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Dallas Cowboys' big comeback leads Week 6 fantasy wrap

Dallas Cowboys @ New England Patriots

With the game script finally helping, Dak Prescott threw for 445 yards in a monstrous performance that ended with an overtime-winning touchdown strike to CeeDee Lamb. Prescott did suffer a calf strain on that play, so his status needs to be monitored as Dallas heads into its bye.

Prescott has remarkably thrown three or more touchdowns in five of six games this season (and got 8.8 YPA in the other) and was curiously robbed of TD sneaks on back-to-back plays Sunday, so let’s hope his injury is not serious … Amari Cooper has taken a clear backseat to Lamb, and his numbers figure to take a further hit in this run-happy offense once Michael Gallup returns … Ezekiel Elliott was unlucky not to score at the goal line (like last season) but will gladly cede some work to Tony Pollard if it still results in nine targets. Zeke isn’t showing any decline (in fact, he’s looked much better than last season) despite surpassing 1,500 career carries during Sunday’s game and is a top-five fantasy player moving forward.

The Patriots scored two touchdowns on their first seven snaps, as Mac Jones (10.9 YPA) threw downfield more against one of the league’s premier pass-funnel defenses. Dallas has a much-improved D, but it’s also a highly favorable matchup for fantasy quarterbacks … No receiver in NFL history has reached 1,000 receiving yards without scoring a touchdown until Jakobi Meyers, who’s up to 121 catches and 1,434 yards sans a TD to start his career. He had a nice touchdown called back by a penalty Sunday … Trevon Diggs continued to record a pick in every game this season, although he was burned on a double move for a long touchdown on the team’s next defensive play.

New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16)
When is Jakobi Meyers going to score a touchdown?! (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Damien Harris had a nice game and dominated carries but hobbled off a few times and watched rookie Rhamondre Stevenson steal a goal-line score and impress as a receiver. Stevenson also blew a pass protection late, but the rookie back needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. He led the league in preseason rushing and can clearly play.

What a ridiculously bad beat if you bet New England against the spread.

Miami Dolphins @ Jacksonville Jaguars

It was nice to see double-digit targets for Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault as well as zero carries for Carlos Hyde, as Jacksonville’s targets/touches got more concentrated. It’s good news for James Robinson … Crazy field goals played a big part in the Jaguars ending their 20-game losing streak after somehow entering the game without a single FG all season … Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki benefitted from Tua Tagovailoa’s return, but it’s going to be tough trusting Myles Gaskin moving forward.

Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears

Justin Fields remains a big work in progress, but it was nice to see him run for a career-high 43 yards. Khalil Herbert looked great (and had another TD-run called back) and like a top-15 fantasy RB if he keeps Chicago’s backfield to himself, but it’s likely a committee with Damien Williams returning … Both Allen Robinson and Darnell Mooney are hard to start with any confidence in fantasy leagues right now … Green Bay’s red-zone defense has been the worst in the league … Davante Adams somehow saw just five targets, while Aaron Jones lost carries but not targets to AJ Dillon this week.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Football Team

Kansas City entered allowing the most yards per play (7.1) in NFL history, yet Taylor Heinicke managed just 4.7 YPA at home — and that's with Terry McLaurin active. It was a disastrous offensive performance by Washington, which would’ve been even worse if not for a busted coverage that aided a Ricky Seals-Jones touchdown. Scary Terry, Adam Humphries and Antonio Gibson somehow combined for just 24 yards on 13 targets facing DVOA’s No. 31 ranked pass defense. Abysmal.

The Chiefs were playing with a banged-up Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce and without their lead back yet covered easily on the road despite once again giving away silly turnovers in the red zone. While many haven’t been his fault, Patrick Mahomes has already been intercepted two more times this season than he did all of last year … Tershawn Wharton had one of the best picks by a defensive lineman you’ll ever see ... Darrel Williams got just 3.0 YPC but more importantly saw 25 carries/targets, including the goal-line work. He’ll remain a top-20 fantasy back while Clyde Edwards-Helaire is out.

Minnesota Vikings @ Carolina Panthers

Kirk Cousins missed a wide-open Justin Jefferson for a 40+ yard touchdown but finished with a big game anyway while outdoors against DVOA’s No. 2 pass defense … Alexander Mattison isn’t a flex option when Dalvin Cook is active, but he’s the most valuable bench stash in fantasy football. Cook had an awesome touchdown run Sunday (and Adam Thielen had a terrific TD catch) … Robby Anderson somehow managed just 11 receiving yards on 11 targets — and scored. DJ Moore (13 targets) will continue to benefit from Christian McCaffrey’s prolonged absence … Four Vikings games have been decided on the final play already this season.

Overtime shouldn’t end if the first team getting the ball scores a touchdown; the less a coin toss matters, the better. Every Sunday has enough arbitrary silliness as is.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Baltimore Ravens

I’d be much more excited to add Rashod Bateman in fantasy leagues than Devonta Freeman or Le’Veon Bell, although the latter two may play just enough to mess up Latavius Murray’s value. There likely won’t be many more Baltimore games in which three players rush for touchdowns and none are Lamar Jackson. The Ravens somehow scored 34 points without any player seeing 10 carries or more than six targets, as this was a deceptively quiet fantasy matchup … Justin Herbert had one of the worst games of his career, although LA’s rushing attack helped him zero (10 carries for 14 yards). A hobbled Mike Williams — who didn’t practice all week — wasn’t ideal either … Down big, the Chargers went for it on fourth down from their own 19-yard line in the third quarter. You love to see it (regardless of outcome).

Cincinnati Bengals @ Detroit Lions

The Lions actually improved their pass defense by allowing 9.3 YPA to Joe Burrow, who joined exclusive QB company by throwing multiple touchdowns in the first six games of his second season. Impressive, considering Burrow has thrown 30+ times in just two of those games while returning from serious surgery … Joe Mixon had his ankle re-taped at one point but was treated as a true workhorse, including this nice fourth-down catch turned into a touchdown ... Tyler Boyd belongs on fantasy benches with Tee Higgins back and in this conservative offense. Meanwhile, Ja’Marr Chase has the second-most receiving yards over his first six games in the Super Bowl era … Captain America with the TD catch … D’Andre Swift’s fantasy day was saved by a late garbage-time touchdown, and Jared Goff still hasn’t won an NFL game without Sean McVay.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase
Ja'Marr Chase just continues to impress. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Taylor didn’t see his second carry until there were three minutes left in the first half. This isn’t just a fantasy writer complaining about usage — Marlon Mack turned a 75-yard would-be Taylor touchdown run into a no-gain, as Frank Reich is simply committing coaching malpractice. Taylor responded with a monster second half, including this 83-yard run. Maybe 10.4 YPC will get Taylor more carries in the future, but then again, Mack has gotten 3.2 YPC or fewer in three of four games while returning from a torn Achilles, so he clearly has a strong case to keep one of the best backs in football off the field.

In all seriousness, Sunday proved Taylor can’t really be used in DFS cash games no matter the matchup given his absolutely bonkers usage.

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By the way, Taylor entered Sunday ranked No. 3 among running backs in yards per route run … Davis Mills took a step back but at least fed Brandin Cooks … Carson Wentz continues to play much better, connecting on a long score with Parris Campbell and benefitting from T.Y. Hilton’s return (who consequently hurt Michael Pittman’s fantasy value) … Those in Superflex leagues should make sure Tyrod Taylor isn’t somehow sitting on your waiver wire, and those in deep leagues should do the same with Nico Collins.

Los Angeles Rams @ New York Giants

Kadarius Toney looked unstoppable before aggravating his ankle injury and ending his day (very) early. Don’t even think about dropping him unless the news is dire; Toney is going to be a superstar in this league. I’m talking a third or fourth-round fantasy pick as soon as next year.

Daniel Jones entered with his lone interception of the season coming on a Hail Mary, but he committed four turnovers in a disastrous performance Sunday. Things may have gone differently had he not lost Toney early (Darius Slayton and Kenny Golladay were inactive, and Sterling Shepard was playing at less than 100%), and it also didn’t help that Andrew Thomas left hurt; Aaron Donald dominated while playing through knee swelling. Danny Dimes somehow has zero red-zone touchdowns this season, which seems likely to regress ... Darrell Henderson is an easy top-10 fantasy RB while healthy … Matthew Stafford with another one of his patented no-look touchdown passes. I’m beginning to think Stafford’s career would’ve gone differently had he been drafted in his current situation … The Rams went for it on fourth down up 31-3.

Arizona Cardinals @ Cleveland Browns

The Cardinals improved to 6-0 despite being underdogs on the road while playing without their head coach, starting center, and Chandler Jones. Wind didn’t stop Kyler Murray from throwing four touchdowns, and it was nice to see him run seven times after appearing to suffer a shoulder injury last week … DeAndre Hopkins scored twice but saw just four targets and looks like someone to consider offering in trades this week … It’s possible James Conner was given most of Arizona’s carries after watching Chase Edmonds’ utter lack of breakaway speed during his 40-yard run (an injury might’ve been to blame) … Kareem Hunt’s disappointing day turned into a true disaster after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury in the fourth quarter, as Nick Chubb’s fantasy value ironically jumped while he sat out. He hasn’t been an efficient receiver this year, but there’s a real path to Chubb being a top-five fantasy player now if he can get healthy … Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. are both clearly playing hurt, and a Hail Mary to Donovan Peoples-Jones masked an otherwise awful passing day for Cleveland.

Las Vegas Raiders @ Denver Broncos

Derek Carr got 12.6 YPA in Denver, taking just two sacks in a truly impressive performance. Henry Ruggs saw only four targets but scored and entered top-20 in air yards this season. He’s absolutely on the WR3 fantasy scene Bryan Edwards made an incredible fourth-quarter one-handed catch, while Kenyan Drake nearly had as many touchdowns (two) as he had combined touches (three) over the previous two games … Teddy Bridgewater played poorly for the Broncos but got it done for fantasy managers, although Courtland Sutton’s day could’ve been even bigger if Teddy B didn’t miss him on a wide-open 60+ yard would-be touchdown … Javonte Williams had one of the best runs of Week 6.

Seattle Seahawks @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers narrowly avoided being upset Sunday night during the third overtime game of Week 6. Still, Ben Roethlisberger managed just 229 passing yards and got only 5.7 YPA at home against a Seattle defense that entered on pace to give up the most yards in NFL history. Big Ben better hope Chase Claypool gets healthy fast … Najee Harris is a top-five fantasy player in PPR formats … The early returns aren’t encouraging for DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett without Russell Wilson … Alex Collins had a terrific second half against a Pittsburgh defense that entered allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, and he did so with backup QB Geno Smith throwing for just 209 yards. Collins impressed and looked far better than Chris Carson has at any point this season. He gets another tough matchup next Monday night against a stingy Saints defense coming off a bye and allowing the fewest YPC (3.3) in the NFL, but Collins is a locked-in fantasy RB2 right now with Carson out (assuming, of course, Collins is OK after sitting out OT banged up Sunday night).

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