Hopefully some of you took our advice and made some lineup stashes in advance of this weekend's games as you prepare to do battle this weekend. Last weekend we recommended a handful of Troy standouts who each starred in the team's victory over MTSU and put up massive numbers in doing so. We also highlighted Eric Ward, a solid wide receiver for Texas Tech, who now with the injury to Darrin Moore (who will miss game against Kansas), is in line for a massive night.
With that in mind, it is time to plan ahead for Week Six, a week filled with rivalry games, impact games for the national title picture and some matchups you have to exploit.
The BCS was won here
There are two enormous matchups and rivalry games that highlight Week Six, and of course there is plenty of fantasy impact. The Red River Rivalry pits Oklahoma and Texas. For the Sooners, will Kenny Stills finally be 100% recovered from his concussion? Is there anyone on Earth (or the Texas roster) that can slow down Ryan Broyles? The key to this game may be the OU defense. For stretches this season the Longhorns offense seems like it is in quicksand. I see an enormous effort from the Sooners defense in this one.
Then there is the battle of Florida and LSU. No offense to Jeff Brantley, Jeff Demps, Charlie Weis or anyone associated with the Gators. I would bench them all. LSU is just so much more physical, I fear a blowout in this one. And every year these games make somebody a household name. In 2008 it was Percy Harvin, who went over 100 yards receiving and scored twice as the Gators knocked off the defending champs. Last year Terrance Toliver did the same to the Gators. And this year, it is Spencer Ware who shows us just what he can do with a 100-yard, two-score game.
Tough Shedding for Pat vs. Mississippi State?
See what I did there? Tough Shedding, not sledding? OK, that was bad, but one of our favorite players in fantasy football is Pat Shed because of his PPR skills and constant inclusion in the Blazers offense. Despite his prowess in all aspects, I find it hard to believe you cannot find another option than Shed this week. Miss State is tough against the run and Shed will be bottled up. Sorry Pat.
Big Arms, Will Travel
Two of the most prolific quarterbacks are in for Heisman-resume games as Brandon Weeden takes on Kansas while Kellen Moore takes on Fresno State. Weeden shredded the Texas A&M defense and considering Kansas still thinks they are playing flag football, Justin Blackmon, Josh Cooper, Hubert Anyiam and the boys will go wild. Hopefully they see the field in the fourth quarter. Then there is Moore, who just destroyed Tulsa, and while Fresno may be a tough game, the rhythm he is building with Tyler Shoemaker is very similar to that he had with Titus Young. Scary.
Individual Flex Play Options
This is the week to ride your Rice skill players. That means Taylor McHargue, Sam McGuffie, Vance McDonald and Luke Willson can all be in lineups as they face Memphis. The Tigers have allowed 1314 passing yards already this season, and the Owls can throw it a bit. Then consider all of your BYU backs as the Cougars take on San Jose State. SJSU has given up close to 900 rushing yards already. Expect a big night from Bryan Kariya and Jake Heaps.
And finally take a flier on FIU running back Kedrick Rhodes, who through four games has 322 yards and five scores and will take on Akron, a team that has already given up over 700 yards and 11 rushing scores in 2011. Seems like a safe bet for 100 yards and a score for the talented FIU back.