The Loop Fantasy Football Update Week 6: This won’t be breakout week for Rams’ Akers

UPDATE: 10:52 p.m. Friday
Sometimes you don’t have to wait until Sunday for The Loop’s fantasy advice to prove to be Fake News. Such was our touting of Los Angeles running back Cam Akers possibly having a breakout game for the Rams on Sunday against Carolina.

Well, it turns out Akers will not play because he has taken a few personal days that the Rams have been reluctant to detail. So forget you ever read that here!

A number of notables have already been ruled out for Sunday. Arizona running back James Conner leads the list that includes six pass catchers (New Orleans’ Michael Thomas and Jarvis Landry, Baltimore’s Rashod Bateman, Green Bay’s Christian Watson and the Giants duo of Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney.

And you can likely throw Tampa Bay’s Julio Jones onto that list. He’s officially doubtful right now, which is what the former all pro has been for most of the past two seasons.

ORIGINAL POST: 9:42 a.m. Wednesday
March isn’t the only thing that comes in like a lion. The first bye week of the NFL season will lay waste to fantasy football lineups as a slew of top running backs will have the week off.

This will hit The Loop hard, as our No. 1 player, Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, will be stiff-arming nobody in Week 6. Same goes for Detroit’s D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, Houston rookie Dameon Pierce and Las Vegas’ Josh Jacobs.

All of them are out, creating an acute shortage of running backs.

If you’re heading to the waiver wires to find a one-week fill-in, you’ll be lucky if any of these fellows are still available in your league:

Kenneth Walker (Seahawks) — The rookie from Michigan State had 88 yards and a touchdown last week, when starter Rashaad Penny went down with a broken leg. Walker could have his first 100-yard game against Arizona and will be a No. 1 back the rest of the season.

Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots) — He had a career-best 161 yards last week in the rout of Detroit, and with Damien Harris doubtful this week against Cleveland, Stevenson should see something close to the 25 carries he had last week.

Raheem Mostert (Dolphins) — This former 49er has surpassed Chase Edmonds in the Miami pecking order, and with 113 yards and one TD last week, he was one of the few Dolphins who looked good against the Jets. With Miami’s QB woes, they’ll be relying on Mostert again against the Vikings.

Eno Benjamin (Cardinals) — This Arizona backup has only 131 yards and one TD so far this season, but with James Conner questionable this week, Benjamin could see No. 1 duties against Seattle.

Deon Jackson (Colts) — This guy is worth looking at ONLY if Jonathan Taylor is unavailable to face the Jaguars. But Jackson looked decent with 62 yards rushing and four catches in last Thursday’s unwatchable game in Denver.

SITTING STARS
With bye weeks starting there are fewer candidates for this category. … Jacksonville RB James Robinson could be eclipsed by teammate Travis Etienne this week against the Colts. … The rise of Chiefs rookie Isiah Pacheco is cutting into the worth of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. … No, you can’t count on much from Pittsburgh RB Najee Harris this week against the Buccaneers. … There are almost infinite better QB options this week than Denver’s Russell Wilson vs. the Chargers. … Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb will have to work for every yard against the unbeaten Eagles. With the Dolphins’ quarterbacking issues, don’t expect a ton from receivers Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle. … And two receivers that may have a long week are Cleveland’s Amari Cooper vs. the Patriots and Denver’s Jerry Jeudy against the Chargers.

MATCHUP GAME
After getting upset by New York’s Giants, the Packers will turn to the run more, unleashing both Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon against New York’s Jets. … This could be the week the Rams’ Cam Akers breaks out against the broken Panthers. … The Vikings’ Adam Thielen will again take advantage as Dolphins stress over Justin Jefferson. … Chicago’s Darnell Mooney may have his best game of the season against Washington. … Same goes for Kansas City’s Marquez Valdes-Scantling against the Bills. … Arizona will need a big game from WR Marquise Brown vs. Seattle. … And Pittsburgh’s defense will be just the right tonic for Tampa Bay QB Tom Brady to start looking like himself again.

INJURY WATCH
We start with two quarterbacks who might be close to returning, but won’t this week: Dallas’ Dak Prescott and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa. … At this point there are a slew of questionables, so we’ll just list them by position:
Quarterback: Denver’s Russell Wilson, Washington’s Carson Wentz, New England’s Mac Jones.
Running back: Indy’s Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, Arizona’s James Conner.
Pass catchers: Miami’s Tyreek HIll, Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins, the Saints’ Chris Olave and Michael Thomas, Atlanta’s Drake London and Kyle Pitts, the Chargers’ Keenan Allen, Buffalo’s Isaiah McKenzie and Dawson Knox, Baltimore’s Rashod Bateman, Tampa Bay’s Julio Jones, Pittsburgh’s Pat Freiermuth and Dallas’ Dalton Schultz.

THE DEEPEST SLEEPER
We’re digging very deep this week … and we found an interesting one: Buffalo wide receiver Khalil Shakir. The rookie from the blue turf of Boise State appears to be gaining prominence in the Bills’ league-best offense. Last week in the rout of Pittsburgh, Shakir caught three passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. And he looked good doing it. Probably not someone you will start anytime soon, but getting ANYBODY in the Buffalo offense is a winning proposition.

THE THURSDAY PICK
Commanders at Bears (pick ‘em):
Pick: Bears by 3

BREAKING NEWS
We’ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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