To Start or to Sit? That my fellow fantasy football owners is the question in Week 5. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of going the safe route only to see the guy you were thinking of starting go off or feel the pain of taking the gamble and losing out? To lose! To weep! No more...because you have the Bruno Boys by your side, and with our Week 5 Start 'Em and Sit 'Em, you'll know exactly who to run with and who to avoid. That's right by reading this article perchance to dream of the fantasy football title.
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QUARTERBACKS - START 'EM
Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) @ Houston
Yes, we know Peyton hasn't looked quite like Peyton this season, amassing just 14 fantasy points or less in each of his three starts. But, in all fairness, those 3 games were pretty much Peyton's pre-season as he missed the real pre-season due to knee surgery. Now, he's coming off a bye and gets to face a team he has utterly dominated during his career in the Houston Texans. Just last year, Manning threw for 584 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs against the Texans. This is a week where Peyton will be Peyton.
Jason Campbell (Washington Redskins) @ Philadelphia
Campbell made me look good last week, living up to his Start 'Em billing by going for 231 passing yards and 2 passing TDs in the Redskins' upset over the Dallas Cowboys. For that, I'm rewarding him with another stay here in the Start 'Em section as he gets set to take on another NFC East foe, the Philadelphia Eagles. Campbell has sported a QB rating over 100 in each of the Redskins' last three games as he's grown accustomed to Jim Zorn's offense. If he has another good outing in week 5, which I fully expect him to do, then I won't need to keep placing him here. Everyone will know he's a must start.
Kyle Orton (Chicago Bears) @ Detroit
He's not going to be that stud that carries your fantasy team to victory this week, as a game managing quarterback he can't be. But, if you're looking for a bye week replacement, Orton is intriguing. In Da' Bears last two games, Orton has thrown for 5 TDs; unfortunately, he's also turned it over 6 times in that period. Still, the turnovers aren't as much of a concern this week as the Lions have yet to force an interception. If there's ever a right time to enter Orton into your line-up, this is it.
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QUARTERBACKS - SIT 'EM
Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Buffalo
Three things concern us in regards to Warner this week. One, the seven turnovers in week 4 against the New York Jets. Two, the crushing hit wide receiver Anquan Boldin took at the end of that week 4 game. Reports are that Boldin suffered only a fracture near his sinus, but we'd be surprised if he played in week 5, which means Warner will be without one of his top weapons and Larry Fitzgerald will see plenty of double teams. Finally, the Buffalo Bills pass defense. They rank 6th in the NFL, giving up less than 170 passing yards a game and forcing more interceptions (3) than they are allowing TDs (2).
Jon Kitna (Detroit Lions) vs Chicago
Luckily, the bye week came when it did for Kitna and the Lions as it allowed the quarterback to heal up after hurting his knee in week 3 against the 49ers. Still, while Kitna will start for the Lions, we don't advise starting him on your fantasy squad. I mean, do you really want to rely on a guy that has 7 turnovers to just 5 TDs on the year and who's facing a Bears' defense that gave up only 12 points to Donovan McNabb just a week ago?
JT O'Sullivan (San Francisco 49ers) vs. New England
Along with Mike Martz, JT O'Sullivan has helped to make football exciting once more in the City by the Bay. He's also caught the eye of fantasy owners as he's played his way to the 11th spot among fantasy quarterbacks and earned himself a roster spot on 77.9% of teams in ESPN leagues. Still we advise those 77.9% of owners that own him to keep him on their bench this week as the New England Patriots come to town. With 14 days to prepare for this one, you know Belichick has come up with a game plan to keep O'Sullivan in check.
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RUNNING BACKS - START 'EM
Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings) @ New Orleans
Hamstring issues? No problem! A match-up with a top 10 rush defense? Bring it on! The cards were stacked against Peterson in week 4 as he got set to face a tough Titans' rush defense at less than 100%, and all the back did was put up his best fantasy performance of the year, going for 20 fantasy points. Think of the possibilities for week 5. Not only is Peterson healthier, but he's also facing a New Orleans Saints rush defense that is giving up 122.8 rushing yards per game. Needless to say, we likey!
Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) @ Detroit
Forte racked up 8 fantasy points in week 4 against the Eagles. Not bad for a rookie back that is really his team's only weapon on offense facing a tough run D, but still Forte and his owners alike were a bit disappointed. That's what happens when you go for double digit fantasy points in the first 3 games of your career. Forte has touched the ball 24 or more times in each of Da' Bears first 4 games and should see around that number again in week 5. With 24 touches, Forte can do a lot of damage against a weak Lions' defense.
Earnest Graham (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) @ Denver
Despite Graham getting 20 carries in week 4, be sure that it's still a committee in Tampa Bay. But, even so, that's not something that should worry you this week as Graham and the Bucs will face the 24th ranked rush defense in the league, the Denver Broncos. Allowing 5.0 yards per carry, the Broncos just got run over by Larry Johnson to the tune of 198 yards in week 4. With his 5.9 yard per carry average, look for Graham to do the same in week 5.
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RUNNING BACKS - SIT 'EM
Maurice Jones-Drew / Fred Taylor (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Pittsburgh
After both eclipsing the century mark in week 3 against the Colts, it looked like the dynamic duo was back, but then came week 4. The pair mustered a combined 57 rushing yards against a rush defense that ranks 27th in the league. Indeed, not what their owners were looking for. Things shouldn't get much better in week 5 for the two as they'll battle it out with the Pittsburgh Steelers and their 4th ranked rush defense. A unit that is giving up just 74.0 rushing yards per game.
Rudi Johnson (Detroit Lions) vs. Chicago
It's been a journey, but Rudi is finally back where he feels he belongs, starting in the NFL. After being cut prior to the season by the Cincinnati Bengals, Rudi latched on with the Lions and a solid effort in week 3, in which he went for 83 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards, and a TD, has allowed him to supplant rookie, Kevin Smith, as the team's starter. It's just too bad Rudi's first start comes against the stout rush defense of the Chicago Bears. Rudi still has a chance to pay solid dividends this season, but it won't be this week that he does it.
Julius Jones (Seattle Seahawks) @ New York Giants
In the Seahawks' last two games, Jones has managed to tally 267 rush yards and 2 TDs. The back has been running with a purpose seldom seen while he was a member of the Dallas Cowboys. However, those two games were against two teams, the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams, that rank in the bottom 3rd when it comes to stopping the run. This week, Jones has a much more formidable task as he'll take on the New York Giants and their 7th ranked rush defense. A let down is on the horizon.
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WIDE RECEIVERS - START 'EM
Greg Jennings (Green Bay Packers) vs. Atlanta
First, let's be clear, Jennings' status as a Start 'Em is totally dependent on Aaron Rodgers playing this Sunday. If Rodgers can't go, Jennings is still a solid play, but he's not an absolute sure thing. With that being said, I think it's safe to say that with three straight weeks of 100+ receiving yards, and a 91-yard effort in the week he didn't reach the century mark, Jennings has pretty much demonstrated that's he a stud with our without Brett Favre. Expect him to be one of the top wide outs in week 5 and one of the top wide outs taken in next year's drafts.
Randy Moss (New England Patriots) @ San Francisco
Prior to the season, who would have thought that placing Randy Moss in the Start 'Em section would be a risky move? But, injuries change the landscape of the NFL, and with Tom Brady out and Matt Cassel in, Moss has come nowhere close to being the dominating receiver he was last season. However, we expect Belichick has made it a point over the team's bye week to figure out how to get the ball in Moss' hands, something that will benefit Moss' owners in week 5.
Lance Moore (New Orleans Saints) vs. Minnesota
So, who had Lance Moore in the "Which wide receiver will step it up for the Saints" contest? Stop raising your hand, you liar! While pretty much everyone placed their money on the likes of David Patten, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem, with Colston and Shockey out, it's Moore who has become Brees' most reliable target, hauling in 7 catches in each of the last two weeks for a combined 179 yards and 2 TDs. Ride the hot hand in week 5 as the Saints get set to face a Vikings defense that has traditionally struggled agaist the pass.
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WIDE RECEIVER - SIT 'EM
Plaxico Burress (New York Giants) vs. Seattle
To be honest, this may very well be the only time you see Burress in the Sit 'Em section. I mean, the guy showed all of last year that even when not at 100%, he can put up strong fantasy numbers. Nope, the only way Burress could be a sit is if he wasn't going to see the field at all, which will be the case for the Giants week 5 match-up with the Seattle Seahawks as Burress will be serving a one-game suspension levied by the team. MAKE SURE HE'S OUT OF YOUR LINE-UPS.
Roy Williams (Detroit Lions) vs. Chicago
Williams has constantly complained about his role with the Lions, now that super stud, Calvin Johnson, is the team's go to guy, but perhaps Williams should spend less time complaining and more time doing something on the football field. Williams has just 8 receptions in three games and has yet to break the 50 yard mark in a game. Things don't get any easier for the wide out as he'll face a Bears team that kept him out of the endzone in both meetings last season.
Robert Meachem / Devery Henderson (New Orleans Saints) vs. Minnesota
With Lance Moore rising to the occassion and becoming Drew Brees' go-to-guy in the QB's time of need, Meachem and Henderson will once again solely be reliant on the deep ball. It's always nice to have that guy in your line-up when he gets that long one, but more often than not, you're cursing yourself for not going the safe route. Make sure both of these guys remain on your bench.
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TIGHT ENDS - START 'EM
Anthony Fasano (Miami Dolphins) vs. San Diego
With a week 4 bye, the Miami Dolphins have had plenty of time to prepare for this one, and it's more than likely that they know what we discovered in our weekly research. The San Diego Chargers are having a helluva time trying to defend opposing teams' tight ends. In fact, they're giving up on average 74 yards and 1.25 TDs to teams' number one wide outs. Knowing that, you can be sure the Dolphins will look to get Fasano involved in this one.
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TIGHT ENDS - SIT 'EM
Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Tennessee
Last year it was injury that prevented Heap from living up to his potential, this year, it's circumstances. The Ravens are a run first team, which means Heap spends more time blocking than catching passes. In fact, even when the team throws, Heap finds himself keeping defenders off Joe Flacco as the Ravens utilize max protection. With limited opportunities to begin with, Heap will have trouble getting something going against the Titans, who rank 8th against the pass.
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KICKERS - START 'EM
Jason Elam (Atlanta Falcons) @ Green Bay
Sure, it'd be nice if Elam still kicked for the high powered Denver Broncos' offense, but even with the move to Atlanta, Elam has proven to be a stellar kicking option in the fantasy football world. Through 4 weeks of play, Elam currently ranks 3rd among fantasy kickers, notching 8 or more fantasy points in each of the Falcons first four match-ups. The Packers are currently giving up 25.2 fantasy points, so a fifth straight week of 8+ points looks to be in order.
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KICKERS - SIT 'EM
Martin Gramatica (New Orleans Saints) vs. Minnesota
The New Orleans Saints are an offensive juggernaut, already putting up 111 points through 4 games. However, the team is so efficient that of those 111 points, only 12 have come via Field Goal. Not good news for Grammatica, who has yet to hit the 8 point mark once this season. The Saints will put up plenty of points again in week 5 against the Vikings, but as they'll be of the TD variety, Gramatica won't.
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DEFENSES - START 'EM
New England Patriots @ San Francisco
You just know that after giving up 38 points to the Miami Dolphins in week 3, that this defensive unit is hungry. You, also, know that with week 4 being the Patriots bye week, that they'll be well-prepared and armed with a masterful Bill Belichick game plan for this one. Throw in the fact that JT O'Sullivan has taken 19 sacks already on the year, and you can expect a big day for the Pats' D.
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DEFENSES - SIT 'EM
Denver Broncos vs. Tampa Bay
For as good as the Broncos' offense is, that's how bad their defense has been. Through 4 weeks of play, the defensive unit has allowed an average of 29.2 points per game. And, it's not just one aspect of their defense that is struggling. Right now, the team ranks 24th in rush defense and 31st against the pass. You can do so much better at your defensive position.
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WEEK 5 RANKINGS (click to view)
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense
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Current Waiver Wire Articles (click to view)
Waiver Wire - Week 4 Edition
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