Kevin Liles-US Presswire
The fantasy football season is entering the crucial middle stage where it is important for owners to stock pile those points in attempts of reaching the playoffs in just eight weeks or so. With that being said knowing which of your players to play and which ones to bench is extremely important for the newt few weeks. Here is my list of which players to start and which ones to sit for week five, if you have them on your roster.
Start ‘Em:
QB – Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons
Matty Ice is currently playing quarterback position just as well as anyone in the league (102-147 for 1,162 passing yards, 11 TD and 2 INT) and he will continue to do so this week versus the Washington Redskins. Thus far this season Washington is allowing 326.3 passing yards (31st in NFL) and 30.8 points (27th in NFL) per game so Ryan will undoubtedly torch them especially with safety Brandon Meriweather sidelined with a knee injury.
RB – Ryan Mathews San Diego Chargers
Mathews is now 100% healthy following his collar bone injury, he has been back in the Chargers lineup for two weeks now and hasn’t done a bad job with the limited time that he has played (24 carries for 105 yards and seven receptions for 53 yards). This week could easily be his breakout one as the Chargers take on the New Orleans Saints who have the worst rush defense in the league allowing 186.8 yards per game and are 29th in the league in points allowed per game (32.5).
WR – A.J. Green Cincinnati Bengals
Green is finally getting the recognition which he deserves as being one of the top wide receivers in the NFL (27 receptions for 428 yards and 3 TD this season) and this week he could have a tremendous one against the Miami Dolphins. Miami has the 30th ranked pass defense in the NFL (297.8 yards allowed per game) and are allowing 22.5 points per game (15th in NFL).
Sit ‘Em:
QB – Mark Sanchez New York Jets
Sanchez is the middle of a terrible season right now (63-128, 813 passing yards, 5 TD, 4 INT and 49.2% completion rate) and things aren’t going to get much better for him this week against the Houston Texans. The Texans are currently ranked first in the NFL in offensive yards allowed per game (273 yards) and points allowed per game (14) and they are also second in the league in passing yards allowed per game (182.8 yards); not only should fantasy owners sit Sanchez Rex Ryan should also consider it as well.
RB – D’Angelo Williams Carolina Panthers
Williams is off to a very slow start this season (42 carries for 167 rushing yards and 2 TD) and things don’t seem as if they are going to accelerate for him this week versus the Seattle Seahawks either. Seattle is currently ranked second in the NFL in both rushing yards allowed per game (62.8 yards) and points allowed per game (14.5), if you have Williams on your team this is an ideal week for him to ride the virtual pine pony.
WR – Reggie Wayne Indianapolis Colts
A few weeks ago Wayne was my choice for wideouts that fantasy owners should start (and he played exceptional in that game) now this week he moves to the opposite side of the equation and should be sat. The Colts are facing the Green Bay Packers and their sixth ranked pass defense (201.3 yards allowed per game) this week, who also only allow 20.3 points per contest (ninth in NFL).
