Start ’em Sit ’em Week 5

Week 4 is in the books and boy did it really switch things up for this week.  With a bunch of key players getting injured and bye weeks starting up this is where you really get tested on your fantasy football skills.  Below is my list of players to start and sit at each position to help you get the edge on your match-up this week.  Good luck everyone!

Start ’em

Quarterback- Jameis Winston

Winston gets a Patriots defense that has been playing terrible the past 4 weeks.  The Patriots have allowed 457 yards per game.  To put that into perspective, the next highest yards per game allowed is the Colts with 396.  I think at home, against this defense, Winston is a must start Thursday night.

Running back- Marshawn Lynch

I know Lynch hasn’t been the beast mode he was in Seattle, but hear me out on this one.  With Derek Carr out, I think the Raiders lean on Lynch to set the tone in this game.  It also helps that over the last 2 weeks the Ravens defense has been terrible against the run, giving up 50+ fantasy points over that time span.  The upside here is just too much to have Lynch on your bench.

Wide Receiver- Brandin Cooks

Can anybody guess the only team worse against the pass this season than the Patriots?  If you guess the Buccaneers give yourself a pat on the back.  In direct correlation to their struggles against the pass, the Bucs have allowed the most fantasy points to WR this year, and they’ve played 1 less game than everyone else (excluding the Dolphins).  I think Brady connects with Cooks a bunch this game and he’s a must start this week.

Tight End- Delanie Walker

This week Walker and the Titans take on the Dolphins defense who has allowed tight ends to catch almost 80% of their targets this year, one of the highest rates in the league.  Even if Mariota is a no go, Walker needs to be in your lineup.  The one time Cassel started last season Walker led the team in targets.

Sit ’em

Quarterback- Jared Goff

Goff and the Rams offense are absolutely no joke this year.  However, they get one of the toughest match-ups of the year in the Seattle Seahawks who looked really good defensively Sunday night.  This will be a good test for McVay and the Rams offense.  Luckily they aren’t playing this game in Seattle,  but Goff is still on my bench this week.

Running back- Lamar Miller

Miller looked really good last week against the Titans, but I don’t think he repeats that performance this week.  He has yet to hit the 100 yard mark this season and against the stingy Chiefs defense I think he deserves to be on the bench this week.

Wide Receiver- Doug Baldwin

This one is hard for me because Baldwin can always surprise you.  Based on how the Rams defense has played against Russel Wilson and the Seahawks, I think it’s hard to imagine starting Baldwin.  Every year it seems the Rams defense has Russel Wilson’s number, and in LA this year I don’t think that changes.  Unless I don’t have any better options, Baldwin and his lingering groin injury are on my bench.

Tight End- Jason Witten

After Witten’s fantastic first two weeks, he has fallen off the face of the fantasy football earth.  The last two weeks his stat-line shows 2 catches for 12 yards.  This week he’s up against a Green Bay defense who has been surprisingly fantastic at holding opposing TE in check.  In four weeks they have only allowed 12 catches for 106 yards and no touchdowns.  So in non PPR leagues they’ve allowed 10 points to opposing fantasy TE in four weeks, averaging 2.5 points a week.  I would be extremely surprised to see Witten do well this week given what we know.

Written By: Jon Tetreault ( @jtetreault13 )