Match Up Monsters And Misses Week 6

Welcome once again to the match up monsters and misses article. We find ourselves in week 6 of the NFL season. This week sees the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs on bye. Let's examine the match ups further.

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The following teams have good match ups in week 6:

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Arizona Cardinals: This match up is conditional. Assuming that the Cardinals have Carson Palmer or even Drew Stanton playing, they should score well against Washington. Even though the Washington defense is ranked 10th in total defense on the season, 10th in pass defense, and 15th in run defense, the numbers are skewed in my opinion. Seattle gashed the pass defense last week, only to be thwarted by penalties. And we saw Russell Wilson run crazy for a Monday Night Football record 122 yards and a score. Even so, through 5 games, Washington has given up 11 passing touchdowns. Along with the passing touchdowns allowed, they are allowing 114.6 rushing yards a game. Some of this is due to inconsistent quarterback play by the Washington quarterbacks giving their opponents a short field. Andre Ellington is a must start. Palmer or Stanton can provide a nice bye week fill in for Drew Brees in case of emergency. Michael Floyd should get healthy with solid quarterback play. Larry Fitzgerald is a flex play this week. John Brown is still a bit raw and should be played at your own risk.

San Diego Chargers: The Chargers have the luxury of playing an Oakland team this week that is not only terrible, but now deals with the turmoil of an in season coaching change. Ranked 19th in total defense, the Raiders can't stop the run, so nobody needs to pass. Giving up a whopping 158.2 yards per game on the ground so far this season, the Raiders rank 31st in the league. Their passing defense is ranked 5th, only allowing 207 yards per game. I expect that number to change this week. Phillip Rivers is a must start. Having an MVP worthy season so far, he should not be seeing your bench. Given the injury problems that San Diego has had at the running back position this year, it is hard to say who to play this week. If Donald Brown plays, he is a must start. Ronnie Brown is less certain. He is familiar with the offense, but not sure I want to trust him. Branden Oliver had an amazing game last week, but if another back is present, the split may not be the same. Start all your healthy San Diego receivers and Antonio Gates.

New York Giants: The Giants have a fantastic match up against the terrible defense of the Philadelphia eagles. Ranked 28th overall in defense, the Eagles are 29th against the pass and 24th against the run. They have allowed 13 passing touchdowns and 132 rushing yards per game. Teams facing the Eagles are scoring touchdowns 62.5% of their trips to the red zone. Andre Williams gets the start at running back this week for the Giants and is a must start. Victor Cruz and Ruben Randle are great wide receiver 2 starts or flex options. Odell Beckham Jr. is not bad as a spot start in a tough flex spot after scoring last week in his NFL debut. Larry Donnell is a good start with that red zone inefficiency on defense for the Eagles.

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Chicago Bears: The Bears play the hapless Atlanta defense this week. At 29th overall, 24th against the pass, and 28th against the run, the stats should pile up for the Bears offense this week. Atlanta has given up 10 rushing touchdowns on the season and 147.6 yards per game on the ground. Through the air the Falcons defense has given up 259.6 yards per game and 5 touchdowns. Matt Forte Feasts this week on the souls of Atlanta defensive players. Jay Cutler should be able to carve up the defense. If they can catch a pass on the Bears roster, you should play them. All systems go this week for the Bears.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos lost their starting running back this week, but that likely won't matter too much this week against the New York Jets. The front 7 of the Jets stops the run well. The secondary is not as good against the pass. They are tied for second worst in touchdowns allowed through the air, and give up 237.8 yards per game through the air. The Jets offense is not playing well, and they always have the possibility of a turnover allowing a short field. The good news is that Denver seems to have decided that they are going to pass the ball. A lot. Start all your Denver receivers. If I have to tell you that you should start Peyton Manning, you are doing this wrong. Julius Thomas is a man. A large, pass catching, touchdown scoring man. Never sit him. Ever.

The following teams have bad match ups for week 6:

Carolina Panthers: The Panthers play a Cincinnati Bengals team that is likely to be quite angry after being blown out last week against a, so far, mediocre New England team. The Bengals defense is ranked 27th overall, but that statistic may be misleading. Only allowing 19 points per game so far this season, they seem to be a bend but don't break squad. Allowing 140 yards per game as the 27th ranked run defense, they have only allowed 3 rushing touchdowns on the season. The passing defense ranks 19th and allows 250.8 yards per game, but only 4 touchdowns. The Panthers are a mess in the backfield. Cam is not fully healthy. Last week he did rush 6 times, but only had 9 yards rushing. The Panthers have 1 solid receiver, and he is a rookie with drop issues. Until they prove those things wrong, I don't like playing any Panthers if I don't have to.

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New England Patriots: The Pats play the Buffalo Bills in week 6. The Bills have the 2nd ranked run defense in the NFL. They only allow 71 yards per game, and have not allowed a rushing touchdown on the season. Along with the bad match up against the Bills run defense, the Patriots running game is always a mystery. Who will it be week to week? I could see the Patriots focusing more on the passing game and maybe using Shane Vereen more, but who knows what Belichick will do?

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Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys play the Seahawks in week 6, in Seattle. This is considered one of the hardest, if not the hardest, places to play in the NFL. Add to that the fact that the Seahawks are now ranked 1st against the run at 62.2 yards a game and only 1 touchdown allowed. This will make for a clash of the titans in Seattle this week. The best running back so far against the best run defense. You aren't sitting DeMarco Murray, but I wouldn't expect the production you have gotten used to. As for the passing defense of the Seahawks, they have looked vulnerable at times. But we should remember that in their first 4 games, they have faced 3 of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Dez Bryant is another guy I am not thrilled about the match up for, temper expectations. Jason Witten has been decent, but nothing to write home about, and I don't think he is fast enough anymore to be effective against the swarming Seattle defense. Terrance Williams has a shot if he draws the nickel corner, as the Seahawks have a small hole there.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings face off against the Detroit Lions this week. The Lions have the 3rd ranked run defense in the NFL allowing a meager 74.4 yards per game and 3 touchdowns on the season. The loss of Adrian Peterson obviously put a damper on the running ability of the Vikings. Matt Asiata has only 231 rushing yards on the season averaging 46.2 yards per game. The 3 touchdowns he has came in a game against the bad Atlanta defense. Jerick McKinnon has 166 yards this season, 125 of them against that same Atlanta defense. Neither of them had a good game against the 32nd ranked Green Bay run defense last week. I wouldn't play either of these guys against the Lions this week if you have anyone with a pulse on your bench to play.

This draws to a close the in depth look at the match ups for week 6 in the NFL. Good luck with your games this week. Go get 'em!