The Seahawks may look to unleash “Beast Mode” against the Panthers this week
We lost a good one this week in Jamaal Charles. The focal point of the Kansas City Chiefs found himself on IR with a hard to watch knee injury. The Chiefs will adapt and move forward, as will we.
WEEK 5 RECAP
Let’s take a look at a quick recap from Week 5.
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I Knew It
- Eli Manning – QB – New York Giants – 441 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Only Josh McCown was better than Manning last week…wow!
- Dion Lewis – RB – New England Patriots – 6 car/34 yds, 8 rec/59 yds, 1 TD
I thought he would have a huge game against the Cowboys. 22 fantasy points is pretty huge.
- T.J. Yeldon – RB – Jacksonville Jaguars – 11 car/32 yds, 5 rec/31 yds, 1 TD
I hope you celebrated his first career touchdown with him.
- Travis Benjamin – WR – Cleveland Browns – 6 rec, 83 yds
A touchdown would have added onto his 14 points, but he remains the top receiver in Cleveland.
- Derek Carr – QB – Oakland Raiders – 249 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 fum
I hope you benched him. Dan Orlovsky had a better day than him.
- Joseph Randle – RB – Dallas Cowboys – 15 rush, 60 yds
Christine Michael time?
- Bills Running Backs – 17 car/49 yds, 3 rec/20 yds
Boobie Dixon, Daniel Herron and Jerome Felton all had touches last week and combined for eight total fantasy points.
- Amari Cooper – WR – Oakland Raiders – 4 rec, 47 yds
His worst fantasy output of his young career.
- Martavis Bryant – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers – DNP
If you checked your cell phone any time after reading my start/sit and before kickoff, you knew to get him out of your lineup.
I Blew It
- Jeremy Maclin – WR – Kansas City Chiefs – 8 rec, 85 yds
I could have included him in “I Knew It” since he finished with 16 points, but finishing as the WR17 does not qualify as a “fire starter” in my eyes.
- Peyton Manning – QB – Denver Broncos – 266 yds, 0 TD, 2 INT
Sadly, it may be time to drop the future Hall of Famer.
- Alshon Jeffery – WR – Chicago Bears – DNP
It looks like we will have to wait another week, maybe longer, for Jeffery to return.
- Charles Clay – TE – Buffalo Bills – 1 rec, 7 yds
Even though the Bills’ offense as a whole had a poor performance, this was a total miss on my part.
- Carlos Hyde – RB – San Francisco 49ers – 21 car, 93 yds, 1 TD
If you listened to me and benched Hyde, then I owe you a drink. San Francisco stayed in this game, and Hyde was a huge part of it.
- Gary Barnidge – TE – Cleveland Browns – 8 rec, 139 yds, 1 TD
I am happily wrong on Barnidge again, who I am convinced read my column last week and responded with his best fantasy output of the season. I hear you, Gary. I am done doubting you.
WEEK 6 START/SIT SUGGESTIONS
Who’s Hot – Start
Fire Starter: Matt Ryan – QB – Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints
The Falcons’ offense is arguably the most potent in the league right now. Normally, I would be deterred by a Thursday night matchup that includes a hobbled Julio Jones but the Saints’ secondary is just that bad. A bonus for Ryan is the fact that Devonta Freeman catches a bunch of passes. Matt Ryan could, and should, have a top-five finish this week.
Philip Rivers – QB – San Diego Chargers @ Green Bay Packers
Rivers has three finishes of at least 20 points and this week he will make it a fourth. With Antonio Gates back and Keenan Allen averaging seven receptions per game, Rivers is a top-10 quarterback with top-five upside. Vegas has the line of this game at 50, which means a lot of scoring could be in store for this potential shootout.
Marshawn Lynch – RB – Seattle Seahawks vs. Carolina Panthers
Normally, no one would ever have to tell you to play Marshawn Lynch. His recent injury woes have left fantasy owners frustrated and weary. Fear not this week, as Lynch is at home against the Panthers. The Seahawks have taken a cautious approach to Beast Mode and for good reason. He will be that top-tier running back you drafted this week.
Duke Johnson – RB – Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos
It may seem crazy to recommend any running back against arguably the best defense in the NFL, but Johnson is not just any running back. The Browns seem content utilizing him in the passing game, and he is thriving. They increase his workload each week, and he will be used heavily to bail Josh McCown out against the Broncos. He is the highest scoring back on the Browns and split carries with Isaiah Crowell last week but this week we could see him take over the majority of the role.
Kendall Wright – WR – Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins
The coaching change in Miami could take more than the bye week to implement. Wright expressed his frustrations with his role publically to the media. Typically, a coach hears these sorts of things and responds. Fire up Wright against the subpar Dolphins’ secondary.
Mike Wallace – WR – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Though currently listed as questionable the matchup against the Chiefs is too good to ignore. They have allowed a league-high 13 receiving touchdowns. Wallace is described as day-to-day but if he is a go, he should reward you. If he sits, I would start rookie Stefon Diggs with the same level of confidence.
Gary Barnidge – TE – Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos
I am not atoning for my misplaced Barnidge doubt. I just can no longer ignore a tight end who has scored 68 fantasy points in three weeks. I know the matchup is not great on paper, but McCown relies on Barnidge. Two of his three touchdowns this season have come in the red zone where he has been targeted five times. If the Browns get down there, you can bet McCown will be looking at him.
Who’s Not – Sit
Ice Cold: Cam Newton – QB – Carolina Panthers @ Seattle Seahawks
If this game were in Carolina, I would not have Newton on this list. The Seahawks are just a different team at home, and they control that environment. This has all the makings of one of those field goal heavy games. Do not just bench Newton – bench the whole Carolina offense.
Alex Smith – QB – Kansas City Chiefs @ Minnesota Vikings
The Chiefs’ offense will have to figure out how to navigate life without Jamaal Charles. Until they do, all offensive positions should be downgraded, especially sack-susceptible Alex Smith. Do not be surprised if Smith takes more sacks this week than he has all season. Let that happen on your bench.
LeSean McCoy – RB – Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Wait and see with McCoy, who started practicing this week after missing the past two games with a hamstring injury. He may be downgraded to out but even if he plays, he should be out for your fantasy team. If McCoy suits up, a pitch count should be expected, if not guaranteed. The matchup is not very pretty either.
Lamar Miller – RB – Miami Dolphins @ Tennessee Titans
Do not let your frustrations with Miller get the best of you when you are setting your lineups this week. The coaching change is encouraging, but he has been a colossal flop. The Titans’ defense can be run on, but I would not test it with a player who has yet to score double-digit fantasy points this season.
Jamison Crowder – WR – Washington Redskins @ New York Jets
Over the past three weeks, the rookie has more catches than fellow receiver Pierre Garcon. He is becoming more of a factor in this offense, but I would keep him on the bench this week. Even though the Jets can be beaten deep, and Crowder is speedy, he will take a tick down this week, rather than a tick up.
Jarvis Landry – WR – Miami Dolphins @ Tennessee Titans
I am down on all Dolphins this week. Ryan Tannehill is not living up to his expectations and Landry has been hurt by it. Since his 20-point Week 1 game, he has scored fewer and fewer fantasy points each week. This is a team that is being completely transitioned and one more week on your bench should give you the opportunity to observe without suffering points for it.
Julius Thomas – TE – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
The Texans are not the dominant force they once were, and neither is Julius Thomas. He saw just two targets in his first game back this season, which could suggest that the Jaguars are easing him in. On top of that, Blake Bortles has sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. You have been patient with Thomas this long, so what’s another week?
Get Start/Sit & Waiver Advice with My Playbook
I do not have a crystal ball and can only rely on research and good old intuition. I may hit or miss on a few, but these are my honest predictions for this week. I’ll keep myself honest with a full disclosure section next week when I give you your “Who’s Hot” and “Who’s Not” for Week 6. Consider my recommendations here, but ultimately trust in yourself. Good luck!
Jen Ryan is a correspondent at FantasyPros, featured writer at Gridiron Experts and contributor at Football Diehards. Click here for her archive and feel free to reach her and talk all things fantasy @FFdeJENerate.
