In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Mike's Hard Lemonade:
What happens in London apparently stays in London, because the New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh after their Week 5 loss to the Vikings.
It’s a somewhat surprising move when you consider that they will be first in the AFC East if they beat the Bills on MNF.
But it’s not a remotely shocking move when you consider the dysfunction in the Jets locker room right now.
Here’s what we know …
- It was an impulsive decision made by owner Woody Johnson to fire Saleh. According to a team source, Johnson didn’t even consult with GM Joe Douglas. Apparently, billionaire owners are just like us when we rage-drop a player to waivers who flopped in our starting lineup.
- There’s a ton of discontent in the Jets locker room, but a lot of it surrounds OC Nathaniel Hackett.
- In Saleh’s absence, the team has promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to serve as interim coach.
I guess I’m not sure how firing a defensive-minded head coach and replacing him with a different defensive-minded coach solves their … checks notes … offensive issues?
The real truth is the Jets likely know that it doesn’t solve anything either, but when you have Aaron Rodgers serving as a meat shield for Nathaniel Hackett, the real issue will never be addressed.
At this point, it’s likely going to take a Davante Adams Hail Mary to turn this rudderless ship around.
What else is in today’s newsletter?
- Freedman’s Favorite Plays for Week 6 of Fantasy Football
- Watercooler: Week 6 Rankings are live
- Ian's Manifesto: What's Up With Marvin Harrison Jr.?
Freedman’s Favorites for Week 6
Here are a couple of Matthew Freedman's favorite fantasy plays for Week 6. Check out his full articles and rankings for more.
Derrick Henry (Ravens) vs. Commanders
- Ravens: -6.5
- O/U: 52.5
- TT: 29.5
Even at the grandfatherly age of 30 years, Henry is No. 1 in the league with 621 yards and seven TDs from scrimmage in his first season with the Ravens.
With a TD in every game and a league-high 10 carries inside the five-yard line, Henry has a high weekly floor—and with his 6.0 yards per carry and 19 rush attempts per game he has the efficiency and volume to hit the ceiling in any matchup.
Henry's a worthy +350 Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner—and he has a great matchup against the Commanders, who are No. 27 in defensive rush EPA (-0.010) and defensive rush SR (44.5%) and could be without EDGE Clelin Ferrell (knee).
As one of the week's few home favorites—and a big one at that—the Ravens could gift Henry with a world of carries.
Dalton Schultz (Texans) at Patriots
- Texans: -7
- O/U: 38
- TT: 22.5
Hear me out. Why are you walking away?
Look, any fantasy analyst can say, "Hey, you know what? I like Trey McBride."
Cool. So do I. Big fan of the nine targets he got last week.
But only a true sicko—a degenerate's degenerate—can recommend Schultz with a straight face.
Of course, I'm wearing a clown suit as I type this sentence, but, still, I'm highlighting Schultz nevertheless.
Here's what he has going for him.
He might be decent at football. His career mark of 7.0 yards per target is livable.
The Texans are productive through the air, as QB C.J. Stroud is No. 4 with 277 yards passing per game.
No. 1 WR Nico Collins (hamstring) seems likely to sit, so there could be extra targets available for Shultz.
The Patriots could be without SS Kyle Dugger (ankle) and FS Jabrill Peppers (shoulder), both of whom missed last week.
If you're looking for someone available on waivers, Schultz might be a surprisingly good desperado option.
More of Freedman’s Favorite RBs for Week 6
MORE OF FREEDMAN’S FAVORITES:
- QBs for Week 6: Is this the best Lamar Jackson has played?
- WRs for Week 6: Terry McLaurin is fast becoming a WR1
- TEs for Week 6: Pat Freiermuth is emerging as a prime Steelers target
Quench Your Hard-Earned Thirst With Mike’s Hard Lemonade 🍋
Winning in fantasy football is hard work. You’ll need to replace your injured QB one day but get outbid in Free Agency. Next week you’ll need 5 points from your TE and see him deliver only 4. But, Mike’s Hard Lemonade wants to remind you that Hard Days Deserve a Hard Lemonade. So, the next time you work up a hard-earned thirst by leaving your highest-scoring player on the bench, it’s time to twist open a Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
Find Mike’s Hard Lemonade near you at www.MikesHard.com.
The latest analysis and insights from our merry band of football nerds:
📈 Set your lineup early. Fantasy Football rankings for Week 6.
📊 Five weeks of data are in the books … upgrades and downgrades based on usage.
😱 Panic on Dontayvion Wicks? Think again.
😭 A brutal way to lose your fantasy matchup. Ouch.
🧱 Don’t start your RBs vs. the Chiefs? Look at those stats.
🙏 New England makes a QB change. Jacoby showers bring Maye flowers.
Ian’s Week 6 Manifesto
- By Ian Hartitz
And just like that: Week 6 is upon us. Let's break down some ball!
Every week I will be going through 10 key storylines ahead of all the NFL action, focusing on key fantasy-related trends, the week's biggest mismatches, my personal rankings of every game, bold predictions, and much more.
As always: It's a great day to be great.
What's going on with Marvin Harrison Jr.?
On the one hand, the 2024 NFL Draft's No. 4 overall pick hasn't had a bad first five career games: 279 yards, 4 TDs, and the 18th most PPR points of any WR. Marvin Harrison has by all accounts been a solid professional pass catcher this season and has a solid Utilization Score of 7.1.
On the other, solid wasn't what folks who used a first- or second-round pick on Maserati Marv in August were necessarily hoping for. The game-by-game production hasn't exactly lived up to expectations with the exception being his blowup Week 2 performance:
- Week 1: 1 reception-4 yards-0 TD (3 targets), PPR WR103
- Week 2: 4-130-2 (8), WR1
- Week 3: 5-64-1 (11), WR20
- Week 4: 5-45-1 (6), WR27
- Week 5: 2-36-0 (7), WR60
Watching Harrison play hasn't exactly alleviated concerns. Nothing has been easy to start the season, as no WR has had a higher percentage of their targets be of the contested variety (38%). This is mostly because of the Cardinals' insistence on mostly feeding Harrison on lower-percentage downfield routes: Harrison joins fellow rookie Adonai Mitchell as the only receivers with at least 30% of their targets coming on go routes and/or fades this season (per TruMedia).
More time should help matters. Harrison and Kyler Murray have been oh so close to connecting on more than a few back shoulder/sideline fades this season, and the 22-year-old receiver is still on pace for a more than respectable season-long 58-949-14 receiving line.
Still, we're looking at one of fantasy's most-TD-dependent pass catchers at the moment—there's not much room for error here as long as the Cardinals continue to largely decline to feed their No. 1 WR the sorts of "easy" lower-aDOT designed targets that guys like Malik Nabers and Amon-Ra St. Brown among others have feasted on this season.
Highest percentage of fantasy points to come from TDs among top-36 PPR WRs:
- Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (37.2%)
- Jets WR Allen Lazard (35%)
- Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison (34.8%)
Up next is a Packers secondary that has allowed the ninth-most PPR points per game to opposing WRs and hasn't had No. 1 CB Jaire Alexander (groin) for each of the past two games. It'd make sense if more time in the offense leads to more consistent yardage production out of the rookie, otherwise, drafters might be dealing with a bit more of a volatile fantasy WR2 than they signed up for.
