Bye Weeks: Broncos, Cardinals, Chargers, Chiefs, Seahawks, Titans

Start 'Em

Jabar Gaffney vs. Phi
His numbers aren’t going to blow anyone away, but Gaffney has quietly averaged 4.25 catches and has topped 50 yards in each of his first four games with the Redskins. This puts him on pace for career-highs in catches (68) and receiving yards (952). He is a nice bye-week option this week in Washington as they take on the Eagles at FedEx Field. Philadelphia’s defense has been exposed through the air to the tune of 11 passing TDs this season. Gaffney’s last game against the Eagles (as a member of the Broncos, 2009) he had 7 catches for 69 yards and 2 TDs.

Victor Cruz vs. Buf
With 17 catches for 369 yards and 3 TDs over his last 3 games, Cruz has emerged as a preferred target of QB Eli Manning, which is a very good thing. He led the Giants with 11 targets last week and should be a factor again this week in a game which should see significant scoring chances. The Bills have allowed 10 aerial scores and an average of 283.4 passing yards per game, the 7th highest number in the league. At some point, WR Mario Manningham (who is still starting ahead of Cruz) is going to have an impact, but Cruz is hot right now and should be started confidently as WR3/bye-week plug.

Greg Little @ Oak
Little is coming off a Week 5 bye but it is worth noting his target count had increased with each preceding game; he saw three passes during Week 1, five in Weeks 2 and 3 and eight in Week 4. The rookie has been named a starter for the Week 6 game in Oakland and he'll move to the slot in three-wide sets. It’s a bit of a leap of faith, but there is upside here. He is a big receiver (6’2”, 220) with great skills and has a shown the ability to make difficult catches in traffic. It doesn’t hurt that the Raiders have allowed an average of 299.6 passing yards per game and 10 passing TDs. You could do a lot worse in a bye week jam.

Bench 'Em

If Marshall has his way, he'll be ejected by halftime... and cursed by fantasy owners.

Brandon Marshall @ NYJ
Tough to bench a receiver with talent and size of Marshall, but it is worth mentioning that he has just 4 TD receptions in 18 games in a Dolphins uniform. QB Matt Moore will take over as starter and although Marshall led the Dolphins with 5 catches for 52 yards in abbreviated Week 4 game time with Moore, the chemistry between the two remains unclear. Over the course of the season, Moore’s assumption of the QB job really could be a blessing in disguise for Marshall owners, but Monday Night’s game at MetLife Field against CB Darrelle Revis and the Jets does not present a positive matchup. New York has allowed an average of 203 passing yards per game and just 3 TDs this season.

Denarius Moore vs. Cle
Since Week Two’s five-catch, 146 yard outburst, rookie WR Denarius Moore has seen his production drop with each game. He remains a high risk, high reward play amongst the suddenly crowded receiving corps of the Raiders. There is little doubt that Moore has ability, but Darrius Heyward-Bey has looked great in two straight games, Jacoby Ford has returned to the lineup after missing time and Louis Murphy could make his season debut Sunday against the Browns. Moore should be a safer play in the coming weeks against the Chiefs and Broncos than against Cleveland, who have held opponents under 200 (195.5) passing yards per game.

Reggie Wayne @ Cin
Without Peyton Manning, quarterbacks have had trouble getting the ball to Wayne. While QB Curtis Painter certainly looks to be an upgrade over Kerry Collins, Wayne is coming off arguably his least productive four game stretch (15 catches, 226 yards, 0 TD) since 2002, his second NFL season. Fellow WR Pierre Garcon could be settling in as Painter’s preferred target as he received a team-high 8 looks last week against the Chiefs. The outlook remains shady in Cincinnati this week as the Bengals have been tough against the pass. They kept Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick off the score sheet for the first time this season and limited WR1 Steve Johnson to 4 catches for 58 yards.

David Nelson @ NYG
Nelson, the Bills primary slot receiver to start the season, burst on to the scene as a WR3 in his first 3 games. Last week he was shifted to the outside following WR Donald Jones’ first quarter ankle injury. While my initial thought was “more targets for Nelson” it is worth noting his only catch of the game, among 2 targets, was a 6-yard TD. He has just 3 catches for 24 yards in his last two games after 16 catches for 167 in the two games prior. It remains to be seen if Nelson can regain his fantasy viability on the outside if and when WR Naaman Roosevelt takes over in the slot.

Good luck in Week 6!

Quarterbacks