Here is your week 6 Monday Night Football Preview! This week the Colts trot into San Diego to take on the Chargers.  I think we will see a high scoring close game, but in the end I think whoever has the ball last will win, and my hunch is that will be Philip Rivers.  Here’s how I think the fantasy impact will break down by position!

QUARTERBACKS – Philip Rivers has returned to form in 2013.  He has already thrown for over 1600 yards with 13 touchdowns.  He is currently a top 3 quarterback in standard scoring leagues and is a must start at home this week. Pay no mind to the fact that the Colts have only given up 79 points this season, unless you have Peyton Manning, Rodgers, or Brees too, Rivers is your QB.

Andrew Luck is no victim of the sophomore slump.  He is currently a top 10 fantasy quarterback, and road to home splits are virtually even so don’t hesitate based on the fact that he is playing in San Diego.   The Chargers’ defense is giving up 25 points and 400 yards per game and I see no reason why Luck would help them lower those statistics.  Indy is a run-heavy offense but Luck will get you points between his mix of efficient passing and his ability to run the ball himself when needed. He should be in your lineup Monday night.

RUNNING BACKS – Trent Richardson’s trade to the Colts had fantasy owners excited.  Knowing their first round pick was going to a much better offense only boosted expectations for a huge season.  So far Richardson has not lived up to the billing.  What’s shocking is Indy is built as a run-heavy offense.  I feel now that he’s settling into his new offense and learning the system, Richardson will have a breakout week soon.  Could it be Monday Night? Start Trent this week.

Ryan Mathews returned to practice Friday which means he was cleared after passing all necessary concussion symptoms tests.  This is good news, and added to the fact that the Chargers don’t play until Monday night, Mathews should be in there.  I know Mathews hasn’t been a fantasy stud this year, but the Colts rushing defense allows 4.8 yards per carry, and over 129 rushing yards per game.  This brings up Danny Woodhead who could be the poster boy for PPR running backs.  Woodhead already has 31 catches on the year out of the backfield with 3 touchdowns.  I love Woodhead as a flex play.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT END – Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton are Luck’s go to guys for catches on Monday night.  They should both be started.  I can’t say the same about Coby Fleener at tight end.  He has been incredibly inconsistent and you simply can’t count on throwing him in your tight end or flex spot going forward.  I wouldn’t even have him on my bench as a bye back up at this point.

Antonio Gates at tight end and Vincent Brown are your 2 reliable Chargers receivers in week 6.  Keenan Allen’s good numbers last week need to be looked at closely, as it was a lot of second half yards gained in “catch up mode”.  He shouldn’t be started this week, and the same goes for Eddie Royal, who has clearly fallen out of favor with Rivers.  He peaked weeks ago, and he shouldn’t even really be owned in standard leagues.

DEFENSE – I would not start either of these teams in your fantasy lineup for week 6.  I can see this thing being a heavyweight high scoring slugfest.  Like I said before, San Diego’s defense gives up 25 points and 400 yards per game, and the Colts can’t stop a good running game.  Mathews and Woodhead can do some damage there.

THE BOTTOM LINE: San Diego has won five of the last six matchups versus Indy and I think they’ll win this one at home.  We have to remember the Chargers only lost their three games by 9 points total.  They could just as easily be 5-0 right now.  I like Rivers at home this week, so I am saying the Chargers take this one down in a relatively high scoring game.  For fantasy purposes I think we’ll see some stellar numbers from the running backs and quarterbacks on both sides.