The Fanatics Sit/Start Advice for Week 5
Week five of the NFL season is upon us. Hopefully, things are going your way and you are able to remind your friends every week about how much better than them you are. If not don’t worry too much if you are not there is still plenty of season left. But that window is closing fast. So before you set your lineup, check out my sit start for this week and if the player you are considering is not here feel free to hit me up on facebook or twitter. You can find me on Facebook group Dynasty League Problems or on twitter @MikeKelleyDLP Good luck this week.
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Quarterback
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Blake Bortles (JAX) @ KC
A few years ago Bortles was considered no more than a garbage-time king of fantasy. Last year he was viewed as a quarterback that his only job was not to lose the game. After four weeks he is on pace for almost 4,400 yards, 28 touchdowns, and over 500 rushing yards. I think it is time to consider Bortles as a legit NFL quarterback. I am not trying to argue Bortles is a must-start top 10 quarterback but rather a low QB1 or high QB2 that can be started in situations. For example, a week in which his team faces a weak pass defense like the Chiefs. For me, my normal starting quarterback is Russell Wilson who faces the Rams this week who historically Wilson has struggled against and with how red hot the Rams are this is one of those weeks that I will be rolling out Bortles as my starter. If the Jags can slow down the Chiefs pass rush, which I think they can, Bortles could push 300 yards of passing with at least two touchdowns. This could be his best week running with the ball too and could have another 50 plus yards there.
Other Starts
- Andy Dalton (CIN) vs MIA
- Matthew Stafford (DET) vs GB
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Any rookie QB
Starting rookies always seems like a rush, because you never really know what you are going to get. Not that I am against these quarterbacks because they are rookies, but consider who they are playing too this week also makes them risky. So I am warning you here don’t risk it this week at all. Bake Mayfield faces the Ravens, Sam Darnold gets the Broncos, Josh Rosen will see the 49ers, and Josh Allen is looking at the Titans. That is also the order of my quarterback rankings from 27 to 30. Unless you are in a two-quarterback league you should have plenty of options to start over any of these rookies this week and I strongly recommend doing that. The best you can hope from any of these guys is some garbage time magic and I am not sure that will ever happen for any of them this week.
Other Sits
- Russell Wilson (SEA) vs LAR
- Dak Prescott (DAL) @ HOU
Running Back
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
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Nyheim Hines (IND) @ NE
Did you know that Hines leads the Colts in rushing touchdowns and receptions? On a short week that is looking like Andrew Luck‘s favorite targets T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle are not going to play Hines could be a big part of the passing game this week. The Patriots are in the bottom half of the league in giving up yards to running backs so I can see Hines getting a lot of check down work and piling up the receptions. I can see another week of double-digit targets, especially if Hilton and Doyle miss this week. Between rushing and receiving I think Hines can get you around 15 points and that is with no touchdowns either which makes him a very solid flex play this week, even borderline RB2.
Other Starts
- #GetSonyOnYourTeam (NE) vs IND
- Isaiah Crowell (NYJ) vs DEN
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Carlos Hyde (CLE) vs BAL
At some point, Nich Chubb has to get more than 3 carries in a game right? I know Hyde has had five touchdowns, but his 285 yards on 83 carries is not very good. Only one game he has averaged over 3.8 yards a carry and in two of them, he was less than three yards a carry. This week the Browns face division rival the Ravens, who have been great against the run this year so far. This is exactly the type of game for Nick Chubb too. Smashmouth football with some heavy hitting. Not exactly Hyde’s style, and it’s not like he has the passing game to bail him out either because that belongs to Duke Johnson. I think we are looking at 14 to 18 carries for right around 50 yards for Hyde. Chubb will push 10 plus carries starting this week and as time goes on he will eat more and more into Hyde’s production. In fact, the time to sell Hyde might be now.
Other Sits
- LeSean McCoy (BUF) vs TEN
- Dalvin Cook (MIN) @ PHI
Wide Receiver
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
John Brown (BAL) @ CLE
Brown is third on the team in receptions but has 140 receiving yards more than any other receiver on the team. He is also the only receiver with more than one touchdown. That tells me Brown is the playmaker for the Ravens. You would think that would make him a boom or bust guy but he has yet to fall under 13.5 points this year in a single game. It does make him a little risky because he has been touchdown dependent, but a matchup against the Browns should be in his favor. The Browns have allowed 190 yards a game to wide receivers meaning Joe Flacco‘s favorite target should continue to produce at least for this week. I can see him pulling in five receptions for 90 yards and a strong shot at another touchdown. That should be good enough to put him in WR2 talks this week. You should at least feel comfortable rolling him out in a flex spot this week.
Other Starts
- Amari Cooper (OAK) @ LAC
- Tyler Boyd (CIN) vs MIA
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Demaryius Thomas (DEN) @ NYJ
Thomas just does not seem to click with his new quarterback Case Keenum. Or maybe Courtland Sutton is cutting into some of those big plays that he usually sees. To be fair Thomas is still on pace for 80 receptions, but its the 670 yards and four touchdowns that are the concern for his value. This week the Broncos face the Jets, and the Jets have been pretty nice to opposing wide receivers. Even still though I think I am passing on using him this week. It seems as though all the big plays are going through Sutton and Sanders and Thomas is being used more as a tight end type role. They are still using Thomas just enough to keep him engaged but I am not seeing any downfield plays or even red zone looks his way. Another week of four or five receptions for 35 yards and zero touchdowns is what I am expecting from him this week.
Other Sits
- Michael Crabtree (BAL) @ CLE
- Robby Anderson (NYJ) vs DEN
Tight End
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Austin Hooper (ATL) @ PIT
People have been walking all over the Steelers so far this year. Of course, attention needs to be paid to Julio Jones and with the emergence of Calvin Ridley, he is going to start to get more attention too. Leaving the perfect opportunity for Hooper to take advantage of the Steelers are near last ranking on stopping opposing teams tight ends. Plus Hooper is usually good for the occasional six catch 60 yards and a touchdown game and this could easily be one of the weeks for him.
Other Starts
- David Njoku (CLE) vs BAL
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Kyle Rudolph (MIN) @ PHI
To be honest, Rudolph is having a better year than I expected. He is not having a great year but it has been steady. This week though against a very aggressive Eagles front seven I see Rudolph blocking more than receiving. He still might manage four or five receptions but the yardage I think will be lower than usual. If he manages to find the end zone it could save his day, but I don’t like relying on touchdowns when considering a players value and that is why he is on my sit list this week.
Other Sits
- Eric Ebron (IND) @ NE
Defense
The Fanatics Starts of the Week
Tennessee Titans @ BUF
The Titans are three and one and in larger part that is a credit to their defense. The held the Texans to 17, the Jaguars to six, and Eagles to 23. They have 11 sacks in those games and those are some mobile quarterbacks. I look for them to head into Buffalo and pick on the rookie Josh Allen, who has had his fair share of struggles so far this year.
Other Starts
- Carolina Panthers vs NYG
The Fanatics Sits of the Week
Pittsburg Steelers vs ATL
The Falcons are playing some great offense this year and the Steelers are not playing good defense at all. I suspect the Falcons will move the ball well through the air and put up plenty of points. Avoid the Steelers this week.
Other Sits
- Miami Dolphins @ CIN
Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.
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