Fantasy Football Week 6 Wide Receiver Preview: Alec Pierce the latest rookie to show life

It has been an up-and-down season for the 2022 rookie class of wide receivers. Garrett Wilson, Drake London, and Jahan Dotson started off on fire, but none of them rank inside my top 30 wide receivers this week. Chris Olave is currently the top rookie at WR17, but he’s also currently in concussion protocols. Romeo Doubs and George Pickens have each shown flashes but look to be caught in muddy target situations. There’s still very much to like about this group, and I’m optimistic almost across the board. And in Week 5 another rookie emerged who just might be the best rookie option in Week 6.

Alec Pierce caught eight of nine targets against the Broncos for 81 yards. It was his second game in a row with at least 12 PPR Fantasy points, and Matt Ryan raved about the rookie. While we don’t really believe Pierce will threaten Michael Pittman’s role as WR1, the pass volume in Indianapolis has surged to a level where he may not have to.

• Week 6 previews: QB | RB | TE

Matt Ryan has now thrown at least 37 passes in four of five games this season. To put that in perspective, last year Carson Wentz attempted 37 passes or more passes four times all last season. If this volume continues, there’s plenty of room for Pierce to see seven or eight targets a game and deliver WR3 production. Especially on a week with Davante Adams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Brandin Cooks on a bye, Pierce’s emergence is a welcome sight. He’s a high-end No. 3 wide receiver this week. He’ll be the same moving forward if the volume holds up.

Here is the rest of the Week 6 WR Preview:

Week 6 WR Preview

The following players are not being projected to play Week 6 at this time. Here’s what it means:

• 58 — DK Metcalf has never posted more than 58 receiving yards against the Cardinals. We expect that to change in Week 6.

• 10 — Darnell Mooney leads the Bears with 10 receptions, the 127th most in the NFL. 
• 53.1 — Fantasy points per game surrendered to wide receivers by the Ravens in the last three weeks, the most in the NFL. 
  
  
• 74 – Jakobi Meyers has caught 74% of his targets in 2022. 
  
  
• 1 — Three teams have only given up one receiving touchdown to wide receivers in 2022: Texans, Bengals and Broncos. 
• 7 — Devin Duvernay saw a career-high seven targets in Week 5. He’s a No. 2 receiver if Rashod Bateman remains out.
• 4 — Gabe Davis scored four touchdowns the last time he faced the Chiefs. He still has a low floor, but you’re starting him in this shootout.