Fantasy Football Week 6: Monday Night Football Takeaways

Last night’s Monday Night Football game was a prime example that fantasy football is about numbers and not about productive teams or players.

This primetime game featured two 1-3 franchises without marquee names such as Cam Newton, Doug Martin, and Jonathan Stewart. If you didn’t have any fantasy football implications on the line, you probably watched playoff baseball or stared at the ceiling.

More Fantasy: Week 6 Waiver-Wire Pickups

If that was truly the case, you were way more entertained.

Here’s a look at the good, the bad, and the in-between from Monday Night Football’s game between the Buccaneers and Panthers.

The Good

Panthers TE Greg Olsen (9 receptions, 181 yards) – No Cam Newton? Good. Who needs him? I’m kidding of course, but Olsen set season highs in receptions and receiving yards in Monday night’s game. With Newton not playing, Olsen was the best offensive player on the field for the Panthers. Yet, the Buccaneers decided to ignore him like a crazy ex at the bar. He is obviously an every week starter if you own him.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (6 receptions, 89 yards, 1 TD) – Despite not going full-blown Julio Jones on the Panthers secondary, Evans still came up with a productive game. He made cornerback Daryl Worley look silly on his 26-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Don’t worry rook, you weren’t the first and you certainly won’t be the last. Evans leads the NFL in targets and is a WR1 moving forward.

Panthers RB Cameron Artis-Payne (18 carries, 85 yards, 2 touchdowns) – C.A.P benefited from the absences of Jonathan Stewart and Cam Newton. His 18 carries were the most by a Panthers running back in a game this season. With no Newton, he was able to convert on a one-yard touchdown plunge. If Stewart can’t get healthy, he’ll have value and opportunities in Week 6.

Buccaneers RB Jacquizz Rodgers (35 touches, 129 yards total yards) – No, that’s not a typo; the Buccaneers third-string running back really did have 35 touches in the game. With no Doug Martin and Charles Sims, he was expected to receive the bulk of the touches, but this was ridiculous. He had just as many carries (30) as quarterback Jameis Winston had passing attempts. With Tampa Bay going into their bye week and Martin expected to be back, he is droppable in most leagues.

The Ehhh…

Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin (5 receptions, 70 yards) – After the first two weeks of the season, Benjamin looked like a legit WR1. Now, three games later his stock has taken a hit. Over the last three games he has only totaled eight receptions, 109 yards, and a touchdown. With that said, owners are still plugging him in starting lineups.

Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston (18/30, 219 yards, 1 TD) – Winston didn’t do anything special in this game as the Buccaneers relied on the running game and their defense. It was the first game this season he didn’t throw an interception, so that was good. Yet his fantasy performance wasn’t enough for owners who expected him to embarrass the Panthers secondary like they were in Week 4. He does not need to be held onto going into his Week 6 bye.

Panthers RB Fozzy Whittaker (6 touches, 54 yards) – Fozzy did well with his limited touches, but the problem was he only had limited touches. Owners in PPR leagues were hoping he would have a repeat performance from Week 4 when he had nine receptions for 86 yards. Unfortunately, he didn’t and he can be considered useless in fantasy leagues with Jonathan Stewart expected back in Week 6.

The Bad

Panthers QB Derek Anderson (18/28, 278 yards, 2 INTS, 1 lost fumble) – Well…he’s a backup for a reason.

Next: Fantasy Football Week 5: 5 Biggest Takeaways

Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate (1 reception, 38 yards) – On paper, Brate looked like a great streaming option in Week 5. He had five receptions in back-to-back weeks in Weeks 3-4 and had two touchdowns in Week 3. That was on paper. In the actual game he was a non-factor. The former Harvard graduate can go back to the waiver-wire.