Week 6 Fantasy Football Forecast

With a little over a quarter of the NFL season finished, you should have an idea of where you stand in your fantasy league. Those of you who didn’t get Frank Gore or Marques Colston as sleeper picks in your draft may need some help, and the most important thing left to do is start the right players at the right time. Below is a list of the players you must start, those who could potentially have a big week, and those who need to stay on your bench.

Week 6 Must Starts

Clinton Portis, Washington, RB – Portis finally looks healthy again for the first time since he suffered a shoulder injury. Playing the Titans last-place rushing defense should make him look even better. Expect at least 100 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Terrell Owens, Dallas, WR – After being shutout in his much anticipated return to Philadelphia, Owens should return to his previous form against the Texans, who are allowing 295 passing yards a game. Owens will have a huge game; expectations of more than 90 yards and at least one touchdown should be met.

Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia, QB – It doesn’t matter who this guy is playing against, he is destined to put up big numbers. In the last two games, McNabb has three rushing TDs, four passing TDs and more than 600 yards passing. He plays New Orleans next week and should post at least 250 passing yards and a combined three touchdowns in the air and on the ground.

Week 6 Sleepers

Carnell ‘Cadillac’ Williams, Tampa Bay, RB – Cadillac broke out of a four-game slump last week by rushing for 100 yards against New Orleans. This week he plays a weak Bengals rush defense that he should be able to exploit. If the Buccaneers can keep this game close enough to continue rushing the ball, Williams will put up 120 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Chris Chambers, Miami, WR – This has been a very disappointing season for Chambers. There were high hopes of what he and new QB Daunte Culpepper could accomplish, but there haven’t been any consistent results. That Culpepper is back from injury next week and playing a Jets secondary that is allowing 237 yards passing a game bodes well for Chambers. Culpepper has thrown the ball in Chambers’ direction plenty of times and this should be the week the two finally connect. Expect more than 85 yards and one score.

Drew Brees, New Orleans, QB – Brees and the Saints have been a pleasant surprise this year. They come into a tough game against Philadelphia this week, but the Eagles secondary has been decimated by injury, which should allow Brees to pass all over it. Two touchdown passes and 300 yards passing aren’t out of the question.

Week 6 Busts

Frank Gore, San Francisco, RB – Gore has possibly been the best surprise in fantasy football thus far. This week, however, he faces a Chargers defense that is giving up only 66 yards a game on the ground. If you have a viable RB3 option, you would be well advised to use him this week, as Gore should be held to 75 yards rushing without a TD.

Hines Ward, Pittsburgh, WR – Ward will get all he can handle this week versus a Kansas City defense amazingly allowing only 116 pass yards a game. The addition of Ty Law to this secondary has made it among the league’s best. Ward is an on-again-off-again type player and expect this to be one of those off weeks. Ward may be able to get a total of 60 yards receiving, but that is about all you can hope for.

Matt Leinart, Arizona, QB – Leinart had a good game last week, his first as an NFL starter, but don’t look for a repeat performance in Week 6 at Chicago. The reason is . well, because the Cardinals are playing Chicago. The Bears defense has been impenetrable this season. Leinart will be under too much pressure for any rookie to succeed. The USC golden boy will be lucky to throw for 200 yards and a touchdown, with a couple of picks in there as well.

Next week I’ll reach into my vast bank of fantasy knowledge once again and give you what you need to bring home the sweet taste of fantasy victory.

– Zach Stumo is a senior in animal ecology from Shoreview, Minn.