The Athletic: NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Commanders rising; checking in on fantasy flops

NFL Power Rankings Week 6: Commanders rising; checking in on fantasy flops

The theme of this week's NFL Power Rankings is fantasy football performance. Be warned: The numbers are pretty bleak for the top picks.

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As we enter Week 6 of the NFL Power Rankings, it might be time to check on the fantasy football manager in your lives.

It’s been a rough start for lots of the folks who spent weeks poring over data in the preseason to make the perfect pick only to see their plans left in shambles by the first five weeks of the actual season. So this week’s theme is fantasy focus as we look at exactly how bad things have gotten.

Spoiler alert: Pretty bad.

None of the top five fantasy players coming into the season based on average draft position is in the top 48 in fantasy scoring. Top pick Christian McCaffrey has more flights to Germany to get medical consultation than rushing yards this year. Extending the scope to look at the top 20 picks doesn’t make things much better. That group includes A.J. Brown, Puka Nacua and Isaiah Pacheco. Oof, oof and oof.

As you’ll see, these fantasy results have a real-life impact on the field and affect our rankings, where the Minnesota Vikings and fantasy afterthought Sam Darnold still sit up top. (The fantasy scoring numbers here are provided by TruMedia, and the average draft position statistics were compiled by Fantasy Pros.)

1. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)​

Last week: 1

Sunday: Beat New York Jets 23-17

Darnold’s surprising season is nicely illustrated by his fantasy numbers. His average draft position was 223rd. His actual rank after another victory is 31st, and he’s 12th among quarterbacks with 16.5 points per game. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is underperforming his draft position (drafted sixth, currently 14th in points per game, 19) but not by much, and no one in Minnesota is complaining with the Vikings undefeated. Aaron Jones (15.7 fantasy ppg) has been a good pick but left early Sunday with a hip injury.

Up next: Bye

2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)​

Last week: 2

Monday: Beat New Orleans Saints 26-13

Kansas City’s most productive fantasy wide receiver this year has been Rashee Rice, who ranks 67th overall and 23rd among receivers with 64.9 points and is unlikely to play again this season because of a knee injury. After that, it’s rookie Xavier Worthy, who is 84th in scoring (58.1 ppg). And still, the Chiefs, who completed 12 passes to three tight ends Monday night, are undefeated.

Up next: Bye

3. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)​

Last week: 3
Sunday: Beat Cincinnati Bengals 41-38

Lamar Jackson passed for 348 yards and four touchdowns, rushed for 55 and led Baltimore to scores on five of its six drives after halftime Sunday. After going 38th in the average fantasy draft this season, he is the top player in the league in points per game (24.9). Jackson has accounted for 11 touchdowns and has thrown only one interception this season. And remember Derrick Henry? Shame on anyone who forgot. Henry is averaging a league-high 114.4 rushing yards per game and is seventh in the league in fantasy scoring (22.02 ppg) after being drafted 18th.

Up next: vs. Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

4. Houston Texans (4-1)​

Last week: 7
Sunday: Beat Buffalo Bills 23-20

Nico Collins leads the league in receiving yards (567) and is tied for fifth in targets (45). He caught only two passes Sunday before leaving with a hamstring injury, but one was a 67-yard touchdown. After being drafted 27th, he’s 10th in the league in fantasy scoring (21.34 ppg). Collins’ competition for catches in Houston is increasing, though. Stefon Diggs is averaging 81.7 receiving yards in the last three games. Diggs still hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1, though.

Up next: at New England Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

https://twitter.com/x/status/1842983783919968510

5. Washington Commanders (4-1)​

Last week: 6
Sunday: Beat Cleveland Browns 34-13

Even the people who were optimistic about Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels weren’t optimistic enough. Daniels was 99th in the draft order and sits fifth in points per game (22.68) and second in points by quarterbacks after five weeks. He passed for 238 yards and rushed for 82 against the Browns and has now led Washington in rushing in three of its five games in addition to being the NFL’s leader in expected points added per dropback (.38).

Up next: at Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

6. Detroit Lions (3-1)​

Last week: 5
Sunday: Bye

The Lions have managed to settle at sixth in these rankings in part because of their offensive balance. Fantasy football players aren’t big fans of balance. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is the most perplexing case on the team. His average draft position this year was sixth, but he’s currently 25th in points per game (17.12). Detroit’s top two running backs — David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs — are basically the same fantasy player (17.38 ppg vs. 17.77 ppg), which cuts into the value of each, and Gibbs was drafted 13th in the preseason.

Up next: at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

7. Buffalo Bills (3-2)​

Last week: 4
Sunday: Lost to Houston Texans 23-20

Josh Allen’s stats weren’t the story Sunday. His health was. The Bills quarterback left the game after hitting his head hard on the turf. He was cleared to return but finished 9-for-30 for 131 yards. His 56.4 passer rating was the second-lowest of his career in games in which he hasn’t thrown an interception. He’s still 15th in the league in fantasy scoring (18.76). Running back James Cook is 29th in scoring (16.84), which matches his draft position.

Up next: at New York Jets, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

8. Green Bay Packers (3-2)​

Last week: 13
Sunday: Beat Los Angeles Rams 24-19

Wide receiver Jayden Reed has carried the Packers through Christian Watson’s injuries and Dontayvion Wicks’ drops. He’s fifth in the league in receiving (414 yards) and first among players with more than 20 catches in yards per catch (19.7). He’s fifth among wide receivers and 18th overall in the league in fantasy points per game (18.28). Not bad considering he was drafted at No. 83.

Up next: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, left, with the Steelers’ Elandon Roberts, is among many players failing to live up to their fantasy football draft position. (Justin K. Aller / Getty Images)

9. Dallas Cowboys (3-2)​

Last week: 14
Sunday: Beat Pittsburgh Steelers 20-17

The disastrous fate of McCaffrey fantasy owners is providing some cover for the almost-as-bad issues with CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys wide receiver was taken No. 2 on average in drafts, but he’s just 48th in scoring (15.26), being outscored by, among others, Jauan Jennings and Brian Thomas Jr. Lamb is ninth in the league in receiving yards (378) after catching five passes for 62 yards on Sunday night.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

10. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)​

Last week: 15
Thursday: Beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-30 in OT

The good: Darnell Mooney’s average draft position was 174, but he’s 51st in points per game (15). The bad: Bijan Robinson’s average draft position was fourth, but he’s 74th in production (13.5 ppg). The downright wild: Kirk Cousins’ 509-yard, four-touchdown performance Thursday was the second-best fantasy performance of his career (34.4 points), and he’s 47th in points per game (15.34). Cousins became the first player in NFL history to throw for 250-plus yards before halftime and 250-plus yards after halftime in the same game.

Up next: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

https://twitter.com/x/status/1842050568862499321

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)​

Last week: 9
Thursday: Lost to Atlanta Falcons 36-30 in OT

Baker Mayfield is seven spots ahead of Josh Allen in fantasy scoring this year, just like everyone expected. Mayfield, who was drafted 139 spots lower than Allen, is averaging 21.9 fantasy points per game in large part because he is tied for second in the league in touchdown passes (11). Through five games, this is far and away the best fantasy season of Mayfield’s career. Second place was his rookie year (17.1 ppg).

Up next: at New Orleans Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

12. Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)​

Last week: 12
Sunday: Bye

J.K. Dobbins is quietly one of the feel-good stories so far this season. Dobbins missed all of the 2021 season because of a knee injury and most of 2023 with an Achilles injury, but he’s averaging 85.5 yards per game. That makes him the 15th-best running back in fantasy leagues (15.5). Not bad for a guy drafted at 130. As for quarterback Justin Herbert, fantasy owners had Jim Harbaugh’s offense figured out in the preseason. The Chargers quarterback was drafted 127th and is 120th in scoring (10.38).

Up next: at Denver Broncos, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

13. Seattle Seahawks (3-2)​

Last week: 8
Sunday: Lost to New York Giants 29-20

It’s still hard for folks to believe in Geno Smith. He was drafted 183rd in the preseason. Now that the season has started, he leads the league in passing yards (1,466) and is 19th in fantasy scoring (18.25). He threw for 284 yards and a touchdown on Sunday and led the Seahawks in rushing (72 yards). Kenneth Walker had only 19 yards against the Giants.

Up next: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

14. San Francisco 49ers (2-3)​

Last week: 11
Sunday: Lost to Arizona Cardinals 24-23

There were hints about McCaffrey’s health in the preseason. More people should have paid attention. McCaffrey was the top pick in fantasy football drafts, but he hasn’t played a snap because of calf/Achilles injuries that sent him to Germany looking for help. Quarterback Brock Purdy had his worst game of the season Sunday (62.1 passer rating). Still, he’s seventh in EPA per dropback (.16) and 44th in fantasy scoring (15.5) after being drafted 87th on average.

Up next: at Seattle Seahawks, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2)​

Last week: 10
Sunday: Lost to Dallas Cowboys 20-17

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been on plenty of fantasy football owners’ dartboards dating to his days in Atlanta, but he’s getting something out of Justin Fields this year. Fields was drafted 213th in the preseason, but he’s 20th in scoring (17.93). He has accounted for eight touchdowns (five passing and three rushing) and has turned the ball over only twice. The bad news is running back Najee Harris is only 126th in scoring (10.18).

Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Quarterback Kyler Murray is leading the way for the Cardinals and those who picked him for their fantasy football teams. (Darren Yamashita / Imagn Images)

16. Arizona Cardinals (2-3)​

Last week: 21
Sunday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 24-23

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Trey McBride have been fantasy disappointments. Harrison was drafted 16th but is 66th in production (13.78). McBride was drafted 48th but was 111th in production (10.88). Kyler Murray’s big season is helping to offset those things. He was drafted 70th, but he’s 16th in scoring (18.32 ppg). On Sunday, he threw for 195 yards and rushed for 83. He is averaging 10.7 yards per designed run, the best among NFL quarterbacks.

Up next: at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

 

[HipKat]

17. Chicago Bears (3-2)​

Last week: 19
Sunday: Beat Carolina Panthers 36-10

In the last three weeks, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is 38th in the league in fantasy scoring (17.45) and has topped 300 yards passing twice in that span. Williams was drafted 104th in the preseason and in the first two weeks of the season that looked too high, but Williams is making steady progress. That’s why the Bears have won two in a row. He had 304 passing yards and a 126.2 passer rating on 29 attempts against the Panthers.

Up next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (London)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1842995113099702402

18. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)​

Last week: 20
Sunday: Bye

Why are the Eagles struggling? Maybe because what everyone thought in the preseason could be the best wide-receiving trio in the league has really just been one guy playing well. A.J. Brown, drafted 10th, had a big opener (five catches, 119 yards and a touchdown against the Packers), but he hasn’t played since because of a hamstring injury. Jahan Dotson, acquired in a preseason trade, has only five catches in four games. DeVonta Smith, drafted 46th, is actually overachieving at 27th in scoring (16.97 ppg), and the Saquon Barkley addition has been fun. Barkley is third in fantasy scoring (24.5).

Up next: vs. Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

19. Denver Broncos (3-2)​

Last week: 25
Sunday: Beat Las Vegas Raiders 34-18

This feels like a good place to talk about how good Denver’s defense is. The Broncos are tied for second in the league in points allowed (14.6) and third in defensive success rate (64.6 percent), sack percentage (10.8) and defensive EPA per 100 snaps. Pat Surtain II had two interceptions Sunday and returned one 100 yards for a touchdown. The defense is the reason this team is 3-2 even though its highest-rated fantasy player is rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who is 69th in scoring (13.71).

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

https://twitter.com/x/status/1843059027586285924

20. New Orleans Saints (2-3)​

Last week: 16
Monday: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs 26-13

In 2023, it looked like Alvin Kamara’s career was on the downslope. Through five weeks, the eighth-year running back is third in the league in fantasy points per game (23.84). However, that falls under the category of a silver lining at this point for New Orleans. After their fast start, the Saints have lost three straight, and quarterback Derek Carr left Monday’s game in the fourth quarter with an oblique injury.

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

21. New York Giants (2-3)​

Last week: 29
Sunday: Beat Seattle Seahawks 29-20

We might need to have a Daniel Jones conversation soon. If you take away a rough Week 1 performance, Jones is 33rd in the league in fantasy scoring (17.34) this season. In the last four games, Jones is sixth in EPA per dropback (.18) and ninth in passer rating (99.3) among quarterbacks with more than 60 pass attempts. Entering the season, Jones’ career EPA per dropback was minus-.03 and his passer rating was 81.6.

Up next: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET

22. Cincinnati Bengals (1-4)​

Last week: 23
Sunday: Lost to Baltimore Ravens 41-38

Ja’Marr Chase is about the only player preserving the honor of this year’s top-10 fantasy draft picks. Chase’s average draft position was seventh, and he’s ninth in scoring (21.7). He’s second in the league in receiving (98.6 ypg). Joe Burrow is also in the top 12 in fantasy scoring (20.14), and he’s first among regular starters in passer rating (113.6). And, still, the Bengals are 1-4.

Up next: at New York Giants, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

23. New York Jets (2-3)​

Last week: 24
Sunday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 23-17

So, about all the Breece Hall hype … The Jets’ third-year running back was drafted sixth on average. His production (14.3 ppg) ranks 61st, and things aren’t trending in the right direction. After averaging 3.9 yards on 30 carries through Weeks 1 and 2, he’s averaging 2.3 yards per carry on 35 carries in Weeks 3-5. Aaron Rodgers is outperforming his fantasy draft position (drafted 134th, ranked 70th with 13.6 ppg), but it’s not helping enough on the field.

Up next: vs. Buffalo Bills, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

24. Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)​

Last week: 18
Sunday: Lost to Denver Broncos 34-18

The only Raiders player in the top 75 in fantasy scoring this year won’t be a Raider much longer. Davante Adams (14.97 ppg) is 53rd in fantasy scoring but sat out Sunday with a hamstring injury and has asked to be traded. The only bright spot for Las Vegas is rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who is 76th in fantasy scoring (13.3). The Raiders replaced quarterback Gardner Minshew with Aidan O’Connell for the second time on Sunday.

Up next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has played well for the Colts in place of the injured Anthony Richardson. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / Imagn Images)

25. Indianapolis Colts (2-3)​

Last week: 17
Sunday: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars 37-34

Joe Flacco hasn’t played enough to qualify for the official fantasy scoring rankings. If he did, he’d be 11th in the league (20.8). Flacco, whose average draft position was 339, was 33-for-44 for 359 yards and three touchdowns Sunday against the Jaguars. You think the Cleveland Browns would like that back in the building this year?

Up next: at Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

26. Los Angeles Rams (1-4)​

Last week: 22
Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 24-19

Sean McVay is just showing off at this point when it comes to wide receiver development. With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out with injuries, sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington is 75th in fantasy scoring (14.05 ppg) in the last two weeks. Whittington had seven catches for 89 yards in Sunday’s loss.

Up next: Bye

27. Tennessee Titans (1-3)​

Last week: 28
Sunday: Bye

The Titans made headlines when they signed Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract in the offseason. In return, they have gotten nine catches for 141 yards. Ridley is the 53rd most-valuable fantasy wide receiver this season (9.3 ppg). In the last two games, he’s totaled two catches for 14 yards. Ridley’s production certainly is Will Levis-related. Tennessee’s quarterback is 166th in fantasy scoring (7.81 ppg) and is averaging 1.5 interceptions per game.

Up next: vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

28. Miami Dolphins (2-3)​

Last week: 31
Sunday: Beat New England Patriots 15-10

Tyreek Hill, who was drafted third on average, is averaging 10.74 fantasy points per game. That’s his lowest average through five weeks since 2019, when he played only six snaps in Weeks 1-5. The good news is it appears Tua Tagovailoa will return this season. The bad news is running back De’Von Achane, who is Miami’s leading fantasy player (13.98 ppg), left Sunday’s game after hitting his head on the turf.

Up next: Bye

29. New England Patriots (1-4)​

Last week: 26
Sunday: Lost to Miami Dolphins 15-10

The Patriots’ most productive fantasy player is running back Rhamondre Stevenson, which explains a lot. Stevenson is the 80th-most valuable player in the league, averaging 13.3 points per game. Backup running back Antonio Gibson is next at 176th. No wide receiver is ranked higher than Demario Douglas at No. 193. There’s a reason this team has lost four straight and is 31st in the league in scoring (12.4).

Up next: vs. Houston Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

30. Carolina Panthers (1-4)​

Last week: 27
Sunday: Lost to Chicago Bears 36-10

We should all leave Bryce Young alone at some point, but one more thing. Young totaled 14.72 fantasy points in his two starts this season. Andy Dalton is averaging 14.67 per game since taking over as the starter. Running back Chuba Hubbard has been a bright spot. He’s 37th in scoring (16.1) after being drafted 129th on average.

Up next: vs. Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)​

Last week: 32
Sunday: Beat Indianapolis Colts 37-34

Let’s celebrate the Jaguars’ first win of the season by focusing on the positive. Brian Thomas Jr. is 35th in fantasy scoring (16.2 ppg), which is second-best among rookie wide receivers behind only Malik Nabers. Thomas, whose draft position was 118th, is sixth in the league in receiving yards (397) and is second in yards per reception (18) among receivers with more than 20 catches.

Up next: vs. Chicago Bears, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (London)

32. Cleveland Browns (1-4)​

Last week: 30
Sunday: Lost to Washington Commanders 34-13

Browns fans can only wish this season was some kind of dystopian fantasy. After Sunday’s game, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said “we’re not changing quarterbacks” even though pretty much everyone thinks they should. Deshaun Watson, who is actually outplaying his fantasy draft position if anybody cared (and nobody does), is 28th among starters in passer rating (74.8). Watson’s struggles are the biggest reason wide receiver Amari Cooper is only 114th in fantasy scoring (10.6 ppg) after being drafted 54th.

Up next: at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET