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The Week 6 matchup between the New York Jets and the Arizona Cardinals features two teams that have underachieved so far this season. We've got the fantasy projections courtesy of numberFire.
New York Jets
It’s hard to imagine that wide receiver Brandon Marshall is delivering value to his fantasy owners with how mightily quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is struggling. Fortunately, Marshall is still putting up No. 1 receiver statistics. After being held out of the end zone in the first three games of the season, Marshall has scored in back-to-back contests. He has 12 catches for 203 yards and a pair of scores over that stretch. Arizona is really good against opposing wide receivers, but if a quarterback throwing for two touchdowns compared to nine interceptions over the last three weeks doesn’t slow down Marshall, nothing will. Crossing the 100-yard plateau in Week 6 is going to be tough, but Marshall is the best offensive weapon the Jets have. He will get surprisingly close to his projected totals against the Cardinals.
Running back Matt Forte most likely will not. Since exploding for 100 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, Forte has just 145 rushing yards on 41 carries in the three games since. That’s an average of 3.5 yards per carry. It’s already bad, and his touches are declining. Part of the reason for that is that the Jets are playing from behind, but regardless, it’s affecting fantasy owners negatively. The Jets are likely to be facing a deficit in Week 6, so Forte may cool off even more before he heats up again.
Arizona Cardinals
Running back David Johnson was quoted as saying that he felt unstoppable after his performance against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5. Any player would say that after the numbers Johnson posted in the game. He rushed for a season-high 157 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries and added three catches for an additional 28 yards. He has 108 touches through five games and coach Bruce Arians doesn’t seem concerned. Fantasy owners shouldn’t be either. Johnson was pegged as a fantasy beast coming into this year’s fantasy drafts, and he’s delivering on his potential. The Jets won’t be able to stop him.
Even if they do, there’s a good chance that a veteran receiver like Larry Fitzgerald will capitalize out of the slot. He did exactly that against San Francisco. With Drew Stanton under center no less, Fitzgerald caught six passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers. Carson Palmer is set to start in Week 6 after recovering from a concussion. That should only help Fitzgerald dominate New York. Only one team has given up more fantasy points to wide receivers than the Jets. Fitzgerald could be in for a big game on Monday night.