The Rundown: Week 6 Stats to Know & Giants vs Patriots

Week 5 saw an explosion of offensive fantasy performances from a few fantasy favorites as well as some summer sleeper darlings. Injuries were a bit tamer in terms of severity while several recent starters have shown they may be more than just replacements. Week 6 will feature an early Sunday game in London, a matchup between two of the top fantasy quarterbacks, and a contest that will be guaranteed to keep the pace moving.

Each week, I will provide a preview article with some key overall stats to watch for along with the Thursday game preview that includes start/sit ratings. Then, there will be subsequent previews later in the week with all the other games in time for the remaining fantasy decisions before kickoff. For much of this data, I will be using 4for4's Snaps, Touches, and Targets Apps as well as analyzing each team's pace and play-calling tendencies.

Ten Stats to Know for Week 6

• I’m here for you: Seven players have 15 PPR points or more in all five weeks this season. Michael Thomas is the only wide receiver on the list.
• The 40-point club: Five players surpassed 40 PPR points in Week 5, the most of any week this season. Will Fuller, Aaron Jones, Christian McCaffrey, Deshaun Watson, and Michael Thomas.
• Catching LT: LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2006 is the only season of over 480 PPR points (483.2). Christian McCaffrey is on pace to break it (510.7) despite potentially scoring 11 fewer touchdowns (and two additional passing touchdowns).
• Catching everything: Austin Ekeler became the fifth running back since the NFL merger to catch 15 passes in a single game. He was the first to do so without surpassing 100 receiving yards.
• Passing the torch: Chris Godwin’s 72.7 PPR points the last two weeks would rank 20th as a wide receiver for the 2019 season. Mike Evans has 78.8 points for 2019.
• Kupp runneth over: Cooper Kupp has three straight games with 12 or more targets. Michael Thomas is the only other player with three such instances this season.
• Aerial assaulted: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team to allow four different wide receivers to score 25-plus PPR points. They have all occurred in the last three weeks.
• Sack lunch: Four players were sacked over 50 times last year, the most since 1985. Seven are on pace this year to meet or exceed the mark.
• Behind the pace: Last year, 27 players played four or more games in the first five weeks and averaged 20-plus PPR points. In 2019, only 16 players have done so.
• Rarified air: Will Fuller’s 53.7 PPR points were the most by any player in six years and the highest wide receiver total since 2000.

Giants @ Patriots

Spread: Patriots -16.5 | Total: 42

It’s hard to say who the Giants even have healthy to put on the field in this game. They could be without Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram. That comprises roughly 60% of their entire offensive yardage and touchdowns. Good thing they face the Patriots, a team that has given up just under seven points per game and top three rankings in most defensive categories. The offense continues to put up points even with injuries and other upheavals at the skill positions and Tom Brady having a good, but not great, Tom Brady-season thus far.

New York Giants

Jon Hilliman? Rhett Ellison? These are the names who could benefit due to injuries. Uninspiring doesn’t cover it. Daniel Jones will likely need to feed Golden Tate early and often with Darius Slayton his only other healthy, talented option. There could be a lot of stalled or short drives in this game with little payoff.

Team Trends That Matter

• Average 24.26 seconds between plays when trailing by seven or more points. Over two seconds faster than their overall pace (26.82 seconds).
• Only Evan Engram (six) and Sterling Shepard (five) have more than three red-zone targets this season.
• Week 5 was the first game this season the Giants did not have multiple turnovers.

Fantasy Rating and a Stat to Know

• QB Daniel Jones (0) - Has seen declines in his passing yardage and total fantasy points in every start this year
• RB Jon Hilliman (2) - The Patriots have not allowed a rushing touchdown to a running back in 2019
• WR Golden Tate (1) - Scored 12.9 PPR points in a matchup versus the Patriots in 2018
• WR Darius Slayton (1) - Week 5 was the first game that he surpassed a 50% snap share (65%)
• TE Rhett Ellison (1) - No tight end has exceeded 8.8 PPR points against the Patriots in 2019

New England Patriots

The Patriots have never trailed by seven points or more this season. It means that they can run any kind of offense they choose. In this one, it will likely be balanced as they rank top 10 in both pass and rush attempts. Expect everyone to get involved here as they will look to surpass 30 points for the fifth time in six games.

Team Trends That Matter

• The Patriots have not allowed a passing touchdown this season.
• No fantasy player has yet to exceed 15 PPR points against the Patriots.
• Tom Brady is the only Patriots player ranked inside the top 50 for PPR scoring.

Fantasy Rating and a Stat to Know

• QB Tom Brady (4) - On pace to surpass his 11 games of 20-plus fantasy points in a season. He has four such games in five weeks
• RB James White (3) - 19 targets over the past two weeks with over 13 PPR points in each game
• RB Sony Michel (3) - Michel’s three receptions last game are his first catches of 2019
• WR Josh Gordon (3) - Has played over 85% snap share in each of the last three games
• WR Julian Edelman (4) - Week 5 was his first game over 20 fantasy points
• TE Matt LaCosse (0) - Played 73 snaps in Week 5 after just 12 in the first four weeks

Fantasy Rating Key

• (5) - Elite option. Must start.
• (4) - Strong option. Likely start.
• (3) - Good option. Low-end starter to high-end backup.
• (2) - Weak option. Possible flex or desperation play.
• (1) - Bad option. Bench in nearly all cases.
• (0) - Not an option. Injured, bench, or waivers.