Juicy Week Six NFL Matchups
Three NFL players who should bring the juice to fantasy lineups this week
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR, New York Giants) vs the Bengals Defense
Wan’Dale Robinson has been a sneaky fantasy asset in PPR formats this season. He is not a big-yard or touchdown guy, but he adds value in receptions. He is currently tied for fourth in the league in receptions with 32. He is the WR21 on the year and has a great opportunity to climb up the rankings even more this weekend.
Wan’Dale Robinson is the number-one receiving option for the New York Giants this week. With Malik Nabers missing this week, Robinson has no real threat to his target share. He is averaging about six receptions per game and should have no problem continuing that trend this week as the top dog.
In addition to being the primary option in the receiving game, the Giants are playing against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have a pretty mediocre defense. Through five weeks, the Bengals are ranked 18th in passing defense, whereas the Giants are 13th in the league in passing yards. Daniel Jones has been playing well as of late, throwing for 230 or more yards in the last three games.
The Bengals are 3.5-point favorites this week, with an over/under of 47 points scored. With the Bengals being favored in such a tight matchup, the Giants will likely keep a pretty balanced attack, meaning Wandale should receive a fair amount of work this week. He is a great flex play against a suspect defense, especially since Daniel Jones seems to be playing in good rhythm.
Bijan Robinson (RB, Atlanta Falcons) vs the Panthers Defense
The Bijan Robinson breakout game should finally be here!
Bijan Robinson is facing an atrocious Carolina defense that is giving up 144 rushing yards per game, which is 26th in the league. They have had trouble stopping the run all year and will be challenged this week. Bijan will be the best running back they have faced since playing against Alvin Kamara and the Saints in week one.
Bijan Robinson has had tough matchups this season, facing a top-10 run defense three out of five weeks on top of just playing at an average level. He has yet to amass 100 rushing yards in a game and only has one touchdown on the season.
There is no reason Bijan Robinson should not have his best game of the season. It is a perfect matchup for him. The Atlanta Falcons offense averages the 10th most yards per game and they are playing a team who cannot stop anything. The Falcons are six-and-a-half-point favorites and should get to an early lead and stick with the run game.
Bijan Robinson should quiet any concerns managers may have this week. This game will hopefully instill confidence in himself and managers everywhere after his disappointing start to the season.
Josh Downs (WR, Indianapolis Colts) vs the Titans Defense
The Titans have the number one passing defense as far as yards they allow per game, but those numbers do not tell the whole story.
In week one, they played against the Chicago Bears which was Caleb Williams's first career start, then a Packers team without Jordan Love in week three, and a Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami Dolphins team in week four. In week two, the Titans did keep Aaron Rodgers to only 176 yards, but even Rodgers has been playing like a shell of his former self.
Indianapolis is no elite passing offense, but they do have enough talent to put Tennessee to the test. The Colts will be without Jonathan Taylor and potentially Michael Pittman Jr. this week. Downs normally operates as the second receiver for Indy, but if Pittman were to be ruled out, Downs would be the number one target for Anthony Richardson.
Josh Downs has looked great this season. He had a slow start once he got back, but in the last two weeks, he has finished as the WR8 and the WR18. He is averaging almost nine targets and seven receptions a game. If he were to be the top receiver for the Colts this week, he could be a weekly winner for the fantasy managers who decided to start him.
It will be interesting to see how Josh Downs will be utilized now that Anthony Richardson should be starting again. Richardson has been a disappointment and all of Downs’ production this season has come at the hand of Joe Flacco. This is a great week for Richardson to get back on track and Josh Downs should certainly help with that. He is a solid flex option even with the boom/bust nature that Richardson brings to the offense.