SCO Fantasy Football Picks Week 6

Once a week, sports editor Nate Bodner and Op-Ed editor Ryan Handel will post their fantasy football predictions alongside those of a special guest teacher and one student from the general Blair population. This week we are joined by executive yearbook editor Zach Dunne and math teacher Mr. Giles to help you set your fantasy football lineup for Week 6!

To submit your fantasy football picks, you need to pick one player for each of the categories below, and write a brief explanation of why you have chosen him. Send your picks in to our experts at sports.sco@gmail.com to get them online.

Start ‘em:
Players who are locks to play this week.
Nate: Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins, QB
Fresh off a bye week, and with a juicy home matchup against the 49ers, I expect a solid game from Cousins, who has been having a good season up to this point.
Ryan: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, QB
Stafford is quietly putting together a top-10 fantasy quarterback season, and he should excel against the Saints defense in what I believe will be a shootout.
Zach: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints, WR
Thomas may have started out slow but picked up the pace for the two weeks up until last week's bye. With an additional week to get ready and Drew Brees tossing him the ball at home, he's locked in as a WR1.
Mr. Giles: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals, QB
Don't let the Adrian Peterson trade scare you. The Cardinals simply can not run the ball. Palmer has had at least 35 pass attempts, 260 yards and, and a touchdown in every game this year. He also gets a home game against a bad Buccaneers defense.

Sit‘em:
Players who we think should not be in your starting lineup this week.
Nate: Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears, RB
Cohen hsa posted single digit carries in four of five games so far this season. He's a touchdown dependent player right now, and until he gets more touches, he can't be expected to produce.
Ryan: Chris Hogan, New England Patriots, WR
The Jets defense is underrated, and I predict that the Pats vs. Jets matchup will play out as a close, low-scoring rivalry game. That won't favor the Patriots receivers, including No. 2 option Chris Hogan.
Zach: Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos, WR
Manny has been a serviceable option thus far, but other than the fresh legs off the bye, there isn't much going for him this week. He'll take on the Giants, and will likely blow them out, meaning they'll run the ball early and often. Even when they do pass, shutdown corner Janoris Jenkins looms opposite of him.
Mr. Giles: Any Player, New York Giants, Offense
The Giants have struggled to run the ball all year, so Wayne Gallman, Paul Perkins, and Orleans Darkwa should not be anywhere near your starting roster. They have also struggled to protect Eli Manning all year and will be without Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall for the rest of the season. Their third WR, Sterling Sheppard, is also likely out this week. If that wasn't bad enough, they have to go to Denver this week against one of the NFL's best defenses. No Giant should be in your lineup this week.

Trust
Players who performed well last week and are certain to have great performances again.
Nate: Javorius Allen, Baltimore Ravens, RB
You might be a little skeptical about trusting anyone in the Ravens backfield right now, but after Terrance West aggravated a calf injury against Oakland, Allen garnered 85 yards from scrimmage and a TD. With West expected to miss at least a week, Allen is in line for a lot more touches.
Ryan: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints, RB
Kamara had over 100 total yards and a TD in his last game, and his role in the Saints' offense should only increase with Adrian Peterson gone.
Zach: Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers, RB
Jones proved last week that he is the best runner on the Packers. Ty Montgomery might return this week, but Jones will more than likely get the bulk of touches on what may be the best offense in football. He's an RB2 at worst.
Mr. Giles: Pierre Garcon, Washington Redskins, WR
He just missed getting to 100 yards last week and I expect a big game when he returns to DC to face his old team. Josh Norman will likely miss the game on Sunday so that should make things much easier for Garcon. I also expect the Redskins to win this game easy. With the 49ers trailing they will be throwing a lot to try and catch up so there will be plenty of garbage time points for Garcon this week.

Bust:
Players who had one great performance, but we think won't do so well this week.
Nate: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints, WR
Thomas posted back-to-back double digit fantasy outings before the Saints week bye, but he's got a date with shutdown corner Darius Slay of the Detroit Lions this week. I know if you own him he'll be hard to sit, but he could have a tough time
Ryan: Brian Hoyer, San Francisco 49ers, QB
Hoyer had a big game against the Colts, throwing for over 350 yards and two touchdowns, but the Redskins will present a much stiffer test.
Zach: Will Fuller, Houston Texans, WR
Fuller has been incredible in his only two weeks healthy, catching two touchdowns in both. Even against the Browns, don't expect that to continue this week as nobody can sustain his catch per target rate.
Mr. Giles: TY Hilton, Indianapolis Colts, WR
Hilton had a huge game last week and another one against Cleveland in week 3 against Cleveland. However, he has been invisible in the Colts other three games this year. With Andrew Luck sidelined and Jacoby Brissett playing QB for the Colts it is difficult to trust Hilton. He's goes on the road Monday night and he will find last week difficult to repeat.

Week 5 Off the Waiver Wire:
Players who are under the radar, and can be picked up in most fantasy leagues.
Nate: Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts, RB
Mack is the second string rusher behind the 34 year old Frank Gore. Despite that, he managed to rack up 91 yards and a TD on a mere nine carries last week. Gore has the starting job for now, but Mack looks to be the more explosive back and could easily see his role increase in the coming weeks.
Ryan: John Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Carson Palmer's deep threat is finally getting healthy, and as a member of a Cardinals team that often finds itself playing from behind, he presents a solid pickup.
Zach: Samaje Perine, Washington Redskins, RB
It won't be pretty but anyone looking for injury or bye week help can look to Perine this week. He's already been guaranteed the majority of carries following Rob Kelley's injury, plus the Skins take on the dreadful 49ers. Perine is a good bet for double digit points.
Mr. Giles: Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys, RB
Ezekiel Elliott's suspension was reinstated on Thursday and that leaves plenty of opportunities in the Dallas backfield. The Cowboys are on a bye this week so this is a play for week 7. It is unclear if McFadden or Alfred Morris will get the job of replacing Zeke, but my money's on McFadden. He was their starter in 2015 before Zeke showed up and unlike Morris, he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He has been inactive all year, but I'm guessing the Cowboys were just trying to keep him healthy in case Elliott wound up suspended. You might want to consider Morris too, but McFadden is my preference.