When it comes to competition, one of the best ways to get an edge on the opposition is through prior preparation. In fantasy football, that way of thinking certainly applies. Here at Bet For The Win, we’re doing the preparation for you.
I’m still cautious about fully believing his emergence is here, but it’s hard to deny how Caleb Williams has steadily grown in a tough Chicago Bears situation this week.
Williams’ statistical numbers have measurably improved each week, and you can start to see him getting more comfortable with the critical nuances of playing quarterback. With another week or two, like his performance against the Carolina Panthers in Week 5, we’ll start talking about the rookie already being a bona fide franchise quarterback.
Wiliams is the focus of this week’s Studs and Duds column at For The Win.
You have a favorable matchup for a quarterback getting more and more confidence. There’s a receiver returning from injury poised to start breaking games open again. And, based on his team injury situation, you should really look elsewhere from a certain Louisiana-based playmaker for a little while.
Let’s dive in and help you that W, dearest readers.
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QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, London)
Williams’ passer rating over the last three weeks? 80.8, 106.6, and 126.2. This progress bodes well against a last-ranked Jacksonville passing defense that has surrendered nearly 300 passing yards every single week. If you haven’t already, the time to buy stock in Williams is now.
WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Cleveland Browns)
Brown is apparently set to return from a hamstring injury this week. That’s great for Brown managers, as he’s one of the best wideouts in the game, even within the constraints of a limited Philadelphia passing offense. That’s terrible news for the Browns, who have let comparable receivers like Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb, and Terry McLaurin all go off.
QB Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Detroit Lions)
Even with an improved secondary on paper, the offensively-centered Lions still have a 27th-ranked passing defense. They have not earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to completely shutting teams with top-flight playmaking talent. Prescott has not been his usual efficient self in 2024, but he should at least stuff the stat sheet against Detroit.
WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (at Dallas Cowboys)
By this same token, the Cowboys’ defense deserves zero trust in preventing the big play. This means a huge afternoon is on the horizon for Williams. The third-year wideout is averaging over 22.2 yards a catch (with nearly 300 yards receiving! Not an insignificant sample size!) and is near the top of the NFL in 40-yard catches.
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WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
With Derek Carr (oblique) likely sidelined for the foreseeable future, it’s time to fade some of his favorite playmakers. Olave remains one of the NFL’s finer receivers, but I wouldn’t trust backup quarterback Jake Haener’s ability to consistently get him the ball.
QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (vs. Houston Texans)
A rookie quarterback, with one of the league’s worst supporting casts, going against a DeMeco Ryans-coached defense with not one but TWO elite pass-rushers? Good lord. Godspeed, Mr. Maye.
WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers (at Denver Broncos)
After a rookie season where he looked like a bust, Johnston has been better than expected as a sophomore. Still, he couldn’t see a more challenging matchup than Denver’s superstar cornerback Patrick Surtain II in Week 6. I’d be surprised if we even hear a peep from Johnston after matching up against a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (at Baltimore Ravens)
This isn’t to say that I think Daniels will play poorly, per se. But the Ravens do have the NFL’s premier rushing defense through five weeks. While Daniels might still light them up through the air, I have a lot of faith that Baltimore will limit one of the key elements in his game.
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QB Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts (at Tennessee Titans)
Fun fact: Flacco has been the league’s second-best quarterback on an expected point added (EPA) and completion percentage over expected (CPOE) basis while filling in for Anthony Richardson. A matchup against the Titans’ stout defense is not a soft one, but don’t discount this wily Indy veteran putting on another show.
RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Las Vegas Raiders)
I’m past the point of buying into any sort of major Harris breakthrough. We’re years into his career. He’s clearly never going to be a superstar running back. At the same time, the 23-ranked Raiders rushing defense can’t stop anyone, and I’d anticipate that it will be much of the same against a mid-tier RB2 in Harris and the dynamic Justin Fields.
WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (at Green Bay Packers)
Everyone on the Packers’ defense will key in on Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. Murray himself has started to play more in a composed fashion, too. That means watching him work through his progressions to find other capable weapons like Wilson, who has 16 catches for 180 yards over his last three games. If you need a WR2 or WR3 this week, there are worse bets out there.
TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
Kraft is seventh in receiving yards (218) among all tight ends, third in 20-yard catches (4), and tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns (3). At this point, I might be stretching calling him a sleeper, but one more solid performance, and we’re safely calling Kraft one of the league’s better tight ends.
