With only the Packers and Steelers on bye, we have 14 games remaining this week. Last Saturday focused on breakout candidates like Drake London ("it seems inconceivable that London will remain a fringe offensive option") and Dallas Goedert ("I still believe he'll return to greatness, and Philadelphia needs to get him going."). I also questioned whether guys like DeAndre Hopkins, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Michael Wilson were reliable.
Saturday columns focus on players who I think managers will be focused on -- for better or for worse -- after this week's games. These are "pressure-point" players whose success or failure could influence victory or defeat.
So let's once again run through the most compelling fantasy storyline for each remining team, as well as point-spread and winner predictions:
Titans (+4.5) vs. Ravens -- Another London contest, another early U.S. kickoff. Picking the Titans to win outright. I just traded Tyjae Spears, relinquishing my lottery ticket in a package deal for D.K. Metcalf. All eyes should be on the dynamic Spears, who's essentially auditioning for a 180+ touch 2024 season -- which might end up being 180+ this season if Tennessee cashes out on Henry. For Baltimore, Keaton Mitchell is finally expected to make his debut. It'll be interesting to see if Mitchell can live up to the hype, and if so -- like Spears -- whether his value has almost nowhere to go but up.
Falcons (-2.5) vs. Commanders -- Can London keep the good times rolling? He's on the cusp of being a weekly fantasy starter, but first needs to demonstrate he can earn consistent targets. And Washington realistically needs a win to keep its playoff hopes alive, especially with a schedule that ends with matchups against the Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams, Jets, 49ers, and Cowboys again. Last week I proposed that Sam Howell probably could feed only two receivers per week. Atlanta's yielding the fifth-fewest WR fantasy points per game, but the second-most TE fantasy points per game. Could Logan Thomas prove last week was no fluke?
Bears (+3) vs. Vikings -- Somehow taking Chicago to cover and win. Justin Fields and D.J. Moore might or might not be locked in. Facing Minnesota, I'll bet on the former. And that's one of the biggest questions in Week 6: are Fields and Moore for real in 2023? For Minnesota, with Justin Jefferson on the shelf, let's see if Jordan Addison can be a top-20 WR, and whether K,J. Osborn can be top 35.
Bengals (-3) vs. Seahawks -- After Ja'Marr Chase's blow-up last weekend, the entire complexion of the formerly plummeting Bengals has changed. Cincy can still make a run, as long as Joe Burrow's health doesn't worsen. I'm paying close attention to Joe Mixon. After his 55.1-point explosion last season vs. Carolina, he's averaged 12.8 points in 10 contests since, and he hasn't cleared 14 points this year. Managers probably like his consistency. His floor is solid. But is he still a realistic breakout candidate? For Seattle, Tyler Lockett is the WR43 in points per game. He seems like a big buy at the moment.
49ers (-9.5) at Browns -- CMC's monster usage is still the thing I'm watching most in San Francisco. Make sure you roster Jordan Mason by tomorrow morning. And DeShaun Watson is out again with a shoulder injury (and might miss several more weeks), prompting the desperate Browns to put their faith in P.J. Walker. I'd be hard-pressed to start any Browns in fantasy, though perhaps Jerome Ford can get enough dump-offs to push him into double-digits. The hope is that Cleveland's defense keeps this one competitive.
Dolphins (-14) vs. Panthers -- In the "What could possibly go wrong" world of sports, it's entirely possible that Bryce Young, Chuba Hubbard, and Adam Thielen lead Carolina to the biggest upside of the season. But more likely, Miami will win by 18+. With De'Von Achane sidelined, 31-year-old and Jeff Wilson doubtful, Raheem Mostert should reclaim his bellcow role in this one. Or . . . big-bodied rookie Chris Brooks might be the best almost-entirely-unrostered streaming RB in fantasy history (slight exaggeration, but . . .). And for Carolina, I've been banging the drum on Chuba Hubbard for weeks and urging managers to sell high on Miles Sanders as soon as possible. Hubbard has improved as a pass-catcher during his brief NFL career; he has a shot at claiming the 1A role even when Sanders returns.
Jaguars (-4) vs. Colts -- Zay Jones is out again. So I'm still locked into the Calvin Ridley vs. Christian Kirk battle for Jacksonville's #1 WR job. At least one of these guys is undervalued. It's probably Ridley, but nothing's certain. And for Indy, I dropped Josh Downs Sunday morning, in the belief Anthony Richardson couldn't consistently feed him. Now Gardner Minshew's under center for the next few games, meaning Downs could push for must-start consideration.
Texans (+1.5) vs. Saints -- Houston should cover and win. Is Dalton Schultz back to being a weekly fantasy starter, and can Alvin Kamara easily fend off rookie Kendre Miller?
Raiders (-3) vs. Patriots -- Last December, Vegas ended a six-game head-to-head losing streak with New England, and in dramatic fashion. They were down a touchdown with about 30 second left, tied it, and then won it on a fumble recovery for a touchdown as time expired. Including that loss, the Patriots are 2-7 since. I can't justify starting any Pats, though Rhamondre Stevenson remains a Hail Mary on the off chance New England will feature him ahead of trading him. And for Vegas, can Josh Jacobs continue to rack up big points, despite his clear limitations on the ground?
Rams (-7) vs. Cardinals -- Could Matthew Stafford be a top-10 QB going forward? I can't believe it. And yet, he apparently has the playmakers to do great things. We'll see if he can finally enjoy his first "very good" fantasy week of the season. And will Keaontay Ingram outperform Emari Demercado. And more importantly, will it even matter against an above-average run defense?
Eagles (-6.5) at Jets -- Philly hasn't made it look easy, winning three games by five points or less. I'm interested in seeing whether it's DeVonta Smith's turn. A.J. Brown has dominated some weeks, and Goedert came through last week. Smith seems like a buy-low guy. For New York, it's still all about Breece Hall. The Jets should feed him as much as possible. He's the only guy on this team I'd start with relative confidence.
Buccaneers (+3) vs. Lions -- Am actually picking Tampa Bay in a minor upset. Chris Godwin was a huge buy-low WR before their last game in Week 4. He's still a buy-low WR. And for Detroit, how much of Jameson Williams will we see, and will it matter?
Bills (-14.5) vs. Giants -- Daniel Jones is out, Saquon Barkley is questionable, and the Giants organization has to be feeling deflated. It will only get worse after the dust settles on this contest, with Buffalo looking to avenge last week's loss to the Jags. If Saquon sits, Darren Waller is the only Giant I'd consider starting, and that assumes he'll get 8+ targets (we'll see). For Buffalo, buy low on James Cook.
Chargers (+2.5) vs. Cowboys -- This might be a sucker's bet, especially picking the Chargers to win. But it assumes Austin Ekeler (who expects to return) actually does return. Will Ekeler electrify as a psuedo-bellcow, or will L.A. stick with a two-man backfield with Joshua Kelley? And for Dallas, Tony Pollard's fantasy production has dropped each week since the opener. This is an optimal opportunity for him to turn things around. If he does, all good. If he doesn't, managers should be at least a little concerned.