Here's a recap of last week's big performances from some new faces and familiar names, and here are my Week 6 likes.
Best of Week 5
Demaryius Thomas (WR, Denver) –After recording just 141 yards in three games, Thomas racked up 226 receiving yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions.
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Russell Wilson (QB, Seattle) – **The Redskins simply had no answer for Wilson, who totaled 201 passing yards with two scores and 122 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown.
Branden Oliver (RB, San Diego) –He was a guy that many of you never even heard of. But now you know him after his big day with 182 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.
Arian Foster (RB, Houston) –Foster has played three games this season healthy and he's had 100 rushing yards in all three. Last week, he rushed for 157 yards and two scores.
Andre Ellington (RB, Arizona) –There weren't many bright spots for Arizona, but Ellington had a great game totaling 144 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns.
Week 6 Likes:
Quarterbacks
Peyton Manning (at N.Y. Jets) –This one could get out of hand quickly. Manning threw for nearly 500 yards in his last outing against a very good defense in Arizona. New York has allowed multiple touchdown passes to opposing quarterbacks in every game this season.
Philip Rivers (at Oakland) –I don't think there is any QB playing better than Rivers is right now. He leads the league in passer rating, completion percentage and yards per attempt. And he's had tremendous success against Oakland, going 12-4 in 16 career meetings.
Joe Flacco (at Tampa Bay) –I can't remember the last time I had this much confidence in Flacco. But in his last game against an NFC South opponent he threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Tampa Bay is giving up nearly 300 passing yards per game.
Running Backs
Andre Williams (at Philadelphia) –With Rashad Jennings out, Williams is now the guy in New York. He's scored in two straight games and is facing an Eagles' defense that is allowing more than 4.0 yards per carry.
Branden Oliver (at Oakland) –He burst onto the scene last week and is facing the second-worst rush defense in the league. I expect San Diego to have a big day offensively with Oliver leading the ground attack.
Matt Forte (at Atlanta) –It's hard to believe he has yet to score a rushing touchdown. But Forte is one of the best pass catching running backs in the league and still gets a lot of points. Atlanta is giving up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Wide Receivers
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Antonio Brown (at Cleveland) – **Week-in and week-out Brown is one of the most consistent players in league. In his last three games versus Cleveland, Brown has had 92, 87 and 116-yard games with scores in two of those three contests.
Golden Tate (at Minnesota) –Tate has recorded two straight 100-yard games and is on pace for a huge season. With Calvin Johnson more than likely sidelined with an injury, Tate will be the man in Detroit in this NFC North matchup.
A.J. Green (vs. Carolina) –Green hasn't recorded less than 80 yards in the three games he's played this season when healthy. Carolina has allowed 327 and 289 passing yards with five touchdowns in their last two games.
Tight Ends
Rob Gronkowski (at Buffalo) –It appears that he is finally healthy after his big game last week. He has scored a touchdown in all six career games versus the Bills (nine total) and has had three 100-yard receiving games out of those six contests. * *
Greg Olsen (at Cincinnati) –Olsen is having a great start to his 2014 season, and is on pace for a career year. Cincinnati struggled last week to cover Rob Gronkowski and will have issues this week covering Olsen as he eats up the middle of the field.
Jason Witten (at Seattle) –I haven't had Jason Witten on my likes all season, a spot he used to hold on a weekly basis. He's just not the same as he used to be, but I do think he can find holes in the Seahawks' defense this week and find the endzone for the first time this season.
Defense/Special Teams
Baltimore Ravens (at Tampa Bay) –What was once a must play defense based on turnover potential has become a defense that you play in specific games. The Ravens' defense doesn't make a lot of splash plays but they do limit scoring chances.
San Diego Chargers (at Oakland) –The Chargers' defense has recorded three straight double-digit performances and will face a struggling Raiders' offense with a rookie QB.
New England Patriots (at Buffalo) –New England has won 20 of its last 21 versus Buffalo. Though it's at Buffalo, I don't think the Bills have enough firepower to get after the Patriots' defense.
Kicker
Adam Vinatieri (at Houston) –The ageless wonder still hasn't missed yet this season and has made multiple field goals in four straight games.
Billy Cundiff (vs. Pittsburgh) –I really think this is going to be a close game with plenty of field goals from Cleveland's kicker.
Phil Dawson (at St. Louis) –Dawson has made nine field goals the last two weeks and will be inside the dome on Monday Night Football.
