Breakdowns

10/18/21

6 min read

Darren Waller Fantasy Owners Should Panic

Darren Waller Fantasy Owners

Welcome to Week 6 Fantasy Overreactions! The day or two after the dust settles during the NFL season, meaning that we can take any occurrence from Sunday or Monday and make a completely wild narrative with it. We also want to make bold claims to remain ahead of the curve!

Every week, we’re going to identify five of these potential overreactions from the week's NFL action. While these are just our opinions, feel free to use your own thoughts on each narrative. The storylines have been played out, now it's our job to decide if we feel the story is fact or fiction.

The stories were aplenty this week: Arizona extended their undefeated season to 6-0, Dak Prescott led his team to a 5-1 start in an OT thriller against the Patriots, the Ravens made a statement as a legit contender in the AFC, and so much more from Sunday's action.

All of this has led to some great overreactions. So as we will do each week, it’s now time to react to the potential overreactions! 

1) You should panic if you're a Darren Waller owner

Verdict: OVERREACTION

Outside of Travis Kelce, you felt that you drafted the biggest difference-maker at the TE position when you used an early-round pick on Darren Waller. Many were expecting a minimum TE2 finish on the season, with maybe even an outside chance at finishing as the TE1. Through six weeks, Waller is the TE4 at 13.8 PPR fantasy points per game. He's 2.1 points from Dalton Schultz, who is currently TE3. While that's not the second-best tight end in the league, he's very close to number three.

How about some more encouragement that there are even better days ahead? Waller currently has 48 targets this season. That is more than any tight end this season and six ahead of Travis Kelce. Waller has been so consistent in getting looks from Derek Carr that, he's the ONLY tight end in the NFL to have had a minimum of seven targets in every game this season. Going into Week 6, Waller actually had the second-biggest biggest discrepancy between fantasy points and expected fantasy points among TEs according to PFF. With a minimum of four catches for 45 yards in each of his last five games, we have a floor there and a breakout should be coming soon.

2) Darrel Williams will be a workhorse for KC the next two games  

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

The Kansas City Chiefs had not seemed comfortable putting Clyde Edwards-Helaire in a full workload. Edwards-Helaire averaged 41 snaps per game for the first four games (he got hurt Week 5). Darrel Williams in his first game as the lead-back recorded 59 snaps. While he could've been more efficient, (he recorded 21 carries for 62 yards) he did score two touchdowns. He also caught three balls for 27 yards, which tied Edwards-Helaire for the most catches he had through the first four weeks as the lead back.

What the Chiefs seem to like best between Williams and Edwards-Helaire, is Williams seems to avoid the negative plays on the ground, which plays well for this offense. For a team that trusted Williams heavily down the stretch in their playoff run to last season's Super Bowl, he should continue to be heavily utilized and a valuable RB2 to your team the next two weeks at minimum.

 

3) Donovan Peoples-Jones is a BUY HIGH 

Verdict: OVERREACTION

I get it. After Peoples-Jones records four catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns, it seems like this could be his breakout game and we'd want what could be the number one option in the passing game for the Cleveland Browns. Let's take a macro approach to this stat line. You take away that 57-yard score (The Browns were 0-11 on Hail Mary tries over the last decade before that play, according to ESPN Stats & Information) and his final line is three catches for 44 yards and a touchdown. A big difference.

The Browns were without both of its starting offensive tackles, have potentially lost both their star running backs for a significant time, and have had their top two wide receivers in and out of the lineup. Add to that, Baker Mayfield further injuring his left shoulder and we have a team that is going to look like a shell of itself offensively from the beginning of the season. I don't expect the passing volume to be there on a consistent basis and the offense, in general, to be very questionable going forward. Don't buy into this game from Peoples-Jones.

 

4) Jonathan Taylor is a Top 5 RB

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

I hope Frank Reich is taking notice. This can be what happens when you get your superstar running back the ball consistently. Jonathan Taylor destroyed the Texans to the tune of 145 yards on just 14 carries (10.35 yards per carry) and scored two touchdowns. That's now five touchdowns in his last three games.

Taylor has a great combination of power and speed and can do great things when given touches. Speaking of touches, Taylor is currently RB5 despite averaging only 14 touches a game (15th amongst running backs). If he can get closer to 20 touches a game, the sky is the limit for this talented running back. I'd expect him to be more involved going forward and he should be an incredible asset to your fantasy team.

 

5) Ricky Seals-Jones is a MUST-ADD

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Any time over a two-week span that a tight end records nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown, it's time to put them on the radar. Logan Thomas is currently on IR and Seals-Jones has immediately stepped in as a contributor for this Washington Football Team.

Seals-Jones saw a 21% target share in Week 5 and a 15% target share in Week 6, both second on the team. He has been on the field for 206 snaps (69 per game) over the last three games and looks to be a big piece of this offense moving forward. In a position deprived of consistent fantasy options, Seals-Jones could be one going forward.

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