There are some very familiar names atop the Week 6 touches leaderboard. The drama this week deals mainly with players who were just off of this list. One RB -- who I'm not ready to believe in yet -- is coming off a near 150-yard week. There's one running back timeshare we finally have an answer on, and the answer is don't play either of them. And, of course, we will have your obligatory "Mike Shanahan hates your fantasy team" update. I credit my new best friend and "Sons of Anarchy" brother Adam Rank with the phrase "Shanahanigans." Now that's a t-shirt ... patent pending.
TOUCHES ANALYSIS
» James Starks (15) and Ryan Grant (11) combined for 26 touches against the Rams, but had very little fantasy production. This is a huge development. If you can't take the pressure off of Aaron Rodgers by running the football against the Rams -- who had been giving up 179 per game on the ground -- you're never going to run it. Starks and Grant are really iffy plays going forward, and I don't think they're anything more than risky bye week flex plays. That just kills me because I either drafted or traded for both of these guys earlier this year. ...
» Rashard Mendenhall, it's been a long time. With 146 yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars, it now looks like he'll still be the Steelers' main option going forward. Just don't expect this every week. I'll believe he's back if he has a big week against Arizona, who's giving up almost 120 yards per game on the ground. One week isn't going to convince me he's back, but I'm much more okay with him as my No. 2 or flex play than I have been. ...
» How much longer can the Jets keep giving Shonn Greene 20-plus touches a game? Those 74 yards on 21 carries doesn't get it done. I've been saying this for awhile, and eventually the Jets are going to have to go to someone else because the ground-and-pound approach isn't adding any dynamic to the Jets' offense. It looks ordinary. Greene has very little trade value, but if he's available and you have a space on your roster, pick up Joe McKnight. He's been the most exciting player on the team and Rex Ryan is finding different ways to get him the football. His touches will increase and he could be a late-season boon. ...
» Earnest Graham had 19 touches for Tampa Bay -- totaling 109 rush yards and 22 receiving. That was even better than I thought. I had him projected for 8-10 points and he wound up with more than 13. He's still a good play going forward. LeGarrette Blount's injury right now looks like he'll be out a couple more games. In fact, I'd be surprised if he even traveled to London for this week's game. Graham is a solid flex play or even a No. 2 this week and maybe one more after that. But when Blount is healthy, it's his job. ...
» BenJarvus Green-Ellis had 15 touches, compared to just three carries overall for Stevan Ridley. Even though it wasn't a big day for "The Law Firm," for now it looks like it's BJGE going forward. He's a good flex play and Ridley should be on your bench. ...
» Tim Hightower was back in action and expected to start Sunday, but Ryan Torain got the start for the Redskins. Of course, I can't tell you how upset we all were after hearing that. Well, Michael Fabiano was more upset than me, because he has Hightower on one of his teams and he used a two-minute commercial break to call his sister to change his lineup to put Hightower in. So what can we learn from all of this? Don't try to get in Redskins coach Mike Shanahan's head. As much gamesmanship as he likes to play -- and I think in his next life he'll be a three-card monte dealer, except instead of finding the queen you have to find his starting RB ("Find Olandis Gary, find Olandis Gary, find Olandis Gary. Oh, nope that card is Mike Anderson. Sorry.") Deal with Shanahan like you would with every team. You have "RB X" who has been the starter but has been injured and disappointing, and you have "RB Y" who is coming off a 135-yard game. Start "RB Y." Normally we like to go really deep with our fantasy analysis. Today, I'm giving you permission not to. Be surfacey. Play the hot guy.
See Jason Smith on NFL Fantasy Live, airing Sundays at 11:30 a.m. ET on the Red Zone Channel, and Tuesday-Friday on NFL Network at 2 p.m. ET and 12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT. He writes Fantasy and other NFL pith on NFL.com daily. Talk to him on Twitter @howaboutafresca. He only asks you never bring up when the Jets play poorly.
