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FFL: Week 6 | NFL: Week 6

Free agent S Tashaun Gipson intends to play again despite suspension

Mon Jul 8 3:09pm ET
Field Level Media

NFL free agent safety Tashaun Gipson Sr. blamed a supplement for his recent suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance abuse policy and says it will not hold him back from playing a 13th season, according to a statement he released Monday.

Gipson was suspended six games by the NFL last Tuesday after violating the league's performance-enhancing substance abuse policy.

"During this offseason I took a supplement one time, which I thought to be completely safe and well within any of the NFL's policies," Gipson said in Monday's statement. "It was in no way related to performance, training, or gaining an advantage of any kind at any time."

Gipson expressed respect for the game and his fellow players, while saying he will not appeal the decision.

"The NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances is clear, and I take full responsibility for anything I put into my body. It is with great disappointment that I accept this suspension, and I do so knowing that I have never even attempted to cheat the game. I look forward to returning for my 13th NFL season and helping a team compete for a championship."

The suspension will not go into effect until the regular season, if and when Gipson signs with a team. The former Pro Bowler in 2014, while a member of the Cleveland Browns, still can participate in all preseason activities, including games.

In 12 NFL seasons, Gipson has 684 tackles, 33 interceptions and three TDs in 173 games (165 starts) for the Browns (2012-15), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-18), Houston Texans (2019), Chicago Bears (2020-21) and 49ers after going undrafted out of Wyoming.

The 33-year-old, who reportedly had been considering retirement, started all 33 games he played in over the last two seasons for the 49ers, making 121 tackles with six interceptions.

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Bender's Starts/Sits: Week 6

Player Notes
Bub Means Oct 14 4:30am ET
Bub Means

Wide receiver Bub Means scored his first touchdown as a pro in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The rookie out of Pitt snagged a ten-yard toss from fellow fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler as Means was heading out of the side of the end zone and got both feet down before his momentum carried him out of bounds. Means stepped into the game to replace Chris Olave (concussion) who left after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Saints' third play of the game. Means ended up with 45 receiving yards and tied Alvin Kamara for the team lead in targets (eight) and receptions (five). With the Saints next playing on Thursday night, it is unlikely that Olave will be ready to go which would allow Means to continue where he left off. Before fantasy managers rush to the waiver wire, consider Rattler's inconsistent performance and that New Orleans will be facing the Denver Broncos who have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.

From RotoBaller

Rashid Shaheed Oct 14 4:20am ET
Rashid Shaheed

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed scored a 54-yard punt return touchdown in the team's 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A combination of poor angles, good blocking, and Shaheed's speed allowed the receiver to make his path to the end zone easy. Things did not go as smoothly as part of the offense, though. Shaheed was targeted seven times but had just one reception for 11 yards with rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler filling in for the injured Derek Carr (oblique). Rattler showed the ability to make deeper passes intermittently throughout the game but his accuracy was maddingly inconsistent and Shaheed wound up paying the price. New Orleans will face the Denver Broncos' stingy secondary in Week 7. Rattler will draw another start but Shaheed will serve as the team's primary receiver as it is unlikely that Chris Olave (concussion) will clear the league's concussion protocol before the Thursday night matchup.

From RotoBaller

Spencer Rattler Oct 14 4:10am ET
Spencer Rattler

Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler was dealt a loss in his professional debut as the New Orleans Saints fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 51-27. Rattler went 22-for-40 for 243 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions and gained 27 yards on four carries. Rattler started the game with a 27-yard strike to Juwan Johnson but followed it up with a fumbled snap (which he recovered) on the next play. So it went for the fifth-round pick, alternating between impressive displays of arm strength (often while on the run) and wildly inaccurate throws. Rattler was surprisingly efficient to start, completing 11 of his first 14 attempts, though as Tampa turned up the pressure as the game went on Rattler found it harder and harder to remain effective. It is worth noting that Rattler was without Chris Olave (concussion) for much of the game after the receiver took a helmet-to-helmet hit just three plays into the Saints' first possession. New Orleans kicks off Week 7 when they face the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Rattler should draw another start but he will be hard to trust on a short week.

From RotoBaller

Alvin Kamara Oct 14 4:10am ET
Alvin Kamara

Running back Alvin Kamara took 13 carries for 40 yards on the ground and caught five of his eight targets for another 24 in the Saints' 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kamara also found the end zone in the second quarter for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season (seventh overall). With Tampa seemingly scoring at will, New Orleans was playing catch-up for much of the game and subsequently abandoned the run. Similar to Week 5's showing against Kansas City, Kamara was hard-pressed to find room to run as the Saints' offensive line could not open up any lanes for the back against a dominating defensive front. New Orleans gets a few days' rest before opening up Week 7 against the Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Considering the short week and the opponent, the Saints will probably be best served to get the NFL's touch leader more involved again, especially since receiver Chris Olave (concussion) is unlikely to clear the concussion protocol in time to be active.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Oct 14 3:40am ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton led the team with six receptions for 57 yards in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals but couldn't find the end zone. Slayton averaged 9.5 yards per catch, with his longest reception going for 15 yards, and he was targeted 11 times, including a key pass interference penalty drawn in the end zone that set up a touchdown at the one-yard line. Despite his involvement, the Giants' offensive woes limited his fantasy impact to 8.7 points. While Malik Nabers is out, Slayton remains a solid deep-league flex option due to his target share, but his upside will depend on better red-zone execution from the Giants' offense.

From RotoBaller

Wan'Dale Robinson Oct 14 3:30am ET
Wan'Dale Robinson

New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson was a consistent target in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, though he couldn't find the end zone. Robinson caught five of his 11 targets for 50 yards, averaging 10 yards per reception, with a longest catch of 15 yards. Despite his solid involvement, the Giants' overall offensive struggles capped his fantasy output at 7.5 points, leaving managers wanting more. As a reliable short-to-intermediate option, Robinson's target volume makes him an option as a flex in PPR, but his ceiling remains limited without more scoring opportunities.

From RotoBaller

Tyrone Tracy Jr. Oct 14 3:20am ET
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. provided a spark in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, contributing both as a rusher and a receiver. Tracy hauled in six receptions for 57 yards while adding 50 yards on the ground, including a one-yard scamper for his lone rushing touchdown. His versatility was key, but his 2.9 yards per carry highlights some inefficiency in the running game. Despite not finding the end zone as a receiver, Tracy's dual-threat performance netted 19.7 fantasy points, making him an intriguing flex option for fantasy managers with Devin Singletary injured.

From RotoBaller

Daniel Jones Oct 14 3:10am ET
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones struggled in Sunday's 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, failing to find the end zone through the air or on the ground. Jones completed 22 of 41 passes for just 190 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, averaging a meager 5.0 yards per attempt. He added 56 rushing yards, which helped pad his fantasy output, but two sacks and an overall lack of offensive efficiency limited his impact to just 12.8 fantasy points. Despite his mobility, Jones' poor passing performance continues to hold back his fantasy value, making him a risky QB option moving forward, especially against stronger defenses.

From RotoBaller

Alec Pierce Oct 14 1:30am ET
Alec Pierce

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce saw four targets in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans but could not reel any of them in. Despite the nonexistent production, Pierce saw the highest snap share of any WR, playing 62 snaps and running 33 routes. Despite his high snap share, Pierce has kept a low target share in the offense through the first six weeks, with his production coming primarily from deep shot passes from QBs Joe Flacco and Anthony Richardson. While none of those four targets materialized in Sunday's win, Pierce's usage makes him a viable option moving forward. All that in mind, Pierce can be viewed as a WR4/5 in the team's Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Adonai Mitchell Oct 14 1:20am ET
Adonai Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell caught two of his four targets for nine yards in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Mitchell once again saw a limited snap share in the matchup, playing just 15 snaps and running a total of 11 routes. Mitchell appears to be the WR4 option in this offense, which will translate into little fantasy relevancy should he stay in that role. Unless there is an injury to Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, or Mitchell earns additional playing time otherwise, he does not make for a viable fantasy option. The rookie is better left on the bench in Week 7 when the Colts take on the Miami Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Hunter Henry Oct 14 1:10am ET
Hunter Henry

New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry caught three of five targets for 41 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. The veteran pass-catcher served as a solid security blanket for rookie quarterback Drake Maye in his first career start, and the two continue to form a solid rapport in the passing attack. This was just Henry's second game of the season with at least three catches, five targets, or 33 yards. The touchdown reception was also his first since Week 15 of the 2023 season. Heading into Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Henry ranks as a mid-to-low TE2 for fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Oct 14 1:10am ET
Joe Flacco

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco was named the starter on Sunday morning and completed 22 of his 38 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. Flacco also threw one interception in the matchup. Flacco hit Josh Downs on a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and the Colts didn't score another touchdown until the fourth quarter when he found Michael Pittman Jr. on a ten-yard touchdown grab. The 39-year-old didn't jump off the box score with just 189 yards through the air, but that shouldn't be much of a cause for panic given the Titans' secondary has allowed the fewest passing yards so far this season. It's unclear who the starter will be moving forward, but Flacco would make for a solid streaming option once again in Week 7 should he get the start against the Miami Dolphins.

From RotoBaller

Antonio Gibson Oct 14 1:10am ET
Antonio Gibson

New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson registered 19 rushing yards on 13 carries during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. He also caught three of four targets for an additional 24 yards through the air. Gibson earned his second consecutive start this week with Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) sidelined. Despite setting a new season-high in both rushes and touches, Gibson struggled to produce and was significantly inefficient on the ground. Through the air, he was merely a modest contributor. All in all, we'd like to see more production from Gibson before we can trust him in fantasy football, even with Stevenson out. It's too early to tell what the Patriots' backfield dynamic will look like for Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Oct 14 1:00am ET
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte caught all three of his targets for 59 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's loss to the Houston Texans. The highlight of his performance was a 40-yard catch that represented not only Boutte's first career touchdown reception but also rookie quarterback Drake Maye's first career touchdown pass. It was promising to see the second-year receiver demonstrate a quick rapport with Maye as the quarterback made his first NFL start. Boutte ended up playing a career-high 83 percent of offensive snaps and ran 32 routes; both of those marks were the highest among Patriots pass-catchers in Week 6. Going forward, Boutte, who was previously off the fantasy radar in all leagues, may start to generate some speculative buzz in dynasty formats.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Lynn Polk Oct 14 1:00am ET
Ja'Lynn Polk

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk converted four targets into just one catch for four yards during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. It was an underwhelming showing from Polk, who had started to generate significant buzz after playing 100 percent of offensive snaps last Sunday and commanding 13 targets over his previous two games. Instead, Polk took a step back this week, registering just the one catch while falling behind Kayshon Boutte in terms of both snap share (65 percent) and routes run (29). Interestingly, he operated ahead of Douglas in terms of snaps and routes but was drastically out-produced by him, too. Going forward, fantasy managers should view Polk as an inconsistent wide receiver option in fantasy football. He is worth stashing in dynasty leagues but can probably be dropped in most 12-team redraft formats.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Goodson Oct 14 1:00am ET
Tyler Goodson

Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson carried the ball eight times for 51 yards in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. He also caught four of his five targets for another 14 yards through the air. Goodson once again played a secondary role to running back Trey Sermon, getting out-carried 18-to-eight. That being said, Goodson was the much more efficient and productive back in the matchup and was the only back to see any work in the receiving game. Goodson could make for a decent start in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins if Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is inactive, but likely won't see much action if Taylor is a go.

From RotoBaller

Troy Franklin Oct 14 12:50am ET
Troy Franklin

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin finished Denver's 23-16 Week 6 loss to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday with two catches on three targets for 31 yards and his first career NFL touchdown. He added one carry for a five-yard pickup. Franklin came into the contest with just five catches on 12 targets for 29 yards in his first five games. The 21-year-old only saw three targets and had a very modest three grabs and 31 yards, but his touchdown is a reminder that both he and fellow rookie pass-catcher Devaughn Vele, who led the Broncos with 78 receiving yards, will see more opportunities with Josh Reynolds (finger) on Injured Reserve and missing at least three more games. The best thing that Franklin has going for him as a dynasty/keeper stash is his chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, dating back to their days playing together for the Oregon Ducks in college.

From RotoBaller

Trey Sermon Oct 14 12:50am ET
Trey Sermon

Indianapolis Colts running back Trey Sermon carried the ball 18 times for just 29 yards in the team's 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. He was also not targeted at all in the receiving game. Sermon once again saw the bulk of the work in Jonathan Taylor's (ankle) absence but was inefficient with the opportunities, averaging just 1.6 yards per carry. Sermon out-touched running back Tyler Goodson 18-to-eight, but Goodson was able to turn his eight carries into 51 total yards. It's unclear when Taylor will return from his injury, but with Tyler Goodson having another strong outing, fantasy managers can expect him to continue to eat into the workload between these two backs. Sermon is off the radar in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins if Taylor is a go, and is at best an RB3/4 option if Taylor is once again inactive.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Oct 14 12:50am ET
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye completed 20 of 33 passes for 243 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions during his first career start in Week 6 against the Houston Texans. He also rushed for 38 yards, took four sacks, and lost a fumble. The No. 3 overall pick played far from perfect football on Sunday, but he showed numerous flashes of potential while leading scoring drives and converting down-and-distance opportunities against a relentless Texans pass rush. He also showed confidence and touch when throwing his deep ball as he connected with Kayshon Boutte for a 40-yard score. Going forward, Maye has the arm talent and rushing ability needed to survive both as an NFL starter and in fantasy football. He'll jump into the low-end QB2 tier ahead of next week's clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Oct 14 12:50am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas caught six of nine targets for 92 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. The touchdown reception was the first of Douglas' career and came on a fourth-quarter catch-and-run thrown to him by rookie quarterback Drake Maye. While Douglas' large role within the Patriots' offense isn't necessarily anything new, it's very promising to see him lead the unit in targets, catches, and receiving yards even after the Patriots switched quarterbacks from Jacoby Brissett to Maye. Evidently, Douglas is a central piece of the Patriots' offensive game plan week in and week out. With his high-volume role and an apparent quarterback upgrade, Douglas has suddenly become a solid WR3 option in fantasy football. He's worth starting in many 12-team leagues next week versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

From RotoBaller