With four teams on a bye, setting your fantasy football lineup will be especially challenging in Week 5. Recent injuries and the continued use of running backs by committee are also making it hard to decide who should be in
With four teams on a bye, setting your fantasy football lineup will be especially challenging in Week 5. Recent injuries and the continued use of running backs by committee are also making it hard to decide who should be in your starting lineup. We’ve analyzed this week’s matchups and have several suggestions that could help you determine who to start in Week 5 of your Fantasy Football season.
START ‘EM
Quarterback
— Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay vs. New England
Winston has thrown for an average of 330 passing yards over the past two weeks and with top receiving weapons like Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and Cameron Brate, he should be able to take advantage of a Patriots defense that has given up at least 300 passing yards to every QB they’ve met this season.
— Jay Cutler, Miami vs Tennessee
The Titans give up the fifth most average passing yards per game, and opposing QBs have scored four TDs against them in each of the past two weeks. Look for Cutler to bounce back against a Titans team that lacks a pass rush and has allowed the second most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks.
Running back
— Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
Fournette is averaging just over 20 carries and has scored a TD every game this season. He’s also averaging slightly more than 31 receiving yards per game. The Steelers are giving up 4.6 yards per carry (YPC) and have yielded the ninth most FPPG to opposing RBs.
— Latavius Murray, Minnesota at Chicago
With Dalvin Cook’s season over, Murray should lead the Vikings in carries this week. He hasn’t always played up to expectations, but rushed for 1,000 yards in 2015, catches the ball out of the backfield and scored 12 TDs last season. The Bears have given up a TD to an RB in each game this year.
— Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland vs. NY Jets
We recommended you sit Crowell last week, however with the overall uncertainty surrounding RBs this week, we need to give him a second look. The Jets have given up the third most FPPG to opposing RBs, as well as 4.7 YPC and an average of 147 rushing yards per game.
Wide receiver
— Chris Hogan, New England at Tampa Bay
Injuries have hurt the Buccaneers’ defense and they’ve given up the most FPPG to WRs. Hogan has the second most red zone targets in football and has caught at least one TD pass in three straight games.
— Brandon Marshall, NY Giants vs. LA Chargers
QB Eli Manning has targeted Marshall 21 times in the last two weeks and he’s produced double digit fantasy points in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues in those games. The Chargers have given up the second most TDs (six) to WRs.
— Pierre Garcon, San Francisco at Indianapolis
Garcon is averaging more than eight targets per game and leads the 49ers in receptions with 20. The Colts have given up the fourth most total yardage to WRs this season.
Tight end
— Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NY Jets vs. Cleveland
The Browns have yielded the most receptions, and second most FPPG to TEs. Jenkins has 10 targets and nine receptions in his first two games.
— Hunter Henry/Antonio Gates, LA Chargers at NY Giants
Henry and Gates both have an opportunity to score a TD. The Giants, have allowed the most FPPG to TEs, and have surrendered at least one TD to TEs in each game this season.
SIT ‘EM
Quarterback
— Andy Dalton, Bengals vs. Bills
The Bills defense has allowed just one passing TD this season. They’ve recorded 11 sacks, and with the Bengals having allowed 14 sacks, Dalton will likely be under pressure for much of Sunday afternoon.
— Cam Newton, Detroit vs. Carolina
The Lions defense is second in the league with seven interceptions, and they’ve given up the fourth fewest FPPG to opposing QBs. Newton threw for 316 yards and ran for 44 more in Week 4, however opposing QBs have just one rushing yard against the Lions this season.
Running back
— Eddie Lacy/Thomas Rawls, Seattle at LA Rams
Seattle RBs have a great matchup against the Rams, who’ve surrendered the most FPPG and TDs (6) to opposing backs. However, we don’t yet know who’ll get the majority of carries out of the Seahawks’ backfield. Lacy rushed for 4.73 YPC in limited work in Week 4, however Pete Carroll implied that Rawls could be his lead back. This is a situation that needs to be monitored as game time approaches.
Wide receiver
— Sammy Watkins, Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle
Other than Week 3, Watkins has averaged three targets and 35 receiving yards per game. The Seahawks have allowed the eighth fewest FPPG to WRs, and the fourth fewest average passing yards per game.
— Tyreek Hill, Kansas City at Houston
The Patriots had four passing TDs against the Texans in Week 3, but other than that, no other receiver has caught a TD pass against them. Hill is a boom or bust receiver playing against a Texans defense that has been particularly tough at home, having given up an average of just under 67 yards to receivers.
Tight end
— Jason Witten, Dallas vs. Green Bay
After getting off to a hot start, Witten has just one catch in each of his last two games. The Packers have given up the second fewest FPPG to tight ends. They also have yet to allow a TD to the position this season.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, http://FNTSY.com
