What We Saw: Week 6

The QB List staff catches you up on everything you missed during Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season.

Ben Brown
What We Saw 4 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Broncos @ Patriots
Browns @ Steelers
Falcons @ Vikings
Lions @ Jaguars
Bears @ Panthers
Texans @ Titans
Ravens @ Eagles
Bengals @ Colts
Washington @ Giants
Packers @ Buccaneers
Jets @ Dolphins
Rams @ 49ers
Chiefs @ Bills
Cardinals @ Cowboys

Rams @ 49ers

 

This crucial NFC West matchup went the San Francisco 49ers way after a productive first half set up a 24-16 win against a Los Angeles Rams team that never really got going all night. After an explosive start, the 49ers raced to a 14-0 lead thanks to touchdowns from Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. The Rams answered back with a Robert Woods touchdown but the 49ers immediately pegged the Rams back with a Brandon Aiyuk score before halftime. The game was almost unwatchable at times in the second half as both teams struggled through poor quarterback play and offensive miscues. A late Josh Reynolds touchdown brought the Rams back with 8 points but yet another Deebo Samuel dump off secured a late first-down to run out the clock.

 

Los Angeles Rams

 

Quarterback

 

Jared Goff: 19/38, 198 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT | 1 carry, 10 yards

 

A late 40-yard deep pass for a touchdown to Josh Reynolds put a brave face on what was a disastrous outing for Jared Goff (15.92 fantasy points) in Santa Clara. The former Cal quarterback struggled with his accuracy and recognizing targets on his second-reads as he completed just 50% of his passes whilst also throwing a terrible interception in the end zone on 4th & Goal in the third quarter which abruptly ended any real chance of a Rams fightback.

 

 

Goff has produced true Jekyll and Hyde performances this season and the jury remains split on whether the former first-round pick can take the next step to become an elite, top 6 fantasy quarterback. Throws like the one above have plagued his development and his decision-making under pressure is far from where it needs to be. On the other hand, Goff demonstrates he has the potential every week, like with this perfect dart to Robert Woods for the Rams’ opening score.

 

 

Goff is currently 76% rostered in Yahoo! leagues but that may dip during the bye weeks. He could be a decent streamer in the weeks to come, however, I wouldn’t recommend him against the Bears next week.

  

Running Backs

 

Darrell Henderson: 14 carries, 88 yards

Malcolm Brown: 2 carries, 4 yards | 3 targets, 2 reception, 13 yards

 

Darrell Henderson (9.20 fantasy points) has been a pleasant surprise in this designated running back by committee approach in Los Angeles. So much so, it now looks like an even split between him and Brown.

 

 

Henderson was much more productive against the 49ers and was unlucky to have a lovely touchdown run called back on a soft holding penalty. Coach Sean McVay has talked positively about Henderson this season, saying that he now “finally gets it” and is showing all the attributes of what it takes to be successful in this offense – great vision, explosion at the second level, and the toughness to finish runs well. He is the back to go out and roster.

Overshadowed by Henderson’s emergence, Malcolm Brown has seen his involvement diminish over the past few weeks, and even more so tonight due to the game script. Despite a similar snap percentage, Brown only touched the ball 4 times compared to Henderson’s 14. In other news, Cam Akers registered just 1 snap against the 49ers. Yikes!

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Tyler Higbee: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 56 yards

Josh Reynolds: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD

Robert Woods: 10 targets, 4 receptions, 29 yards, 1 TD

Gerald Everett: 4 targets, 3 receptions, 27 yards

Cooper Kupp: 9 targets, 3 receptions, 11 yards

Van Jefferson: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards

 

We are used to seeing healthy numbers here for Robert Woods (14.00 fantasy points) and Cooper Kupp (4.10 fantasy points) but both registered less than 40% catch completion due to Goff’s inaccuracy and some bad drops. Woods’ night was saved thanks to an early touchdown pass where he laid out and showed off his reliable hands. Kupp, however, had a miserable night that included a drop in the endzone that should have been a score.

 

https://gfycat.com/mediumdigitaliberianemeraldlizard

 

When Woods and Kupp aren’t productive, Josh Reynolds (12.50 fantasy points) usually is. That is a frustrating conundrum for fantasy owners as it is essentially impossible to predict. Reynolds has flashed potential as a deep threat during his time in the league, and today was no different. Reynolds scored on a contested-catch late in the game to give the Rams a sniff at a comeback.

 

 

The tight end situation for the Rams is as equally frustrating as Reynolds patchy usage. In the first two weeks, it was Tyler Higbee (8.60 fantasy points) seeing all the action before an inexplicable shift to Gerald Everett (5.70 fantasy points) for the next 3 weeks. Last night we got a splash of both with zero positive results. I prefer Higbee as he figures to see a larger snap share as the more complete tight end who is excellent at blocking. Everett is more of a disguised receiver and his blocking is shoddy at best. This will likely be a mind-bending boom or bust to-and-fro down the line. Drat!

 

San Francisco 49ers

 

Quarterback

 

Jimmy Garoppolo: 23/33, 268 yards, 3 TDs | 4 carries, 8 yards

 

The calls for Jimmy Garoppolo (23.52 fantasy points) to be immediately banished to an alternate football dimension after last week’s debacle against the Miami Dolphins all look a little silly now. Jimmy G was as efficient and error-free as we’ve ever seen him against the Rams, perfectly executing the Yards-After-Catch monster that is Kyle Shanahan‘s offense.

 

 

The Dolphins did an excellent job last week of taking away the middle of the field for Jimmy G to operate in but the Rams’ defense did not seem to get the memo and it was a key factor in allowing the 49ers to go ahead early. Garoppolo’s 44-yard touchdown throw to George Kittle perfectly highlights his key strength as a passer.

 

 

It is hard to trust Jimmy G as a fantasy option at quarterback. I don’t recommend him unless desperate during the bye weeks.

 

Running Backs

 

Raheem Mostert: 17 carries, 65 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 11 yards

JaMycal Hasty: 9 carries, 37 yards | 1 target

Jerick McKinnon: 6 carries, 18 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 10 yards

Kyle Juszczyk: 2 targets, 1 reception, 8 yards

 

The sight of Raheem Mostert (9.60 fantasy points) limping off during the third quarter with an ankle injury will be distressing to many fantasy owners who kept faith in him despite Mostert previously missing 2 games earlier in the season through injury. Mostert is already a huge doubt for Week 7.

Adjust accordingly but don’t pick up Jerick McKinnon. The former Vikings running back saw little action for the second week straight as the rock was passed to undrafted free agent JaMycal Hasty. Hasty is an unheralded prospect out of Baylor that many dynasty owners probably have stashed on their TAXI squads. He showed some quick feet and powerful finishing on the few carries we saw today. He might be worth a speculative waiver wire add this week.

 

https://twitter.com/dieter/status/1318022641559560192

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

George Kittle: 10 targets, 7 receptions, 109 yards, 1 TD

Deebo Samuel: 6 targets, 6 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD | 1 carry, -6 yards

Kendrick Bourne: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 44 yards

Brandon Aiyuk: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards, 1 TD

Trent Taylor: 2 targets, 1 reception, 8 yards

 

An incredible 226 out of 268 of Garoppolo’s passing yards came after the catch – George Kittle‘s (23.90 fantasy points) touchdown pass was 1 of only 4 passes Jimmy G completed beyond 10 yards. It isn’t pretty but it can be very effective if the defense doesn’t cover the middle of the field, which was the exact mistake the Rams made tonight. The biggest winner was Deebo Samuel (18.00 fantasy points), whose 6 receptions were all behind the line of scrimmage. As long as he receives this kind of service and blocking downfield, it could be a productive 2020 for the former second-round pick out of South Carolina.

 

 

Kendrick Bourne (6.40 fantasy points) is slowly losing fantasy relevance in an offense that simply refuses to pass the ball downfield unless forced to do so. It is also safe to say that the redzone targets Bourne enjoyed last season look to be diverted to this year’s first-round pick, Brandon Aiyuk (9.20 fantasy points).

 

 

Kittle is the only constant in this offense, Samuel provides big-play boom or bust potential and Aiyuk looks certain to be involved more often. Decipher that as you will. I roster Kittle everywhere and will likely stay away from the others for now.

 

— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Broncos @ Patriots
Browns @ Steelers
Falcons @ Vikings
Lions @ Jaguars
Bears @ Panthers
Texans @ Titans
Ravens @ Eagles
Bengals @ Colts
Washington @ Giants
Packers @ Buccaneers
Jets @ Dolphins
Rams @ 49ers
Chiefs @ Bills
Cardinals @ Cowboys

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