5 Players With Favorable Fantasy Matchups in Week 6

Week 6 is full of intriguing fantasy football matchups. There are the obvious players who will likely be fantasy studs again in Week 6 (Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, DeMarco Murray); those guys are easy lineup selections. Here is a look at five more under-the-radar players with favorable fantasy matchups in Week 6.

All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

Branden Oliver, Running Back, San Diego Chargers

Oliver got thrust into the workhorse running back role for the Chargers in Week 5 due to injuries to Ryan Matthews and Donald Brown. All he did was rush for 114 yards and a touchdown and catch four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. He will get the bulk of the work again this week and faces a Raiders defense that is giving up an average of 158.3 yards per game on the ground.

Giovani Bernard, Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals

Bernard is set to face a Panthers defense that is giving up 5.4 yards per carry and 129.6 yards per game in 2014. With A.J. Green likely out of the lineup, the running game will become more important for the Bengals. Expect Bernard’s workload and fantasy production to both increase this week.

Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants

Manning has been red-hot as of late throwing for eight touchdowns and only one interception in his last three games. In Week 6, he is facing a Philadelphia defense that is giving up 274 passing yards per game and has given up a league-high 13 touchdown passes in 2014. Manning looks very comfortable in the Giants’ new offensive system and looks primed to put up big fantasy numbers in Week 6.

Steve Smith Sr., Wide Receiver, Baltimore Ravens

Smith has been an excellent addition to the Ravens in 2014 catching 30 passes for 463 yards and three touchdowns so far. In Week 6, he is going up against a Tampa Bay defense that is giving up 11.2 yards per catch and an average of 27 pass completions and 292 yards per game in 2014. Expect a big week from quarterback Joe Flacco’s new favorite target.

Jay Cutler, Quarterback, Chicago Bears

Cutler plays in an offense loaded with weapons (Alshon Jeffry, Brandon Marshall, Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett) that is going against one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL. The Falcons are giving up 8.2 yards per pass attempt (second worst in the league) and 260 passing yards per game. More importantly, the Falcons only have four total sacks for the entire 2014 season; great news for a struggling Chicago Bears offensive line. Cutler should have plenty of time to pick apart the Falcons defense in this one making him a valuable fantasy quarterback in Week 6.