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TheDC Fantasy Outsider Andy Hayes: Week 6

Andy Hayes Contributor
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Welcome to the Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 6. Please feel free to contact us with any specific line-up questions or general thoughts on the rankings.

Quarterbacks

1. Phillip Rivers
2. Kyle Orton
3. Jay Cutler
4. Peyton Manning
5. Donovan McNabb
6. Shaun Hill
7. Aaron Rodgers
8. Tom Brady
9. David Garrard
10. Eli Manning
11. Drew Brees
12. Matt Schaub
13. Tony Romo
14. Josh Freeman
15. Alex Smith
16. Ben Roeth
17. Joe Flacco
18. Matt Ryan
19. Kevin Kolb
20. Matt Cassel

Comments:
•    Not sure why more fantasy rankers aren’t putting the #1 fantasy QB at the top this week. I know StL is a bit better defensively this year and they have been getting after the QB reasonably well. But I think we’ll see an experienced team picking apart a younger team when Rivers has the ball. (I also think the Rams will run as much as possible to keep it out of Rivers’ hands – which will work until they fall behind).
•    While the Bears will likely tone down the Mike Martz offense, hand the ball off quite a bit and put extra protection in for the recently concussed Cutler – I still think he has a decent game. Seattle will be playing the run daring Cutler to beat them – and in the end, both Cutler AND Forte will beat them.
•    Despite the tough NYJ defense coming to town, Orton is playing really well and Josh McDaniels’ system is looking really sharp.
•    Considering that Rodgers has been cleared to play, I think this may be a bit of a redemption week for him. He hasn’t been as good this year as projected – and he has some really hungry WRs who will be getting more looks with Jermichael Finley out.
•    Some might question having McNabb and Hill so high – but Hill has been a very good FF QB and McNabb threw for 357 yards last week. Both should find themselves in games involving lots of passes – that’s why they’re up there.
•    I struggled to decide which Monday Night QB will have the bigger game: Garrard or Vince Young. Garrard has played well of late – after slumping badly early on. At home in a big game, I think Garrard and Jax get that offense going and I think V Young and Tenn could struggle (except for Chris Johnson).
•    Considered putting Josh Freeman a bit higher. This is a decent young team – New Orleans can’t be happy about having to play them this week in Tampa. I know the NO pass D has been quality this year, but I think that’s more a function of playing anemic pass offenses than it is of their true pass D quality. They could get lit up this week.

Running Backs:
1. Frank Gore
2. Adrian Peterson
3. MJD
4. Chris Johnson
5. Ahmad Bradshaw
6. Rashard Mendenhall
7. Steven Jackson
8. Matt Forte
9. Arian Foster
10. Ryan Matthews
11. Ryan Torain
12. Felix Jones
13. Jamaal Charles
14. LeSean McCoy
15. Brandon Jackson
16. Danny Woodhead
17. Joseph Addai
18. Marshawn Lynch
19. Jahvid Best
20. Ricky Williams
•    Brandon Jacobs
•    Mike Hart
•    Ronnie Brown
•    Mike Hart
•    Peyton Hillis

Comments:
•    I like Frank Gore this weekend. I know Oak has improved, but Gore may go crazy this Sunday. A loss here and the SF franchise may fall apart.
•    Not sure why more folks don’t have MJD ranked higher. I know Tenn has been tough lately, but they gave up 27 last week to the Cowboys and MJD is just plain good.
•    Considered putting Ahmad Bradshaw higher. The Det D isn’t bad and this may be a better game than people seem to think but Bradshaw is a very good back and should play well if Eli opens things up well with the pass.
•    While Seattle will surely be defending the run, I think Forte will get his after Cutler opens things up through the air.
•    I like Ryan Torain this week against Indy. He faltered against the Pack’s run D, but the Pack’s run D is #2 overall right now against the run. Indy isn’t and I think this could turn into a shootout in the 2nd half.
•    Felix Jones is a guy who could start doing more and more fantasy damage as the year goes on. It’s looking like he’s finally getting the lead role in Dallas – something that should have happened several years ago.
•    Putting Danny Woodhead this high is more of a flier move, but the fact is, he’s scored 2 weeks in a row and without Kevin Faulk and Randy Moss, I think Brady will be looking for Woodhead a fair amount. Belichick recently offered rare public praise for Woodhead and his ability to absorb a complicated offense almost immediately. I said this a few weeks ago, I’ll say it again: watch this guy this year.
•    Tough to know what to think about Peyton Hillis this Sunday. The big question for him is whether or not he’s healthy enough to contribute. Even hurting last week, he made a great catch for a TD. And even though most are writing off the Browns this week at Pitt – I just don’t know. Yes, Pitt’s D is brutal and this could be a blowout, but Hillis ran for 144 yards against Balt in Balt and Cleve barely lost that game. Really tough call with Hillis this week.

To read TheDC sports columnist Andy Hayes’ Week 6 NFL picks, click here.