Info vs. Emotions: Persistence is a advantage. Till it is not.

Typically ready for somebody to point out up or for a scenario to develop turns into a waste of time, quite than an train in diligence. It is such a high quality line to stroll. Realizing when to chop bait and when to hold on. What if the promise materializes the second after you've got walked away? Conversely, what in case you're left checking your watch and tapping your foot solely to comprehend there's immediately egg in your face?

The timing of those selections is totally particular person and will be made solely on a case-by-case foundation. We do have tendencies, although. For instance, I do know that I am stubbornly loyal. To a fault, or so my family and friends would argue. Whether or not it is a byproduct of not desirous to be confirmed mistaken or of remaining eternally hopeful — or each? — I am undecided. I simply know that one time I spent 70 minutes at an Olive Backyard anticipating a man named “Ben” to point out up, and it wasn't till the waiter checked out me with pity and mentioned, “I do not suppose anybody is coming” that the change in me flipped and I made a beeline for the door (leaving a 40% tip, in fact).

That sucked. It was wildly embarrassing. Nevertheless it was additionally a worthwhile expertise. As a result of I noticed that thumb-twiddling was not a passion I used to be occupied with sustaining, whatever the potential end result.

Oddly, I used to be reminded of this throughout final week's recording of the “Info vs Emotions” podcast. Jayme Eisenberg joined the present and when requested what recommendation he would give managers who have been massaging 1-3 or 0-4 information, he answered merely, “shake issues up.” The rationale being that no matter was occurring wasn't working. Full cease. That ought to be sufficient.

Admittedly, a commerce or a benching would not assure victory, however it will alter the expertise. That is alleged to be enjoyable, in spite of everything.

Making a pivot or shifting the power offers a reset. It makes room for one thing new. Maybe a set of circumstances we hadn't but thought-about. Disruption refreshes our focus, renews our sense of risk, and affords us revamped alternatives. It breathes life again into our toil, making it really feel much less like work and extra like an journey.

There's a likelihood that cussed teaching retains TreVeyon Henderson in Rhamondre Stevenson's shadow for the remainder of the season. Commerce for him anyway. As a result of the upside might be season-altering. Equally, Christian McCaffrey might be on his option to the RB1 season we projected a 12 months in the past. But when the remainder of your workforce is sinking, then take into account cashing in that worth with the goal of lifting different under-producing gamers in your squad.

Get out of your head and transfer the items round. Not only for the joys of victory, but in addition for the joys of the sport.

Info and Emotions for gamers in Week 6 and past

Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams: QB streaming is alive and properly in 2025 and Stafford has risen to the event. The 37-year-old has cleared 375 passing yards and 25 fantasy factors in back-to-back contests. That is fairly a feat on condition that he managed only a single sport of 25 or extra fantasy factors from 2022 to 2024 (41 video games) and recorded zero efforts of 375 or extra passing yards from 2021 by way of 2024.

Adjustments to each side of the ball have boosted Stafford's passing makes an attempt and effectivity, lifting his general inventory. Having two star large receivers who complement one another brilliantly actually helps. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are combining for a goal share of 60% (50% within the pink zone and 67% in the long run zone), gifting the veteran quarterback a top-six-ranked supporting solid effectivity ranking.

A matchup at Baltimore solely figures to maintain Stafford on the QB1 radar. The Ravens have allowed the second-most fantasy factors to signal-callers. In actual fact, three QBs have registered 27 or extra fantasy factors when going through Attraction Metropolis's best (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and C.J. Stroud). Baltimore's protection has moreover given up 13 passing scores over 5 video games. With the Ravens nonetheless banged up and the Rams coming off a biting loss, Stafford is more likely to preserve the ball within the air, throwing his option to a top-eight positional fantasy end.

Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens' protection could also be a boon to opposing passers, however its ineffectiveness has contributed to the capsizing of its personal offense. Since his monster effort in Week 1, Henry has averaged 7.5 fantasy factors over his previous 4 outings.

Not surprisingly, when Baltimore is up (because it has been for a big a part of Henry's tenure as a Raven), the veteran RB tends to put up juicy stats. The other is true when the workforce is trailing. Particularly, the 31-year-old has averaged 20.9 FPPG, 20 rushes per sport and 122 speeding yards per sport in wins and 13.7 FPPG, 14 rushes per sport and 72 speeding yards per sport in losses. It is no shock, then, that Henry has managed fewer than 11 fantasy factors in 4 straight video games (three of them losses). Per ESPN BET, the Ravens are at present 7.5-point underdogs to the Rams, which does not bode properly for the King's probabilities of a bounce-back in Week 6.

Additional working in opposition to Henry this week is the Rams' formidable run protection. Los Angeles has allowed the third-fewest fantasy factors per sport to backs. Furthermore, L.A. has but to surrender a single speeding rating to the place. Whereas that poses a large impediment in Week 6, probabilities of a rebound after the workforce's Week 7 bye actually exist. Assuming Lamar Jackson returns and the squad heals up by Week 8, the Ravens' complete operation ought to elevate over the again half of 2025. With gettable matchups in opposition to the Bears, Dolphins, Jets and Bengals, Henry presents a possibility to shake up your roster.

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans: Pollard could also be boring, however he has proved to be an honest return on funding. At the moment fantasy's RB25 general (he was the twenty third again chosen in most drafts), the Titans' RB1 has registered double-digit fantasy factors in three consecutive efforts. Recording 17 or extra touches in each sport, the 28-year-old ranks fifth on the place in carries (16.4 per sport). Apparently, Pollard maintained that 17-touch threshold even after Tyjae Spears returned in Week 5.

Coming off a season-high 14.8 fantasy factors and hauling in three grabs in back-to-back contests, Pollard stays startable at Vegas in Week 6. The Raiders have allowed seven speeding scores over their previous three video games. Be warned, nevertheless, that Tennessee's schedule stiffens quickly thereafter. With matchups in opposition to the Colts, Chargers, Texans, Jags, Browns, 49ers and Chiefs (all within the subsequent 10 video games) and understanding that Spears' snap share is more likely to improve, Pollard might emerge as a trade-high goal after this Sunday's tilt.

Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Flacco will not be Joe Burrow, however he's an improve on Jake Browning. Whereas Flacco not often pushed the ball downfield in Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland offense (5.1 YPA), the previous Blue Hen can nonetheless let it rip. He did, in spite of everything, register 15 completions of 20 or extra yards over six video games in 2024. That indicators a possible turnaround for Higgins' fantasy inventory.

The change couldn't come any sooner for the wideout's digital buyers. Higgins has logged a measly 158 receiving yards (34 per sport, WR58) in 2025. For reference, Ja'Marr Chase logged 165 receiving yards in a single effort again in Week 2. Given the generosity displayed by the Bengals' protection, Flacco figures to maintain the ball within the air, usually concentrating on the corps' prime two cross catchers. Nonetheless, endurance stays key in Week 6. The Packers' cross rush has masked an exploitable secondary, however the Bengals' adjustment to a “new regular” may take a minute. As such, take into account Higgins a high-upside flex heading into Sunday's motion.

Isaiah Bond, WR, Cleveland Browns: Dillon Gabriel's promotion in tandem with Cedric Tillman's absence seems to have elevated Bond's offensive presence. The rookie speedster drew a head-turning seven appears (two greater than Jerry Jeudy) within the Browns' first sport at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Gabriel favored his tight ends, as David Njoku (who led the workforce in targets with 9) and Harold Fannin Jr. accounted for 14 of the QB's 33 cross makes an attempt. When inspecting the info, nevertheless, Bond appears to have nabbed the workforce's WR2 spot.

The one different WR focused, along with Bond and Jeudy, was Jamari Thrash. Bond recorded a snap share of 57%, whereas Thrash (who was regarded to simply as soon as) was on the sector for 40% of the workforce's snaps. Moreover, Bond ran 29 routes on 35 dropbacks, second solely to Jeudy's 34 routes (and properly above Thrash's 12). With Tillman on IR till at the least Week 10, Bond has an opportunity to make an eventual impression.

Notably, Pittsburgh has allowed the sixth-most fantasy factors per sport to wideouts (with over 175 yards per sport allowed to the place). Whereas the Browns' tight ends determine to carry the majority of Gabriel's consideration in Week 6 and past, Bond might develop right into a sneaky stash for digital squads trying to construct depth. If Tillman cannot return in time, Bond might additionally show to be a strong stream with matchups on the Jets and versus Baltimore in Weeks 10 and 11. Bond is at present obtainable in additional than 95% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Darren Waller, TE, Miami Dolphins: Waller's post-retirement comeback marketing campaign roared on in Week 5. The transformed large receiver continued to elevate a middling Dolphins offense, securing his third spike in two outings. Waller's 5 catches ranked third on the workforce behind Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane, who collected six balls apiece. Moreover, the 33-year-old's 78 receiving yards trailed solely Waddle's 110 receiving yards (and have been, actually, forward of Waddle's whole till the ultimate 5 minutes of the competition).

Whereas it's kind of regarding that each one 18.8 of Waller's fantasy factors (TE6) got here within the first 20 minutes of the sport, he does seem to have emerged as Tua Tagovailoa's No. 3 choice with Tyreek Hill out of the lineup. Malik Washington drew 5 appears however hauled in simply 4 balls for zero yards. Given Washington's function as a short-yardage receiver (which did not change in Week 5), Waller gives potential buyers decidedly extra upside.

The matchup figures to stiffen versus the Chargers in Week 6. Los Angeles has allowed solely 4 receiving scores in 2025. It's price noting, although, that two of these 4 TDs have gone to the TE place (Travis Kelce in Week 1 and Theo Johnson in Week 4). Nonetheless, Miami's protection ought to preserve Tua throwing, and along with his workforce a 3.5-point underdog, Waller tasks to complete inside the highest 10 fantasy scorers at his place. Given his harm historical past and the state of the tight finish panorama, nevertheless, he could be an honest trade-away candidate for managers comfy streaming the place.

AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks: Talking of streams, your lady has been on a tear the previous two weeks (Mason Taylor and Theo Johnson). Buzz round Barner has been constructing, particularly as he has managed double-digit fantasy factors in back-to-back efforts (12.2 in Week 4 and 24.3 in Week 5). The 23-year-old's 4 receiving scores tie him with Dallas Goedert for probably the most on the place and are tied for the fifth-most within the NFL (behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, George Pickens, Rome Odunze and Emeka Egbuka).

ESPN's Lindsey Thiry, who was reporting from Lumen Subject, joined “Fantasy Soccer Now” headed into the Week 5 video games and shared that the Seahawks deliberate to get the receiving choices behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba extra concerned. That proved to be solely correct, as Barner recorded his highest goal whole of 2025, drawing seven appears (behind simply JSN and Cooper Kupp, who each logged 9). Apparently, Barner has been an everyday offensive participant, managing a snap share of 79% and clearing a snap share of 82% in each sport save the 44-13 blowout versus New Orleans. Along with dominating as an in-line blocker, the previous Wolverine ranks third on the workforce in routes run (forward of No. 3 WR Tory Horton).

At first look, the matchup at Jacksonville would not seem overly attractive. Nonetheless, the Jaguars have been inclined when going through the place, giving up scores to TEs in back-to-back weeks (Jake Tonges in Week 4 and Travis Kelce in Week 5). In what's anticipated to be an in depth sport with a ramification of 1.5 factors, Barner figures to be concerned. He is at present obtainable in 95% of ESPN fantasy leagues.