Week 5 Start Em, Sit Em

Armando Marsal

Fantasy Writer

@Armando_fbguru on twitter

Teams on bye: Dolphins and Raiders

Quarterbacks

Start Em

Philip Rivers, SD vs. NYJ - Rivers is off to a great start this season. He has 1,155 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and just one interception in the first four games. He hasn't thrown a pick since week 1, and has thrown two or more touchdowns for three consecutive weeks. His next matchup is against the Jets defense which has allowed the third most passing touchdowns (9), and have yet to intercept a pass this season. Rivers is coming off of the biggest game of the year for him and has another favorable matchup. The Jets do a good job at stopping the run, so we can expect that the Chargers offense will pick them apart through the air.

Other Starts

Jay Cutler, CHI at CAR

Ben Roethlisberger, PIT at JAC

Russell Wilson, SEA at WAS

Matthew Stafford, DET vs. BUF

Sleeper Alert: Blake Bortles, JAC vs. PIT

Sit Em

Kirk Cousins, WAS vs. SEA - After a huge Week 3 game against the Eagles, Cousins threw for 257 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions in Week 4 against the Giants. He has been a streaky QB every time he's had his number called out. It's hard for fantasy owners to trust this kind of QB on a weekly basis, but even tougher when he faces a defense like the Seahawks. Granted, they are playing at Washington. However, it's too risky to even consider playing Cousins this week. The Seahawks held Aaron Rodgers in check in Week 1, and did a solid job against Peyton Manning in Week 3. Let's be realistic here, Cousin's is no Manning or Rodgers. The Seahawks have allowed the six fewest passing yards this season. It may be another tough week for Cousins.

Other Sits

Tom Brady, NE vs. CIN

Cam Newton, CAR vs. CHI

Alex Smith, KC at SF

Mike Glennon, TB at NO

Bust Alert: Andy Dalton, CIN at NE

Running Backs

Start Em

Rashad Jennings, NYG vs. ATL - The Giants and the Falcons will face off in Week 5. The Falcons defense has allowed nine rushing touchdown this season, that's four more than any other team. The Falcons defense also allows 153.5 rushing yards per game. Bottom line, they can't stop the run. Jennings didn't see many carries in Week 4 because the Giants took an early lead and never looked back. However, it's unlikely they will be able to contain the Falcons offense. Through four games, Jennings has 433 total yards, two touchdowns, and nine receptions. So far this season, Jennings has scored in every other game. Based on that, he's due for a score this week.

Other Starts

Andre Ellington, ARI at DEN

Frank Gore, SF vs. KC

Khiry Robinson, NO vs. TB

Zac Stacy, STL at PHI

Sleeper alert: Bishop Sankey, TEN vs. CLE

Sit Em

Donald Brown, SD vs. NYJ - Brown was one of the biggest commodities off waivers in Week 3. He was expected to step in, and carry the work load for the injured Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead. In his first start he produced solid numbers. He carried the ball 31 times for 63 yards, and caught five passes for 27 yards. However, last week he struggled immensely running the ball. He only rushed for 19 yards on 10 carries. This week he's facing a stingy Jets run defense that is allowing just 63.3 rushing yards per game, which is the fewest in the NFL. This is not an appealing matchup for Brown and it's too risky to take a chance with him.

Other Sits

C.J. Spiller, BUF at DET

Stevan Ridley, NE vs. CIN

Trent Richardson, IND vs. BAL

Toby Gerhart, JAC vs. PIT

Bust Alert: Alfred Morris, WAS vs. SEA

Wide Receivers

Start Em

Victor Cruz, NYG vs. ATL - Cruz has now gone for over 100 receiving yards in back-to-back games, and there's a strong possibility he can make it three in a row. After a rocky Week 1, Cruz has caught five or more passes in the last three weeks. This week, he's at home against the Falcons defense that is allowing 282.8 receiving yards per game. The Giants offense is finally clicking and appear to be getting better with the new offensive scheme. We've only seen the "salsita dance" once this season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see it make another appearance this weekend.

Other Starts

Michael Crabtree, SF vs. KC

Steve Smith, BAL at IND

Emmanuel Sanders, DEN vs. ARI

Percy Harvin, SEA at WAS

Sleeper Alert: Brian Quick, STL at PHI

Sit Em

Pierre Garcon, WAS vs. SEA - Garcon has been one of the many frustrating players to own this season. After a season where he didn't catch less than five passes in a single game, Garcon has caught two or less passes in two of his first four games this season. The going gets tougher this week as he'll be facing one of the better corners in the NFL, Richard Sherman. Consistency was the main reason many drafted Garcon this season, and he's been far from consistent. There are much better matchups and options this week than to take your chances with Garcon.

Other Sits

Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN at GB

Eric Decker, NYJ at SD

Torrey Smith, BAL at IND

Dwayne Bowe, KC at SF

Bust Alert: Sammy Watkins, BUF at DET

Tight Ends

Start Em

Larry Donnell, NYG vs. ATL

Antonio Gates, SD vs. NYJ

Greg Olsen, CAR vs. CHI

Sit Em

Jason Witten, DAL vs. HOU

Coby Fleener, IND vs. BAL

Eric Ebron, DET vs. BUF

Defense

Start Em

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings

San Diego Chargers vs. New York Jets

Sit Em

New England Patriots vs. Cincinnati Bengals

New York Jets at San Diego Chargers