interim, Marks has an RB2 profile. The Texans' RB room has averaged 17.9 expected half PPR points this season for reference. Marks' tape has been better than Montgomery's, too, largely because the difference in juice is pretty staggering on top of Marks' comfort as a checkdown and screen player.

This week brings a matchup with the Jaguars, who rank third-best in half PPR points allowed (13.4 per game) to opposing backfields. They've allowed the fewest points on runs to RBs but have allowed 6.8 half PPR points through the air to them, including 11 receptions from Chase Brown in Week 4. Marks will need them to pay off because there's just no way this OL is ready for this DL. Houston enters the road contest with an implied team total of 19.75 points (22nd) as 3.0-point underdogs.

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Packers RB MarShawn Lloyd (vs. DAL)

After Kaleb Johnson fumbled late in Week 4 and Chris Brooks went to IR, it's been almost entirely Lloyd. The Packers mixed in Pierre Strong Jr. in protection, but Lloyd handled 10 carries in a bombs-away Packers game plan. He finished with a truck-stick TD and an untouched TD in the red zone. His 13.1 and 10.0 expected half PPR points over the past two weeks are enough to "trust" Lloyd as a fringe fantasy RB2, while the Packers and everyone else await the NFL's decision on Josh Jacobs. Lloyd is still very unreliable on film, so he's still treated as a very boom-bust option.

The Packers get a Cowboys defense that is seventh in half PPR points allowed to opposing RBs this season at 23.6 points per game. Dallas was just gashed by Bucky Irving for 165 rushing yards and 30.5 half PPR points in Week 5, while Derrick Henry managed 21.4 points against them in Week 3. Green Bay is a 1.5-point home favorite with an implied team total of 27 points (fourth). The starting RB on a team projected that well simply needs to be in lineups.

Eagles RB Dameon Pierce (vs. CAR)

We'll see if Saquon Barkley can return, but if not, Pierce is the next man's next man's next man up. Pierce handled every RB opportunity after Will Shipley's foot injury, and he's only up against meme’d RB/FB Carson Steele and meme’d LV-wearing RB Jaydon Blue for touches. Those touches won't go anywhere behind three backups along the OL and some of the worst TE/WR blocking in the NFL, but at least we can pretend they will until the game starts.

The Panthers have real talent up front at DT, EDGE and LB when fully healthy, so I wouldn't buy into the fact that they've allowed the third-most fantasy points to RBs this season on the second-most rushing yards. They've at least slowed down Jahmyr Gibbs (77 total yards) and Bijan Robinson (81 scoreless total yards) since that wild game to the Bears. Philadelphia has a 21.5-point team total (18th).

Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka (vs. PIT)

Egbuka is the Bucs' best pass-catcher by far, and the offense does build their go-to plays through him on tape. He's in motion often and should have better days when the QB play cooperates. Egbuka is not the most explosive player, but he can be a Jakobi Meyers presence at the very worst, with better skills for a flanker/slot role than as a downfield X receiver. He is playing inside more often this year with Ted Hurst taking on the vertical role, but it's asking a lot for an undrafted rookie QB to make these throws. Egbuka has been the WR66 and WR7 in expected points with Jalon Daniels under center, and that sums up the unpredictability of the situation. Egbuka is the WR32 on WR28 usage, smoothing out the entire season.

Pittsburgh represents a stingy test through the air, ranking 27th in WR half PPR points allowed at 22.3 per game. While Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins each topped 90 receiving yards and a touchdown against them in Week 3, the Colts and Browns failed to have a top-30 WR in recent games. This pass rush is intimidating, and the betting markets agree. Tampa Bay is a 3-point home underdog with an implied team total of 18.75 points (24th).

Browns TE Harold Fannin Jr. (vs. BAL)

Fannin doesn't have a single screen target this season after being one of the best YAC weapons last year. The Browns are getting the ball to KC Concepcion, who was cleared to play in Week 6, in the manufactured touch game, while also throwing it downfield more often. He looked banged up on a few of his reps last week to me. Fannin is still the TE10 on TE11 usage this month, but the floor is lower this year, even without David Njoku. His 0.92 yards per route are nearly half of last year's 1.64.

This week brings a home matchup against a Ravens defense that ranks 18th in half PPR scoring allowed to TEs but has superstar SCB/SS Kyle Hamilton to roam in the Fannin waters. A team total of just 18.0 points (27th) works against Fannin's TE1 odds.