New York Giants vs. New Orleans Saints Fantasy Football Matchup Breakdown For Week 6

Perhaps I could’ve done a better job combing the schedule before screaming to the mountains that these Saints would easily surpass 5.5 wins. Oof. Facing the Lions, Ravens, Raiders, Falcons, and Vikings proved pretty tough sledding, and we can’t forget the NFL’s about timing — three-fifths of their opponents suffered through backup QBs, just on the wrong week. No excuses, play like a champion … which is exactly what I expect from Tyler Shough.

Easily the worst start of his young career, whether it’s fantasy or real life (16 of 25; 96-0-2; 0-0-0), Shough’s looking for answers after seeing nothing but ghosts in the pocket up against Brian Flores’ Vikings. Kidding aside, the Vikes are such a matchup nightmare, especially for young QBs, that I’m more than willing to banish that performance from memory. Shough’s still second in total dropbacks with no signs of slowing down, except this time it’s against Big Blue’s defense responsible for the NFL’s single-lowest pressure rate (25.8%). Gotta keep an MLB closer's mentality in fantasy football sometimes …

Biggest hang-up all year for these Saints has to be the running game, or utter lack thereof. New Orleans ranks bottom-5 in rushing yards/game (81.8), yards/carry (3.5), explosive rush rate (3.4%), and mind you that’s against the league’s second-lowest rate of heavy boxes (45.5%). Sure, Alvin Kamara cracked the top-10 once, but it’s worth noting he gained all of 58 yards in that contest. Whoopty-doo.

In fact, no Saints’ RB gained more than the 78 yards by Travis Etienne all the way back in Week 1. Consequently, the new even three-way backfield split makes for fantasy nightmare fuel, even at high volume — CJ Donaldson (Week 5 snap leader) for baseline carries, Kamara for checkdowns, and Kendre Miller in the paint (3 of 3 goal-to-go carries).

UPDATE: Saints signed RB Jarquez Hunter to their practice squad on Wednesday. Could be nothing, but some of us are actually that desperate.

Ah, the Saints’ receiving room … finally some solace. Do not quit on the league’s most robust throwing environment, please, I beg you. Yes, Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson finally posted their first finish outside the top-12 on Sunday, but who cares? If anything, it’s a testament to their consistency coming in. New York plays a ton of Cover-1 man, and I think Kellen Moore’s going to have this secondary in a blender, running around in circles. Perfect time to make a trade offer for the highly unlikely Olave, but also the far more acquirable Devaughn Vele.

• Start: Tyler Shough (QB7), Chris Olave (WR5), Juwan Johnson (TE8)
• Sit: Alvin Kamara (RB27)
• Sleeper: Devaughn Vele (WR28)

New York Giants Fantasy Preview For Week 6

Big shouts to yours truly for the Jameis Winston streaming call (326-3-0; 5-27-0), plus keeping one hairy eyeball fixed on this next game as an encore. Finally settling into the Harbaugh offense, Jameis is fantasy’s overall QB6 in his last two starts, with all the trimmings (0.18 EPA/dropback, 96.3 passer rating, 288.0 yards/game, 48.2% throws to sticks). The last number’s especially pertinent for fantasy, as it includes a +19% deep shot rate, which translates into a ridiculous 18 +20-air yard attempts in that same timeframe. For reference, no one else sits over 13. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you … the Jameis Winston experience!

UPDATE: When asked about the Winston experience specifically on Wednesday, the best in the business said: “My take on the Jameis Winston experience is that I am called to be the light of the world and the salt of the Earth." Perfect. I mean, what else could we ask from our fantasy QB?

Turns out this year’s fourth round in fantasy drafts was indeed the dead zone, just not in the way we envisioned. Usually an oasis for RB value, all those picks feel particularly cursed, starting with Cam Skattebo. Despite holding down more than 60% of backfield opportunities in each contest until last weekend (uh oh), he’s failed to crack the top-15 in any week. Perhaps the poor analytics are catching up to him (3.6 yards/carry, 2.91 yards after contact/rush, -0.20 EPA/attempt, 41.0% success, 3.7% explosive rush rate). Now mix in a single-digit team target share with split goal-line carries and it isn't pretty. While not viewing either Najee Harris or Tyrone Tracy as a true threat while healthy, it’s enough to make us hold our nose before starting Skattebo.

If New York’s backfield rates as a 10 on our frustration scale, this pass-catching room’s the exact opposite. For starters, stick a gold star on this big nose for naming Isaiah Likely my favorite late-TE value — the former Raven just posted his second overall TE1 performance, trailing just Trey McBride on the fantasy point leaderboard. The other half of the Giants’ target tree rests with alpha WR Malik Nabers. After failing to break into the top-25 WRs for three straight, he appears to have finally turned the corner on health. Nabers ran the third-most WR routes over these last two weeks, outscoring every other wideout not named Puka Nacua. He and Likely average at least 8.5 targets/game in Winston starts, accounting for a whopping +64% of all targets.

• Start: Jameis Winston (QB20), Cam Skattebo (RB19), Malik Nabers (WR8), Isaiah Likely (TE4)
• Sit: Darnell Mooney (WR68)
• Sleeper: Malachi Fields (WR64)