The fantasy football world has lagged behind when it comes to effectively measuring the impact blocking has on fantasy production, so last year, I devised a grading system that uses multiple advanced metrics to project how blocking matchups will impact fantasy football performance in the upcoming week's contests. The details of the system can be found here.
The entire list of the Week 6 overall matchup grades are posted below, along with a detailed look at how those blocking grades could impact certain start-sit decisions this week. Subjects here include whether LeSean McCoy or Kenyan Drake can repeat their season-best performances from last week, if it is time to trust the Broncos' or Patriots' running backs, and how to best value the Eagles players in their Thursday night matchup against the Giants.
Most favorable Week 6 fantasy blocking matchups
Philadelphia Eagles (at New York Giants)
The Eagles present one of the toughest quandaries for fantasy managers in Week 6, as they may find it difficult to put too much trust in an inconsistent offense facing a short-week road trip against a divisional rival.
Philadelphia's blocking edge in this matchup should allay many of those fears. The Eagles rank sixth in my post-Week 5 run-blocking grades due in part to their placing third in my good blocking rate (GBR) metric that measures how often an offense gives its ball carriers quality run blocking (50.0 percent).
That level of consistency should afford Philadelphia's running backs many chances for big gains against a Giants rush defense that ranks 22nd in GBR (47.1), 29th in good blocking yards per attempt (GBYPA, 8.9) and 27th in my rush-defense grades.
The Eagles have midtier pass blocking, ranking 17th in my pass-blocking grades, but that should be more than enough pocket protection versus a Giants defense that rates 31st in sack rate (3.4 percent) and 27th in average time allowed in pocket (TIP, 2.3 seconds).
These blocking advantages should give Wendell Smallwood and Corey Clement flex-caliber value. Carson Wentz has a very good chance of extending his streak of scoring 20-plus fantasy points to three games, while Alshon Jeffery is a solid WR2 and Nelson Agholor is a quality WR3/flex option.
Denver Broncos (vs. Los Angeles Rams)
Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman are two of the names who come up most often whenever fantasy managers ask me for help with start-sit options on Twitter (@KCJoynerTFS).
The start-sit suggestion for these two in most weeks can be up in the air depending on the other options, but the matchup against the Rams should clarify the answer very much this week.
Denver's run blocking has been superb this season, as the Broncos rate third in my run-blocking grades and have some of the most consistent good-blocking metrics in the league. Denver ranks fifth in GBR (49.2), fourth in GBYPA (9.2) and second in my good blocking productivity (GBP) metric that measures overall rushing production (4.5).
The Rams' defense received a huge talent infusion this offseason, but that hasn't translated to success in stopping the run. The Rams rank 28th in both GBYPA (8.7) and GBP (3.9) and rank 21st in my run-defense grades.
All of these combine to give Denver the fourth-most favorable run-blocking matchup in Week 6, so rate Lindsay as an RB2 and Freeman as a very good flex option.
New England Patriots (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
Every fantasy manager has heard the adage that you should rarely trust a Patriots running back, but this matchup is the strong exception to that rule.
New England has middling run-blocking metrics for the course of the season, but during the past three weeks, they have posted a 3.7 GBP, a mark that exceeds the 3.5 GBP level that usually signifies superior performance in this metric.
Bill Belichick will use this newfound blocking prowess to ruthlessly exploit a Chiefs rush defense that ranks 32nd in rush yards allowed before first defensive contact (YBCT, 3.4), GBR (55.6) and GBP (4.6).
If that isn't convincing enough, it is also worth noting that Kansas City has allowed the most receiving yards to running backs (454) and ranks tied for next to last in running back receptions (39) and receiving touchdowns (3) allowed.
These factors make Sony Michel a potential RB1 candidate and should move James White into RB1 territory in PPR leagues and RB2/flex territory in non-PPR leagues.
Least favorable Week 6 fantasy blocking matchups
Buffalo Bills (at Houston Texans)
LeSean McCoy's fantasy managers had to breathe a sigh of relief after last week's contest that saw McCoy rack up 24 carries and 12.8 fantasy points against Tennessee after tallying only 21 carries and 20.6 fantasy points in the Bills' first four games.
That may provide motivation for putting McCoy into a flex spot this week, but a matchup against a bruising Texans rush defense should reduce the enthusiasm level.
Houston has top-10 rankings in GBP (2.8, ranked fifth) and YBCT (1.9, ranked ninth) that lead to a No. 7 ranking in my rush defense grades. Buffalo's run blocking has been solid (45.2, ranked 14th), but the abysmal state of their passing game has allowed defenses to concentrate on keeping their ground game in check and has led to the Bills ranking 30th in GBP (2.5).
The Texans held Ezekiel Elliott to a season-low 54 rushing yards on 20 carries last week, a production pace that led to his rating as a low-end RB2. A low-end RB2 ranking could be a ceiling for McCoy if all goes well, but the odds heavily lean in the direction of rating him as a low-ceiling flex play who can be kept out of lineups entirely in many leagues.
Miami Dolphins (vs. Chicago Bears)
Don't let last week's game fool you. Kenyan Drake scored 24.5 fantasy points in ESPN standard leagues, but most of that was due to terrible pass coverage on a 22-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. 25 of Drake's 46 rushing yards in that game were gained on the last play of the contest, when most of the Bengals' defenders were at least 20-30 yards downfield to prevent a long pass and Drake was nearly uncontested on a draw play.
The Bears' defense has done nothing in an uncontested fashion this season, especially when it comes to stopping the run. Chicago has a clean sweep of first-place finishes in GBR (27.1), GBYPA (6.2) and GBP (1.7) and thereby earns the No. 1 spot in my rush-defense grades.
That is not the kind of matchup that Drake would rate well against if he were being fully utilized in Miami's offense, but during the past three weeks, he has tallied only 14 carries, while Frank Gore has racked up 29 rush attempts in that time frame. Combine that lack of usage with the brutally tough matchup, and neither Drake nor Gore should be in fantasy lineups outside of very deep leagues.