Welcome to NFL Week 6 Buy or Sell. Week five of NFL Action was full of up-and-down performances, from Jonathan Taylor making a case to be the RB1 overall in fantasy to Jacory Croskey-Merritt taking the next step in his journey to becoming the RB1 in Washington. We also saw bust performances and unforeseen circumstances, like the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield. Let’s see who to buy and sell next.
Week 6 Buys
Quentin Johnston
We all know the Quentin Johnston story; he was the first-round pick wide receiver who could not catch passes for the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s had a ton of success this season, and it’s really because he’s an extremely talented player. Everyone was excited about this year three breakout, while simultaneously upset at the production of Ladd McConkey. Well, this week we saw Ladd McConkey become a breakout once again (because of the touchdown) and Johnston become a pumpkin as the calendar turns to October, but I think there is room for both of these players to be good fantasy options.
Johnston is still put on notice by half of the fantasy community because of his last two seasons, which could be a good thing if you are a believer in him. Even though his usage was limited in week five, his talent is undeniable. I think that Johnston owners may be seeing this as the time to get out before it gets really bad, which, again, if you are a believer, only helps your case to get him. I would sell players like Jakobi Meyers, Calvin Ridley (Off a big game), and Travis Hunter to get Quentin Johnston. I am confident in his ability to be a WR2/flex option rest of the season.
Tetairoa McMillan
Tetairoa McMillan is one of my favorite buys over the last couple of weeks. He is getting the opportunity to share, which would make you extremely excited for any player. He is also one of the most talented players already in the NFL, ALREADY. The only issues that I see with McMillan are that Bryce Young is his quarterback, and the Carolina Panthers are a terrible offense and football team. With the talent he has, McMillan is due for a breakout. He does not have a touchdown yet, and that is significant because it has limited his ability to become a top-tier player. Every fantasy football analyst sounds like a broken record when they say this phrase, but touchdown regression is imminent for McMillan. We could see it in a potential shootout with the Dallas Cowboys this coming week.
I would be extremely excited to add him to my teams; in fact, I already have him in a bunch of spots. Trading him for a guy like Deebo Samuel, who has been dominating in the absence of Terry McLaurin, is something that I would be thinking about doing. As well as a player like Alvin Kamara, especially in Half-PPR formats. I am confident in the talent of the player he is.
Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren was a controversial figure throughout the offseason. The workload between him and Kaleb Johnson was heavily debated. Turns out, he is in Mike Tomlin’s dog house, while Kenneth Gainwell is getting all of the RB2 work in that Steelers’ offense. Warren has not played for two consecutive weeks, due to a surprise ‘OUT’ early in London and the Steelers being on bye in week five. Sometimes, teams switch things up after the bye, so managers may have forgotten or are worried about their potential workload coming out of the week five bye.
Do not be discouraged; all indications have been that this season, Warren will be the RB1 workhorse in Pittsburgh. Yes, Kenneth Gainwell has vultured some touchdowns and drives from Warren, but Warren has clearly looked like the better player this season. I would be excited to grab him for players like D’Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins, and even David Montgomery. The week-to-week consistency is much more enticing than a guy like Montgomery.
Week 6 Sells
Kyren Williams
Kyren Williams has long been on my version of Matthew Berry’s ‘Hate’ list, not as a guy, but from the standpoint of his long-term upside. He is coming off a great performance on Thursday Night Football, but he had some crucial fumbles that may indicate trust being lost. He is currently on an every-other-week schedule. Which makes me anxious, the deeper in the year we get, trying to make a playoff run. That, and the fact that Williams has had Blake Corum eat into his workload more than he ever has weekly. It spikes at times.
I am not saying that Williams is going to bust your season, but the concerns around him are valid. I would try to cash in on a guy that could potentially help me more the deeper in the season we get. Especially if you are a 5-0, 4-1, or even 3-2 team. Try to get a Joe Burrowless Ja’Marr Chase, Omarion Hampton, or Drake London for the services of Kyren Williams.
Alvin Kamara
Alvin Kamara has appeared on this list a few times now, and for good reason. Kamara has been a reception master. On Sunday, he passed Marcus Allen for 5th all-time. Kamara has been very middling, on a very bad offense, on a very bad team. That equation doesn’t line up well for the aging star. Unless he gets traded in real life, the New Orleans Saints will tank his fantasy value. Get out while you still can. Trade him for players like Cam Skattebo off of a down game, Quinshon Judkins, Brian Thomas Jr., and even Mike Evans.
DeVonta Smith
DeVonta Smith was one of my favorite players in the offseason, but unfortunately, new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is not quite Kellen Moore from a season ago. Consequently, Smith or ‘Smitty’ is not the player he was a season ago. Now is the time to get out. I do not believe this is the ‘breakout’ week, as much as I think it is an anomaly. He is coming off of an 8-reception 114-yard game, netting him 19.4 PPR points, which is easily his best day yet. This allows us to go get players that also had big weeks if the other manager believes the breakout is coming. Trade him for Ladd McConkey, Jaylen Waddle, and Chuba Hubbard. The consistency from these players is worth the random boom weeks.
