Quick PSA before I get to the Week 6 Risers. Please check out the Fantasy Knuckleheads podcast on daily fantasy every Tuesday and Thursday at 10pm EST. You can watch live if you subscribe to Mark Milano on Youtube or you can follow me on Twitter (@AlexHanowitz) for the link when each show starts. I will also be hosting Q&A sessions after each podcast at around 11:30pm EST. That link will be accessible from my Twitter page and will be posted in the comments section of the podcast on Mark's Youtube page when we finish airing. Now on to Week 6 Risers!
Quarterback
Austin Davis, STL:
Head coach Jeff Fisher announced earlier in the week that Austin Davis would be the starter going forward and Davis made a point to show why his coach has given him the green light. After some early struggles, Davis finally figured out a dismal Eagles secondary and shredded them to the tune of 375 yards and three scores, though he did fumble twice. Though he has improved in each game so far this season, his last two games have come against poor passing defenses in the Cowboys and the Eagles. To make matters worse, Davis will face the Niners and the Seahawks in his next two games, which will certainly lead to a regression from Davis’ last two games. If your league only has one starting QB, SELL, his next two matchups will send him crashing back down to earth and he’s better left as a streaming option. However, if you play in two-QB leagues, HOLD tight, the going will get easier after the next two weeks and his second matchup with Seattle comes in Week 17, when most leagues are already over. He wont be consistent, but the Rams aren’t very good and Davis will be playing catch-up more often than not.
Brian Hoyer, CLE:
After simply being a game manager for the Browns in his first three weeks, Hoyer came out slinging after the bye week, solidifying his grip on the starting job over Johnny Football. After going down big to the Titans, Hoyer led his team all the way back for a victory, throwing for three touchdowns after being down 28-3 including the game winning TD pass to Travis Benjamin with just over a minute left in the game. With his team getting healthier, namely Jordan Cameron and Ben Tate, Hoyer should continue to improve and build off this strong performance. Unlike Austin Davis, Hoyer’s schedule over the next four games is not overly daunting with the Steelers coming into Cleveland this week, a trip to Jacksonville the following week, and then two home tilts against the Raiders and Buccaneers in Weeks 8 and 9. Hopefully you have a better option at QB in one-QB leagues, but you can do worse with streaming options than Hoyer for the next four weeks. In two-QB leagues, BUY with that favorable four-week stretch and Josh Gordon returning for your playoff push.
Running Back
Branden Oliver, SD:
When did Darren Sproles come back to San Diego? Oh, you mean there’s some other pint-sized energizer bunny rocking a 43 jersey in Chargerland? Guess so. After Donald Brown left the game with a concussion, Sproles 2.0 took over the backfield and torched the Jets run defense who have performed as a top unit so far this year. Oliver took 19 carries for 114 yards and a score while adding four catches for an additional 68 yards and a second score. There’s really not much more to say but BUY. He will dominate the backfield while Mathews is out and he should take over the Woodhead role when Mathews returns.
Andre Ellington, ARI:
Ellington owners let out a collective sigh of relief after Ellington’s performance on Sunday, finally getting in the endzone (not once, but twice) and showing off his ability to turn seemingly ordinary plays into homeruns. Andre looked healthier than he has all season and began getting the looks near the goal line, raising his season-long value by leaps and bounds. The YPC was definitely a concern, but that will happen when your #3 quarterback is forced into action in a shootout against Lord Peyton. BUY, Ellington will continue to improve and get valuable scoring opportunities and should have tons of space to make his mark once Palmer comes back and opens up the passing game.
Wide Receiver
Demaryius Thomas, DEN:
Yes, I will be using that picture every time I refer to Demaryius Thomas for the forseeable future. In his first three weeks, DT just did not look like himself as he struggled with drops and ineffectiveness. The Week 4 bye could not have come at a better time as he was able to fix whatever the issues were that made him the Mother of Drops (bonus points if you get that one) and exploded for a franchise record 226 yards on eight catches and two scores and could have had an additional 77-yard TD if it were not negated by a penalty. BUY, he should challenge Julio Jones for the WR throne (sorry, couldn't help myself) in 2014 with the help of Lord Peyton.
Brain Quick, STL:
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Austin Davis’ great play has been Brian Quick. Apart from only seeing four targets in Week 3 (where he still got a TD), Quick has seen nine targets in each of his other three games this season and has done enough to make himself a great fringe WR2/3 option so far this season. Davis has locked onto Quick as his number one option and I see no evidence as to why that would not continue. I do not believe Quick will remain this consistent for the remainder of the year considering he has yet to play the top-tier defenses in his own division, but he will get plenty of targets and have some monster weeks down the stretch. HOLD as a high-end WR3, but if you can get a more reliable option or have an opportunity to buy low on an upgrade, pull the trigger.
Tight End
Tim Wright, NE:
After only seeing five total targets through the first four weeks of the season, Wright broke out with 85 yards and a score on five catches in just 19 snaps on Sunday night. After being embarrassed on Monday Night Football against the Chiefs in Week 4, Brady and the Patriots made it a point to prove that game was just a fluke as they had their best offensive performance of the season against a red-hot Bengals team. If you paid attention to Wright last season, you know he has the talent to be a major weapon for Brady, but the snap count is a major concern going forward. Just like my man crush Travis Kelce, Wright can only be depended on if he’s getting the looks and the snaps to allow his ability to shine through. SELL. I don’t believe the game was a fluke, but he will continue to be a boom-or-bust play as the third option at best in the New England passing attack.
Dwayne Allen, IND:
Through five games this season, Allen has scored a touchdown in FOUR of those games. Though the yardage is nothing special, Allen will continue to be one of Luck’s go-to options in the redzone and could easily post double-digit scores on the year in a high-octane Indy attack. As someone that can still be had in a good amount of leagues, Allen is an ideal backup TE who that can fill in on bye-weeks/injuries and is a good bet to get into the endzone in each and every game. BUY, guys that can produce double-digit TDs don’t grow on trees.