Fantasy football can be as stressful as it is fun. There’s no worse feeling than seeing a first-round pick go down with a season-killing injury. To see countless hours of draft prep and roster management reduced to a pile of rubble in the blink of an eye.
Actually though, there’s one feeling that’s worse. Much worse. Exponentially worse. Infinitely worse.
Being one of those players who is lying on the ground writing in pain with full knowledge that their season has just ended.
Yes, it was a real bummer for fantasy owners to see New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham crumple to the ground in a heap at Met Life Stadium. But imagine for a moment you’re Beckham, who now faces contract extension talks that will include the huge asterisk that is his broken ankle.
For IDP owners, watching Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt get carted off the field was a total drag – the second straight season a major injury has derailed the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
But imagine being Watt, so disconsolate after working his way back from multiple back surgeries only to suffer a tibial plateau fracture that he tweeted, “I can’t sugarcoat it, I am devastated. All I want to do is be out there on that field for my teammates and this city. I’m sorry.”
He has nothing to be sorry for. Any of us who were angry at him for a moment about an injury that now clouds Watt’s future after helping raise over $35 million to help Houston recover from Hurricane Harvey, on the other hand…
It’s not a good look.
I’m not trying to be a wet blanket. Or suggest that we fantasy fanatics are bad people. All I’m saying is that the next time you’re ready to toss your remote at the TV when a player gets hurt just for a moment, put yourself in the shoes of the young man playing an incredibly violent game where one false step can be life-changing – and doing so for your entertainment.
Feel bad for the right reason.
As I climb off my soapbox, here’s a look around IDP Nation as Week 6 nears.
NOTE: The Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks are on a bye this week. Quite a few big-name linebackers (Vontaze Burfict, Sean Lee, Bobby Wagner) will be taking the week off.
WEEK 6 IDP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
Jurrell Casey – DE, Tennessee Titans: Casey was a complete non-factor early in the season, but of late he’s turned it on big-time. Over his last two games Casey has piled up 12 total tackles and two sacks – numbers that rate the 27-year-old fifth among defensive linemen in fantasy points over that span.
Christian Jones – ILB, Chicago Bears: The Bears have been absolutely decimated (and then some) at the inside linebacker position. Even with Danny Trevathan set to return from suspension this week, Jones should be locked into an every-down role in Chicago for the foreseeable future.
Tavon Wilson – S, Detroit Lions: After missing Week 3 and playing sparingly in Week 4, Wilson was back in an every-down role for the Lions against the Carolina Panthers in Week 5. The sixth-year veteran turned that into 10 total tackles and three tackles for loss.
WEEK 6 IDP INJURY REPORT
Mario Addison – DE, Carolina Panthers (Questionable – Knee): Addison, who did not practice Tuesday, was questionable last week as well nut made it onto the field for the Panthers road win over the Detroit Lions.
Kwon Alexander – ILB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Questionable – Hamstring): There’s once again hope that Alexander will be back on the field this week against the Cardinals, but he hasn’t practiced in quite some time – so I’m skeptical.
Navorro Bowman – ILB, San Francisco 49ers (Questionable – Shoulder): Bowman missed quite a few snaps against the Colts with what’s being called a stinger by the team. Keep an eye on practice reports later this week.
Jamie Collins – OLB, Cleveland Browns (Questionable – Concussion): After missing three games Collins has reportedly been cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol and should play in Week 6 against the Houston Texans.
Landon Collins – S, New York Giants (Questionable – Ankle): New York’s terrible Week 5 injury luck extended to defense, with Collins tweaking his ankle against the Chargers. He was deemed “day-to-day” by the team, so monitor practice participation.
Kurt Coleman – S, Carolina Panthers (OUT – Knee): Coleman has stated he’s progressing well in his rehab from a sprained MCL. But the veteran safety is still at least a few weeks out from returning to action.
Fletcher Cox – DT, Philadelphia Eagles (Questionable – Calf): Cox has missed the last two weeks with a calf injury, but the big man was on the practice field Tuesday – an excellent sign where his status for Thursday Night Football is concerned.
Johnathan Cyprien – S, Tennessee Titans (OUT – Hamstring): It’s never a good sign when a player is ruled out as early as Cyprien was for Week 6. I’d put his chances at playing again before the team’s bye week (8) at less than 50 percent.
Lavonte David – OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Questionable – Ankle): Given the severity of the ankle injury suffered by David a couple of weeks ago, I’d guess we’re still a week or two (at best) from seeing him back on the practice field.
Thomas Davis – OLB, Carolina Panthers (Questionable – Ribs): Davis’ ribs haven’t cost him any time, but they have cost the veteran snaps. He was on the field for just over 50 percent of the team’s snaps last week against the Detroit Lions.
Reuben Foster – ILB, San Francisco 49ers (Questionable – Ankle): The hope is that Foster will be able to practice some this week, but given that the rookie hasn’t so much as done that since Week 1 a Week 7 return is probably the best-case scenario.
Lamarcus Joyner – S, Los Angeles Rams (Questionable – Hamstring): Joyner missed last week’s loss to Seattle after being listed as Doubtful for most of the week. His status for Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars is unknown.
Marquel Lee – ILB, Oakland Raiders (Questionable – Ankle): Lee hurt his ankle in last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was unable to return to action. His status for this week’s trip to Los Angeles is not yet known.
Josh Norman – CB, Washington Redskins (OUT – Ribs): Norman suffered broken ribs that caused damage to his lung in Washington’s last game in Week 4. It’s believed Washington’s shutdown cornerback will be sidelined at least a month.
Eric Reid – S, San Francisco 49ers (OUT – Knee): Reid’s been sidelined several weeks now by an MCL sprain. The injury didn’t require surgery, but it’s not believed he’s especially close to a return to the field.
John Timu – ILB, Chicago Bears (OUT – Ankle): After suffering a high ankle sprain in Monday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Timu will join fellow Bears ILBs Jerrell Freeman (IR – Pectoral) and Nick Kwiatkoski (Pectoral) on the shelf.
Olivier Vernon – DE, New York Giants (Questionable – Ankle): Vernon tried to play through his injury in Week 4, couldn’t, and then missed Week 5 altogether. Unless you see him practice, assume that the star defensive end is unlikely to face the Denver Broncos Sunday night.
T.J. Ward – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Questionable – Groin): Ward missed the Buccaneers Week 4 loss to the Pats, but perhaps the extra few days of rest afforded him by the Thursday night game will help him get back Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
J.J. Watt – DE, Houston Texans (IR – Leg): At this point, there’s no question that Watt’s 2017 season is over. The question now is sadly whether we’ll ever see Watt return to his formerly dominant form of years past again.
THE WHAT THE HECK DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE WAIVER PLAY OF THE WEEK
Zach Cunningham - ILB, Houston Texans (vs. CLE)
Per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Texans head coach Bill O’ Brien has been impressed with how quick a study Cunningham has been during his rookie season. “He’s improved every week, knock on wood, (but) it has to continue,” O’Brien said. “I think he’s always been decent at being able to cover backs and be a good special teams player, be a good space player. I think where he’s gotten better is playing in the box and playing against the run. He’s been a physical guy.”
With Brian Cushing serving yet another PED suspension, Cunningham’s been platooning with Dylan Cole next to Benadrick McKinney, with Cunningham playing the lion’s share of the snaps. Last week he turned that into nine total tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs. A similar stat line should be within reach Sunday when the Texans play host to the Cleveland Browns.
GUYS I LIKE IN WEEK 6
Dante Fowler – DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. LAR): The Rams are better up front in 2017 than they were a year ago, but they’re still surrendering a lot of fantasy points to defensive linemen – the third most in the league.
Myles Garrett – DE, Cleveland Browns (at HOU): Garrett piled up two sacks in less than 20 snaps in his NFL debut last week, and Sunday the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft will face a Texans club that’s allowed an NFL-high 20 sacks in 2017.
Noah Spence – DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. AZ): Spence isn’t 100 percent (shoulder), but the young edge-rusher probably won’t need to be Sunday against a Cardinals offensive line that has already given up 19 sacks this season.
Blake Martinez – ILB, Green Bay Packers (at MIN): Martinez has emerged as a productive IDP asset and the Packers only three-down linebacker. That should pay off pretty well this weekend at US Bank Stadium against the Vikings.
Danny Trevathan – ILB, Chicago Bears (at BAL): Trevathan will be back from suspension in Week 6, and in his first game back the veteran draws a fantastic IDP matchup with the Ravens (second in FPPG allowed to linebackers).
Wesley Woodyard – ILB, Tennessee Titans (vs. IND): Woodyard’s been a pleasant IDP surprise this year, and the good times should keep rolling Monday night against a Colts team surrendering the most fantasy points to linebackers in 2017.
Tyvon Branch – S, Arizona Cardinals (at TB): There hasn’t been a defensive back in the NFL trading more paint so far this season that Branch, who gets a matchup in Week 6 with a Buccaneers team surrendering the third-most fantasy points to defensive backs.
Chris Conte – S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. AZ): Over the last few weeks, Conte’s been the lone Buccaneers safety playing every snap every week. There’s little reason to think that won’t continue this Sunday against the Redbirds.
Rodney McLeod – S, Philadelphia Eagles (at CAR): McLeod missed some time with an injury earlier this season, but in advance of a top-five fantasy matchup with the Panthers on Thursday night he’s back in his spot as the Eagles’ full-time strong safety.
GUYS I DON’T LIKE IN WEEK 6
Danielle Hunter – DE, Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB): After breaking out in a huge way last season, Hunter’s been outshined by batterymate Everson Griffen this season and draws an unfavorable fantasy matchup with Aaron Rodgers Sunday.
Julius Peppers – DE, Carolina Panthers (vs. PHI): Peppers has turned back the clock this year with his old team, but the grizzled veteran will have his hands full this week. The Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Leonard Williams – DE, New York Jets (vs. NEP): Williams is still searching for his first sack of 2017, and while the Patriots have allowed quite a few what they haven’t given up is many fantasy points per game to defensive linemen.
Kendall Beckwith – ILB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. AZ): IDP owners aren’t going to want to hear this about their Week 5 hero, but this sets up as a letdown week for Beckwith. The Cardinals are a rotten IDP matchup for linebackers.
Eric Kendricks – ILB, Minnesota Vikings (vs. GB): Kendricks is a very good NFL player, but he has yet to record even five solos in a game this season. Simply put, the Vikings defense is too good for Kendricks’ good – they get off the field too quick.
C.J. Mosley – ILB, Baltimore Ravens (vs. CHI): Mosley has re-claimed his perch as one of the top linebackers in IDP in 2017, but it’s hard for the best of players to rack up stats against the raging dumpster fire that is the Chicago offense.
Jamal Adams – S, New York Jets (vs. NEP): I still have every confidence that Adams is going to be an IDP star. But much like with Landon Collins of the New York Giants, we may have to wait a year to see it really happen.
Landon Collins – S, New York Giants (at DEN): It’s IDP blasphemy, but if ever there was a week to consider giving Collins a week off this might be it. The third-year pro is nursing that bad ankle I mentioned, and he draws a bad matchup to boot.
Sean Davis – S, Pittsburgh Steelers (at KCC): There’s no question that the Chiefs are humming on all cylinders offensively. But what they aren’t doing is allowing fantasy points to defensive backs – only one team’s giving up less.
THE SCRAP-HEAP STREAMING CORNERBACK PLAY OF THE WEEK
In recent years the number of dependable weekly fantasy starters at the cornerback position has dwindled to just about zero. So as a service to those hearty souls who play in IDP leagues that require them, each week I’ll point out a player at that position available in many leagues who should serve as a fine streaming option.
Morris Claiborne, New York Jets (vs. NEP): Claiborne’s coming off a huge game – nine total tackles with an interception against the Cleveland Browns. It’s not especially realistic to expect another outburst like that. What is reasonable is to expect that Claiborne and the New York secondary will have their hands full with Tom and the Bradyettes Sunday.
