Empty the Bench

Starting the studs at RB, QB, and WR is easy, but fantasy championships are won with the well-informed decisions we all make on fringe starters every week. We agonize over these players until 7 minutes before kickoff, then kick ourselves about the guys we started 8 minutes after kickoff; we’re talking about the RB2, WR3, WR/TE Flex, and WR/RB Flex plays.

Unless you’re prepared to carefully groom the fringes of your fantasy roster, your team will underwhelm. These things are rarely easy, but fortunately ETB is at your disposal to help you settle on a comfortable decision. If you make the right calls, you’re a genius. If you’re wrong, shame on you.

Every week during the fantasy season, in addition to our overall Player Rankings and all the other weekly fantasy goodness, we’ll also rank the guys likely giving you a headache and help out with quick thoughts on what to expect from each one. Unlike the Position Rankings, these names are not drawn from the entire player pool.

So clap your hands and stomp your feet–it’s Week Six of ETB’s Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet.

Week 6 Cheat Sheet Rankings

Week 6 Wide Receiver #3 Ranks

1. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City vs. CIN
2. Bernard Berrian, Chicago vs. MIN
3. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets vs. PHI
4. Patrick Crayton, Dallas vs. NE
5. Wes Welker, New England @ DAL
6. Vincent Jackson, San Diego vs. OAK
7. Derrick Mason, Baltimore vs. STL
8. Bobby Engram, Seattle vs. NO
9. Dennis Northcutt, Jacksonville vs. HOU
10. Donte’ Stallworth, New England @ DAL

Fortune Cookies: As long as Damon Huard’s balky shoulder holds up, surprising rookie Dwayne Bowe should be good for at least 75 yards and a score against the generous Bengals secondary… Brian Griese showed improvement last week, and Bernard Berrian should exploit one of the league’s worst pass defenses… It’s slightly amazing that Jerricho Cotchery has caught 30 balls for 414 yards to date, but still no touchdowns… The Pats love to take out their opponents’ WR1, which means the streaking Patrick Crayton could be in store for bigger numbers than TO… He’s been somewhat of a forgotten man the last few weeks, but Tom Brady has not forgotten about Wes Welker and will make sure he gets his fair share of touches against the beatable Cowboys secondary… Vincent Jackson is really coming into his own lately and has 3 inches and 30 pounds on the man who’ll be covering him, Nnamdi Asomugha… The Rams defense is in shambles and Derrick Mason has been very active in the season’s early-going: 44 catches, 372 yards, 1 TD. Especially valuable in PPR leagues… With Deion Branch out, veteran Bobby Engram gets the start at HC Mike Holmgren’s premier WR spot, the flanker. Look for a score against the poor Saints corners… Jaguars WR Dennis Northcutt makes his first-ever appearance on ETB’s Cheat Sheet after establishing himself as the wideout David Garrard seems most confident in… We were treated to our first Donte’ Stallworth sighting of the year in Week 5; if he can replicate that 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD effort again, expect to see him higher here next week.

Week 6 Running Back #2 Ranks

1. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants @ ATL
2. Willis McGahee, Baltimore vs. STL
3. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota @ CHI
4. Laurence Maroney, New England @ DAL
5. Reggie Bush, New Orleans @ SEA
6. LenDale White, Tennessee @ TB
7. Marion Barber III, Dallas vs. NE
8. DeShaun Foster, Carolina @ ARZ
9. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville vs. HOU
10. Julius Jones, Dallas vs. NE

Fortune Cookies:The ATL rush defense is bringing back two starters, but they’ll be injured again after Brandon Jacobs rolls over them… At home against the porous Ram defense and likely playing with a lead, Willis McGahee is a must-start… The Chicago defense isn’t as formidable against the run as it once was, and the bruising Adrian Peterson is ready to explode after the bye week… Check his status, but if Laurence Maroney suits up this should be a cakewalk for the New England offense… Reggie Bush is the man in New Orleans now, and the Seattle rushing defense can be beaten by small, quick backs… We expect the Titans D to give their team all kinds of good field position, and LenDale White will be taking goal-line carries… This has all the makings of a shootout, and if a RB is going to score for Dallas it’ll be the hard-nosed Marion Barber III… Carolina is going to be conservative in the passing game, especially if that new Testaverde kid gets in the game, so expect them to lean on DeShaun Foster… There’s been a reported Maurice Jones-Drew sighting, and word is he isn’t dead yet… Julius Jones is a riskier play as a RB2, but he should find plenty of yardage in what could be a high-scoring affair…

Week 6 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. Wes Welker, New England @ DAL
2. Derrick Mason, Baltimore vs. STL
3. Bobby Engram, Seattle vs. NO
4. Greg Olsen, Chicago vs. MIN
5. Alge Crumpler, Atlanta vs. NYG
6. Dennis Northcutt, Jacksonville vs. HOU
7. Donte’ Stallworth, New England @ DAL
8. Drew Bennett, St. Louis @ BAL
9. Demetrius Williams, Baltimore vs. STL
10. Donald Lee, Green Bay vs. WSH

Fortune Cookies: Griese has an infinity for Desmond Clark, but rookie TE Greg Olsen is clearly the more talented, long-term starter in Chicago and faces a Vikings defense that can’t contain tight ends… Alge Crumpler has been bitching and moaning all week about the ineptness of his team’s offense, so it’s on him to raise up against the Giants so he doesn’t look like part of the problem… With Isaac Bruce out of the lineup, Andrew predicts big things this week for Drew Bennett in ETB’s Week 6 Crystal Ball. I’m starting him, so if you’re not right you’re buying next Sunday, buddy… Go ahead and mark it down: this is the week that Demetrius Williams (finally) scores a TD; if he doesn’t, we’re officially disowning him… Bubba Franks vultures short TD passes, but Donald Lee is Brett Favre’s play-making TE.

Week 6 Wide Receiver/Running Back Flex Plays

1. Sammy Morris, New England @ DAL
2. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta vs. NYG
3. Kenny Watson, Cincinnati @ KC
4. Warrick Dunn, Atlanta vs. NYG
5. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City vs. CIN
6. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina @ ARZ
7. Bernard Berrian, Chicago vs. MIN
8. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets vs. PHI
9. Justin Fargas, Oakland @ SD
10. Patrick Crayton, Dallas vs. NE

Fortune Cookies: Bill “A-hole” Belichick says Maroney will be a game-time decision, but even if he’s active Sammy Morris will get enough carries to make him a strong play… We’re waiting, oh how we’re waiting, for Jerious Norwood to finally break a long one and claim a more consistent role in the Falcons’ sputtering offense… It’s been a game of “will he or won’t he play” all week with starter Rudi Johnson, but no matter what Kenny Watson figures prominently against the so-so Chiefs… You know it’s getting bad when Warrick Dunn defends his poor play thus far by referring to himself in the third person: “If you watch the games and you really understand football, it’s not Warrick being unproductive.”… Foster is still the starter, but Carolina will be running more than usual and Testaverde probably can’t throw it farther than 10 yards anymore. That means some swing passes for DeAngelo Williams, who can break ‘em… It looks like LaMont Jordan will sit this one out, but even though Justin Fargas will likely get most of the carries, it’s not a great situation on the road in San Diego…

More Week 6 Fantasy Goodness:

Week Six Position Rankings

Week Six Matchups

Week Six Stock Report

Week Six Quick Hits