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Unexpected Week 6 fantasy football performances. Will these players sustain their Week 6 success and be fantasy football waiver wire pickups?
Go home Week 6, you’re drunk. After a few weeks of mostly conventional fantasy football, this was the week where everything went haywire.
Throughout all of the matchups, it seemed like almost every touchdown was scored by someone nobody had heard of or a player from seasons past. We’ve been blessed so far with some great weeks of football throughout the young season. It felt like it was only a matter of time before one of the sloppy weeks reared its ugly head.
With Week 6 nearly in the rearview, let’s look at some of the more unexpected performances from a truly odd week of football.
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Fantasy Football Risers - Surprise Performances
Kenyan Drake, Baltimore Ravens
In a game where the supposed starter J.K. Dobbins was active, another running back led the backfield in carries and rushing yards. Kenyan Drake came out of nowhere in the Ravens’ Week 6 matchup against the New York Giants after Dobbins received some touches throughout the first and second quarters. But when Drake was given an opportunity, he looked like he was shot out of a cannon for a 30-yard touchdown on just his second carry of the day.
.@KDx32 for 6❗️❗️
Tune in on CBS! pic.twitter.com/U4eWFKbZou
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 16, 2022
From that point on, the former Alabama running back took over the backfield production as he finished with 10 carries for 119 yards and a touchdown along with one reception for eight yards. That statistical total resulted in 19.2 Half-PPR points on the day for the running back.
The one storyline to follow here is the status of J.K. Dobbins. Dobbins didn’t see any action in the second half, and according to head coach John Harbaugh, it was due to his knee tightening up. It doesn’t seem like this should keep Dobbins out for any period of time, but this is a situation that warrants some monitoring. Based on this performance, though, Drake could be an interesting waiver claim for fantasy managers in Week 7.
Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts
After weeks of disappointing performances, Matt Ryan came into Week 6 on a mission. That mission was to throw the ball as many times as possible. Oddly enough, it ended up working against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former Atlanta quarterback finished his highly involved performance with a league-high 58 total passes.
Career-high completions for Matty Ice. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/3u1Ljp2dAt
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 16, 2022
For his total stat line, Ryan completed 42 out of 58 passes for 389 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. His vintage stats resulted in a strong 27.16 Half-PPR points for those that started him out of desperation. A performance like this could be a step in the right direction for Ryan as his season has been anything but pretty so far.
With a game plan like this working and the team likely welcoming back All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor, the Colts' offense could be on the rise. That would make Ryan an intriguing option for lineups in need of a quarterback. However, we probably need to see a productive performance once more to truly trust him.
Deon Jackson, Indianapolis Colts
Although the opportunity was there for Deon Jackson with Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines out, there weren’t too many that expected him to have this strong of a performance. Jackson was heavily involved as a runner and a pass catcher. He finished with an all-around stat line of 12 carries for 42 yards and a touchdown along with 10 receptions for 79 yards. Anyone that plugged him into their lineups was sitting happy as his Half-PPR point total was 23.1.
RUN IT.
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/IuWvFRFCuT
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 16, 2022
Unless Jonathan Taylor or Nyheim Hines miss even more time, this week might have been the last for Jackson’s fantasy value. He was very productive when given the opportunity, but in reality, he’s Indy’s third-string running back. Be happy if your fantasy lineup was able to capitalize on this strong performance.
Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers
In an all-around strange game that saw the struggling Pittsburgh Steelers take down Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was only appropriate that the highest fantasy scorer was a player that most had written off. Chase Claypool emerged from the shadows of the Steelers' offense to provide a strong performance.
.@ChaseClaypool with an incredible grab 🤯
📺 #TBvsPIT on FOX pic.twitter.com/JRBMXpk7zH
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 16, 2022
The third-year wideout finished his day with seven receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown along with one carry for eight yards. His performance resulted in 19.9 Half-PPR fantasy points for anyone who decided to roll the dice on him.
Claypool is in an interesting spot. He has been largely forgotten by most due to the fantastic potential shown by rookie receiver George Pickens. But it appears he has plenty more left to show after this performance. If managers are in need of a wide receiver, Claypool could be an interesting speculative pickup if he’s available. Don’t expect much though as this offense has been anything but favorable for fantasy this season.
Tyquan Thornton, New England Patriots
For a player that was missing in the first four weeks of the season due to injury, Tyquan Thornton has burst onto the scene quickly. In just his second career game, the former Baylor Bear finished with four receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown along with three carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. That performance resulted in a total of 19.3 Half-PPR fantasy points on the day.
2 TD day for Tyquan Thornton.pic.twitter.com/Bib7ggxHZ4
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 16, 2022
Back at the draft, the Patriots were questioned for selecting Thornton above receivers like George Pickens, Alec Pierce, and Skyy Moore. Now, it appears that they may have made a good decision after all. What makes him a dangerous player and such an interesting prospect is his top-notch speed.
If New England continues to give him looks while also giving him touches in the run game, he could be an interesting addition to fantasy rosters. The Patriots are historically unpredictable, but for a player with that level of athleticism, Thornton has the potential to continue providing value in fantasy this season.
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