RADIO
Week 6 of the NFL is behind us, and it's time to look ahead to next week's action. There were some surprising performances in the sixth week of the season, but were those surprising performances a sign of things to come for players?
Every week, I'll be looking at five NFL players whose numbers from the week before were better than expected. I'll be analyzing their games and making sense of what their showings mean in the larger scheme of things.
Below, you'll find an analysis of the biggest fantasy football surprises of Week 6. Are those surprising results a fact, i.e., a sign of good things to come, or a fiction, i.e., an anomalous result?
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Sean Tucker - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 6 stats: 14 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown, three receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown - overall RB1
I was really, really desperate for a running back in one of my leagues this week and was forced to start Sean Tucker. The result? I had the overall RB1 for the week in my lineup and eked out a win.
I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm some fantasy genius. I had a lot of injury issues in a week where I was already weak at running back so it was between Tucker and JaMycal Hasty, so ... yes.
Bucky Irving was expected to be the No. 1 back for the Buccaneers this week and he was, playing 20 more snaps than Tucker. But both players had 14 carries and while Irving was impressive, Tucker was more impressive.
.@seantucker2020 is nominated for @FedEx Ground Player of the Week!
🏈 192 total yards
🏈 One rushing TD
🏈 One receiving TDVote now ➡️ https://t.co/zuMC6g1fkm pic.twitter.com/Tef975hetn
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 14, 2024
But this strong showing happened largely because Rachaad White was out and Tucker was pressed into a larger role. He entered the week with just two carries on his resume this season. Once White is back, Tucker will return to more of a reserve role.
While I think Tucker has earned a larger role in this Buccaneers offense, he's still the No. 3 back on the roster when everyone is healthy. Don't expect a repeat of these numbers.
Verdict: Fiction
Tyler Allgeier - RB, Atlanta Falcons
Week 6 stats: 18 carries for 105 yards, one touchdown, one reception for three yards - overall RB6
In Week 5, Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier had his worst game of the season, gaining just 12 rushing yards in a high-scoring win over the Buccaneers.
But Allgeier had his best showing of the season against the Panthers in Week 6, finishing with 18 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown, all three of which were season highs.
The most missed tackles forced on runs in Week 6:
Tyler Allgeier - 9 🌬️ pic.twitter.com/6JTWseFM4b
— PFF ATL Falcons (@PFF_Falcons) October 15, 2024
Allgeier played a season-high 41% of the team's snaps, but that wasn't too far off where he's been the last two games, when he was at 38% and 36%. It's just that he earned more opportunities when he was on the field, doubling his previous season high in carries.
While I do think the Falcons will want to keep Allgeier involved in things, it's hard to see him repeating Sunday's performance anytime soon. Bijan Robinson is still the team's lead back and the passing game has been playing well, limiting opportunities for Allgeier.
Verdict: Fiction
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - RB, New York Giants
Week 6 stats: 17 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown, six catches for 57 yards - overall RB10
Devin Singletary has missed two consecutive games for the Giants. In that span, he might have lost his starting role considering how well Tyrone Tracy Jr. has been performing.
In Week 5, Tracy made his first start for the Giants, carrying the ball 18 times for 129 yards while also catching a one-yard pass. One week later, he followed that up with 17 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown as well as six catches for 57 yards.
It's a pair of impressive showings for Tracy, who entered Week 5 with 12 carries over the first four games of the season. Now, he looks like the team's top running back.
Singletary's return will eat into Tracy's touches a bit, but I would expect he still gets several weekly opportunities. He'll be worth starting at least as a flex play going forward.
Verdict: Fact, mostly
Romeo Doubs - WR, Green Bay Packers
Week 5 stats: four targets, three receptions for 49 yards and two touchdowns - overall WR6
Romeo Doubs was suspended in Week 5 for conduct detrimental to the team and it looked like his time with the Packers could be coming to a close as teams around the league need wide receivers.
Time heals all wounds, however 2⃣ touchdown performance in return from suspension can sure expedite the process for #Packers WR Romeo Doubs
"I'm here to play ball, I'm a team player, & just ready to move forward." - 8⃣7⃣
"We need Rome & that showed today in a big win"- J.Reed pic.twitter.com/m39VlhQgxs
— Cody Krupp (@CodyWKrupp) October 14, 2024
But in Week 6, the Packers turned to Doubs in multiple high-value situations as he caught a pair of touchdowns in the team's 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
This Packers passing attack has been one of the most fun to watch in the NFL this season, at least when quarterback Jordan Love has been healthy enough to play.
The depth at receiver in Green Bay means Doubs won't have nearly as many opportunities as other receivers around the league will have, but it means something that Love looked his way when he did in Week 6.
Doubs has touchdown upside each week, making him a high-ceiling option, but he's too risky to trust as a weekly starter in most formats. His volatility could be useful in certain scenarios, but in many weeks he'll tank your lineup.
Verdict: Fiction
Mark Andrews - TE, Baltimore Ravens
Week 6 stats: four targets, three receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown - overall TE3
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews is coming off his best game of the season, catching three of his four targets for 66 yards and his first touchdown of 2024.
Through six games, Andrews has three games with 50 or more yards ... but he also has two games where he failed to bring in a reception. He's not his dominant self anymore, but it just takes a few targets for Andrews to deliver a TE1 game.
At this point, you just keep treating him the way you've been treating him. If the Ravens play a defense that can be exploited, you roll with Andrews. If you hate the matchup, you look elsewhere. He's still a talented player, but he can't be trusted the way you used to be able to trust him.
Verdict: Nothing changes -- he's still a hit-or-miss play each week
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