Week 6 Studs and Duds: Bijan and JSN Steal the Show

We’re officially a third of the way through the NFL season. Some players continue to shine, while others keep disappointing fans and fantasy owners on a weekly basis. Let’s dig into the Week 6 Studs and Duds.

Stud: The Falcons Stack (Bijan Robinson and Drake London)

I feel for anyone who lost their fantasy matchup on Monday night because of one of these two. And for those on the other side, enjoy basking in the glory.

Bijan Robinson delivered an all-time performance: 19 rushes for 170 yards, including an incredible 81-yard touchdown run, which was surprisingly his first rush over 40 yards in his three NFL seasons. He also contributed in the receiving game, catching six of eight targets for 68 yards (35.8 fantasy points). Robinson has been a true workhorse this year, averaging 164.4 scrimmage yards per game.

You can’t talk about the Falcons without mentioning Drake London. He hauled in 10 of his 16 targets for 158 yards and one touchdown (31.8 fantasy points), nearly scoring a second before stepping out at the one-yard line. Most of that production came in the first half. London started the season with three games under 60 yards, but has now posted back-to-back 100-yard games.

Robinson and London torched the Bills defense, helping Atlanta hand Buffalo its second straight primetime loss. It looks like Penix and the Falcons have found their groove as they prepare for another tough test against the 49ers.

Dud: Justin Fields

Justin Fields must have been jet-lagged from the trip to London, because he sure played like it. He completed just nine passes for 45 yards and rushed for 31 (4.9 fantasy points), finishing with a QBR of 9.0.

Not all the blame falls on Fields, as he was sacked nine times for a loss of 55 yards, leaving the Jets with negative 10 net passing yards for the game (yes, you read that correctly). To make matters worse, star wideout Garrett Wilson is expected to miss several weeks with a hyperextended knee. Nothing is going right for the Jets in this winless season, though head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters they’ll be sticking with Fields as the starter.

Stud: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has completely taken over this Seahawks offense with the addition of Sam Darnold and the departure of D.K. Metcalf. In Seattle’s close win over the Jaguars, JSN caught eight of 13 targets for 162 yards and a 61-yard touchdown (30.2 fantasy points), accounting for over half of Darnold’s passing yards.

He’s become a true deep threat, with five receptions of 40-plus yards and an average of nearly 17 yards per catch. Following this stellar outing,  and with Puka Nacua sidelined, JSN now leads the NFL in receiving yards with 696 through six weeks, putting him on pace to challenge Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,972. With four 100-yard games already, Jaxon Smith-Njigba might just be the best receiver in football right now.

Dud: Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley continues to underwhelm following his Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl-winning season. He rushed 12 times for 58 yards and caught two passes for nine (8.7 fantasy points) in the Eagles’ embarrassing loss to division rival New York.

Barkley has yet to reach 90 rushing yards in a game this season, so perhaps the “Madden Cover Curse” is real. His usage is dipping, and at just 3.4 yards per carry, he’s not even on pace for 1,000 yards. Barkley isn’t the only Eagles star struggling; A.J. Brown has voiced frustration about his role, and his production has also dipped. Whether it’s playcalling or quarterback inconsistency, a Saquon breakout feels overdue.

Stud: Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle cannot be stopped. He carried the ball a league-high 30 times for 183 yards and added four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown (33.9 fantasy points). Dowdle made the most of Chuba Hubbard’s absence once again.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think Dowdle was the league’s best running back, as he consistently sheds multiple defenders every time he touches the ball. Most impressively, Dowdle became just the sixth back in the Super Bowl era to record 225 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in consecutive games, joining legends like Walter Payton and Marshall Faulk. With how well he’s played, it’s hard to imagine Carolina giving the RB1 job back to Hubbard.

Dud: Chase Brown

Chase Brown continues to disappoint in Joe Burrow’s absence, rushing for 42 yards on nine carries and catching two passes for seven (8.9 fantasy points). He’s averaging only 2.7 yards per carry and under 10 fantasy points per week, becoming a major letdown for a player drafted in the third round of many leagues.

He has yet to score a touchdown since Burrow’s injury, and with the Bengals frequently playing from behind, Samaje Perine has begun cutting into his snaps. Perine logged only five fewer plays than Brown against the Packers. While Perine may not take over fully, Brown’s volume is shrinking fast.

Emergency Room

Quentin Johnston: Johnston was a game-time decision before being ruled out with a hamstring injury. In his absence, second-year receiver Ladd McConkey stepped up with his first 100-yard game and a touchdown. Johnston is expected back against the Colts, but Justin Herbert may continue to favor McConkey.

Emeka Egbuka: Egbuka suffered a hamstring injury against the 49ers and was placed on IR. He joins fellow wideouts Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Jalen McMillan on the injury list. With pass-catching back Bucky Irving also banged up, Baker Mayfield will be throwing to backups for the foreseeable future. Still, if there’s one thing we’ve learned this season, it’s that Mayfield will fight until the very last whistle, so don’t count Tampa Bay out against the Lions.

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