Week 6 of the Page 2 Fantasy Football Challenge is upon us. Each week, a guest picker chooses a QB, RB and WR. The only players off-limits are those selected by the previous week's guest picker. The guest — Will Ragatz, a freshman journalism student and aspiring sportswriter at Northwestern, who was born and raised in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood — will go head-to-head against Star Tribune writer Michael Rand, who is not allowed to pick anyone projected to score in the top 10 by NFL.com at their respective positions:
WILL RAGATZ'S WEEK 6 FANTASY PICKS
QB: Tom Brady, Patriots
NFL.com QB projection: No. 2
Matchup: Colts
Brady is averaging 26 fantasy points per game this season and is facing a Colts defense that is 28th in passing yards allowed per game. Plus, Brady will be motivated by the Deflategate scandal that began in last year's AFC Championship against Indy.
RB: Devonta Freeman, Falcons
NFL.com RB projection: No. 3
Matchup: Saints
Freeman has scored a ridiculous 94 fantasy points over his past three games and should have no problem scoring a couple more touchdowns against the Saints on Thursday Night Football.
WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Texans
NFL.com WR projection: No. 5
Matchup: Jaguars
Hopkins has been a monster this season, leading the NFL in receiving yards despite having Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer as his QBs. He should reach 100 yards and a touchdown against the Jags.
MICHAEL RAND's WEEK 6 FANTASY PICKS
QB: Joe Flacco, Ravens
NFL.com QB projection: No. 12
Matchup: 49ers
"Is Joe Flacco elite?" is an amusing NFL question that has approached inside joke status. For my fantasy purposes here, I never get to pick guys who are elite because I'm limited to players outside the top 10. That said, I think Flacco will have an elite day against the porous 49ers pass defense.
RB: DeMarco Murray, Eagles
NFL.com RB projection: No. 11
Matchup: Giants
Murray had easily his most productive game in an Eagles uniform last week, going for 120 combined rushing/receiving yards with a TD against the Saints. Maybe the Eagles are figuring it out?
WR: A.J. Green, Bengals
NFL.com WR projection: No. 13
Matchup: Bills
Green has been feast or famine this season, putting up a huge game a few weeks back at Baltimore but otherwise being just average in fantasy. I say he goes big against the Bills.
SCOREBOARD WEEK 5 FANTASY RECAP (USING NFL.COM DEFAULT SCORING METHOD)
Winner: Kyle Ratke — Sam Bradford (17.6), Frank Gore (15.8), Julian Edelman (18.0). Total: 51.4.
Loser: Michael Rand — Nick Foles (1.8), Justin Forsett (23.0), Odell Beckham Jr. (18.4). Total: 43.2.
Overall standings: Guest pickers 4-1.
